Yikes! It's here.
CBS has been burning off the final short season of Mike & Molly two episodes at a time, and suddenly there are only a couple left before the final curtain falls.
"Curse of the Bambino" airs at 7 p.m. Monday, followed at 7:30 by the series finale, "I See Love."
In the former, according to CBS, "Carl badgers Mike to go with him to see his psychic, while Peggy pesters Molly to attend her church, where they pray for something they've all been wanting and waiting for."
I assume that's word from the adoption agency on whether Mike and Molly get a baby.
And in the closer: "The series ends with an impromptu get-together during which the Flynn and the Biggs families recall what has brought them to the present point in time, which results in one last confrontation between Joyce and Peggy."
The series, which debuted Sept. 20, 2010, stars Billy Gardell as Officer Mike Biggs and Melissa McCarthy as Molly Flynn. The couple met at a Chicago Overeaters Anonymous gathering and fell in love.
Hilarity ensued.
Reno Wilson plays Mike's police partner, Officer Carl McMillan. Rondi Reed plays Mike's mother Peggy Biggs, and Swoosie Kurtz portrays Molly's mom, Joyce Moranto. Katy Mixon is Victoria Flynn, Molly's sister.
The series has been a solid performer for CBS over the years, averaging more than 11 million viewers per week its first two seasons, but dropping to 9.9 million last year. This was also the third season in a row that CBS held the series out of its fall lineup.
The final reason for cancellation is that the series is owned by Warner Bros. Television, not CBS, and the network elected not to renew its licensing agreement. Contracts for all concerned ended Feb. 1.
The official cancellation announcement was made at the Television Critics Association winter press tour by new CBS president Glenn Geller. Quoted in Variety, he said, "These decisions are really challenging and I have a tremendous amount of respect for ... the whole cast and crew."
As for the final episode, Geller said, "I think the fans will be very satisfied with what [executive producers] Chuck [Lorre] and Al [Higgins] have planned."
McCarthy, who fans came to love on Gilmore Girls, has a lucrative movie career to fall back on. That didn't keep her from taking to Twitter when the rumors of cancellation were confirmed in December.
"I was shocked and heartbroken when CBS canceled Mike & Molly," McCarthy tweeted. "I would have shot this show for 50 more years. I'll miss my second family."
McCarthy won the 2011 Emmy for lead actress in a comedy for her role.
Alas for fans, all good things must come to an end. At least with advance notice like this, Mike & Molly will have the opportunity for closure.
OTHER FINALES
• Once Upon a Time, 7 p.m. today on ABC. Season 5 closes out with two episodes, "Only You" and "An Untold Story." The network has already ordered a sixth season.
• The Family, 9 p.m. today on ABC. The 12-episode mystery/thriller's first season concludes with "What Took So Long?" ABC informs us that "a phone call changes everything." No official word on renewal, but insiders call the series "a safe bet."
• The Last Man on Earth, 9:30 p.m. today on Fox. What started out as a clever, innovative series lost me toward the end of the first season when it began to wander and lose focus.
Adding the multi-talented, Oscar-winning Mary Steenburgen (Melvin and Howard) to the cast full time in Season 2 didn't help.
In the Season 2 finale, "30 Years of Science Down the Tubes," Fox says, "While Phil (Will Forte) and Mike (Jason Sudeikis) continue to grow closer, Carol (Kristen Schaal), Todd (Mel Rodriguez) and the rest of the Malibu group get a huge surprise."
Fox has renewed the series for a third season.
• Spring Baking Championship, 9 p.m. today, Food Network. The six-episode second season concludes with "Destination Wedding," in which the three remaining bakers create snacks for the welcome baskets for a destination wedding and bake a wedding cake.
• Dice, 9:30 p.m. today on Showtime. Comedian Andrew Dice Clay closes his six-episode, semi-autobiographical, comeback sitcom's first season. No word on a second season, but the series is averaging fewer than 200,000 viewers each week. Not a good sign.
Make a note: The five broadcast networks will be holding their fall "upfront" meetings this week starting Monday with NBC and Fox. It's during the upfronts that we learn the final verdicts on which 2015-2016 series live and which die. I'll have the final wrap-up in a Style section front article on May 24.
The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Email:
mstorey@arkansasonline.com
Style on 05/15/2016