Why exactly did Disney cancel the show?
i've only ever watched a couple of the episodes so i don't really consider myself a fan, but i'm still wondering, why exactly was it canceled so early? was it budget problems? or low ratings? or what?
sharei cant help ya on the answer to that, but the least i can do is echo your wonder in hopes that someone will answer that question and satisfy both of our curiosities. I really enjoy the show
sharefrom what I hear is that disney only does 65 shows and then the show is done.
shareyeah, but PotF was canceled at episode 40-something, way before the 65 episode mark. so i'm still left wondering, why exactly was it canceled so early?
shareHey, AppleTime. This is from Amy Bruckner's (Pim) official website. It's a blog about why the show was cancelled. Hope it's helpful to you. :-)
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Hey Everyone!
As my first post I just wanted to confirm all the rumors... "Phil of the Future" is cancelled. I wanted to say thank you to all the fans who have watched thus far and hopefully will continue watching. Disney said the reason for "Phil" not going a third season was that, because it was vastly successful, they could either go ahead with another season or they could take the money that they made on "Phil" and make a new show with it. Which, in my opinion, doesn't make much sense. I will really miss working with my faux family, Raviv, Lise, Craig and J.P. as well as much of the guest cast and the tremendous crew. Even though the show has ended the experience was well worth it. I learned many things and got to meet a lot of people that have made an impact on my life; and let me tell you, that certainly includes fans. Thank you to everyone who took the time to make such awesome websites. Thank you for the zillions of fanletters I have received. I promise to eventually answer all of them. And thank you for simply watching the show. You guys rock our socks!!!!!!!!
Peace and Mucho Love,
Amy
thanks artsygirl for the find. but geez, that explanation makes no sense whatsoever. if the series was very successful and made money, wouldn't they want to continue it? weird Disney logic at work there. that or they're just spinning the fact that PotF was either not successful/profitable, or simply not successful/profitable enough to justify its costs.
shareyeah i agree. they extended that's so raven to 100 episodes, so why the heck would they cancel POTF at only 40? i think that it is reasonable to conclude that POTF was not very successful, as the above poster said, whereas raven was obviously a huge success.
i also heard somewhere that the reason they cancelled POTF was because alyson michalka (who isn't even one of the main characters) was working on her own show, Haversham Hall, and so she had to leave. It could be possible that the new show that amy bruckner mentioned could have been haversham hall; however, the show was supposed to be released last june but was cancelled before it could air.
probably because all the fan refuse to watch it because they miss POTF...they didn't want to risk air it... who knows. I keep hearing the buzz they they are consider anohter season...they really should since there are so many fans who love it. I mean is Disney really that bad off, they have to borrow money from another show to make new ones. That's ridiculous.
shareThey just brought back Kim Possible after being canceled... maybe if we all keep complaining POTF may get brought back!! I hope so.. I signed a few petitions and such
**I want a Notebook romance...**
well, you guys probably noticed that in the last episode it ended when they went back to pick up curtis, which i believe is disney's way of leaving room for a possibility of bringing the show back. Sort of "to be continued" kind of end, don't you think?
shareyes we noticed that angelginel
Disney had plans to make a 3rd season...that would probably pick up from that moment
bur clearly changed theit minds a few months later
they simply don't seem to care about this show.
Summer: Yeah, he's an Elf. He saved Middle-Earth. That is a huge part of European history
So that if they 2 bring it back they have a reason 2 go back to the past.
shareI think it is coming back. I think so because you know how on the commercials on disney like the new one is somthing about monday mornings all of the showes with come on, or somthing. It shows a never befor seen zach and cosy, cory in the house, hm, and potf. We'll I think its a new episode of potf because all of the other clips are new and I don't remember seeing that episode part.
shareI'm sure is not comming back
Aly didn't say anything about it...she probably would at her myspace or some intrview
besides Aly & AJ have a pilot on the works for MTV(that will take place during the summer tour)
and this year she has been reallyyyy busy and will be for a while
so I don't see how she couls film it
I doubt that Disney would consider having Raviv back after the weebe boys video and Driftwood...(since OHHHHHH he cusses on them..he is a bad bad boy-Oh this is called sarcasm BTW)
serious now about Raviv
I'm 100% sure he is done with Disney
going back to Disney after he finally moved to more mature roles would be a hugeee step back for him
AND Aly as well...now that she is moving to a more mature audience
and BTW
would you care for describing the scenes?
cause AT THE MOST it would be the episode they shot two years ago after the second seaon finale
Dr. Cox: People are just bastard covered bastards with bastard filling
Wow, it's nice to see my thread has generated so much discussion since I last checked. After reading quite a few posts, all I can really guess for why PotF was canceled was b/c it simply wasn't popular enough compared with its contemporaries. It's a shame b/c I really think it was one of the better Disney shows.
