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Stumptown had been renewed for Season 2 and was set to be part of ABC's fall schedule later this year. However, now the Cobie Smulders show will not be going ahead on the channel after the network reversed their decision to recommission the show.
In May, Stumptown was among 13 shows renewed by ABC, which included The Conners, Dancing with the Stars and fellow debut series mixed-ish. At the time, Deadline reported that Stumptown had been renewed after the show proved, "a breakout in digital viewing."
The series' executive producer Matthew Southworth led the reactions to the cancelation on Twitter, writing: "Sad news, but there's a glimmer of hope. Maybe a petition would save #stumptown...
"FWIW, we made STUMPTOWN as a comic. The show was a delightful bonus, a stroke of good luck, but I'm happy. I hope Cobie & all get another chance, but if not, we'll make new things. PS f*** 2020."
Sad news, but there's a glimmer of hope. Maybe a petition would save #stumptown...
— Matthew Southworth (@mattsouthworth) September 17, 2020
FWIW, we made STUMPTOWN as a comic. The show was a delightful bonus, a stroke of good luck, but I'm happy. I hope Cobie & all get another chance, but if not, we'll make new things.
PS fuck 2020 https://t.co/zfhPVYVhMv
The reason behind the cancelation, according to Deadline, was the same reason a few other shows have had their second seasons canceled—the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Sources told the website that there were issues that had delayed the start of production, meaning that the show would not be ready for the fall line-up.
In fact, sources reported that the season would not be ready to go out until April when the traditional broadcast season would be coming to an end. Deadline said that Covid-19 "played a significant role in the delay," but that the show also needed extra time on the scripts following the hiring of a new showrunner in Season 2 who wanted to change the creative direction of the show.
Though this is the end of Stumptown on ABC, the show's production company will reportedly shop it around to other networks, meaning that Season 2 of the show could air somewhere else at some point in the future.
The show is far from the only series to come to an end as a result of the pandemic. Other shows that have been canceled include Netflix's The Society, which also had its Season 2 order reversed, and I Am Not Okay With This. TruTV also reversed its decision to make I'm Sorry Season 3.
Other ABC shows that are part of their fall line-up meanwhile, have managed to start filming again. Grey's Anatomy, for example, started shooting Season 17 earlier in September, with star Ellen Pompeo releasing a photo featuring her on set in a face mask.
The Good Doctor, meanwhile, was meant to start shooting Season 4 in August, only for the show to be delayed as a result of concerns about safety. On September 2, however, the Freddie Highmore-starring show was able to finally begin filming.
ABC Signature, the production company that made Stumptown, has also managed to start filming on one of their shows, the upcoming Disney+ reboot of The Mighty Ducks.
Stumptown Season 1 is streaming now on Hulu and ABC.
