Importance Score: 7 / 100 🟠
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The mastermind behind one of Netflix’s top-rated cult favorite series has disclosed the surprising manner in which he learned of his show’s cancellation.
The **fans of Santa Clarita Diet**, airing from 2017 to 2019, held the horror-comedy series in high regard, cultivating a loyal audience throughout its run.
The Netflix **zombie comedy**, or **”zomcom”**, featured Drew Barrymore as a real estate agent who undergoes a transformation into a zombie, and Timothy Olyphant as her spouse, striving to hide her craving for human flesh.
Despite boasting a passionate fan base and a lead actor who is a global star, Netflix declined to greenlight a fourth and final season.
An Unconventional Discovery of Cancellation
The series’ creator, Victor Fresco, known for his work on Mad Men, recently discussed in an interview how he unexpectedly found out about the show’s cancellation.
Instead of receiving official notification, Fresco discovered the truth when his assistant informed him that the series’ sets were being dismantled.
“That’s how I found out it was definitively not returning,” he told **The Guardian**.
The abrupt cancellation left fans frustrated, with comments on **Reddit** reflecting their disappointment:
Fan Reactions
“For heaven’s sake, they couldn’t even send a text!” commented one upset fan.
“That’s brutal. I truly enjoyed that show,” remarked another.
Unresolved Plotlines and Dedicated Fans
The series concluded with a dramatic cliffhanger that was left unanswered, leaving fans in limbo. Even five years after its cancellation, viewers remain upset with Netflix’s decision.
The creator revealed that there were indications the show might not be renewed for a fourth season. To encourage Netflix to renew the series, the producers intentionally ended the season with a cliffhanger.
“We didn’t want to make it easier for them to cancel us. We thought, ‘Why are we doing their work for them?'” Fresco explained.
The Challenges of Series Renewal
He also noted that shows typically have a three-year run unless they achieve the status of a “monster hit” like Stranger Things. The renewal process is influenced by the contracts Netflix has with its stars, which reportedly include bonuses for ordering more than three seasons.
“If you examine your contract carefully, you’ll notice a significant disincentive for them to order seasons four and five because they face substantial payouts then,” Fresco elaborated.
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