“Masters of Sex” will not be renewed for a fifth season at Showtime, TheWrap has confirmed.
That means that the recent Season 4 finale, which aired on Nov. 13, will serve as the series finale for the drama. Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan starred as famed sex researchers and eventual lovers William Masters and Virginia Johnson.
The series began with Masters and Johnson working together in the 1960s, with recent storylines carrying them into the swinging ’70s.
“‘Masters of Sex’ was a beautifully written and acted exploration of America’s changing sexual mores,” Showtime said in a statement. “We are incredibly proud to have shared the story of Masters and Johnson for four critically-acclaimed seasons. The series will remain available across our platforms where new viewers can discover it for years to come.”
The premium cable drama has been steadily declining in viewership with Season 4 averaging just 453,000 viewers per episode and a 0.1 rating in the key adults 18-49 demographic. Season 3 averaged 595,000 viewers and a 0.1 rating. However, Season 4 did average 2.2 million viewers across multiple platforms.
Nevertheless, the series has garnered a number of awards and nominations during its run. Caplan was nominated for an Emmy for the first season, while Allison Janney won the award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for the same season.
Based on Thomas Maier’s book “Masters of Sex: The Life and Times of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, The Couple Who Taught America How To Love,” the series was developed for Sony Pictures Television by Michelle Ashford, who also executive produces.
Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly, Amy Lippman, Dave Flebotte and Judith Verno also serve as executive producers. Sheen, Tammy Rosen and Thomas Maier serve as producers.