Nancy Drew producer slams CW execs for cancellation: 'No consideration for the fandom'
The case of Nancy Drew's cancellation just got a lot more complicated.
Just one day after the CW's teen sleuth adaptation aired its series finale, executive producer Larry Teng slammed the network on social media for the "f---ing s---ty way" he and other producers found out that season 4 would mark the show's end.
"From what I've read, the reaction[s] to the series finale have been mostly positive," Teng wrote Thursday night. "Now imagine if you watched that finale without us knowing it would be the last episode of #NancyDrew ever. Because that's what almost happened."
Colin Bentley/The CW Kennedy McMann on 'Nancy Drew'
Teng said the Nancy Drew team only found out about the show's cancellation because their production company, CBS Studios, was trying to work out a schedule for series star Kennedy McMann, who was cast in The Good Doctor spin-off The Good Lawyer opposite Felcity Huffman. The Good Lawyer has yet to be picked up to series due to the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
When someone from CBS Studios called the CW's president about season 5, Teng said, "he said to us 'Oh, we're not picking you up… the show is too expensive.'"
"Had our Studio not made that call, who knows if we would've ever been told. At that point in the season there were only four episodes left to shoot and the writers were already breaking the finale," said Teng, who directed many Nancy Drew episodes, including the pilot.
Colin Bentley/The CW Henrique Saga, Kennedy McMann, Leah Lewis, Tunji Kasim, and Maddison Jaizani as Bess on 'Nancy Drew'
"Thank God the Studio called. Because you all deserved the most proper ending possible," he added. "That's why I praise the writers for pulling it together at the end. It was so glib. No consideration for letting [showrunners] Noga [Landau] and Melinda [Hsu Taylor] give you a proper goodbye. No closure. No consideration for the fandom who support and watch this show."
Teng added that he's had issues with executives at the CW since the network was bought by Nexstar Media Group last year.
"I've been pissed at the upper brass of this new CW since November. They suck," he wrote. "They have every right to turn a profit Which means canceling shows. But to have clearly known in advance and not tell us until a random call 3/4 into our season is just plain f---ing disrespect."
Read Teng's full Twitter thread below:
So… this could be long. From what I’ve read, the reaction to the series finale have been mostly positive. Now imagine if you watched that finale without us knowing it would be the last episode of #NancyDrew ever. Because that’s what almost happened.
— Larry Teng (@larryteng) August 24, 2023
And so CBS Studios made a call to The CW. Right around the time we were in prep on Episode 410. And asked the president of the new CW when we would find out about a pickup so we could make scheduling decisions. And it was then, he said to us “Oh, we’re not picking you up…”
— Larry Teng (@larryteng) August 24, 2023
What a fucking shitty way of telling us we were getting canceled. Thank God the Studio called. Because you all deserved the most proper ending possible. That’s why I praise the writers for pulling it together at the end. It was so glib.
— Larry Teng (@larryteng) August 24, 2023
Which means canceling shows. But to have clearly known in advance e and not tell us until a random call 3/4 into our season is just plain fucking disrespect. I’m glad y’all enjoyed the finale. You deserved that. Long live our #Drewds and the #DrewCrew.
— Larry Teng (@larryteng) August 24, 2023
And BTW, I have friends on #KungFu who, because they were canceled after they wrapped, never had a chance at a proper ending. I’m not saying the CW knew that in advance - I don’t know that - but IF the CW knew, and didn’t tell them, then that show and its fans got fucked too.
— Larry Teng (@larryteng) August 25, 2023
Along with McMann playing the titular detective, Nancy Drew starred Scott Wolf, Leah Lewis, Maddison Jaizani, Tunji Kasim, Alex Saxon, and Riley Smith. The series premiered in 2019.
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