CBS gives So Help Me Todd a true cliffhanger finish with a season 2 cancellation

Sadly, it will be a rough ending for So Help Me Todd as CBS has made a harsh decision on the sophomore legal drama. Are fans in for a cliffhanger ending? 

It’s that time of year when the networks make their decisions on which shows will survive to another season. For some series, it’s a no-brainer for renewal while others can be “on the bubble.” It’s more complicated this year due to the 2023 strikes pushing CBS’ content until February of 2024. 

So far, the network has been handing out renewals for the FBI franchise, NCIS, