As a fan who has binge-watched the hilarious and quirky A.P. Bio, I can’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment that we were robbed of a fifth season! This show, created by Mike O’Brien and based on his own school experiences, was an absolute gem that combined witty humor with heartfelt moments.
Despite A.P. Bio unexpectedly garnering success on Netflix, unfortunately, there’s a compelling explanation as to why we didn’t receive a fifth season of this humorous series.
Beginning on NBC in early 2018, the TV series A.P. Bio was developed by Mike O’Brien, drawing inspiration from his own educational background. The show focused on Jack Griffin (Glenn Howerton), a somewhat pompous philosophy professor who had aspired for a position at Harvard. Unfortunately, the job went to someone else, and Jack’s anger over the slight resulted in an attack on a Harvard board member, leading to his termination.
Due to being rejected by conventional universities, Jack was compelled to return to Toledo, Ohio and accept a position teaching biology at the local high school, which he perceived as beneath his abilities. However, upon discovering that his class contained several promising students, Jack persuaded them to join him in plotting retribution against Miles Leonard, the man who had taken Jack’s spot at Harvard, unaware of Jack’s resentment towards him.
In the initial 13-episode season, the storyline intertwined Jack’s quest for vengeance with events unfolding at the school, featuring Patton Oswalt in the comical role of the principal. As the season progressed, Jack gradually released some of his arrogance and grew concerned about the students, although he maintained an air of superiority. However, in Season 2, there was a change of pace as Jack abandoned his revenge scheme and instead focused on understanding the people of Toledo to create what he believed would be a blockbuster novel.
Following two seasons on NBC, the series shifted to Peacock and developed a more peculiar narrative (such as a “Katie Holmes Day” celebration in Toledo), broadening the storylines to include other characters. The finale of the fourth season offered a heartwarming conclusion for Jack, seemingly setting up a fifth season. However, it wasn’t renewed for another installment.
Why A.P. Bio was canceled
In December 2021, the program was formally terminated. Later on, O’Brien expressed gratitude to the audience for their support following the show’s initial cancellation on NBC.
I’m sad to announce that A.P. Bio will not be renewed for a fifth season. But mostly I’m feeling grateful right now. To all the fans who watched the show and fought for it to come back after the cancellation! And to Peacock [and Universal Television] for giving us two more seasons after that! This show has been one of the best experiences of my life and that’s because of the hundreds of hilarious, hard-working, positive people that were involved.
It seems the primary explanation is quite straightforward: the viewership figures didn’t meet NBCUniversal’s expectations. As mentioned earlier, the series barely avoided cancellation after just two seasons, so its continuation on Peacock was almost miraculous. The show appealed more to a niche audience due to its eccentric plotlines and an intentionally unlikable main character, making it challenging to resonate with a broader public.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, economic factors of shows being produced and some fan criticisms about Season 4 being less strong compared to prior seasons were present. Additionally, Howerton’s need to manage it alongside his long-running comedy success “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” was a significant challenge. This could have influenced NBC’s reluctance to adjust their schedule around the show.
Although some might dream that its recent popularity on Netflix could spark a comeback, it could be challenging due to rights complications between networks and the extended time since the show was canceled. However, the concept of continuing with Jack, who’s still in Toledo teaching a new group of students, is enticing. Notably, Netflix has a history of reviving shows from other streaming platforms, like Peacock’s “Girls5Eva.
Well, it’s a bummer that my favorite show, A.P. Bio, didn’t make it for a fifth season. But hey, Netflix fans still have the opportunity to discover this underestimated comedy gem. Who knows? If we all rally together and stream it enough, maybe, just maybe, we can ignite a flame for a possible comeback!
A.P. Bio is currently streaming on Netflix.
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2024-11-19 01:33