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CBS cancels the sitcom “Partners” and Greg In Hollywood is not at all happy about it
To quote Nancy Kerrigan during that awful moment in her life: “Whhyyy?’
CBS has canceled what has become one of my favorite comedies: Partners.
It was such a wonderful showcase for the brilliant Michael Urie and Brandon Routh could not have been more adorable and sweet as his boyfriend.
Most new television sitcoms would love to have the ratings achieved by this show which also starred David Krumholtz and Sophia Bush who were delightful in their roles.
But for CBS, 5.5 million viewers was not enough and show about a pair of best friends – one gay and one straight – has been canceled.
‘Thanks for the love and support!’ Urie tweeted to fans Friday. ‘Partners will always have a special place in my heart.’
Routh, the one-time Superman, played Urie’s seemingly naive boyfriend on the show and tweeted: ‘Well, that’s it folks. Our run of Partners is over. Thanks so much for your love, support, & dedication 2 our show. Much love from us 2 u.’
The comedy aired on Monday nights between How I Met Your Mother and Two Broke Girls. It is from is from Will & Grace creators Max Mutchick and David Kohan.
Urie played the over-the-top gay character which is based on Mutchick while Krumholz played the straight character based on Kohan and Bush played his fiance.
Urie, the out actor who came to fame on Ugly Betty, was the comic center of the show with his over-the-top character.
‘Any kind of extreme is fun – especially when you’re doing comedy,’ he told me earlier this year. ‘It opens up the boundaries so much for what you can do. I don’t like being confined. Since Ugly Betty I’ve gotten to play some subtle characters and that’s really fun and really interesting but I much prefer to go for the back of the house.’
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
Leo says:
Seriously Greg, you love Partners?! Very surprised. I’ve always admired ur good tastes. I am gay and have a straight best friend. I really wanted to love this show but it’s just so awfully bad. The horrendous stereotype is just too much and Urie is overacting it that he makes his character so unfunny. Plus the lame writing and the miscasting.
Greg Hernandez says:
Yep, loved it. Guess I’m just not the man you thought I was Leo.
Leo says:
I’ll wait for others to comment in this. It could be because I’m straight acting, I just don’t get this show at all. But then I may n the minority.
Ps. Still love you, Greg. Lol
Paul says:
I agree with Leo’s comments. He said everything I thought and wanted to say. Could have been a good show if the writers or Urie didn’t create such an over-the-top, character, which gave the haters another reason to laugh at us. On another note, I am begining to enjoy “The New Normal” since they are now adding some substance to the story. In addition, they have the very talented, adorable Andrew Rannells.
Robert Kabwe says:
I love Partners. My best friend is straight and I can relate to a lot of the issues. It doesn’t hurt that the leading men (and Sophia) are cute too:) I can understand the criticism and at first I felt it was lightweight, but after a few episodes I began to feel a great comedic rhythm developing with the cast. It’s now a show I actually look forward to watching and one of the first in a while I’m sad to see go.
FAEN says:
This came as no surprise to me. The writing was just awful. I loved the premise but didn’t see it going very far. Plus there wasn’t enough Brandon hottie pants lol.
I will say this though. ‘The Neighbors’ on ABC is probably one of the worst shows I have ever had the bad fortune of watching in my entire life. How that show hasn’t been yanked off the air I do not know.
Larry says:
Greg i begged you to talk more about Partners on your blog and you didn’t. Every gay blog was talking about The New Normal. I loved Partners with a passion
Greg Hernandez says:
Sorry Larry, I take full responsibility. I came to it a little late then fell in love with it. I’m so sad to see it go.
Charles B. says:
Look, no one ever sets out to fail – that’s a granted. From the thousands of scripts, to the dozens of pilots, to the handful of new shows that make it to the air each September – fewer still, get a full pick-up. You can have the best script, creative team, and network support – lightning has to strike. But every single person who ever wrote “scene 1:…” set out to write a hit. But in the case of Partners, I think it was a real misfire. I know that Kohan and Mutchnick were inspired by their own personal relationship to create this show, and perhaps that’s what the problem was – perhaps chronicling their relationship from the inside vantage point (with all the affection of the familiar) is perhaps what made it feel hermetic to many, hence the low ratings. Urie and Bush deserved better.
Geoff says:
It was fairly generic. Basically a not so funny slap sticky version of the “Odd Couple”. Common but tired formula. The show had a huge drop off the second week and the demographics were weak. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it. I really do not like “The New Normal”. Another generic formula and an over the top gay character, which is OK, but he’s not Jack Jack McFarland. “Just Jack”.
Sammy says:
With the current attitudes there’s TV room for everyone: a great cast, great talent…except for bad writing. What a shame! Although Partners was inspired by creators’ lives K and M. but so was New Normal’s R. Murphy and partner. However, it is not the genius of Murphy that’s for sure. Still it would be nice if Partners was picked by the FOX channel or ABC Family next season!
Scott Kjeer says:
I watched a few episodes of Partners the past few weeks, and enjoyed the relationship between the two main characters. I did not enjoy the voice of the straight guys’ wife (get some phlem-getter-outer) and the two twin just grated on my every nerve. I haven’t watched Partners that much because RuPaul’s Drag Race comes on at that time, and the second night of The Voice comes on when The New Normal airs. I have DVRs but they are recording stuff on cable.
I just wish these networks (not cable, except OWN) cannot get this stuff right!
I believe these “flashy-dangerous big-budget shows” V, The Revolution, Terra Nova, The River, Trauma, 666 Park Avenue etc… why don’t the networks begin them as a “limited series” where there is a beginning, middle and end to wrap up all the ties. If the show makes it past 2 seasons, then the last show can be updated if the show adds seasons. And don’t even get me started on celebrity-hosted talk shows (and most seem to be gay-friendly) being cancelled during season 2: The Nate Berkus Show, The Bonnie Hunt Show and most recently, Anderson (Cooper), yet yahoos like the Steve Wilkos and Jerry Springer shows stay on. The difference? The last two are syndicated, not a network- backed talk show.
Perhaps people will see these ideas and actually do something about it.
Sportsfan says:
Just as well for the cancellation. Major networks executives need to realize there is a desire for less over-the-top, yet more relatable if not truly interesting characters. Examples: successful cable shows such as Neal Caffrey of USA’s White Collar, Steve Jinks of SyFy’s Warehouse 13 or Zack Quinto of American Horror Story. Even MTV’s extremely popular Teen Wolf features ‘normal’ gay teenage characters. In fact, all cable channel characters mentioned are portrayed by out gay actors.
janet says:
I am so sorry to see this show go !Everyone I know on Vancouver Island enjoyed it .It was light comedy And when a redneck like my husband can enjoy it and guys/gals in the Navey giggle about it ! I thought it was clean funny not pushing the Gay thing in our face but alowing people to except what is the new normalYes and thats a pretty good show too !Like the sitcoms Wil and Grace ,Ellen ,Little Mosque on the Prarie, Neighbours,Mork and Mindy .You guys who decided to cancel this show really made a bad choice .I think its so great when you can teach the world through humour to except the human race as they are !Not what you want them to be !