Mistresses fans should hold on to their stilettos; the ABC summer soap has been canceled and won't return for Season 5.
Word on the cancellation came from Deadline, and notes that the series had always been a modest, but relatively stable performer in the ratings for ABC. Season 4 started with a 0.7 rating in the coveted 18-49 adults age bracket in Live + same day ratings, and, by the season finale, the show netted a 0.6 in the same demographic. The series had seen some behind the scenes turmoil over its four seasons. The first two seasons featured Who's the Boss star Alyssa Milano as one of the leads, but when the show moved production from California to Canada in an effort to cut costs, Milano opted out of the series. Remaining leads Yunjin Kim, Rochelle Aytes and Jes Macallan were joined in Season 3 by Jennifer Esposito, who bowed out of the fourth season when her contract ran out. The production then moved back to California for what would turn out to be its last season. The show wrapped up Season 4 on Monday.
Mistresses was based on a U.K. series of the same name, which focuses on four female friends with incredibly dramatic and complex personal lives, along with their sometimes illicit romantic relationships. The show followed entrepreneur and widowed mom April (Aytes), married lawyer Savi (Milano), high end real estate agent turned PR guru Joss (Macallan) and psychiatrist turned writer Karen (Kim). Seeing as how Mistresses was a classic nighttime soap opera, the drama was pretty hot and heavy on all four seasons.
The series was never one to disappoint those looking for some good old fashioned soap antics during its time on the air. There were murders and attempted murders; assaults and stalkers; surprise lesbians and polyamorous relationships; transgender issues and baby daddy drama; FBI investigations and mob ties; and, of course, lots and lots of cheating, sex, general double dealing and a whole host of outrageously good looking people.
As could be expected, Mistresses featured a never ending parade of sexual shenanigans and personal catastrophes that helped keep the series afloat and humming along for four seasons. Some of its popularity undoubtedly came from the cancellations of long-running ABC daytime soaps All My Children and One Life To Live, which aired their last episodes in 2011 and 2012 respectively for the network. There were likely a lot of soap fans left in the lurch who wanted to add more dramatic, and sometimes campy, goodness back into their lives, and Mistresses probably helped to fill that need for them.
Well, Mistresses, it was fun while it lasted. We will miss your crazy sexytimes and naughty-ass cliffhangers. Check out our fall TV premiere guide so you can be sure to catch all your favorites when they finally come back this season.