I also have a theory that PotF was "squeezed" out of the lineup b/c of all of Disney's other live action series. Think about it: Disney has always had about 3 original live action shows in production at any one time (approximating for filming times). In the beginning, those 3 were Jett Jackson, So Weird, and The Jersey. Then it became Even Stevens, Lizzie McGuire, and That's So Raven. After that, it should have been PotF, The Suite Life, and Hannah Montana. But a funny thing happened along the way, That's So Raven somehow became so popular that Disney actually decided to renew it past its 65 episode limit. That threw off Disney's general 3 show lineup. Instead of gradually fading away like it should have, That's So Raven kept chugging along so that Disney had 4 shows actively in production at the same time: TSR, PotF, TSL, and Hannah Montana. Now out of those 4 series, PotF was found to be the least popular. Mix that information in with some network guy's suggestion to spinoff TSR into Cory in the House, and you get the picture. Simply because of all the shows in production at the same time and their costs, Disney "had to" cut one of them. It wasn't going to be TSL or Hannah Montana because those shows were just starting out, and it wasn't going to be TSR b/c it was already coming to an end anyway. So to make room for Cory in the House, Disney had to get rid of PotF. Now all of this is just a theory so don't come yelling at me, it's only my opinion.
I just have to say I thought that was an incredibly well thought out answer... I'd bet money it's right lol awesome job.
shareonly read first page - how could they bring it back? time traffic jam so lloyd tried taking a short cut that goes back to 2006 or w/e then they get in a crash or something at the same date they left? - hey they should use that idea and pay me money lol - then lloyd starts working on the time engine again and keley n phils relationship goes on further and maybe pim will get with lil danny
shareangelginel, they nevr made an episode were phil n fam go back 2 get curtis so....................
2007-The year in movies!
You Can't See Me! (Well, technically...)
In the final episode they were turning around to get Curtis, and that's where it ended. They didn't actually show them go back though.
"All our dreams can come true - if we have the courage to pursue them." - Walt Disney
Why does Disney cancelled popular shows after the 65 episodes? It's just stupid. I heard the Suite Life is being cancelled (If it hasn't been already) ... and a spin-off of the show called the S.S. Tipton might take it's place. I really don't understand Disney, they've got some weird idea's and philosophies.
I just started watching "Phil of the Future" on tv and fell in love with it. I'm trying to hunt down the DVD, but it's hard to find. Too bad Phil doesn't come on at a half decent time, it comes on around 1 or 2 in the morning. Blasted Disney!
The thing I don't like about it cancelling early is the fact that it was a really good show! I can stand to watch That's So Raven and stuff, but they're nothing compared to Phil. Phil was funny, and very entertaining. Stuff like Raven is just stupid humor, a lot of screaming (think about it, she screams a LOT!), and stuff like that. Phil was just zany, quirky, and off-the-wall fun.
Barbossa: Isla de Muerta, remember? You shot me.
Jack: No I didn't!
first of all read second raven they said they would cancel but they got 2 many email 2 bring it back for the next season.but POTF was suppose to be 12-14 well phil was but they like him 2 mutch.and yes TSR is based in hs but they stared has freshman.so that why bitch!!!!!!!!
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She said "vastly" not "very" vastly is the oposite of very.
shareYea, I heard Disney shows only go for 65 episodes, but thats so raven went on for 101 episodes
shareJust so you know Disney doesn't have a 65 show limit... That's so Raven has at least 100 episodes.
shareTSR was the exception of the rule...besides POTF who got 40 something
every other show(live action or animated)only has 65
and Kim Possible will be the other exception since it will also have 100 episodes
and considedering how Aly and her sister's show wasn't picked up I don't think that's the reason it got cancelled-I mean the show wasn't picked mid last year
if Disney had any intrest on keeping the show they would have bring POTF back then.
