Oprah Explains Why She Turned Down “Underground”

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Explains Why She Turned Down “Underground”

Unfortunately, “Underground” hasn’t found it’s new home yet. As previously reported, WGN America passed on a third season. Tribune Media president and CEO Peter Kern confirmed the news stating:

Despite Underground being a terrific and important series, it no longer fits with our new direction and we have reached the difficult decision not to renew it for a third season.

Shortly after it was announced that it had been canceled, it was reported that both BET and OWN had passed on taking the series. Oprah recently explained why, stating

I can’t afford Underground. It costs twice as much to make. As a matter of fact, my dear friend John Legend called me, but we’d already been talking for weeks about could we make it work. It’s like $5 million an episode — can’t afford it. It’s not cheap. And I think it’s because it’s a period piece.

She continued,

And also, it doesn’t have — I think the highest number I saw was like a 0.4 or something. It has the social media following, but it doesn’t have the numbers that can justify it as a business, for me, at this stage in my business, to spend $5 million an episode.

[Via Soraya McDonald]

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