Here's the real reason why Netflix cancelled Santa Clarita Diet
Netflix, like any large corporation, isn't afraid to make big decisions, even if those moves are guaranteed to offend its subscribers – and that's exactly what happened recently following several sizeable executive calls, from a price hike to the cancellation of a number of titles.
A raft of shows have had their runs prematurely cut short, much to the dismay of the brains behind them and their committed fanbases, and the latest to be shown the door is Santa Clarita Diet, following in the footsteps of One Day at a Time, the various Marvel shows and more.
"They called us with the news yesterday," Santa Clarita Diet producer Tracy Katsky Boomer told CNN. "We are all so sad. We have loved making it so much."
Drew Barrymore's passion project lasted just three seasons before it was taken off the table, despite the fact that the last chapter ended on a cliffhanger. The mystery surrounding Mr Ball Legs, and what was going to happen after Sheila sunk her teeth into Joel's neck – two big questions that will continue to haunt us.
In a statement, show creator Victor Fresco and Katsky shared their disappointment: "Like our audience, we were all-in on Sheila and Joel. Their relationship, in the face of incredible adversity, was inspiring to write and to watch. Mostly, they were funny, which in a comedy is important."
The pair, while also praising Netflix for its initial support, did take the opportunity to take a swipe at the streaming service.
"Netflix took at chance on this odd show and for that we will always be grateful. They were supportive, ever positive, and appreciative of our work. Until about noon today.
"Still, they were just one phone call away from being a perfect studio. Not bad. Everything ends. This was a thing. And so it ended."
The show's fanbase was understandably angry and wanted answers, and while Netflix very rarely gives anything away about what happens behind the scenes, there are certainly some clues out there as to why this one didn't go the distance.
At an INTV conference in Israel back in March, Netflix's head of original content, Cindy Holland, discussed why some shows are cut short, and as you are probably well aware, it all hinges on if Netflix is getting enough bang for its buck.
"It's a combination of things," she said (via Deadline): "When we're investing, we decide how much to invest based on the audience that will show up. If the audience doesn't show up, we think about the reason to continue to invest in something that doesn't do as well as we had hoped."
In the case of Santa Clarita Diet, Holland and her colleagues clearly felt that there was no viable reason to keep pumping money into it.
She added: "Obviously, critical acclaim is important too, but we're really about trying to stretch our investment dollars as far as we can and make good on our investors' money – it's theirs, not ours."
Talk of investors does feel very Wall Street, and it's not something that the average viewer gives a hoot about, but they are a key part of the Netflix model, with much of the business's success depending on their continued commitment.
It's hardly breaking news that financial reasons are the biggest driver behind the platform's decisions. There isn't, in the words of Theresa May, a magic money tree.
The streaming platform is built on a "cost-plus" model. If they want your show, they will cover all of the production costs, as well as offering around 30% extra on top of that to own most of the licensing rights.
According to CNBC, the majority of TV networks only cover about 60 to 70% of the production costs, with the production company owning most of the rights. But Netflix's approach means that future revenue opportunities for the site's most successful shows, such as Stranger Things or The Crown, predominantly benefit them.
But when it comes to shows that don't quite hit it off with viewers, it's easy to see how Netflix could very easily find themselves out of pocket.
Netflix doesn't release viewing figures unless its on their own terms – they publicised the numbers for the likes of Sex Education and You because of their overwhelming success – so while we'll never know how many people tuned in to watch Santa Clarita Diet, clearly it wasn't enough to outweigh the production costs.
Don't expect to see it on another network anytime soon, either. There is usually a clause in the original deal that stops cancelled Netflix shows from airing elsewhere for a "significant period of time, said to be two to three years", according to Deadline.
Some sources, however, have suggested that it could be as long as five to seven years, or possibly more. Sheila and Joel's story still has a lot of (undead) life left in it, but don't expect developments anytime soon.
Want up-to-the-minute entertainment news and features? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @digitalspy Instagram and Twitter account.
('You Might Also Like',)
