Fox effectively cancels ‘Ben and Kate,’ the weeping begins now

There is some news we wish that we never had to report … and this is a prime example.

Before the season, we named “Ben and Kate” our favorite new comedy of the season, and it continued to fare well in the weeks that followed. Then, the ratings continued to struggle and it was made pretty clear that the Nat Faxon show probably did not have much life left in it. Sadly, all of this culminated with the announcement on Tuesday that Fox has indeed decided to pull the plug, and it is effective immediately.

So why did “Ben and Kate,” a show that was so funny and had so much promise, fail? The first obvious reason is simply because of the lack of star power, but we also have to blame a general lack of promotion and understanding of what the show was about. It aired on a night in Tuesdays that is oversaturated with comedies, and in the fall if was up against “The Voice,” “Dancing with the Stars,” and “NCIS.” There are not too many new shows that could survive this combination.

All we are hoping moving forward now is that some other show recognizes the talent of Faxon, Lucy Punch, or one of the other cast members here and finds a way to get them into something new. After all, Faxon has an Academy Award! Just in case you forgot, he and Jim Rash were part of the writing team for “The Descendants,” which won a screenplay honor last year.

What’s your reaction to the “Ben and Kate” cancellation news? Be sure to share your thoughts below! For those curious, Fox is going to air a new season of “Hell’s Kitchen” beginning in this timeslot in March.

Photo: Fox