‘Free Agents’ Canceled by NBC (Update)

Series struggled in the ratings, despite star’s Twitter campaign to save it

NBC has canceled the Hank Azaria comedy "Free Agents," an individual familiar with the series confirms to TheWrap.

The series, which debuted this season, had been struggling in the ratings. Last Wednesday, the series slipped 23 percent from its second-week numbers, posting a mere 1.0/3 and 3.1 million total viewers. The last episode, airing on Wednesday, falied to improve on those numbers, running flat with last week.

Also read: Another "Simpsons" Season Would Likely Be Its Last, Executive Says

"Thanks to NBC for giving us a shot, thanks to all who watched 'Free Agents,' and thanks to all who worked on the show- we had so much fun!!" Azaria tweeted Thursday.

Seeing the writing on the wall, Azaria mounted a Twitter campaign to save the series earlier this week, writing to the show's fans, "Okay, it's do or die time for my show 'Free Agents' — we need eyeballs tonight at 8:30 on NBC!! Watch tonight or we may go away."

Also read: Hank Azaria Mounts Twitter Campaign to Save "Free Agents"

The series, which premiered Sept. 14, starred Azaria and Kathryn Hahn as co-workers who explore a relationship together after he's divorced and her fiance dies.

The cancellation of the series adds to Azaria's rough week. Voice talent for "The Simpsons" — including Azaria — have been asked to take a 45 percent pay cut on the series. An executive told TheWrap that Fox is only interested in running one more season of the long-running animated series — and that's only if the voice talent agrees to the cut.

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"Free Agents" marks the second cancellation of the fall season; on Tuesday, NBC also cancelled "The Playboy Club," which ran for just three episodes.

NBC has not yet announced on a replacement series for "Free Agents."
 

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