Staff Reports
Streaming services are starting to realize that they can no longer afford to produce “agenda-driven content” and are beginning to cancel or erase shows that promote progressive ideals. Paramount+ has recently cancelled its series “Rise of the Pink Ladies” due to low viewership, and it will be wiped from the service’s library as well. The series was initially created as an origin story for the female gang seen in the original film from the perspective of Danny and Sandy. However, it quickly turned into a platform for contemporary social causes with mixed-race casting and same-sex relationships added to it. These elements, however, did not fit well with the era in which the story was set and weren’t in line with the source material.
Paramount+ Is Erasing Another Woke Series As Streaming Services No Longer Have the Luxury of Agenda-Driven Content https://t.co/7NEvkYUZNX
— RedState (@RedState) June 26, 2023
Streaming services are now seeing that the reality of producing shows isn’t any different from traditional television, and poor performing properties on streaming platforms have become a drain on service providers. Services like Paramount+ are folding Showtime into their packages, and Discovery+ will soon be merged with HBO Max. Hulu could be combined with Disney+ soon as well. Subscription rates have started to dwindle, and new projects are now being cancelled or abandoned before they get off the ground since the landscape is too crowded, and the competition is severe.
‘GREASE: RISE OF THE PINK LADIES’ and ‘STAR TREK: PRODIGY’ have both been cancelled by Paramount+ after 1 season.
Both shows will be wiped from Paramount+ soon. pic.twitter.com/xhmlRsr6i2
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) June 23, 2023
Worse still, the demand for woke entertainment is decreasing as well, receiving backlash from audiences that become more savvy about its thinly veiled attempts to shame them. When these out-of-touch productions underperform in ratings and disgust the audience, they get removed before they drain more money from the already struggling industry. There’s less tolerance now for shows that fail to perform, and streaming services have no choice but to buckle down and measure things on a tighter standard to keep going. As the contemporary facade is wiped away, the market will be looking for genuine and entertaining content that can connect with audiences without feeling like a soapbox.
In conclusion, the cancellation of “Rise of the Pink Ladies” is a sign that streaming services must produce shows that have genuine entertainment value. As the industry becomes more competitive with less revenue, services have less wiggle room for errors and must prioritize entertaining over preaching, reflecting audiences’ needs for entertainment, and a bit of escapism.
