Madeleine Hull
Santa Clarita Diet is a Netflix original horror-comedy series created by Victor Fresco that premiered on February 3, 2017. The show stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, married realtors living in Santa Clarita, California, with their teenage daughter Abby. The Hammonds' lives take a dark turn when Sheila dies and becomes undead, craving human flesh. The show received generally positive reviews from critics and built a strong cult following, but it was ultimately cancelled by Netflix after three seasons due to budget concerns.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Premiere Date | 3 February 2017 |
| Creator | Victor Fresco |
| Stars | Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant, Liv Hewson, Skyler Gisondo |
| Genre | Horror-comedy, "zom-com" |
| Number of Seasons | 3 |
| Cancellation Date | 26 April 2019 |
| Cancellation Reasons | Budget, low viewership |
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What You'll Learn
Santa Clarita Diet's first season received positive reviews
The first season of Santa Clarita Diet received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has a rating of 78% based on 73 reviews, with an average score of 7.20/10. The critical consensus on the website describes the show as having:
> "an excellent cast, frequent laughs, and an engaging premise – but the level of gore might not be to everyone's taste."
Metacritic reports that the first season received "generally favourable reviews" with a score of 67 out of 100, based on 30 critics.
One IMDb review describes the show as "freaking hilarious", praising the performances of the lead cast and supporting roles. The review also highlights the show's blend of comedy and horror, stating:
> "It's been a while since I really enjoyed a comedy/horror series, a genre that works well if done right. Santa Clarita Diet is that kind of show, easy-to-watch, funny and refreshing, and with a decent amount of gore."
Another review on Rotten Tomatoes describes the show as "impressive, fresh comedy", but recommends that viewers "do not watch it while eating". The review also highlights the subversiveness of the show, and its portrayal of a woman "leading and living her best life, having friends of all backgrounds, and having a family that loves her—even though she is a zombie".
Santa Clarita Diet was cancelled after three seasons, with some sources attributing the cancellation to the show's budget. Despite this, the show built a strong cult following and received positive reviews throughout its run.
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Sheila Hammond becomes undead and craves human flesh
The Netflix series Santa Clarita Diet stars Drew Barrymore as Sheila Hammond, a realtor living in suburban Santa Clarita with her husband, Joel Hammond, and their teenage daughter, Abby Hammond. The series begins with Sheila becoming undead.
Sheila first exhibits symptoms of her transformation when she vomits profusely at a house showing and then in the bathroom, where she dies. After being found by Joel, she suddenly wakes up. She then starts behaving out of character, leading her family to turn to their neighbour, Eric Bemis, for help. Eric diagnoses Sheila as undead.
Sheila's behaviour changes, and she becomes impulsive and less inhibited. She also develops a craving for human flesh, which she discovers after biting off and eating the fingers of her co-worker Gary, who tries to rape her. She later kills and eats parts of his corpse. Sheila learns that she can no longer eat raw animal meat and suspects that once she has tasted human flesh, she can't go back.
Sheila and Joel try to find the worst kind of people to kill for Sheila to eat, leading to a series of dark and funny moments. Sheila's condition creates challenges for the family as they navigate neighbours and cultural norms while also trying to get to the bottom of a potentially mythological mystery surrounding her transformation.
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The show's budget and Netflix's cost-plus model
Netflix's "cost-plus" budget model has been cited as the reason for the cancellation of Santa Clarita Diet after three seasons. Netflix's decision to cancel shows is based on audience turnout and critical acclaim. However, the specific budget for Santa Clarita Diet is not publicly known.
The "cost-plus" model covers the cost of production plus an additional fee, typically around 30% on top of production costs, although bigger studios have negotiated larger percentages. This model differs from traditional television licensing deals, where the network airing the show pays 60-70% of the production costs, with the production company making money through licensing deals and syndication. Netflix's model offers more money upfront and more freedom for show creators as they do not have to worry about upsetting advertisers. However, it also means that Netflix seizes more of the upside on big hits, resulting in creators signing away future revenue opportunities.
Netflix's cost-plus model has made it challenging for traditional TV networks to compete. The company's lucrative contracts for buying shows and retaining ownership rights have boosted its long-term revenues. This strategy has been adopted by other streaming platforms like Amazon and Apple, with networks negotiating more ownership rights to stay competitive.
Santa Clarita Diet, a rare horror-comedy, received positive reviews from critics and built a strong cult following. However, the show's budget increased with each season, and the cost-plus model likely influenced Netflix's decision to cancel it. The show's cancellation highlights the complexities of Netflix's original series decisions, which differ from traditional television where ratings are the primary factor.
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The show received a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes
Santa Clarita Diet is an American comedy horror television series created by Victor Fresco and starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant. The show follows the lives of married real estate agents, Sheila and Joel Hammond, whose lives take a dark turn when Sheila dies and becomes a zombie.
The first season of the show received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season received a 78% approval rating based on 73 reviews, with an average rating of 7.20/10. The critical consensus on the site reads, "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 second season also received positive reviews, with an approval rating of 89% based on 19 reviews and an average rating of 7.85/10. The critical consensus for this season states: "Santa Clarita Diet rides the momentum of its freshman season with non-stop comedic gore and a big heart that bleeds – profusely – for its lovable characters."
While I couldn't find specific information on the show receiving a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it appears that the show was well-received by critics and audiences alike, with particular praise for its cast, humour, and engaging premise.
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The show was cancelled after three seasons
The Netflix original horror-comedy series Santa Clarita Diet was cancelled after three seasons, with the final episode airing on April 26, 2019. The show starred Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, realtors and married couple living in Santa Clarita, California.
The first season received generally positive reviews from critics, with 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. The show's third season maintained its positive trajectory, receiving critical acclaim for its blend of "entrails, morbid humor, and a touching affirmation of marital love".
Despite its critical acclaim and devoted following, Santa Clarita Diet fell victim to Netflix's "cost-plus" budget model, which involves paying for a show's production costs upfront, plus a premium of 30% or more of the total costs. With each new season, the budget increases significantly, especially after the third season, as the studio starts to pay off the show's backend costs. In the case of Santa Clarita Diet, the show's cancellation was attributed to the escalating budget that comes with each additional season, rather than a lack of viewership or critical acclaim.
The show's abrupt ending left fans disappointed, as the final episode concluded with a cliffhanger that saw Joel attacked by a flesh-eating spider. Fans even started a #SaveSantaClaritaDiet Twitter campaign, hoping for a fourth season renewal. Unfortunately, their efforts did not succeed, and Santa Clarita Diet remains cancelled after three seasons.
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Frequently asked questions
The show premiered on February 3, 2017.
Santa Clarita Diet ran for three seasons.
The show was cancelled due to a complicated budget model.
Santa Clarita Diet is a horror-comedy series about a married couple, Sheila and Joel, who are realtors living in Santa Clarita, California. Their lives take a dark turn when Sheila dies and becomes a zombie who craves human flesh.
Santa Clarita Diet stars Drew Barrymore as Sheila Hammond and Timothy Olyphant as Joel Hammond.
