Three weeks ago, CBS announced the cancellation of So Help Me Todd, much to the dismay of its dedicated fan base. The series finale is set to air this Thursday, May 16, at 9 p.m. ET. The cancellation is attributed to CBS’s “dilemma” of managing too many hit shows with limited primetime slots.
CBS will replace So Help Me Todd with the highly anticipated reboot of Matlock, starring Kathy Bates, in the same time slot, and the returning Elsbeth will follow at 10 p.m. ET.
Despite the cancellation, fans have mobilized in a significant effort to reverse the decision. The primary petition on Change.org, titled “Renew So Help Me Todd for a 3rd Season,” has surpassed its initial goal of 25,000 signatures and now boasts over 27,000 supporters. A second petition, advocating for The CW to pick up the show, is approaching 5,000 signatures. Combined with a third petition, the total number of signatures is nearing 53,000.
For The CW, which has become a hub for international programming, acquiring So Help Me Todd would be advantageous given its committed viewership. Nielsen data indicates that the show’s next-to-last episode, airing after Young Sheldon on May 9, attracted 4.41 million viewers—surpassing competitors like NBC’s Law & Order: SVU and ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy. In contrast, Lovers and Liars, a reality series on The CW, drew only 159,000 viewers.
CBS’s streaming partner Paramount+ could also be a potential new home for So Help Me Todd, following in the footsteps of other CBS shows like Evil, which transitioned to the platform after its first season.
The fans’ outcry reflects a historical precedent for saving shows through grassroots support. Similar campaigns successfully revived Star Trek, Cagney & Lacey, and more recently Lucifer, Sense8, Nashville, Designated Survivor, and Timeless. If history is any guide, the passionate fanbase might just succeed in securing a future for So Help Me Todd.
