Sunday, December 15, 2024

TV: Is “Atlanta” Over? Even with Donald Glover’s Huge Success with “Solo: A Star Wars Story” and Number 1 Video?

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Is it curtains for Donald Glover’s beloved and much awarded FX series, “Atlanta”?

Last night came the season finale of the show’s second season, and there is no renewal in place. Fans started freaking out as cryptic messages on Twitter seemed to indicate we’d watched the end of the whole project.

It wouldn’t be a shock. Glover stars as a young Lando Calrissian in the new “Star Wars” movie. His new single/video, “This is America,” considered a tour de force, is number 1. His recording star alter ego, Childish Gambino, will issue a new album this year.

Indeed, Glover’s stock is rising fast. With “Atlanta,” he made a perfect series. He could always pick it up again, like Larry David with “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Or he could just let it go, as Amy Schumer–whose own star was in ascent with the movie, “Trainwreck.” She just let it go.

FX has not made an official announcement.

“Atlanta,” however, is not a big hit on FX. The fans (I count myself among them) are a discerning lot. According to tvseriesfinale.com, “Atlanta” ranks 7 out of 13 among FX scripted shows.

UPDATE: Last night’s episode scored only 553,000 viewers, down from 694,000 a week ago– more than 20% drop. Ouch!

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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