Imagine packing up your busy city life and heading to the countryside for a fresh start, only to realize that farming isn’t as easy as it looks, and the whole town hopes you fail since you came from the city. That was the hilarious premise of Bless This Mess. However, ABC canceled the show after two seasons as fans were just getting to know the characters. Let’s dive in to find out why.
Bless This Mess was a charming fish-out-of-water sitcom that aired on ABC from April 16, 2019, to May 5, 2020, and starred Dax Shepard and Lake Bell as a newlywed couple who left their fast-paced New York City lives behind to start over on a dilapidated farm in Bucksnort, Nebraska. It features lots of quirky humor and a lovable cast.
Why Bless This Mess was canceled
Despite earning an 82% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Bless This Mess was one of several ABC shows to get canceled in May 2020. Unfortunately, the network never gave any clear reasons for canceling the show. Insiders believe the onset of COVID-19 was a contributing factor as many networks, including ABC, had to make drastic changes to their production, reschedule their programming, and make budget cuts. `
Additionally, while the show had a dedicated fanbase, its viewership numbers were not as strong as some of ABC’s bigger hits. It averaged around 3.6 million viewers per episode, which was respectable but not outstanding compared to other sitcoms on the network.
Bless This Mess was co-created by Lake Bell and Elizabeth Meriwether, the latter of whom is best known for New Girl. Bell not only co-wrote and co-produced the series but also played the lead role of Rio. It also features a great supporting cast that includes veterans like Ed Begley Jr. as Rudy, Pam Grier as Constance, David Koechner as Beau, JT Neal as Jacob, and Lennon Parham as Kay. The chemistry among the actors contributed to the show’s charm and helped make the show interesting.
Dax Shepard, known for his quick wit, frequently ad-libbed lines, which helps the show flow more naturally.
Will Bless This Mess return?
Unfortunately, as of no, there are no official plans to bring back Bless This Mess. Unlike some other canceled shows that have found a second life on streaming platforms, ABC has not announced any efforts to revive the series.
For now, both Lake Bell and Dax Shepard have moved on to other projects. Bell has focused on directing and voice acting, while Shepard continues hosting his popular podcast, Armchair Expert.
If you’re a fan of lighthearted sitcoms with quirky, lovable characters, like New Girl, Schitt’s Creek, or Parks and Recreation, you should give Bless This Mess a try.
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