Fox Cancels ‘The Big Leap’ After Just One Season

Fox has canceled The Big Leap after just one season, even though the show scored a rare 100 percent rating among critics on RottenTomatoes.com.

The freshman dramedy series starring Scott Foley, which many were comparing to former Fox series Glee, wrapped its 11-episode first season at the end of 2021 with only 1.27 million total same-day viewers. The series surprisingly averaged only a 0.4 in the adults 18-49 demographic (which the majority of shows target) with seven days of delayed viewing and 2.8 million multiplatform viewers. It also doubled its same-day ratings with delayed viewing and digital returns.

The show-within-a-show was originally ordered to pilot for the 2020-21 broadcast season, however, it wasn’t picked up to series until April 2021 for the 2021-22 season due to pandemic-related production delays.

The Big Leap follows a group of down-and-out characters attempting to change their lives by participating in a potentially life-ruining reality dance show. Little do they know, their lowly dance show will build to a live production of Swan Lake.

The series opened to soft ratings and was ranked as one of Fox’s lowest-rated series last fall. It was always intended for a short order but likely more than just 11 total episodes.

While network executives enjoyed the show’s creative approach, Fox also needed space on the schedule for the previously announced straight-to-series drama Accused. It therefore became Fox’s first cancellation of the season.

The Big Leap was a co-produced by Disney’s 20th Television and Fox Entertainment. Liz Heldens (The Passage), who has an overall deal with 20th, served as showrunner on the series. Jason Winer and Sue Naegle exec produced the series which also starred Teri Polo, Ser’Darius Blain, Raymond Cham Jr., Jon Rudnitsky, Simone Recasner, Piper Perabo, Mallory Jansen and Kevin Daniels.

Michael is a music and television junkie keen on most things that are not a complete and total bore. You can follow him on Twitter — @Tweetskoor

Stream The Big Leap on FOX NOW