or wait until the show was over to give Aly and AJ their own show
also they could do without it her or giving her less scenes,like not being in every ep...although I don't think that many people would continue watching whithout her,since she was on more than than Pim,the parents and Curtis(and the show is about the family manly...not about the 22nd century boy with his friend)
this is Disney's fout.period
they cleary didn't have any intrest of keeping the show..they HAD the option of making a new season...it wasn't juct like the OC tha was pretty much doomed
-first they gave Aly a new show while she doing POTF
-they cancel the show
-they didn't bring it back when HH wasn't picked up
-they didn't air the episode that shoot after BTTF
-they don't even make a movie
and now that Aly is getting more famous, if anything the ratings for POTF would grow(seriouly..she is more famous the entire cast together now)
HH plot sucked so much that even Aly & AJ's fans like me hated it and was only going to wacth because of the girls
a LOT of POTF fans wasn't going to watch it
but POTF?all of her fans and POTF's ones would stick with
Summer: Yeah, he's an Elf. He saved Middle-Earth. That is a huge part of European history
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What is "HH" and "BTTF"? Are the names of future shows?
shareHH-Haversham Hall,Aly and AJ's never picked pilot
BTTF-Back to the future..doesn't neet to explain I hope
Summer: Yeah, he's an Elf. He saved Middle-Earth. That is a huge part of European history
back to the future? so would that be another phil show?
i really liked this show, it's the only one really worth watching on Disney. it's not lame like the other ones. disney does terrible 'sitcom' shows, cause they laugh at moments that aren't funny, but phil really was awesome with the sound effects and stuff, so i actually found myself laughing. i'm in highschool and i really find disney shows rediculous, but i LOVE phil. that is probably the only good show thats ever been on disney. it diserves to come back and finish up, or atleast have a movie!
i just want to see how the phil & keeley relationship ends up. they just cant leave it where they did. if he's from 2121, she'd be dead by the time he was born, so we need to see them find a way to be together somehow. if we can't get more episodes, i'd like a movie to just clear everything up.
Isn't it weird how tomorrow never comes. By the time it would be tomorrow, it's today.
for the love of God
Back to the future is the name of the last episode...
Summer: Yeah, he's an Elf. He saved Middle-Earth. That is a huge part of European history
[deleted]
-the show was already cancelled before the video
-his contract with Disney was already over by the time he made that
if he had done that WHILE on Disney he not only would get fired but also probably have to face a nice law suit against him
he had nothing to do with Disney anymore at that time....
Summer: Yeah, he's an Elf. He saved Middle-Earth. That is a huge part of European history
What video did he make?
**I want a Notebook romance...**
He and friends made videos as a parody rap group. They're very vulgar, and might make you change your mind about Raviv, however, I think they're hilarious, and it just made me like him more. I guess it all depends on the type of person you are.
Here's links to his videos...
The Boat Song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzQdJFj7TbE
Video Message:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF7U-H1zipY
Interview #1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsYre0r06A0
#2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IoS4Dtbcs0
#3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb8AkWOANgE
#4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8-7P_YDKSQ
#5:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geiI-PwQSFk
#6:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUE4cI0tORw
Refrigerator (Gangsta' Way):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7SmDiqISPg
Uhm, I saw the first one. Take my advice, everyone else, and if you're a fan of Disney Channel, don't watch it. Because I just was watching reruns of POTF, and then the boat song, and now I will never think the same of Ullman again. I'm not a fan of him now.
shareYeah...I said they were pretty vulgar, and that they'd change your thoughts of him somehow. However, I also stated that it depends on the type of person you are seeing as how when you watched it, you dislike Raviv, and when I watched it, I love him even more.
I'm also a fan of the Disney Channel, so I wouldn't go as far as telling other people who are fans not to watch these videos. I'd let them form their own opinions.
Haha - I watched the Boat Song vid whilst PotF was on.. I thought it was really funny. It's a spoof- anyone who understands what spoof means will find it amusing and think more of him rather than less!
shareI'm glad someone else found them amusing. =]
You know they're touring now, right? They have a HUGE fanbase out in California, so they're doing a sort of mini tour, and going to different cities across the country. Unfortunately, I don't know too much information about it...however, there's information all about it on their myspace.
u say only 65 shows but thats so Raven and Lizzie McGuire had plenty of episodes
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I loved Phil of the Future, it was genuinely funny and made me laugh. I wish it hadn't been canceled, but Aly's pretty busy with her and AJ's movie career.
As for Keely being dead, I'm not so sure. One of Keely and Phil's last exchanges was when Keely asked, "Will you wait for me in the future?" and Phil says, "You'll be really, really old." Maybe as time goes on, people's life expectancies become longer. Plus, if they wanted to be together and she was still alive, they could use the New Ager...
A note to Harry/Hermione Shippers:
heRmiONe
--Check the capitalized letters.
