"MADtv" Cancelled

[J_UNTITLED]

From Variety...

"Fox is closing the book on “Mad TV” after 14 seasons.

Net confirmed Wednesday that the Saturday night sketch series, which had barely escaped cancellation in recent years, will end its run at the end of this season.

QDE and Warner Bros. TV were behind the show, which was launched in 1995 as a competitor to “Saturday Night Live” by David Salzman and Quincy Jones. Fax Bahr and Adam Small created the laffer, but left several years ago.

John Crane, Salzman and Jones currently serve as exec producers.

“Mad TV” made a name for itself with its pop culture parodies; alums include Nicole Sullivan (“Rita Rocks”) and Frank Caliendo (“Frank TV”).

Current cast includes Arden Myrin, Bobby Lee, Crista Flanagan, Keegan-Michael Key, Nicole Parker and Johnny Sanchez.

Decision to cancel “Mad TV” comes after the show failed to see a ratings boost during the recent presidential campaign (on the show, Key portrayed Barack Obama, while Lee played John McCain). Rival “SNL,” meanwhile, has marked some of its best numbers in years.

Word of “Mad TV’s” cancellation first appeared on the satirical website Defamer.

Fox is continuing with its other Saturday late night franchise, “Talkshow with Spike Feresten.”"

Some of the most memorable characters to ever come out of sketch comedy -- Miss Swan, Stewart and Lorraine to name a few -- were hatched out of "MADtv."


Although it has declined (much like "SNL'"in my opinion) in quality this century compared to its later '90s run, it has left an undeniable mark on the genre.