Fox Takes the Axe to The Grinder, Grandfathered After Only One Season Each

Despite weeks of speculation about whether or not a handful of Fox “bubble” comedy series would live to see another day, the network officially announced yesterday that it was axing Grandfathered, Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life, Bordertown, and Paste favorite The Grinder.

The Grinder, a single-camera comedy that starred Rob Lowe and Fred Savage, spent most of its 22-episode first season deservedly garnering positive reviews from our own Chris Morgan, among a slew of other TV critics. It seems, though, that being a critical darling can’t always save you, so the criminally underrated series is going out with a bang, and on its own terms.

While both The Grinder’s and Grandfathered’s critical receptions were strong throughout the course of their first seasons, their ratings—even with the help of multiplatform viewing adjustments—were similar to the less-hyped and certainly less-promoted series Cooper Barrett and Bordertown.

And while many guessed that either The Grinder or Grandfathered would be given a second shot by Fox due to the networks need to fill programming holes without having to throw so much money at promoting a slew of new comedies next year, the network ultimately opted to drop both, seemingly feeling that a gamble on the unknown was better than a schedule-filler—even ones led by the likes of Lowe and John Stamos. And speaking of Lowe, our reaction all but mirrors his, which you’ll find below:

#TheGrinder was not renewed by @FOXTV It was unapologetically original, smart, funny and had a murder’s row of talent. #GrinderRests.

— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) May 12, 2016