“Lodge 49” is closed for good. The drama, which was canceled by AMC in October after two seasons, did not find a new home.
Creator Jim Gavin tweeted the news in a lengthy thread on Tuesday: “DEAR LYNX, it breaks my heart to announce that LODGE 49 won’t be going forward. We tried very hard to find a new home, but there were no takers. Ratings, metrics, algorithms…que sera, brah. I will write a proper postscript soon, but for now a few thoughts.”
DEAR LYNX, it breaks my heart to announce that LODGE 49 won't be going forward. We tried very hard to find a new home, but there were no takers. Ratings, metrics, algorithms…que sera, brah. I will write a proper postscript soon, but for now a few thoughts. (thread)
— Jim Gavin (@jimatdeltaco) December 17, 2019
Gavin continued by praising AMC for being the “ONLY place willing to take a chance” and for “letting us make the show we wanted. It’s a miracle we got two wonderful seasons and I’m forever grateful.” Still, Gavin said he had mixed feelings about the decision by AMC to end the show, given that “we made just about every major top ten list alongside all the big shows.”
“Lodge 49” is described as “a light-hearted, endearing modern fable set in Long Beach, California about a disarmingly optimistic local ex-surfer, Dud (Russell), who’s drifting after the death of his father and collapse of the family business.” Along with Wyatt Russell, the series starred Brent Jennings (Ernie), Sonya Cassidy (Liz), Linda Emond (Connie), Eric Allan Kramer (Scott) and David Pasquesi (Blaise).
Executive producers include creator and writer Gavin, showrunner Peter Ocko (“Pushing Daisies,” “The Office”), Paul Giamatti (“Billions,” “Sideways,” “Outsiders,” “Hoke”), Dan Carey (“Outsiders,” “Hoke,” “John Dies at the End,” “All Is Bright”) and Jeff Freilich (“Halt and Catch Fire,” “Grace and Frankie”).
Russell is set to star alongside Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan on the Marvel Studios-produced “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” for Disney+ next fall.
The second season of “Lodge 49” averaged 428,000 total viewers, with 132,000 of those coming from the adults 18-49 demographic and 180,000 viewers in the age 25-54 range, according to Live + 3 Day data from Nielsen. Those numbers are down 43%, 40% and 44%, respectively, from the show’s first season, which aired in 2018.
“I hope the next TV show that focuses on plumbing and hermeticism becomes a ratings smash,” Gavin continued. “But until then! Maybe it’s fitting that a show about a secret society remains a secret. Something people have to search for, or stumble upon, like a ring in the sand.”
You can read Gavin’s entire thread below:
Re: AMC…Mixed feelings! Even after our cancellation we made just about every major top ten list alongside all the big shows. That's not easy to do and it makes me so proud. We delivered something special & I think it's fair to say that we deserved a chance to finish our story.
— Jim Gavin (@jimatdeltaco) December 17, 2019
That said, AMC were the ONLY place willing to take a chance on LODGE 49. Creatively, they were amazing, letting us make the show we wanted. It's a miracle we got two wonderful seasons and I'm forever grateful.
— Jim Gavin (@jimatdeltaco) December 17, 2019
I hope the next TV show that focuses on plumbing and hermeticism becomes a ratings smash. But until then! Maybe it's fitting that a show about a secret society remains a secret. Something people have to search for, or stumble upon, like a ring in the sand.
— Jim Gavin (@jimatdeltaco) December 17, 2019
To our amazing fans, thank you for fighting for the show. Your patience, enthusiasm, solidarity, & creativity have meant the world to all of us. We have to accept the exile our knowledge requires, but the lodge is where you take it & the doors are always open. Lynx for life.
— Jim Gavin (@jimatdeltaco) December 17, 2019
Here's the good news. LODGE 49 is still a thing in the world! We looked at each season as a ten hour movie, to be watched more than once, like all the things we love. I do think there is a sense of wholeness to what we've made and I know that will continue to reward viewers.
— Jim Gavin (@jimatdeltaco) December 17, 2019
When both seasons land on Hulu in 2020, let's make a celebration of it.
— Jim Gavin (@jimatdeltaco) December 17, 2019