It’s been reported that ABC has pulled the plug on the comedy-drama series Members Only. On Saturday, November 21, it was announced to the cast that the network won’t be moving ahead with the series which stars John Stamos, Breaking Bad’s Betsy Brandt, and Natalie Zea. The show was picked up as a “straight-to-series” back in January with acclaimed director David O. Russell and Susannah Grant attached as writers. Just one month after the show was picked up, Russell left the project and Grant was left alone to write the show’s pilot episode.
Members Only is reportedly set in an exclusive Connecticut country club and the plot revolves in the “upstairs/downstairs” dynamic between the club’s inhabitants and the staff. This earned it comparisons to hit TV show Downton Abbey, albeit with a more modern twist. Aside from Stamos, Zea, and Brandt, the show’s ensemble cast also included Sin City: A Dame to Kill For’s Callie Hernandez, The Mob Doctor’s Jamie Lee Kirchner, Burlesque’s Michael Landes, and Baggage Claim’s Boris Kodjoe. R.J. Cutler was attached to direct. According to reports, Stamos was supposed to play a villainous billionaire who is the husband of Zea’s character.
ABC cancels John Stamos’ ‘Members Only’ drama before premiere: http://t.co/gG2EoKYlQ5 pic.twitter.com/F2vYQ8HuCU
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) November 24, 2014
The show was noticeably absent from ABC’s midseason roster as well as their future schedule. The shows The Astronaut’s Wives Club, Captain America spinoff Agent Carter, American Crime, The Whispers, and Secret and Lies are rumored to push through. However, only Agent Carter and comedy show Galavant have been scheduled so far.
Members Only is not the only straight-to-series show to get cancelled. NBC recently pulled the plug on their Wizard Of Oz adaptation called Emerald City, while FOX canceled their ancient Egyptian adventure show Hieroglyph. NBC comedy Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt was dropped by the network, but found life after Netflix picked it up with a two-season order.