I think it is crappy that they canceled it. The show was great! Seriously, it was one of the best shows on Disney. Lots of tv shows that are being made now aren't funny, PotF was funny. They get rid of PotF but they make a, pretty much, lame spinoff from That's So Raven? That's stupid.
shareLizzie McGuire did not have over 100 episodes. On here it says it only had 34! (but I'm not sure that's right, I think it was the standard 65) I'm pretty sure Lizzie didn't have more than 65 though, and if it did it was probably only like 1 more. So just because it was aired repeatedly on the channel didn't mean it was always coming out with new episodes. But it was a hugely successful show for Disney, which is why they made the movie for theaters. I think they probably considered doing more but the actors were over it (Lalaine wasn't even in the last 6 episodes).
That's So Raven and Kim Possible are the only shows to get more than 65 episodes. TSR I think was Disney's decision because it was so successful, and Kim Possible was because fans made a ton of petitioning and got Disney to let them have another season.
I think POTF is better than everything on Disney now too. It was more realistic than some of them and did better issues than half of them and it was all about the future and stuff. I'm serious, it's on now and it's the one where Keely has stage fright and helping her to overcome it, and the one before was the one where Phil and Keely went to a concert instead of studying for a test and then had to take a makeup one (which could be encouraging kids to try and make their grades better instead of just accepting it, my teachers let us stay for recovery points all the time and hardly anyone does). I never thought of it like that until just now and I think it's true! Do any of the other shows ever have anything helpful on them?
Disney DOES have a 65 episode limit. Lizzy Mcguire was one of those shows that they stupidly stopped after 65 eps. even though it was a huge success. same with Even Stevens.
The only shows to ever go beyond the 3 season limit were That's So Raven and recently Kim Possible. TSR has been completely dragged out, if you ask me, and is not funny anymore.
KP was renewed thanks to the tireless efforts of fans, especially those at http://www.savedisneyshows.org
The site is dedicated to saving good shows from being cancelled for stupid reasons. and they are also working on trying to save POTF. It took a LONG time to save KP, so patience will be needed for saving POTF as well, but if more fans join and really put forth effort, then I think it still has a chance. Infact, Raviv has been reported in interviews saying that he still wanted to continue the show.
For all of you here saying how much you miss the show, focus your energy on joining www.savedisneyshows.org if you haven't already.
the more people helping, the better the chances of its revival.
it worked for KP, it could work for POTF!
http://www.savedisneyshows.org/phil/
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/SavePhiloftheFuture/
"Disney DOES have a 65 episode limit. Lizzy Mcguire was one of those shows that they stupidly stopped after 65 eps. even though it was a huge success. same with Even Stevens.
The only shows to ever go beyond the 3 season limit were That's So Raven and recently Kim Possible. TSR has been completely dragged out, if you ask me, and is not funny anymore."
That's So Raven and Kim Possible aren't the only Disney Channel shows to EVER go over 65 episodes. They're just the only ones in the last five years or so. I can name at least one show that went over that: Kids Incorporated, which was an 80's show, had NINE SEASONS, each with about twenty episodes (season 1 had 26). That's at least 180 episodes.
I HIGHLY DOUBT that the Disney Channel really has a 65-episode limit. I think the execs at Disney are just dumb and don't know when they should keep a good thing going--like they used to know.
I know that I shouldn't get into the "65 episode limit" discussion, and I can't remember where I first heard about it at ALL...
At least six years ago, around the time of shows like "So Weird" on Disney, the limit rule was created and put into action. So, although the cast of SW was signed for another two seasons after the second, they were shocked when the show was canceled because of the limit - although if I heard correctly on that one, there was almost terrible viewership on the third season with the replacement of Fi.
If you look at ABC Family as well, some of their shows were not being renewed (Big Wolf on Campus, for instance) because of the limit. Shows like Kids Inc had been broadcast BEFORE the limit rule was created, and therefore are moot when used - and was Kids Inc even originally ON Disney? I know they're rerunning it now, but...
With TSR - I think it should have been canceled at 65. I didn't watch much (partly because I wasn't a fan of the concept, and partly because I'm 24) because there is only so much you can do there. Once her mother left, I think the show really started going downhill.
Kim Possible - on hiatus for at least a year. They obviously DO pay attention to the petitions and SOS sites out there though... otherwise they wouldn't have brought it back. Although, with that there was way more stuff they could tell of the story.
Although I wasn't a HUMONGOUS fan of Lizzie, I think there could have been interesting situations with her in high school. As drawn out as my post was, the point I was trying to make was that the episode cap was only created and instated recently - not in the 80s.
Because Phil is so clever--so original--and the characters actually have some depth. Disney would rather sell shallow mind-candy rather than have a show where the characters actually have Judeo-Christian ethics and some real feelings.
shareno i don't think thats it....because kim possible is still on and its been on for years..
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