ABC

Well, actor Jason Ritter was right when he told us he didn’t think his new dramedy, “Kevin (Probably) Saves the World,” would be canceled. In fact, the freshman series just got an additional three episode order from ABC.

But does that mean the show, which has struggled in Nielsen ratings, is safe for good? Definitely not.

However, Ritter told TheWrap that he’s “definitely still optimistic” about the future.

Also Read: ABC Orders 3 More 'Kevin (Probably) Saves the World' Episodes, 'The Mayor' Scripts

“With a show like this, it’s kind of strange and hard to describe in a couple sentences, at least for me,” Ritter said on Nov. 6, a few days before the series was handed a trio of new episodes. “I think it really relies on word of mouth and people telling their friends, ‘Hey you should watch the show,’ ‘That doesn’t really sound like my kind of thing,’ ‘I know, but trust me. It’s really fun and it’s really funny.'”

Ritter told us the ratings may not be stellar, but he’s loving the response from fans.

“I’m used to seeing lots of mean people online and people being cruel and dismissive, and the response to the show that I’ve seen has been so overwhelmingly positive that it feels like it could be one of the shows that just needs some time to build,” he said. “And maybe over the winter break people are telling their friends to see it and that will help.”

Also Read: 'Kevin (Probably) Saves the World' Star Explains How Show Avoids 'Magical Negro' Trope

“There have been lots of shows that didn’t start out great, but they gave it a shot and trusted the audiences will show up,” he continued. “Hopefully it’s not a situation where they go, ‘Well we didn’t get a huge hit show right off the bat’ [and cancel it]. Because most shows, even most hit shows, have humble beginnings.”

As far as how the mouthful of a title might be affecting the ratings, Ritter admits monikers are “always tough.”

“I don’t know what goes into making a title change or anything like that, but I think if people watch the show, then you know they’ll get over their fear of the title. And they’ll shorten it, like fans do with shows.”

Also Read: 'Kevin Probably Saves the World' Creator, Star Try to Explain Away 'Magical Negro' Trope

Ritter says he’s not offering up any abbreviations, so may we suggest “Kevin PSTW”? That doesn’t mean anything weird, right?

New episodes of “Kevin (Probably) Saves the World” air Tuesdays at 10/9 c on ABC.

14 Famous Last-Ditch Efforts to Save (Almost) Canceled TV Series (Photos)

Be it poor ratings, a huge cast member exit, or a showrunner shakeup, series can suffer many a crisis that puts them on the rocks with their network. But several shows have managed to back away from the cliff, thanks to some successful hail mary passes. Heck, some have even been resuscitated after cancellation. Check out the gallery below to see programs that were on the brink of cancellation (or already canned) for one reason or another, and the last-ditch efforts that were made to save them.
Netflix
"Roseanne"

The 2018 revival of Roseanne Barr's hit '90s sitcom brought John Goodman's Dan Conner back from the dead and became an insta-hit -- until a racist tweet by its star got it canceled just after the season finale. Then ABC greenlit a spinoff series called "The Conners" -- without Roseanne either on or off camera
ABC
"Star Trek"

A story so nice we'll tell it twice: What became one of the most influential shows of all time was a low-rated cult hit when it originally aired on NBC in the late '60s. It was almost canclled after its second season, but an intense letter writing campaign by the show's dedicated fans convinced NBC to give it a third season -- after which it was canceled for good.

The show went into syndication in the 1970s where it became a truly monster hit. The show was revived as a film series in 1979, which in turn spawned a sequel television series, "Star Trek: The Next Generation" in 1987.
NBC
"Valerie"

Simply put, one of the most infamous cast shake-ups in sitcom history. Star Valerie Harper, for whom the show was created and named in 1986, was fired after the second season, and her character killed off, over a fight with NBC and the show's producers over pay. (This would lead to a bitter lawsuit Harper eventually won.) Instead of canceling the hit show, NBC cast Sandy Duncan as a new live-in aunt, retitled the show "Valerie's Family" -- and then changed it to "The Hogan Family" from season 4 on.
NBC
"Baywatch"

The original run on NBC from 1989-90 suffered from poor ratings and a studio shutdown, but David Hasselhoff and the creators helped get the show into syndication -- where it ran for a decade as a worldwide hit.
NBC
"Roswell"

The WB let "Roswell" live after fans sent in bottles of Tabasco sauce (the characters' favorite condiment) to beg the network not to cancel.
20th Century Fox Television
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer"

The WB didn't put a stake through "Buffy"s heart, but the network wasn't willing to shell out the cash that UPN was for the series -- so it jumped networks.
The WB
"Chuck"

Fans rescued the NBC show by getting advertiser Subway involved with a "Save Chuck" campaign that actually worked.
NBC
"Arrested Development"

Fans thought the Bluth Family was gone for good when Fox canceled the show in 2006, however, Netflix picked it up for a fourth season in 2013 and it's still going.
Netflix
"Friday Night Lights"

A deal NBC struck to have DirecTV produce the show kept the Panthers playing for several seasons.
NBC
"Community"

The cult show spent its life on NBC perpetually on the bubble until the network finally cancelled it after season 5. Yahoo Screen picked up the series soon after; Fans got their "six seasons," now they just need the "and a movie" part.
NBC
"Jericho"

Fans took a main character shouting “nuts” to heart and sent CBS studio executives tons of the snack. Lucky for them, they reviewed the ratings and renewed it.
CBS
"Once Upon a Time"

Almost every key regular decided to leave after the ABC fantasy show's sixth season in 2017. It looked like all might be lost, but producers opted for a soft reboot that kept it going.
ABC
"The Leftovers"

Die-hard fans showed up at HBO's headquarters in NYC dressed as the show's Guilty Remnant faction, which was good enough for the network for one more round.
HBO
"Nashville"

ABC denied the country musician-centric show a fifth season, so CMT stepped up and brought it to a new home where it was truly appreciated.
ABC

1 of 15

“Roseanne,” redubbed “The Conners,” is the latest show to barely escape the executioner’s block

Be it poor ratings, a huge cast member exit, or a showrunner shakeup, series can suffer many a crisis that puts them on the rocks with their network. But several shows have managed to back away from the cliff, thanks to some successful hail mary passes. Heck, some have even been resuscitated after cancellation. Check out the gallery below to see programs that were on the brink of cancellation (or already canned) for one reason or another, and the last-ditch efforts that were made to save them.

View In Gallery