CBS’ mysterious cancellation of ‘Mike & Molly’ leaves cast ‘shocked’ and frustrated

Even though CBS has evidently canceled “Mike & Molly,” network brass has decided the topic is off-limits.

But that’s not stopping unhappy cast members from sounding off.

Rondi Reed, the veteran stage actress who plays the tough mother to Chicago cop Mike Biggs (Billy Gardell), reported in a Facebook post last week that “Mike & Molly” will come to an end with season 6, which will air early next year. Shooting on the sitcom will finish in late January, she wrote, and only 13 episodes will be completed rather than the 22 originally ordered.

“The network has its reasons, and I will not get into a debate, discussion, or campaign to get them to change their minds,” Reed wrote, adding that executive producer Chuck Lorre and studio Warner Bros. Television tried to find another home for the show but had no luck.

“It is a fact and we have known for a few weeks,” Reed wrote. Indeed, Gardell tweeted on Dec. 3 that fans would soon see “our last episodes,” although the tweet did not make the same splash that Reed’s post did.

Melissa McCarthy, the film star who plays Mike’s wife, ex-teacher Molly Flynn, tweeted Monday that she was “shocked and heartbroken” when CBS canceled the show.

Ratings for “Mike & Molly” have tapered since season 1, although not alarmingly so. Season 5 averaged a still-respectable 9.9 million total viewers in live + same day viewing, according to Nielsen. However, production costs rise substantially the longer a show is on the air, partly because of prenegotiated cast salary increases. That’s why even modestly falling ratings can spell the end for an aging show.

Typically in a case like this, the network would announce the show’s termination well in advance of the final episode, giving the cast members and creators plenty of time to ruminate in the media and take a victory lap before the series finale.

But CBS has apparently decided that’s not happening this time. Network spokespersons had no comment to the cast’s posts and tweets. CBS would not even confirm that the show is ending.

Why not? That will have to remain open to speculation, unless Reed or someone else wants to start discussing things.

What do you think of “Mike & Molly” ending its run?

Twitter: @scottcollinsLAT

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