The Untold Truth Behind the Unexpected Cancellation of The Finder

Summary

Despite the inclusion of popular actor Michael Clarke Duncan and a lead-in from American Idol, the spin-off was unable to attract viewers. The audience expressed their dislike for the series and rejected attempts to force it upon them.

The Finder may have a chance for a new life on Disney+ as it could attract a fresh audience without replacing Bones. With the changing viewing habits and increased viewership on streaming platforms, there is potential for more people to discover and enjoy the show. The Finder, a Fox television series, unfortunately got canceled after its first season, eliminating the possibility of a second season. Fans may wonder why the show got canceled, especially since it premiered during the height of Bones' success on the Fox network. Created by Hart Hanson, the procedural drama series followed Walter Sherman, a retired U.S. Army major who had an extraordinary talent for finding people and things. Despite serving in the military alongside Agent Booth, Walter's detective stories concluded after just 13 episodes.

While audiences were left wondering "Why was The Finder canceled?", they can at least be assured by the fact that the answer is a simple one. The premature cancelation proved how Bones viewers couldn't get on board with a new character series, axing the possibility of The Finder season 2. Moreover, the series suffered from poor viewership numbers and declining ratings. Additionally, The Finder's limited 13-episode run was shuffled around the network schedule on Fox, further contributing to its struggles. To add insult to injury, audiences greatly misunderstood The Finder's midseason premiere, leading to confusion over whether it was intended to replace Bones outright, similar to ABC's disappointment with the Goldbergs spin-off.

The Finder's Unlikeable Characters Got Poor Ratings

Acknowledging that things did not go as planned, creator and executive producer Hart Hanson admitted that The Finder faced challenges. Referring to the protagonist Walter Sherman from the show, Hanson explained (via LA Times), "Every character we introduced on Bones initially faced strong disapproval." Dr. Saroyan and Dr. Sweets from Bones, for instance, took some time to win over the audience. Unfortunately, The Finder was abruptly canceled before it could reach the same level of likability as Bones. This statement implies that if The Finder season 2 had been given the green light, the series might have had the opportunity to flourish.

However, despite the presence of the late and highly acclaimed Michael Clarke Duncan, as well as the advantage of being introduced through Fox's long-running reality series American Idol, the spin-off was unable to be saved. Viewers were vocal about their dislike for Hanson's creation, resulting in Fox's cancellation of The Finder, which did not come as a complete surprise. The decision to split up the seventh season of Bones and replace it with the lackluster Fox comedy-drama angered the fanbase. The show's creator, as revealed in an interview with LA Times, received requests from fans to stop forcing The Finder upon them. The idea for Hart's creation originated when the lead actress of Bones, Emily Deschanel, became pregnant, and Fox needed a second series.

During a break in the popular show, The Finder took over Bones' highly coveted Thursday night time slot. This led to Hanson having to assure fans that The Finder was not there to replace Bones, but rather Deschanel needed time off to have her baby. Unfortunately, after investing millions of dollars into the spin-off, Fox ultimately put The Finder on hiatus, moving it to Fridays after only seven weeks. These changes in scheduling greatly affected the viewership and eliminated any chances of a second season for The Finder, similar to the fate of the later seasons of Bones. Despite lasting for only one season, The Finder still has a dedicated group of viewers.

The Bones Spin-Off Cancelation Was Ironic

Bones, once a highly successful series with a devoted fan base, ironically saw its spinoff, The Finder, suffer from poor ratings and eventual cancellation. The reasons behind this can be attributed to the misconception that The Finder was simply replacing Bones. Unlike its predecessor, The Finder failed to introduce likable characters from the start and offered a vastly different storyline, despite also being a crime procedural. Despite the efforts made by the David Boreanaz TV show to establish a successful spinoff, it ultimately faltered.

Although crime procedural shows are abundant, what set Bones apart was its ability to captivate audiences with its endearing characters. It's hard to fathom how its spinoff could fail so drastically in this aspect. The two series felt incredibly disconnected, with many loyal Bones viewers having no recollection or negative feelings towards The Finder's short-lived existence. The opportunity for The Finder season 2 to salvage the series went unnoticed. Ultimately, The Finder serves as a classic example of how spinoffs can veer off track, emphasizing the need for the production team to prioritize the creation of likable characters over the potential for a franchise.

The Finder Could Find New Life On Streaming

The Finder has made a surprising move to Disney+, potentially leading to a resurgence in its streaming popularity. Back in 2012, when the series initially aired, various factors, relevant at the time, influenced the cancellation of its second season. However, without the notion that The Finder is a replacement for Bones or the concern of unfavorable time slot changes, the show could attract a larger audience. The way audiences consume television and movies has significantly changed with the rise of streaming platforms. Many shows that ended years ago have found new fanbases and increased viewership on platforms like Netflix or Hulu. Now that Bones has concluded, there is a possibility that viewers may give The Finder another chance, as there is no longer a fear of it replacing the beloved parent show. Although both shows are on different streaming platforms, with Bones on Hulu and The Finder on Disney+, newer audiences may naturally watch the original series and subsequently develop an interest in the spinoff. Despite the show's criticisms, which often revolve around the writing and unlikeable characters, the chances of a second season for The Finder are unlikely. However, the move to a streaming platform could potentially expose more people to and allow them to enjoy The Finder.