'Vinyl' Canceled: No Season 2 For HBO Series From Martin Scorsese

HBO has changed course on Vinyl. The 1970s rock n roll drama had been renewed for a second season with a new showrunner, Scott Z. Burns, replacing co-creator, executive producer and showrunner Terence Winter. Now the premium cable network has decided not to go with Season 2 of the series, executive produced by Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger.

“After careful consideration, we have decided not to proceed with a second season of Vinyl,” HBO said in a statement. “Obviously, this was not an easy decision. We have enormous respect for the creative team and cast for their hard work and passion on this project.

Cancellation was not based on the work of the new Vinyl creative team of Burns and executive producer Max Borenstein as no scripts for Season 2 had been delivered.

Vinyl has been a disappointment, a big-budget series from A-list auspices and a star cast that had underperformed. ”Vinyl didn’t launch in the way we were hoping it would; it’s disappointing, but it happens,” HBO’s outgoing head of programming Michael Lombardo told Deadline last month.

The decision not to continue with Vinyl comes as HBO’s new programming chief Casey Bloys is settling into the job. It will free up resources and help him put his stamp on HBO’s drama output more quickly.

Vinyl had a 20-year development history, with Scorsese and Jagger originally attempting to do it as a movie. When it was set up at HBO in 2010, Winter was brought in as a writer/executive producer.

The big-budget period drama drew soft ratings for its first season, with viewership between 760,000 and 570,000 for a premiere airing.

The series starred Bobby Cannavale as Richie Finestra, a record label president who is trying to save his company and his soul without destroying everyone in his path. Co-starring were Olivia Wilde, Ray Romano, Ato Essandoh, Max Casella, P.J. Byrne, J.C. MacKenzie, Birgitte Hjort Sørensen, Juno Temple, Jack Quaid, James Jagger and Paul Ben-Victor.

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176 Comments

Anonymous on July 20, 2016 5:23 pm

I love it and wish to see 10 seasons more
Im a lover of the 70’s and it was a trip to watch
Thanks for all involved
Cathy Sedacca on July 20, 2016 8:32 am

So disappointed in HBO . This was the first time I loved ,loved ,loved a show . I was looking forward to it coming back since they already committed to saying that it would come back one more season . Pretty low to take back a promise especially when fans look forward to seeing there show again . I plan on never watching HBO ever again . I am so upset please reconsider . I heard the bad news
- Angela on July 21, 2016 7:21 am
  
  I subscribed to HBO only because of this show. Otherwise I don’t watch HBO all that much, and I am cancelling my subscription. Just wish they could have given Vinyl one more spin!
ks on July 20, 2016 5:38 am

With all the positive comments, supported enthusiasm and heartfelt disappointment in the comments below, I SO HOPE that you, HBO, we reconsider your decision and run the second season of VINYL. People Please comment if you agree !!
Sincerely Dale on July 19, 2016 9:21 pm

So disappointed not to see a second season as everything had just started to climax. This was by far my favourite program but the episodes need to be doubled you can’t fit enough in, in just an hour. I see reviews saying it was cliche. Ofcourse it’s cliche its fucking rock n roll our lives are built on the foundations it laid out. Not to mention half of it is apparently based on actual events. I mean come on people here’s a show giving you an incite to the most outrageous word known to man! Who wouldn’t want to know???!
KS on July 18, 2016 10:10 am

This is very sad news !!! I was so looking forward to season 2 of VINYL. I loved “Richie” he made me feel every emotion possible. The roller coaster ride of his personal life and business mishaps; kept me wondering what could possibility happen next. The carefree-ness of the charters, the chaotic and irresponsible behavior from each and everyone of them, the music was amazing and the story line kept craving for more. I have to agree with others here about it being hard to “get into” at first, but by the middle of the second episode I was sold on it. The clothes, furniture, the art and “statements” the whole 70’s personia drew me into this as a weekly addiction. Very disappointment that this will not carry over to season 2.