In recent weeks, networks and streaming services have taken to the unusual habit of abruptly cancelling shows that had previously been given confirmed renewals.
The troubling new trend comes as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, which has made television production a far more difficult process, rife with safety concerns, logistical nightmares and ballooning budgets.
Arguably, the most high profile victim of this so far has been GLOW, Netflix’s popular comedy drama about a group of female wrestlers in the 1980s.
The series had been renewed for a fourth and final season last year, with filming getting underway back in February, but Netflix opted to pull the plug after seeing no easy path back to set.
But what makes GLOW a particularly tough nut to crack in a post-pandemic world RadioTimes.com breaks down the four leading factors that led to the show’s untimely cancellation.
The United States is the country hit hardest by coronavirus, with both the highest number of reported cases (7.4 million) and deaths (210,000) at the time of writing.
GLOW has been filmed entirely in a Los Angeles studio for its previous three seasons, with the cast returning to work there earlier this year to start work on their fourth and final outing.
However, since filming was halted, California has become one of the worst affected states in the USA, making it very difficult to reopen Los Angeles fully.
As a result, heading back there now is simply not a viable option as the risk of infection would be too high, particularly given the nature of the scenes required.
