“Ghost Whisperer” was a popular supernatural drama show that was met with an untimely axing by CBS Networks after five successful seasons. If you’re not familiar with it, Ghost Whisperer followed Melinda Gordon, played by Jennifer Love Hewitt, as she navigated her life with the superpower to communicate with spirits and help them cross over to the afterlife. The show was peppy and fun, romantic full of compelling storylines and emotional depth, and that made the series quickly gain a dedicated fanbase.
Despite its popularity, “Ghost Whisperer” was abruptly canceled in 2010, leaving many people disappointed and searching for answers. The final season was broadcast by CBS, and the last episode dropped in May 2010 with more than seven million views, making it one of the lowest-viewed seasons during its run. Today, I’m going to unpack what went down behind the cancelation of this show. Let’s go for a history lesson on television.
Why Was Ghost Whisperer Canceled?
Ghost Whisperer was just another show to get the axed, but why? In the end, every viewer experiences a canceled show, so before we get to the reasons, let’s talk a bit more about the show. Melinda is a girl who can talk to spirits, and he tries to have a normal life with that ability.
Jennifer Love Hewitt played that role very well; she liked the part and felt inspired by her characterization and acting. While the show’s pace at first was slow, it eventually grew into the hearts of fans. But the ratings went up and then eventually crashed, with the final season of Ghost Whisperer being the least-watched season of this show.
When CBS decided to pull the plug, the producers told the actors not to look for another gig because ABC Networks was interested in picking up Ghost Whisperer, but that interest faded, and the show wasn’t resurrected. The then-CBS president Nina Tassler commented in its time that killing Ghost Whisperer wasn’t easy, but TV shows are all about ratings. Every production company has the fiduciary responsibility to report profits on the projects they embark on to their shareholders; otherwise, it’s a waste of money.
CBS Was Seeking To Capture Younger Viewers
One possible factor contributing to Ghost Whisperer getting the axe was a shift in CBS’s programming strategy. Back then, CBS was aiming to target a younger group; this demographic shift in targets made CBS pull the plug on all the shows that didn’t align with this new direction. Consequently, “Ghost Whisperer” fell victim to this change in focus.
Another thing worth noting in relation to Ghost Whisperer being canceled was that the show’s production costs may have played a role in the decision. As the show kept going, it became increasingly expensive to produce, with elaborate special effects and high-profile guest stars, a financial burden that drained budgets.
Once CBS Networks decided to axe the show, fans were very disappointed; they went online to comment about it, there were the usual blog posts, vlogs, forum threads, and campaigns to keep up the show, but in the end, it was a boardroom decision. As stated earlier, every production company expects that the projects they embark on render results in the form of revenue; CBS wanted to change strategies, the show was tanking in ratings, and even Jennifer Love Hewitt understood that the show was going to be pulled off the air.
Also Read: Why Did Aisha Tyler Leave Ghost Whisperer? Explained
Jennifer Love Hewitt Loved The Show
It’s been more than a decade after the show’s cancelation, and the fans are still there; new fans pop up here and there, and eventually, there’s the casual interview where they ask Jennifer Love Hewitt how she feels about a reboot show, now that those are so en vogue.
Well, the last time someone asked her about it was back in 2018, and Love Hewitt commented that she’d love to do it, she’d love to be back, and that she wants to play the part again because that’s one of her longest-played roles, it means a lot to her, and the fans love Melinda played by her. Moreover, she went as far as to say that if the show does happen, and she doesn’t get the Melinda part, that’d be crushing for her.
