Netflix Cancels One Day At A Time — But There's Still Hope To Save It

Netflix has determined not to renew One Day at a Time, the critically lauded sitcom that follows a Cuban-American family member as they move through life in the U.S.


The streamer reported the decision on Thursday (March 14) in a series of tweets. "We’ve made the very hard decision not to renew One Day At A Time for a fourth season," they started. "The choice did not come with little effort — we spent a number of weeks attempting to find a way to create another season work although in the end simply insufficient people watched to justify another season."


They go on to thank key members of the ODAAT family member, including writer and executive producer Norman Lear and the show's beloved stars Justina Machado, Isabella Gomez, Rita Moreno, and more, before ending their explanation with a heartfelt shout-out "to anyone who felt seen or represented — possibly for the initial time — by ODAAT," writing, "Please don’t take this as an indication your story isn't crucial. The outpouring of love for this show is a firm reminder to us that we must continue finding ways to tell these stories."


One Day at a Time had been struggling to increase a crowd on the streaming service since its starting, with each season premiere rapidly followed by reports that the show was at risk of cancellation. Loud fan and media support kept the show alive for 39 episodes.


Netflix might not directly have been the ideal place for the show, nevertheless that doesn't necessarily mean it's the end for the series. Sony, the studio in back of the project, will be attempting to find a new residence for the show — and, hopefully, one where ODAAT can finally get the viewership it deserves.


Facing a severe lack of Latinx representation on television, getting a show like ODAAT on a broadcast network (like ABC, NBC, Fox, or CBS) could be a true game-changer.


You visualize, on a service like Netflix, viewers have to actively seek out which shows they desire to watch. Nevertheless if the show is fitted into a streams usual half-hour comedy block, it can benefit from lead-in viewers who just finished watching, mention, Modern Family and still feel like getting in some end-of-day laughs. That potential would be huge for a show like ODAAT, because once people begin watching, they're bound to fall in love with it like so several fans have before.


And case in point, a movement has already began to stimulate other networks to save the show, with Lin-Manuel Miranda slyly tweeting, "Hey @nbc...I hear you like comedies with built-in fan bases that do even better on YOUR network than at their previous homes..." In reference to that time once Fox tried cancelling Brooklyn 99.


(This feels like a cool time to remind each person that two beloved sitcoms, ABC's aforementioned Modern Family and CBS's massively popular Big Bang Theory are both soon coming to an end, and so initial up a comedy timeslot on both networks.)


So, in the event you still wish to save the show that serves real conversations on Latinx immigration, mental health, racism, feminism, LGBTQ issues, and more under-represented viewpoints with a side of humor, do what you did for Brooklyn 99 — let those studio execs know that you want more One Day at a Time and #saveODAAT.