Prime Video has managed to build out several massive hits for itself. Reacher is one of the most successful series in all streaming. Superhero subversions like The Boys and Invincible are closely watched, while the dystopian video game Fallout became a quick favorite among audiences, gaining awards buzz and accumulating billions of minutes streamed for its first installment.
There is an argument to be made that the streamer, which gains a massive subscriber boost due to its direct connection with Amazon’s delivery service, struggles outside certain avenues. The streamer is home to big action thrillers that would fit well on the big screen. Along with Reacher, Prime Video has The Terminal List, Alex Cross, and the Jack Ryan franchise. But with The Summer I Turned Pretty ending later this year, it resurfaces the idea that the platform has struggled to make much of its smaller originals and more scaled-down stories. The latest news reaffirms the argument.
On Call Is Done After One Season
It May Still Find A Home
On Call debuted on Prime Video in January and was executive produced by Law & Order creator Dick Wolf. The eight-episode crime drama focuses on rookie Alex Diaz (Brandon Larracuente) and veteran officer Traci Harmon (Torian Bellisario) as they patrol Long Beach, California. The series utilizes bodycam, dash camera, and cellphone footage to help unfurl its narrative, with the On Call main cast also including Lori Loughlin, Rich Ting, and Eriq LaSalle.
Deadline confirms that On Call has been cancelled after one season on Prime Video. The series, which hails from Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television, is being shopped to other platforms, and conversations are ongoing about a potential pick-up. The decision is seen as somewhat surprising, considering that the series debuted to positive buzz and a 92% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. A deeper look at the series may help to explain the cancellation, though.
What This Means For On Call Season 2
It Was Headed For A Renewal
The procedural, created by Tim Walsh and Dick Wolf’s son Elliot Wolf, was headed for a two-season renewal. Those discussions experienced some turbulence until Amazon offered to reduce the premium it pays for the show. The offer, which stems from a current cost-conscious push across the entertainment industry, was made more difficult because On Call comes from an outside studio. It hails from Universal Television as the main studio, with Amazon’s MGM Studios producing with Dick Wolf’s Wolf Entertainment.
On Call has a 53% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, based on 13 reviews.
Projects from outside tend to face a tougher path for renewal, which was the case with On Call. Amazon felt that it was losing money on the series, according to reporting, while Universal Television and Wolf Entertainment felt that it was not feasible to reduce the amount of a premium that was relatively modest to begin with. The two sides could not come to an agreement, which is how On Call season 2 went from a likely renewal to a surprise cancellation.
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Moving forward, there are said to be discussions about On Call moving to Peacock. If it happened, it would not be surprising since Peacock is home to the consistently well-performing Law & Order franchise from Wolf Entertainment alongside the One Chicago dramas. Wolf also has an overall deal with NBCUniversal, which owns Peacock, and may well help those discussions along.
Source: Deadline
On Call
- Release Date
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January 9, 2025
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Troian Bellisario
Traci Harmon
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Brandon Larracuente
Alex Diaz
