5 Shocking Reasons Why FOX Canceled The Mick After Season 2 (The Real Story Behind The Ratings Drop)

The cancellation of the critically acclaimed and fan-favorite FOX comedy *The Mick* in May 2018 remains one of the most frustrating network decisions for comedy enthusiasts. Despite starring the immensely talented Kaitlin Olson and delivering a unique brand of edgy, irreverent humor, the show was abruptly axed after only two seasons, leaving a major cliffhanger unresolved. This article, updated for December 2025, digs deep into the core factors that led to the show's demise, revealing the sharp ratings decline, the network's shifting strategy, and the incredible plans the creators had for a chaotic Season 3 that never was. The show, which premiered in January 2017, centered on Mackenzie "Mickey" Murphy, a degenerate grifter who is forced to raise her wealthy sister's three spoiled children—Sabrina, Chip, and Ben Pemberton—after their parents flee the country to avoid federal fraud charges. The premise, coupled with Olson's brilliant comedic timing, promised a long run, but a combination of poor scheduling and a steep drop in viewership sealed its fate.

The Definitive Biography of The Mick: Cast, Creators, and Core Team

The success of *The Mick* was built on the chemistry of its core ensemble and the distinct vision of its creators.

• Star: Kaitlin Olson as Mackenzie "Mickey" Murphy (known for *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia*).
• Creators/Executive Producers: John Chernin and Dave Chernin (known collectively as The Chernin Brothers).
• Executive Producers: Nicholas Frenkel, Oly Obst, and Randall Einhorn.
• Network: FOX.
• Original Run: January 1, 2017 – April 3, 2018.
• Seasons: 2.
• Main Cast:
  • Kaitlin Olson as Mickey Murphy.
  • Sofia Black-D'Elia as Sabrina Pemberton.
  • Thomas Barbusca as Chip Pemberton.
  • Jack Stanton as Ben Pemberton.
  • Carla Jimenez as Alba (the housekeeper).
  • Scott MacArthur as Jimmy (Mickey's on-again, off-again boyfriend).
• Production Companies: 20th Century Fox Television, Chernin Entertainment, 3 Arts Entertainment.

The Catastrophic Ratings Decline That Sealed Its Fate

The single, most undeniable reason for the cancellation of *The Mick* was its significant and consistent drop in viewership, particularly in the crucial second season. While FOX never released an official statement detailing the exact metrics, the data available from the 2017-2018 television season paints a stark picture of a show that lost its audience.

The Season 1 Promise vs. The Season 2 Reality

*The Mick* premiered strong in 2017, benefiting from a prime spot following an NFL doubleheader. The pilot episode garnered a massive audience, giving the network high hopes for the new comedy. However, as the season progressed and the show moved to its regular time slot, the audience began to shrink. The real trouble began with Season 2. The second season suffered a devastating loss in key demographics and total viewers compared to its debut.

• 18-49 Demographic Drop: Season 2 of *The Mick* saw a sharp decline of approximately 24% in the highly coveted 18-49 demographic rating compared to Season 1. This is the metric networks use to sell advertising, making it the most critical number for a show's survival. Season 2 averaged a low 0.73 rating in this demo.
• Total Viewer Loss: The show also saw a 19% drop in total average viewers. Season 2 averaged only 2.10 million viewers, which, for a major network like FOX, was considered "low-rated."

A decline of nearly a quarter of its core audience is a death blow for any show on a major broadcast network, regardless of critical acclaim or fan loyalty. The network had to make a tough call based on the economics of the television business.

The Unkind Scheduling and FOX's Shifting Strategy

While the ratings drop was the primary cause, the network's handling of the show's schedule likely exacerbated the problem.

The Curse of the Time Slot Shuffle

*The Mick* was subjected to multiple time slot changes, a common practice that often disrupts viewer habits and makes it difficult for a show to build a consistent audience. Changing a comedy's time slot—especially one with a specific, edgy tone—can be fatal, as viewers may not follow it to its new night or hour. The show was moved from its original Tuesday slot to a later, less favorable time, contributing to the viewer erosion.

The 2018 FOX Comedy Purge

The cancellation of *The Mick* occurred in May 2018, a period when FOX was making a series of controversial decisions regarding its comedy lineup. That same month, FOX also canceled beloved shows like *Brooklyn Nine-Nine* (which was later rescued by NBC) and *Last Man on Earth*. This wave of cancellations pointed to a broader, aggressive strategy by the network to overhaul its comedy brand and potentially focus more on shows produced in-house. While *The Mick* was a 20th Century Fox Television production, the overall environment was one of high risk and low tolerance for underperforming shows, even if their ratings were not disastrous by cable standards. The network was looking for breakout hits, and *The Mick*'s declining numbers simply didn't meet the threshold for a Season 3 renewal in a highly competitive landscape.

The Tragic Cliffhanger and The Chernin Brothers' 'Crazy' Season 3 Plans

Perhaps the cruelest aspect of the cancellation was the unresolved second season finale, which left the character of Sabrina Pemberton in mortal danger.

Sabrina's Fate and the Unresolved Ending

The Season 2 finale ended with a literal explosion, leaving the fate of Sabrina (Sofia Black-D'Elia) completely ambiguous. This cliffhanger was a deliberate choice by The Chernin Brothers, John and Dave, who were confident in a Season 3 renewal. The abrupt cancellation left fans with no closure on whether Sabrina survived the blast.

What The Mick Season 3 Would Have Looked Like

In interviews following the cancellation, the creators revealed their ambitious and "crazy" plans for the unmade third season, which would have provided incredible topical authority for the show's lore.

• The Aftermath of the Explosion: The premiere of Season 3 would have immediately resolved Sabrina's fate, confirming that she survived the explosion. The creators planned for her to be temporarily blinded, leading to a storyline where she has to rely on the family she often despised, forcing a new dynamic with Mickey.
• Mickey's New Love Interest: The creators intended to introduce a new, recurring love interest for Mickey, moving away from her dynamic with Jimmy. This new character would have been a more successful and sophisticated man, creating a fresh romantic rivalry.
• Ben's Psychological Turn: The youngest Pemberton, Ben (Jack Stanton), was set to have a major psychological storyline, potentially involving the return of his wealthy parents, which would have shaken the entire family dynamic.
• Chip's Continued Growth: Chip (Thomas Barbusca) was planned to continue his journey of self-discovery, with the possibility of a new, outrageous venture or scheme.

The revelation of these planned storylines only intensified the disappointment for fans, highlighting the missed potential for a show that many critics felt was just hitting its stride. The combination of low ratings and a shifting network focus ultimately proved too much for *The Mick* to overcome, cementing its place as one of the great "what ifs" of modern network comedy.

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