Jeffrey Salazar
Santa Clarita Diet was a hit Netflix horror-comedy series starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, a couple of real estate agents living in Santa Clarita, California. The show followed the couple as they navigated a major upheaval in their lives: Sheila's transformation into a zombie and her subsequent cravings for human flesh. Despite receiving critical acclaim and developing a loyal fan base, the show was cancelled by Netflix after three seasons, leaving fans disappointed and hungry for more. The cancellation sparked discussions about Netflix's decision-making process and the challenges faced by mid-level shows, even those with a dedicated following.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Horror-comedy, black comedy, horror sitcom |
| Creator | Victor Fresco |
| Streaming platform | Netflix |
| Number of seasons | 3 |
| Reason for cancellation | Netflix's "cost-plus" budget model, not enough viewers |
| Main cast | Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant, Liv Hewson, Skyler Gisondo, Ricardo Chavira, Mary Elizabeth Ellis |
| Character played by Drew Barrymore | Sheila Hammond, a real estate agent who becomes a zombie |
| Character played by Timothy Olyphant | Joel Hammond, Sheila's husband |
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What You'll Learn
Why was Santa Clarita Diet cancelled?
Santa Clarita Diet was cancelled due to Netflix's "cost-plus" budget model. The streaming giant pays for a show's production costs upfront, plus a premium of 30% or more of the total costs. With each new season, the series budget increases, with talent pay increasing from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Netflix's decision to cancel shows is based on audience turnout and critical acclaim. Despite the show's solid initial reaction, positive reviews, and loyal following, it seems that the viewing figures for Santa Clarita Diet were not enough to justify the production costs.
The creator of Santa Clarita Diet, Victor Fresco, said he was ""blindsided" by the cancellation, recalling how he was in the process of editing season 3 when he learned that the sets were being dismantled. He also mentioned that he had an inkling that the show might not return for a fourth year, and that Netflix's decision was partly due to the pay bonuses that a renewal would trigger.
The cancellation of Santa Clarita Diet left fans disappointed, especially as the show ended on a cliffhanger. Some viewers felt that Netflix did not promote the show enough, and that the company was to blame for leaving so much content unfinished.
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What was the critical reception of the show?
Santa Clarita Diet was a hit with both critics and fans. The first season received "generally positive" reviews, with an average rating of 7.20/10 on Rotten Tomatoes, and a score of 67 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews". The critical consensus on Rotten Tomatoes read:
> "Santa Clarita Diet serves up an excellent cast, frequent laughs, and an engaging premise – but the level of gore might not be to everyone's taste."
The approval rating for the first season on Rotten Tomatoes was 78% based on 73 reviews, with an average rating of 7.20/10. Another source states that the season had an approval rating of 70% based on 54 reviews, with an average rating of 7.9/10. The show's third season was also well-received, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting an approval rating of 89% based on 19 reviews and an average rating of 7.85/10. The critical consensus for this season was:
> "Santa Clarita Diet's third season is a generous meal of entrails, morbid humor, and a touching affirmation of marital love – with Barrymore and Olyphant's pitch-perfect chemistry brightening each blood-soaked installment."
Despite the show's success and acclaim, Netflix cancelled Santa Clarita Diet after three seasons, attributing this decision to its "cost-plus" budget model. Netflix's head of original content, Cindy Holland, commented on the cancellation in a separate article for Deadline. The show's unexpected ending left fans disappointed and frustrated, with some calling for a revival.
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What was the premise of the show?
Santa Clarita Diet was an American horror-comedy sitcom created by Victor Fresco for Netflix. The show starred Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, a married couple who work as real estate agents in Santa Clarita, California. Their lives are turned upside down when Sheila starts exhibiting signs of becoming a zombie, including a craving for human flesh and violent mood swings caused by her altered personality. As Sheila and Joel try to hide her "condition" and search for a cure, they must also deal with the challenges of maintaining their home and work lives.
The show's premise centres on the couple's attempts to navigate Sheila's new undead state and its impact on their everyday lives. They must grapple with the moral implications of killing and adjust to Sheila's new primal and impulsive behaviour. The show also explores the couple's relationship and their efforts to maintain a sense of normalcy in the face of incredible adversity.
Santa Clarita Diet received generally positive reviews from critics and fans, who praised its excellent cast, frequent laughs, and engaging premise. The show was particularly noted for blending comedy and gore effectively, creating a unique blend of humour and horror. Despite its success, Netflix cancelled the show after three seasons due to its ""cost-plus" budget model, which takes into account audience turnout and critical acclaim.
The cancellation of Santa Clarita Diet left fans disappointed, especially as the third season ended on a cliffhanger. The show's creator, Victor Fresco, expressed his disappointment and surprise at the decision, feeling that the show had found its niche despite not attracting the broadest audience. The cancellation sparked discussions about Netflix's approach to original content and the challenges faced by mid-level shows on streaming platforms.
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How did the show's creator, Victor Fresco, find out about the cancellation?
The creator of Santa Clarita Diet, Victor Fresco, was shocked to learn about the show's cancellation. He had an "inkling" that the show might not return for a fourth season, but he was still blindsided when he found out that it had been cancelled.
Fresco was in the process of editing season 3 when he learned from an assistant producer that the sets were being dismantled. In an interview with The Guardian, he recalled:
> "That's how I heard it was definitively not coming back."
Fresco also shared that he had tried to make it difficult for Netflix to cancel the show by ending season 3 on a cliffhanger, revealing that Joel had turned into a zombie. Despite this, the show was not renewed for a fourth season.
Santa Clarita Diet debuted on Netflix in 2017 and ran for three seasons. The show received strong reviews and garnered a loyal following. However, Netflix has a reputation for cancelling shows after three seasons, and Fresco acknowledged that there is a financial disincentive for the platform to order additional seasons.
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What was the advertising for the show like?
Advertising for the show was scarce, with one fan noting that they only saw it advertised on Netflix's "screen saver". Another fan commented that they had never seen any advertising for the show for any season.
In February 2017, advertising for the show sparked criticism in Germany. Netflix promoted the show with posters depicting a human finger sliced up like a currywurst, a popular German fast-food dish. After receiving more than 50 complaints that the advertising was glorifying violence and inducing fear, especially in children, the German Advertising Council forwarded the complaints to Netflix.
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Frequently asked questions
The Santa Clarita Diet is the name of a Netflix show starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant.
The show follows a married couple, Sheila and Joel Hammond, who are real estate agents. Their lives are turned upside down when Sheila starts exhibiting signs of becoming a zombie, including craving human flesh and having violent mood swings.
Yes, the show was a hit with both critics and fans. The first season received generally positive reviews, with an approval rating of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 67 out of 100 on Metacritic.
Despite its popularity, Netflix cancelled the show after three seasons due to its "cost-plus" budget model. Netflix's decision to cancel shows is based on audience turnout and critical acclaim, and the increasing costs of production with each new season.
Fans were disappointed and angry about the cancellation, especially since the show ended on a cliffhanger. Some felt that Netflix should have promoted the show more and given it a chance to pick up a wider audience.
