Alyssa Milano’s ABC sitcom gone up in smoke after just six episodes.
The Who’s The Boss alum was “shocked” by a recent Entertainment Weekly report suggesting her shortlived series Romantically Challenged had been axed after debuting to lackluster reviews last month, and commissioned her nearly 1 million fans and followers on Twitter to help keep the show alive. Milano and others affiliated with the series — which followed Milano, Kyle Bornheimer, Kelly Stables, and Josh Lawson as a group of lovelorn pals — also asked supporters to send photos of themselves with signs of support.
The show’s staff wrote to fans, “We wanted you to hear it from us 1st. We are heartbroken to report that #RomanticallyChallenged has been cancelled… officially.” And then, “We can’t thank you enough for all of our efforts in keeping us alive. We love you, #RomanticallyChallenged Army.”
By Sunday, the news was official: the online campaign to keep Romantically Challenged running was unsuccessful.
As recently as Friday, Alyssa insisted that ABC chiefs had yet to determine the future of her show, and took to her Twitter to blast Michael Ausiello — EW’s resident snitch on all things TV — who broke the then-unconfirmed news last week.
Milano wrote : “#romanticallychallenged I just spoke to abc. They say that no decision has been made as of yet. Either @MichaelAusiello is misinformed or his “insider” spilled before proper human contact was made between the network, producers & cast. Either way it’s not cool.”
Most touched by the efforts to save Romantically Challenged was the show’s star, Alyssa, who wrote a special message thanking fans for their support: “Your efforts on behalf of the my show has reiterated why I love my job. I hope you know that it is your faith and support that keep me going even in the hardest times. The words ‘thank you,’ never seem enough to convey my gratitude. Just know, from the bottom of my being, that you guys give me strength and I appreciate you.”