Despite posting an average of 1.5 million number of viewers for its entire Season 4, it was not enough to convince The CW network to renew the American comedy drama TV series “Hart of Dixie” for a fifth season.
During its fourth season, “Hart of Dixie” averaged a 0.6 rating in adults between the ages from 18 to 49 and a higher 0.9 rating among women from 18 to 34 years old, notes Variety.
The 1.5 million average viewership of “Hart of Dixie” Season 4, was a relatively small dip compared to its peak season which was Season 1, where the show averaged 1.8 million viewers.
While there have been previous reports saying that it was due to the departure of lead star Rachel Bilson and her unavailability to do Season 5 that the network decided to cancel the show. But now it appears that even during the filming for Season 4 sometime late last year, the cast and crew of “Hart of Dixie” already knew that it is to be the final season of the show.
Would like to go the distance
But if creator Leila Gerstein only had her way, there would have been a fifth season of “Hart of Dixie,” which could even go up to Season 17.
Unfortunately, Gerstein did not have her way so when The CW officially cancelled the show a few weeks after the series finale of Season 4 aired on March 27, everything was a wrap for the well-loved “Hart of Dixie.”
But the decision of the network no longer came as a surprise to Gerstein or the other cast members of the show because apparently as early as October last year, many of them already knew that Season 4 would be the last for the series.
That was precisely the reason why the series finale of Season 4 proved to be a happy ending for everyone in the show, with all the questions finally answered, and all issues resolved, even the minute ones.
After The CW formally announced its decision to cancel the show in May, Gerstein actually posted on Twitter that she would have gone 17 years doing the show. Unfortunately, the network thinks that “Hart of Dixie” was only good for four seasons and that was it. It had its good run and it was quite fun while it lasted.
“Hart of Dixie” was one of The CW’s best performers on Hulu online streaming service, but that just was not enough for the network to give it another chance, reports Perez Hilton.com
As for the show’s throng of fans, the series may have not been renewed but it shall definitely live in their hearts for a long time to come.