Why Was A.P. Bio Canceled Twice? Everything to Know About the Sitcom's History (And How Fans Brought It Back!) Before It Landed on Netflix

AP Bio it may have been canceled twice — but that doesn’t mean it’s been forgotten.

The comedy series, created by Mike O’Brien and executive produced by Seth Meyers, premiered on NBC in 2018. AP Bio follows Jack Griffin (Glenn Howerton) — a disgraced Harvard philosophy professor who teaches advanced biology at Whitlock High School in Toledo, Ohio. With no interest in teaching the subject, Griffin instead uses class time and the intelligence of his students to plot against his academic rival and superintendent, among others.

While Griffin was up to his antics on the show, changes were happening off-screen. AP Bio was canceled after two seasons in 2019, only to be revived the following year by NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock. The sitcom continued for two more seasons on the platform before being canceled again in 2021.

Although no new episodes have been released since then, the show found new fans after it debuted on Netflix on November 15 and quickly took its place on the streamer’s Top 10 list — a development that Howerton adored on social media.

“From 2018 to 2021, we did a show called AP Bio that I’m as proud of as anything I’ve ever done in my life,” he wrote on Instagram. “And now all 4 seasons are available on @netflix (and trending!) Watch and enjoy all the oddities.”

So why was it? AP Bio canceled twice? Here’s everything you need to know about the show’s cancellation.

Why was it AP Bio originally cancelled?

(LR) Lyric Lewis as Stef, Jean Villepique as Michelle, Mark Proksch as Philip and Mary Sohn as Mary in episode 104 of ‘AP Bio’.

Vivian Zink/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

When AP Bio premiered on NBC in February 2018, it got off to a slow start, drawing 3.2 million viewers, according to Diversity. It paled beside Will & Grace with 4.1 million viewers and Chicago Fire5.6 million. In addition, AP Bio was the only NBC program in the Thursday lineup to deliver a less than 1.0 rating in the adults 18-49 demo, at 0.9.

That same year, in May, TVLine reported that AP Bio the first season finale drew 2.1 million viewers, and despite lower-than-usual ratings, NBC renewed it for a second season.

Unfortunately, the series continued to average just under 2 million viewers per episode for its second installment, “making it the second lowest-rated scripted series for the network,” per Diversity. By May 2019, NBC had canceled AP Bio and creator O’Brien announced the news.

“As most canceled shows probably feel, I think we were just getting started and everyone still loved the job, so this is really hard,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Why was it AP Bio brought back for season 3 and 4?

Glenn Howerton and Patton Oswalt in “AP Bio.”

Vivian Zink/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

The unexpected happened when NBCUniversal launched its streaming service, Peacock, and AP Bio has been picked up for season 3.

Reflecting on the news of the September 2020 renewal, O’Brien said fan support helped bring the series back.

“I don’t remember how I found out about the cancellation. … And I don’t know the exact process of being picked up by Peacock, but I do know that the #saveAPBio twitter campaign sure helped! So, thank you all!” he wrote in a Reddit AMA.

Additionally, NBCUniversal revealed that AP Bio was an example of a “long tail discovery”, per Deadline. Although the pilot had a 0.4 rating when it aired on TV, it climbed to a 5.9 rating more than a year later through “non-linear sources,” which included on-demand viewing.

When Howerton heard the news that AP Bio was returning for Season 3, expressed his gratitude for X. “I’m over the moon. My biggest congratulations to @MikeOBrienXOXO for creating such an amazing show. I’m so happy right now,” the actor wrote in July 2019.

Next winter, AP Bio has been renewed for a 4th season, becoming Peacock’s first original scripted series to return, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Unfortunately, the next year wasn’t the same: in December 2021, Peacock announced that he did AP Bio would not be renewed for a fifth season.

“We were honored to be able to give fans two more seasons of this beloved, quirky comedy. We are grateful to creator Mike O’Brien for his extraordinary storytelling and for taking us on this journey with these characters at Whitlock High School,” the streaming service said in a statement, according to Deadline.

Peacock did not provide further information on the reasons for the second cancellation of the show.

What did he do AP Bio cast and crew say after the series’ second cancellation?

Spencer Moore II and Allisyn Ashley Arm in “AP Bio.”

Vivian Zink/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

After four seasons AP Biothe cast and crew were upset that the show was officially ending, but they were also grateful that the show’s journey had lasted so long.

“I’m so proud of this show and so happy to have been a part of it. I’m sad it’s gone. But it was a great show. Mike, you’re a genius,” Howerton wrote on X in December 2021.

Patton Oswalt, who played Principal Ralph Durbin, echoed Howerton’s words.

“Besides being happy, we got to record 4 outstanding seasons of @APBioPeacock!” he posted on X. “Thank you @nbc & @peacockTV for giving us the opportunity we have.”

Oswalt continued: “Thank you @MikeOBrienXOXO for being the creator and showrunner, thank you @GlennHowerton for making every second FUN.”

Where can I watch AP Bio?

Aparna Brielle and Nick Peine in “AP Bio.”

Ron Batzdorff/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

All four seasons AP Bio are available to stream on Peacock and Netflix.

This is the first time that all 42 episodes of the sitcom are available to stream outside of the NBCU streaming platform.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education