Detroit 187 Producer Says Show Cancelled

May 14, 2011 7:55 AM

Michael Imperioli, Jon Michael Hill, James McDaniel and Aisha Hinds star in the police drama “Detroit 1-8-7.” (Credit: ABC)

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DETROIT (WWJ/AP) – A television crime drama that took its name from and made its home in the Motor City has been cancelled, one of its producers said Friday.

“Detroit 1-8-7″ Executive Producer David Zabel confirmed to The Associated Press the news of the cancellation, which had been suspected in the weeks since the show’s Detroit-based production wrapped this winter.

Also confirming the show’s cancellation was series regular Erin Cummings, who tweeted Friday: “To clarify: yes, it’s official. Detroit 187 has been cancelled. Thank you for the support.”

ABC had no comment Friday. The network will officially unveil its fall schedule on Tuesday.

Zabel and other producers repeatedly made the case to renew the show, most recently meeting with ABC executives this month to discuss ideas for a second season.

ABC Entertainment Group President Paul Lee told the Television Critics Association in January that “Detroit 1-8-7″ was among a few shows for which ratings, not quality, was an issue.

Zabel told the AP in March that he hoped ABC would have “the integrity and courage to stick by a show they know is good,” but added that he hoped the studio would be “diligent and crafty enough to find a way to allow us to continue on elsewhere.”

Zabel said “1-8-7″ would do well on a cable network, citing “Southland,” which is thriving on TNT after being cut by NBC.

Still, such a move would be a longshot. He said Friday that the “finances don’t make sense especially with things the way they are in Michigan,” referring to the state governor’s proposal to change a program that offered some of the most generous film tax credits in the nation.

Cummings echoed that notion, saying she can’t help but think that cutbacks in the Michigan film incentives had a role in the cancelling of the Detroit based crime drama.

Gov. Rick Snyder proposed a limit of $25 million a year on incentives as part of his budget-savings plan, and the state’s current incentive program for filmmakers is not capped.

“There are things that are still being explored,” Zabel said. “But we’re almost at the end of the road in terms of options.”

“Detroit 1-8-7″ was filmed in and around Detroit, and its soundstage was in the city’s enclave of Highland Park, which closed its doors in April. It starred Michael Imperioli and James McDaniel.

“My attitude is we spent a year making a good show and having a really cool experience in Detroit,” Zabel said. “I wish it could go on longer.”

There is no doubt fans of the crime drama will be disappointed to hear of the show’s cancellation, many of them noting they not only fell in love with the show for its depiction of Detroit, but for the captive story lines and dynamic cast.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Detroit 187 Producer Says Show Cancelled

joe

are you kidding me this was a great show . abc never keeps the good one’s maybe someone need to get rid of abc hope the show goes to cable
D. Solomon

Really ABC you cancelled on of the best shows on tv last season. I loved this show – I actually thought it evolved better than NYPD Blue. The traditional networks are going to loose their place to cable ’cause they only want to invest in cheap reality tv. Come one USA, TNT or FX, pick it up! Please!!!!!!
carol t

i love this show. you left us hanging in the middle of a story. bring it back or another network will hopefully pick it up. great cast great acting great story line.
maudie pickenpaugh

why would you take off a great show now we will never know what happen in the show
Curt

Great show. They take this show off and leave Dancing with the non-Stars on??? Come on man. Now all I have to watch on ABC is Modern Family. Maybe FX can pick it up. That way I could watch two FX shows but its a start.
Elz

I agree with Curt. The ONLY show on ABC worth watching is MODERN FAMILY. Can’t we do something?!? What about TNT? They revived SOUTHLAND after NBC foolishly let it go! Where will we intelligent people be able to view quality programming when the major networks choose shows such as WIPEOUT and DANCING WITH THE (gulp!) STARS ?

Mike

I’m sure the producers are trying to find a home for it. It was a great show, In some ways, was similar to NYPD Blue.
But the whole concept of it being in Detroit, the cast was great, the dynamic of the characters, of the whole show was original.in itself! Maybe AMC or TBS will pick it up. Spike or Lifetime could too.

michele

michele,, I love this show I just heard it wasn’t coming back… It was so great,, every time I love a show,, they get rid of it or change it,, loved last years Harry’s Law,, this season they have totally missed it up!!
Christopher A Rose

Wow, another good show, with at least a couple of non whites, in it, canceled. Way to keep it white, Hollywood.
Diana Thomas

Sickening! I never would have thought that such a great show, with such great actors would ever have to worry about getting cancelled. I am soo disapointed with this decision and hope that TNT picks it up. I still watch Southland there faithfully, after it was moved there due to cancellation. I am sure this show would do great there too! These major networks all want to save money and put on these stupid Reality shows, where they don’t have to pay out as much money. They really don’t care about us viewers, it’s all about the money!
vicki

We loved this show…so sad to hear!!!
BNZ

Really too bad Detroit was cancelled – I used to live in the area and it was great checking out all the landmarks but sad seeing the condition it’s in. BUT the acting and story lines were super so that’s really why I watched it The nostalgia was just a bonus. If they’re smart one ot the cable channels will pick it up and I know it will do good there!.
Ty

Don’t pass on Jordan and get Sam Bowie! Not a smart move to cancel a great show. Someone else will pick it up and “win championships”!
T. W.

Reality shows, what the world needs more of RIGHT! the reality shows are not true reality. walk the streets of any big city that’s reality! so why put in on the air? TV was meant to escape from reality. Always kick Detroit to the site of the road, when something good happens to the city or the State of Michigan, someone takes it way! Great Job ABC…..and any other groups that were part to this……..
PD

WOW! REALLY? Here I am thinking this show will be making a mid-season appearance like last year and it’s canceled?! What a huge disappointment!
Ginger

We’re very disappointed to learn this show has been cancelled. Someone hoped TNT would pick it up. Considering TNT cancelled “Men of A Certain Age,” another good show, I wouldn’t hold my breath.
denise

how dumb! figures they’d keep the brainless bachelor series and get rid of a real show like this one.
Vincent Mashburn

What’s sad is that because of viewer popularity or the failure for viewers to enjoy your show,if it doesn’t hit you right away,we can it. Detroit 1-8-7 even though I never did get to see it because of scheduling conflicts is a very tight show shot in Detroit which showcases the city and all of it’s surroundings. The cast is great depicting everyone’s mannerisms and habits. The theme to Detroit has a nice bass line and riff which got me immediately and compared it to Starsky and Hutch. It’s unfortunate it was cancelled either through budget or other factors but through DVD it gets another shot at life. I realy grew to like this show just like the character portrayed by Imperioli. Fantastic. Touche to Detroit 1-8-7.
Deanna10664

Producer of Detroit 187 made a bad call. My family and I enjoyed watching it.
mhsterry

So sorry to hear of Det187 cancellation. I was literally searching channels for the premier. Imperioli was perfect and a “real guy” excited to see how his possible love interest would wind up.

HOPEFULLY, some smarter station will pick up like they did Southland and kept that awesome show going.

Charles

Been waiting for it, no wonder I couldn’t’ find it.
Just found out Men of a Certain Age and Terriers were cancelled.
What a waste, instead of good provocative adult minded programing we get The Bachelor an insult to intelligence and our society targeting TMZ minded garbage….”That’s garbage Frankie”….

xxxxx

It was cancelled because it got too close to the truth the establishment does not want the public to know. It showed the present reality of what was once a huge and important American city. Why should industry and population just leave? It makes no sense unless one considers the possibility of an agenda by the power elite to degrade America. It is part of the UN Agenda 21 and the sustainable development agenda. Tearing down the city, rebuilding it to be “smarter” (more like a prison = smarter), and making it smaller and more centralized so the people can be ruled and controlled, and exterminated eventually. The show nearly came right out and admitted this.
Victoria

We just finished watching the whole 187 series (18 episodes) on Netflix, and now can’t BELIEVE that there are no more. What a huge diappointment! with all the junk on TV how could they do this???
april

Just watched it on Netflix. I wasn’t sure about it at the start but now that I’ve finished it, I’m very sad to see it was canceled.
Leonie

major bummer, always the good shows, never the bad ones
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[...] for the area during a past gig scouting locations for “Detroit 1-8-7,” a short-lived cop show cancelled in 2011. (Seemingly a jack-of-all-trades, Lee previously landed a job consulting on the 2008 film [...]