‘Up All Night’ to air one more episode in wake of Christina Applegate exit

“Up All Night” continues to be the strange little engine that could for NBC. The network invested quite a bit of time and promotion into it during season 1, and eventually renewed it for another year despite it not exactly putting in home run-caliber ratings. Now, the show’s numbers are anemic, and you would think that the decision by Christina Applegate to leave would mean that the show’s fate is set in stone, despite plans to convert it over to a multi-camera sitcom, that way to take advantage of Will Arnett and Maya Rudoplh’s talents in front of a live audience.

As it turns out, the network and executive producer Lorne Michaels are not giving up yet. Deadline is reporting that the series will shoot one episode as a multi-camera comedy without Applegate present, and in some ways this could be painted as the equivalent of a pilot for a completely new show. There will be new elements that will have to be tested, a potential new cast member in the wake of the former star’s exit, and an opportunity for a completely new story to get viewers hooked.

However, the odds are still heavy that “Up All Night” will be canceled at the end of the year, and Arnett is already receiving calls about taking part in pilots for the new TV season. Between this and “Running Wilde,” the man unfortunately has not had too much luck as of late launching series, even ones that come into pilot season with a great deal of hype.

Do you “Up All Night” should keep going to try and find a new audience, or is this just the time to pack it in and call it a day? Be sure to share some of your thoughts below, and you can read some more news on Applegate’s exit over at the link here.

Photo: NBC