Lethal Weapon was essentially a lock for a third season renewal due to its relatively steady performance & being the highest rated of the three Warner Bros TV drama series on FOX but now a behind the scenes issue is threatening those chances. The show’s co-lead, Clayne Crawford, as exhibited such bad behavior on set that it has put the show in limbo.
The actor has allegedly been disciplined several times over complaints of emotional abuse and creating a hostile environment. The situation has escalated to a point where other actors, as well as crew on the show, would feel uncomfortable being on set with him. The problem is so severe that recasting has been explored which is a very rare move involving a lead on an established series.
Damon Wayans, who plays Roger Murtaugh, was a key piece getting the pilot script greenlit back in 2016 so he’s viewed as the main draw to keep the shoe going if necessary. Crawford was a late addition when he was cast as Martin Riggs. He scored the role a month after a lengthy search began for the part.
Lethal Weapon is based on the popular film franchise & season-to-date the show is averaging a 1.7 in adults 18-49 & 6.9 million total viewers. In the multi-platform average audience, the show averages 8.7 million (+105% vs. Live+Same Day) is FOX’s number 2 returning drama behind Empire. The series is down 29% in the 18-49 and 25% in total viewers but it’s on a more competitive night and holds well considering the competition. It also has huge syndication potential due to the procedural aspects of the show. The series is also a big hit with African American audiences who are largely underserved on television.
Needless to say, a lot is riding on its third season renewal but this latest issue presents a huge problem for the network.
