Renewals and Cancellations: Elon Musk, Ryan Gosling, and 'Ghosts'

By Dustin Rowles | TV | March 14, 2024 |

By Dustin Rowles | TV | March 14, 2024 |

The big news this week in cancellations was the announcement yesterday that Elon Musk was canceling Don Lemon’s show on X before it even aired. Musk canceled it hours after Lemon interviewed him because Musk clearly did not like the questions (particularly around Musk’s drug use, purportedly).

Musk is following the Trump playbook. If he doesn’t like it, he gets rid of it, which is something that petulant billionaires (and Presidents) can do. There’s some debate about whether Musk/X owe Don Lemon — Lemon purportedly had not yet signed a contract, but X had already begun selling ads on the show. Still, one thing is for sure: This is the best possible way to promote Lemon’s new show, which will kick off with that Musk interview Monday on YouTube.

Ryan Gosling is not being canceled or renewed, but after his rousing “I’m Just Ken” number at the Oscars, he is being asked back to host SNL in what is shaping up to be a great three-week run starting on March 30th. Ramy Youssef will host that episode, along with musical guest Travis Scott (I guess we’re sweeping the Astroworld tragedy under the rug). On April 6th, Kristen Wiig will return and join the Five-Timer’s Club (does Wiig hold the record for quickest five-timer? She only left SNL in 2012), and her musical guest will be Raye. I don’t know who that is. Meanwhile, April 13th will feature Ryan Gosling as host along with musical guest Chris Stapleton.

Meanwhile, Ghosts has been picked up for a fourth season. I like Ghosts, although not as much as many. It’s grown a little stale, but this thing they’re doing with Flower is kind of fun. CBS also renewed Fire Country for a third season. Fire Country sounds like a title focus-tested with people who live in the Plains.

Amazon has picked up Upload for a fourth season, which is fine. I like Upload, but of all the series to get a fourth season, Upload is not the one I would have expected. Maybe Amazon really wants to stay in business with Greg Daniels.

In sad news, series creator David Jenkins revealed this week on Instagram that he was unable to find anyone to pick up Our Flag Means Death after Max canceled it. That’s the end of the road.

Finally, in shake-up news, Annie Weisman (Physical) is taking over as showrunner on Peacock’s Based on a True Story on Peacock. She replaces creator Craig Rosenberg. I’m not sure why, but I will say that — while I liked the first season — I had expected better from a series with that premise and that cast (Kelly Cuoco and Chris Messina). Maybe Weisman can get more from a second.