HBO recently made the announcement that its much beloved sci-fi comedy series Avenue 5 will be coming to an end after two seasons.
Created by Armando Iannucci, Ave 5 first premiered in January 2020 and featured an ensemble cast led by Hugh Laurie as the Captain of an interstellar cruise ship, Josh Gad as its panicking marketing rep and Zach Woods as the curmudgeonly chief engineer. The series was praised for its absurdist comedy, visual gags and sharp wit, and quickly gained a solid fan base despite its short run.
Unfortunately, it appears that not even a fervent fan base can save Avenue 5 from being canceled.
Though the reason for the cancellation was not given, HBO had already announced in December of 2020 that it was in the process of “streamlining” its scripted programming, which would result in a reduction of new original series orders. Given that Avenue 5 was a relatively expensive series to produce, it’s likely that this restructuring is what ultimately led to its cancellation.
Avenue 5 may have been cut, but the series has left an indelible mark on fans and critics alike. The show was certainly one of the more unique offerings to come out of the HBO lineup in recent years, crafting a hilarious and offbeat look at space travel while also touching on serious topics such as artificial intelligence, ethics and the ramifications of technology.
The cancellation of Avenue 5 is certainly a disappointment, but fans can console themselves with the knowledge that they will always have the two seasons of zany sci-fi comedy that the show provided. Though it may not have lasted as long as some would have liked, the series will still remain as a unique and fondly remembered part of HBO’s lineup.
