Attempts To Save Johnny Knoxville’s New Show Have Failed
After Johnny Knoxville's new series, Reboot, was canceled, the series creator and Knoxville attempted to find another network to pick up the script, but all attempts failed, and the series is officially dead.
Johnny Knoxville absolutely wowed both critics and audiences alike with his turn as recovering alcoholic Clay Barber on the Hulu series Reboot. Following the show’s recent cancellation, the actor took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message about his time on the series and his hope that the acclaimed program would be picked up by another network. Unfortunately, according to Deadline, all attempts to shop the series around have been unsuccessful, and the show is officially over.
Series creator, Steve Levitan, confirmed the devastating news in a Twitter post earlier this week. Although he, Johnny Knoxville, and producing studio 20th Television fought hard to find a new home for Reboot, their efforts have now been exhausted. Even though there are reportedly finished scripts for a potential second installment, the series has ended with an eight-episode first season.
The program was given a pilot order by Hulu on August 5, 2021, followed by a series order on January 11, 2022. Alongside the show’s announcement, it was confirmed that Keegan-Michael Key and Johnny Knoxville would headline Reboot. Michael McKean and Leslie Bibb were originally attached to star in the show, but they were replaced by Paul Reiser and Judy Greer, respectively.
The series follows an early 2000s family sitcom Hulu has rebooted and its dysfunctional cast that must deal with their unresolved issues in today’s fast-changing world. The program premiered on Hulu on September 20, 2022, with the first three episodes and concluded on October 25, 2022. In addition to Johnny Knoxville, Keegan-Michael Key, Paul Reiser, and Judy Greer, Reboot stars Rachel Bloom, Calum Worthy, Krista Marie Yu, Ryan Dietz, Lawrence Pressman, and Fred Melamed.
In their social media posts discussing the show’s cancellation, both Steve Levitan and Johnny Knoxville took aim at Hulu for its lack of support for Reboot. Levitan criticized the streamer for making it difficult for viewers to find the program in its vast library of film and television titles. Meanwhile, Johnny Knoxville said he hoped to find a new home for the series, with a studio willing to support it as it grows.
According to the streaming aggregator Reelgood, Reboot was the ninth most-streamed program across all platforms in the week it debuted. The same week, the series was the most-streamed television show across all platforms in the United States. Add in the fact that the program received mostly positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, and it’s easy to see why Johnny Knoxville, Steve Levitan, and the rest of the show’s cast and crew were frustrated with Hulu’s decision to cancel the series.
Fortunately, when one door closes, another one opens. Johnny Knoxville looks to be returning to his old ways following the unexpected cancellation of Reboot. The Jackass star is set to headline the new unscripted comedy series The Prank Panel for ABC.
The upcoming show centers on ordinary people who throw pranks at friends, family, and co-workers with a panel of the world’s best pranksters. In addition to Johnny Knoxville, the series stars Madeleine Lemay, Pramode Kumar, Darron Jay Morgan, and Mitchell Group. Although a premiere date has yet to be announced, the program is expected to premiere sometime this year.
