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

R.E.H.

I totally agree with all the positive comments above. This was one of the best cop shows out there!!! Having grown up in the area of Ohio just south of Detroit, it was nice to see a GREAT show filmed right there in Detroit.
The acting was SUPERIOR and I will truly miss this show. I am SICK AND TIRED OF REALITY SHOWS–ALL OF THEM and would like to see
Detroit 1-8-7 return to the airwaves.
Kathy

I just loved that show. Couldn’t wait to watch it every week. What a shame to see it go. Great actors. Hope to see Micheal in another show
Tadpole

Nelson ratings are a joke I know I have been part of it. I never missed this show thanks to the DVR. But looks like I will have some free time next fall as along with Detroit 187, Chicago Code, Lights out and Terriers were also axed from their networks.
karen

This was one of my favorite shows. Hope one of the cable channels will pick it up. ABC puts on some really terrible shows and then cancels one of its best. Go figure.
Ken

THIS WAS A GREAT SHOW!!!!!! VERY DISAPPOINTED………..wish there was a way to express this to the powers that be.
S P

Have never been to Detroit. The series showed me a city trying hard to “come back”. The acting was great. It seems to me that the networks do not show any integrity or courage when they do not continue with series like this. It is no woder that smaller companies are eating away at their viewer audiences. In the end their greed will do them it too.
MadMike

There was just one thing wrong with D 187, it was only on one night a week. I couldn’t wait for the next show, seriously. What a story line, what a setting, what characters. Something like that happens only once every ten years, maybe longer. ABC, rest comfortably knowing you gave it up, you incompetent nincompoops!
Sue

Why didn’t you give Detroit 187 a chance? it was the best show on TV – Stupid, stupid, stupid move ABC – it would have been your top rated show if you would have promoted it more. I hope another channel picks it up and makes you very sorry…..Dumb move.
Hector

This is a very good show its very unfortunate that ABC canceled it. I hope they let a cable network like TNT take over.
David Wilson

Still sad 2 months later. I just rewatched the finale and wow … ABC, sometimes dollars and cents aren’t everything, as long as the show made money, why did you need to cancel it?
Jimmy

If a GOOD series dose’nt make producers and other TV personnel rich, cancel it. Who cares what us TV viewers think. It’s money or nothing.
Linda Archie

WOW I can’t believe this program was cancelled. I have been waiting for a new season. Such a disapointment. Not a whole lot of good TV out there anymore.
MikeT

Well, I suppose we have to look at the glass as half full: Consider that there’s now an extra hour for a new reality show! All the good writing has migrated to HBO, Showtime, and TNT anyway. Let’s hope this one joins the gang!
LRK

I loved this show. Someone please pick it up. It was the best show on TV. People just don’t know what quality TV is. ABC never gave it a chance.
Bob

187 was always a stupid name since “187″ is only used for murder in California.
Mark

This was one of the best cop shows on in quite a while, a series I thought I was going to get hooked on just like NYPD Blue. ABC cannot continue to keep killing off great shows; I sometimes think it would have been better to not have started it then to have gotten so many people hooked. ABC just gave me another reason to think they’ve got morons making the decisions and running the place. I’ve gotten hooked on so many of their shows only to watch them get cancelled. It makes me think I should just stick to watching things on Netflix so at least I know what to expect ahead of time. The only saving grace is that, at least this series ended with some sense of closure; I really hate it when the show gets cancelled and leaves you hanging (Defying Gravity? Flash Forward?). II know I should have queried this sooner to find out what was going on with Detroit 1-8-7. Having moved out of the Detroit area many years ago, I enjoyed the passing shots of the city. I truly hope that one of the cable channels would consider resurrecting the series (like Southland), but I realize that’s a long shot. I would even forgive the producers if they filmed the series in Chicago and pretended it was Detroit just to get it back on the air! The stories were good and the characters were great.
R A

Bring back Detroit 187.
Sick of the crime shows trying to out do each other showing gruesome nightmarish scenes and violence. This show gave you a full believable story of each character and told of crimes that happen in every big city without showing graphic scenes. Filming in Detroit was great for ex-Michiganders to remember.the good ol’ days. This program was touching in a lot of ways. Get smart, bring it back.
terri D Caballes

I cant believe they would cancel this show….What a shame! it was our favorite show in the house, how sad. Why do they continue to cancel great shows and keep cruddy shows. This is very sad. Please do what you can to restore.
Dan

Shattered!!!! I have been watching this show From Australia. Nothing comes close to the class of Detroit 187. Where to now?
Debbie

I love this show, I hope TNT or someone picks it up. Yet another great show taken off the air, but some of the worst sitcoms are still on tv, I just don’t get it!!
v riley

I also enjoyed this show. This should be re-evaluated.
lyl

Remember when tv was refered to as the boob tube; well thanks to network execs like those at ABC that moniker is sure to ring true again. it’s a sad state of affairs when networks are so full of garbage (i.e. reality shows like Jersey Shore, Bachelor, etc.) all to keep the mindless public believing they are presenting reality!! I want to escape reality and believe for a few moments that good scripts, excellent acting can still be found on the boob tube. Oh well public broadcasting here I come!!
CRH

Wow I was checking to see when the new season for Detriot 187 was starting and to my ULTIMATE DISSAPOINTING SURPRISE I found out it was cancelled!! What is up with ABC???
Sharon

I have just learned that Detroit 187 will not be returning to the fall line-up and I cannot tell you how disappointed I am. This was one of the very best dramas on television; the cast and writing were outstanding. Please, find a slot for this memorable and moving tv show.
janice

what a shame, they cancel all the good ones it was one of the best shows on tv…bring it back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!