Why Was The Carmichael Show Canceled?

No sitcom can run forever, but some leave a network's lineup sooner than others. This is the case for "The Carmichael Show," a comedy loosely based on the family life of Emmy-winning comedian Jerrod Carmichael. Known for putting a humorous spin on serious, societal issues, such as politics, religion, and mental health, "The Carmichael Show" ran for three seasons, from 2015 to 2017, before its cancelation.

Ratings for the series weren't necessarily bad, so why wasn't it renewed for a 4th season? Based on an official statement from Carmichael, reported by Deadline, he wanted to try his hand at new projects. He said, "For three seasons (okay 2.5), I got to make a show that I love with my friends. It's something I've wanted to do since I was 13. Now, I'm excited to go make other things that I love. Thank you to every person who worked on or watched 'The Carmichael Show.'"

Since the sitcom left NBC, Carmichael has achieved this goal. Not only did he make his directorial debut with 2021's "On the Count of Three," in which he also stars, he's also part of the 2023 film "Poor Things" alongside Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo. However, there's more to the cancelation of "The Carmichael Show" than its creator wanting to stretch his wings.

The security of "The Carmichael Show" in NBC's lineup was shaky since 2016, when the network and 20th Century Fox TV struggled to come to an agreement on the renewal of Season 3, according to reporting by Deadline. While NBC wanted to shorten the season by several episodes, 20th TV and Jerrod Carmichael weren't having that. Eventually, NBC granted the desired 13 episodes at the last minute.

Still, if this struggle was already underway going into Season 3, it's not incredibly surprising that Season 4 never came to pass. When cast options for "The Carmichael Show" were about to expire, Carmichael announced his exit on his own terms. 

At the time of the announcement, 20th Century Fox TV presidents Jonnie Davis and Howard Kurtzman said in a joint statement, "We are thankful to the brilliant Jerrod Carmichael and his talented cast ... It's a rarity that a comedy series tackles the social and political issues of the day in such a clever and hilariously funny way. This show was special, and we will miss it."