NBC Cancels 'Smash' After Time Change, 'The Voice' Premiere Fail To Revive Ratings

NBC announced that it cancelled the series “Smash” after two seasons. The signs were in the air. The network announced on April 6 that the Broadway-based musical drama would be changing its time slot from Tuesday to Saturday.

Executive Producer Josh Safran told the media, “We’re all aware the show is not successful, but I guess I had hoped we would see what happened when The Voice came back [or] maybe they’d move us to a better time slot.”

NBC decided to move “Smash” to Saturdays after only 4.5 million total viewers tuned in when the series opened its second season and it got a 1.1 demo rating. This was a drop of 25 and 39 percent, series lows, from the show’s first season finale.

Theresa Rebeck, who created the show, left after the first season due to behind the scenes drama. Rebeck has publicly called the second season “a complete disaster.”

Katharine McPhee, who played Karen Cartwright, an ingénue from Iowa, said, “Sure, I wish that it could have five more seasons, but we had two great seasons and all I can say is I loved every moment of it. I loved getting to the set, I loved the people, I loved my crew. We did amazing things on the show in two years. With this business, you can never predict what people are going to like or love or hate. All I know is that when the show started and people were so excited about the pilot, I was excited to finally be a part of something that could showcase me. Everyone has perceptions about what you’re capable of and what you can do and this show was a huge gift."

The curtains will close on “Smash” on Sunday, May 26, with a two-hour series finale.