Renewals and Cancellations: 'Our Flag Means Death,' 'The Good Doctor,' Bill Belichick

By Dustin Rowles | TV | January 11, 2024 |

By Dustin Rowles | TV | January 11, 2024 |

I understand that our regular “Renewals and Cancellations” are usually about TV Shows, but look: The NFL is the most popular entertainment event on TV, and there have been a lot of coaching dismissals this week, so we should at least mention them, right?. It usually happens on Monday after the final regular season game, but this week, the firings have been doled out, culminating this morning with the departure of Bill Belichick from the New England Patriots. Belichick is out — having “mutually agreed to part ways” — after 24 years as the second-most-winningest coach in NFL history, as well as the guy with the most Super Bowls. How much of it was Bill Belichick, and how much of it was Tom Brady? Let’s just say that Belichick had losing seasons during three of the four years since Tom Brady left, while Tom Brady won another Super Bowl for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the age of 106 before retiring.

One destination that Belichick is rumored to be up for is the head coach for the Atlanta Falcons, who fired their head coach Arthur Smith, who is one of the kids of the FedEx founder, Frederick Smith (fun fact: Frederick Smith’s youngest son married the daughter of The Blind Side family). Arthur Smith is not rumored for any other coaching jobs because he sucks, that includes head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, who kicked Pete Carroll into an “advisor” role against his wishes. The Tennessee Titans also (unwisely) fired Mike Vrabel, who is a leading candidate to take over the New England Patriots. The Washington Commanders fired Ron Rivera. Nobody cares about the Washington Commanders. Oh, and also, the Bill Belichick of college football (shrewd, evil), Nick Saban, has retired as coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide. I can’t help but think he’s getting out ahead of some huge scandal. But maybe it was just because he’s 72.

As for actual television? HBO has given the ax to Our Flag Means Death after two seasons. It was a big cult hit, which is the only reason why it landed a second season. David Zaslav doesn’t care about “cult hits.” Thankfully, the series ended in a satisfying way, although Taika Waititi did want another season.

HBO (Max) also canceled Julia after two seasons. I felt like the Julia Childs series was a decent-sized hit during its first season, but almost no one spoke of it during its second season. It was a Thursday night series. HBO should stick to Sunday nights. They only had The Gilded Age on Sundays. It’s baffling that they didn’t pair it with Julia.

Elsewhere, Disney+ — which seems to want to stick almost exclusively to Marvel, Star Wars (and Percy Jackson?) — has canceled American Born Chinese after one season. I hear it was great. I was going to watch it with the kids, who insisted on reading the graphic novel first, but they got distracted by the … Percy Jackson novels. We are part of the problem. Apologies to that killer cast.

Meanwhile, for those who watch, The Good Doctor is set to end after seven seasons. I can not believe it’s been seven years. I’ve never watched it, but I have residual good feelings for Freddie Highmore because of a movie that no one else liked but me, August Rush, but I am a sap.

In renewals, hey! The Drew Barrymore Show was renewed for a fifth season, so I guess we’re not mad about her awkward attempt to scab (before giving in to the backlash) anymore.