Jeffrey Salazar
Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy series that premiered on Netflix on February 3, 2017. The show stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, a married couple and real estate team living in Santa Clarita, California. Their lives take a turn for the worse when Sheila begins to exhibit signs of becoming a zombie, including a craving for human flesh and violent mood swings. The show was well-received by critics and fans alike, with the first season receiving generally positive reviews and an approval rating of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite its success, Netflix cancelled the series after three seasons, leaving fans with a cliffhanger ending. While there has been no official announcement of a fourth season, there is a possibility of a revival if viewership increases and makes it seem worthwhile.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of seasons | 3 |
| Streaming platform | Netflix |
| Genre | Horror-comedy, black comedy |
| Plot | A married couple, Sheila and Joel Hammond, who are real estate agents, struggle to balance their lives as Sheila starts exhibiting signs of becoming a zombie |
| Main cast | Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant, Liv Hewson, Skyler Gisondo |
| Creator | Victor Fresco |
| Cancellation reason | Netflix's "cost-plus" budget model, low audience turnout |
| Chances of revival | Possible if viewership increases |
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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. Netflix's decision to cancel shows is based on audience turnout and critical acclaim. The "cost-plus" model involves the company paying for a show's production costs upfront, in addition to a premium of 30% or more of the complete overall costs. With each new season, the series budget increases, and by the third or fourth season, the cost increase is significant.
The show's creator, Victor Fresco, was surprised by the cancellation, stating that he was in the process of editing season 3 when he learned from an assistant producer that the sets were being dismantled. He also mentions that Netflix tends to favour shows with broad appeal over those with a niche audience, and that shows rarely get renewed beyond three seasons.
Despite the show's critical acclaim and loyal following, it wasn't enough to justify a renewal and the pay increases that would follow. The cancellation of Santa Clarita Diet left fans disappointed, especially as the show ended on a cliffhanger. There is a possibility for a revival if viewership increases, as Netflix has revived shows in the past based on audience demand.
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Will there be a fourth season?
Fans of the show have been asking for a fourth season of the Netflix Original zombie comedy-drama *Santa Clarita Diet* since its cancellation in 2019. The show was a hit with critics and fans, receiving generally positive reviews and building a strong cult following.
The first season, which premiered on February 3, 2017, received an approval rating of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 67 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews". The second season also received positive reviews, with an approval rating of 89% and an average rating of 7.85/10 on Rotten Tomatoes.
Despite its success and acclaim, *Santa Clarita Diet* was canceled after three seasons due to Netflix's "cost-plus" budget model and low audience turnout. Netflix's decision to cancel shows is based on audience numbers and critical acclaim, with the company stretching its investment dollars as far as possible to make good on its investors' money.
The show's creator, Victor Fresco, has shared his disappointment over the cancellation, stating that he and the rest of the team would have liked to provide closure for the fans. Fresco revealed that the fourth season would have explored the relationship between the Hammonds' daughter Abby and their neighbor Eric, as well as the dynamic between Sheila and Joel now that they were "in the same boat", with Joel having joined his wife in the undead world.
While Netflix has revived shows in the past based on audience demand, the possibility of a fourth season of *Santa Clarita Diet* is complicated by the fact that Netflix includes clauses in its original series contracts preventing them from being picked up by another network for multiple years. However, fans can take solace in the fact that Netflix has revived shows in the past based on audience demand, and there is always the possibility of a revival if the viewership makes it seem worthwhile.
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What was the critical reception?
The first season of the Netflix horror-comedy Santa Clarita Diet received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has an approval rating of 70% based on 54 reviews, with an average rating of 7.9/10. Metacritic reports a similar score of 67 out of 100, based on 30 critics, indicating "generally favourable reviews".
The second season, which premiered on March 23, 2018, also received positive reviews. It has an approval rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 7.85/10. One critic wrote that the second season "took the series from light-hearted entertainment to full-blown addictive television".
The third season, which was cancelled abruptly, received a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 7.78/10. One critic described it as "a generous meal of entrails, morbid humour, and a touching affirmation of marital love".
Despite the show's critical acclaim and loyal following, Netflix cancelled Santa Clarita Diet after three seasons due to its "cost-plus" budget model. The decision to cancel the show was met with disappointment from fans, who started a petition and social media campaigns to bring it back.
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What was the premise?
Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy sitcom created by Victor Fresco for Netflix. The show stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, a married couple who work as real estate agents in Santa Clarita, California.
The premise of the show centres on the couple's lives, which take a dark turn when Sheila undergoes a metamorphosis and becomes a zombie. As a result, she starts craving human flesh and experiences violent mood swings due to her altered personality, which becomes more primal and impulsive. Joel and Sheila's once mundane lives are now filled with obstacles as they try to balance their home and work lives, hiding Sheila's "condition" from those around them and searching for a cure. The show also features the couple's daughter, Abby Hammond, and their teenage neighbour, Eric Bemis, who both get caught up in the chaos of Sheila's new undead state.
The show received generally positive reviews from critics and fans, with many praising the excellent cast, frequent laughs, and engaging premise. Despite its success, Netflix cancelled Santa Clarita Diet after three seasons, citing their "cost-plus" budget model and audience turnout as reasons for the decision. However, there is a possibility for a revival if viewership increases and makes it seem worthwhile, as Netflix has revived shows in the past based on audience demand.
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Who was in the cast?
The horror-comedy series Santa Clarita Diet boasted an impressive cast, led by Hollywood star Drew Barrymore. She played Sheila Hammond, a real estate agent who becomes infected with a zombie virus and starts craving human flesh. Barrymore was joined by Timothy Olyphant, who played her husband, Joel Hammond. Olyphant is best known for his role in The Mandalorian.
The couple's daughter, Abby Hammond, was played by Liv Hewson, while their neighbour Eric Bemis was played by Skyler Gisondo. Eric is the son of Lisa Palmer, played by Mary Elizabeth Ellis, and the stepson of Dan Palmer, played by Ricardo Chavira. Dan is a sheriff's deputy and is killed and eaten by Sheila in the first season.
Other cast members included Richard T. Jones, who played Rick in season 2, and Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod, who appeared in a Canadian promo for the series.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there will be! The second season of Santa Clarita Diet was announced on March 29, 2017, and released on Netflix on March 23, 2018.
Santa Clarita Diet is a horror-comedy starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, a married couple and real estate team living in Santa Clarita, California. Their lives are turned upside down when Sheila begins to exhibit signs of becoming a zombie, including a craving for human flesh and violent mood swings.
Yes, Santa Clarita Diet 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. The second season also received positive reviews, with an approval rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite its popularity, Netflix cancelled the show after three seasons due to its "cost-plus" budget model.
