Dante Carrillo
In 2019, Netflix announced the cancellation of the horror-comedy series Santa Clarita Diet, starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant. The show, created by Victor Fresco, ran for three seasons and followed the lives of suburban real estate agents Joel and Sheila Hammond, whose mundane lives take a turn when Sheila becomes a zombie with a craving for human flesh. Despite the show's positive reception and exploration of unique themes, Netflix's decision to cut it short was likely due to insufficient viewership to justify the high production costs. The show's abrupt ending left fans with unanswered questions, leading to calls for a wrap-up movie or another season to provide closure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Show | Santa Clarita Diet |
| Streaming Platform | Netflix |
| Show Status | Cancelled |
| Cancellation Date | 2019 |
| Number of Seasons | 3 |
| Reason for Cancellation | Not enough viewers to justify the production cost |
| Fan Reaction | Devastated, calling for a wrap-up movie to explain the cliffhanger |
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What You'll Learn
Why was Santa Clarita Diet cancelled?
Netflix's decision to cancel Santa Clarita Diet was influenced by various factors, primarily related to viewership and cost considerations.
Firstly, Netflix's "cost-plus" budget model played a significant role in the cancellation. Under this model, the company pays for a show's production costs upfront, plus a premium of 30% or more on overall costs. As a result, with each new season, the budget increases significantly. This increase in cost is particularly noticeable by the third season, with top talent often seeing substantial pay raises. Consequently, the rising expenses may have contributed to Netflix's decision to cancel the show after three seasons.
Additionally, Netflix's decision-making process considers audience turnout and critical acclaim. While Santa Clarita Diet was well-received by critics and fans, particularly in its first season, it appears that the show did not attract a large enough audience to justify its continued production. Netflix typically bases its investment decisions on the expected audience turnout, and if the audience does not show up, they may choose to redirect their investments elsewhere.
Furthermore, some sources suggest that Netflix's lack of promotion for the show may have contributed to its cancellation. Fans of the show noted that Netflix barely promoted Santa Clarita Diet, and some even discovered the show through Netflix's screensaver or by stumbling upon it while scrolling through the platform. This lack of promotion may have impacted the show's viewership and, ultimately, its chances of renewal.
The cancellation of Santa Clarita Diet left fans disappointed, especially given that the show ended on a cliffhanger. Despite the show's cult following and positive reception, Netflix decided to cut it short, attributing the decision to a combination of viewership and financial considerations.
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What was the show about?
Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy sitcom created by Victor Fresco for Netflix. It stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, a married couple who work as real estate agents in the Los Angeles suburb of Santa Clarita, California.
The show centres on the couple's lives, which take a dark turn when Sheila dies and subsequently comes back to life as a zombie. As she begins to crave human flesh and her personality becomes more primal and impulsive, the bewildered family seeks a cure for her condition while also dealing with the consequences, including their nosy neighbours and cultural norms. The show also features a potentially mythological mystery and explores the couple's relationship in the face of adversity.
The show's first season received generally positive reviews, with an approval rating of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, praised for its excellent cast, frequent laughs, and engaging premise. The second season also received positive reviews, with an approval rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, commended for its non-stop comedic gore and lovable characters. The third season maintained a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics describing it as a "generous meal of entrails, morbid humour, and a touching affirmation of marital love".
Despite its critical acclaim, Netflix decided to cancel the show after three seasons, citing financial reasons and insufficient viewership. The show's producer, Tracy Katsky Boomer, expressed disappointment, particularly as the third season ended on a cliffhanger.
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Who starred in it?
Netflix's horror-comedy series *Santa Clarita Diet* starred Drew Barrymore as Sheila Hammond, an everyday suburban real estate agent who undergoes a metamorphosis and becomes a zombie with a craving for human flesh. Barrymore, who also served as an executive producer on the show, does not eat meat, so the human remains that her character eats were made from vegetarian items like gummy bears, dehydrated apples, beet paste, pasta, and moistened cake.
Sheila's husband, Joel Hammond, was played by Timothy Olyphant. Their daughter, Abby Hammond, was played by Liv Hewson, and Skyler Gisondo played their neighbour, Eric Bemis.
Other cast members included:
- Mary Elizabeth Ellis as Lisa Palmer, Eric's mother and Sheila's friend
- Ricardo Chavira as Dan Palmer, a sheriff's deputy, the Hammonds' neighbour, and Eric's stepfather
- Natalie Morales as Anne Garcia, a religious sheriff's deputy and Dan's partner
- Thomas Lennon as Andrei Novak, the principal of Santa Clarita High School
- Ramona Young as a wise Rite-Aid employee who turns out to be a zombie
- Nathan Fillion (seasons 1–2) and Alan Tudyk (season 3) as Gary West, a realtor and the Hammonds' co-worker
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How many seasons did it run for?
Netflix's horror-comedy series *Santa Clarita Diet* ran for three seasons. The first season, consisting of 10 episodes, premiered on February 3, 2017, and received positive reviews. The second season premiered on March 23, 2018, and the third and final season aired in 2019.
The show revolves around Joel and Sheila Hammond, a married couple and real estate agents in Santa Clarita, California. Their mundane lives take a turn when Sheila undergoes a transformation, becoming undead and developing a craving for human flesh. As Joel and their family attempt to adjust to Sheila's new condition, they must navigate their relationships with neighbours and cultural norms while also dealing with a potentially mythological mystery.
The show was created by Victor Fresco and starred Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as the lead couple. Despite receiving praise for its dark humour and exploration of various themes, Netflix decided to cancel the show due to insufficient viewership to justify the production costs. The final season concluded with a cliffhanger, leaving fans with unanswered questions about the fate of the characters.
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What network was it on?
Santa Clarita Diet was aired on Netflix. It is an American horror sitcom created by Victor Fresco for the streaming service. The show stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, a married couple and real estate agents living in Santa Clarita, California. Their lives take a dark turn when Sheila dies and comes back to life as a zombie with a craving for human flesh. The show follows the couple as they navigate Sheila's new undead state and try to find a cure while dealing with their neighbours and cultural norms.
The show premiered on February 3, 2017, and received generally positive reviews from critics. The first season had an approval rating of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 67 out of 100 on Metacritic. The second season also received positive reviews, with an approval rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite its initial success, Netflix announced in 2019 that the show was cancelled after three seasons.
Netflix's head of original content, Cindy Holland, explained that the decision to cut the show was based on a combination of factors, including the audience size and the cost of production. While Netflix does not release viewing figures, it is believed that the audience for Santa Clarita Diet was not large enough to outweigh the production costs. There may also be clauses in the original deal that prevent the show from airing on another network for a significant period of time after its cancellation.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Netflix cancelled the show in 2019 after three seasons.
Netflix's head of original content, Cindy Holland, said that the decision to cut short some shows depends on whether Netflix is getting enough bang for its buck. In the case of Santa Clarita Diet, it seems there was no viable reason to keep pumping money into it.
In the final episode of season 3, Sheila bites her husband, Joel Hammond, after he is seemingly killed by a giant, fleshy spider-like zombie creature that crawls into his brain. It is not clear if he is dead, undead, or possessed by his wife's pet, Mr. Ball Legs.
The ending of the show sees the Hammond family's life finally appear to settle down. No more Serbian labs or zombies, and Sheila Hammond is no longer stuck on the edge of a massive spike. However, the fate of Joel Hammond is left ambiguous, as it is unclear if he is dead, undead, or possessed by Mr. Ball Legs after being bitten by Sheila.
There has been no announcement or confirmation of a Santa Clarita Diet movie.
