HBO series ‘The Idol’ gets canceled after one season

HBO's much-talked-about series "The Idol", a collaboration between Sam Levinson and Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye, has come to an abrupt end after its first season. The decision was announced recently by HBO, citing the creators' and producers' mutual decision not to move forward with a second season.

"The Idol" gained attention even before its debut due to its controversial nature. The show, which received a mixed response, concluded its inaugural season after just five episodes, shorter than the initially planned six-episode run. The cancellation decision comes after uncertainty about the show's future for both viewers and cast members.

A spokesperson from HBO expressed appreciation for the show's strong audience response but confirmed that a second season would not be pursued. The spokesperson extended gratitude to the creators, cast, and crew for their dedicated efforts.

Created by Sam Levinson and The Weeknd, with the latter starring alongside Lily-Rose Depp, "The Idol" faced early setbacks. Director Amy Seimetz left the project in 2022, leading to significant reshoots and Sam Levinson taking on the directorial role. The show also dealt with allegations of a toxic work environment, detailed in a Rolling Stone report, which the creators and cast had to address.

Despite generating pre-release buzz, the series received a lukewarm response from audiences and critics alike, with a mere 19% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The reception led to the cancellation, which was met with mixed reactions.

Ratings for "The Idol" were modest, with the premiere drawing 913,000 viewers, 17% fewer than Levinson's earlier HBO project "Euphoria". However, the viewership increased to 3.6 million in the first week and now stands at 7 million. Subsequent episodes witnessed fluctuating viewership numbers.