Star has sung its last song. Fox has canceled the series after three seasons on the network.
The decision to cancel Star is a bit tricky because a lot of the obvious factors weren’t in play. Star was actually a solid ratings performer, sometimes coming close to the demo numbers of its lead-in, Empire. The show is also a fan favorite with a significant social media presence. The decision to end Star came down to two factors and the first was money. The musical drama is expensive to produce, and its international sales have been challenging, which made the renewal decision a bit more complex. Secondly, Fox decided to pick up four new dramas to series with a fifth pending, so they had to make room on the schedule and sacrificing the pricey drama was one of their best bets.
The series spent most of its run paired with Fox’s hip-hop family drama Empire. Family soap pilot Filthy Rich, whose series pickup at Fox is pending, is said to be looked at as a new companion for Empire if it moves forward on the network.
Created by Lee Daniels and Tom Donaghy, Star followed three talented singers – running from their pasts and desperate for a new start – with ambitions of stardom, as they navigate the cutthroat music business. The series stars Queen Latifah, Jude Demorest, Ryan Destiny, Brittany O’Grady, Amiyah Scott, and Quincy Brown. The show, which existed in the same musical universe as Empire and even crossed over with the show during season 2, also included a star-studded roster of guest stars including Lenny Kravitz, Naomi Campbell, Tyrese Gibson, Gladys Knight, Missy Elliott, Big Boi and Paris Jackson, who made her acting debut on the series.
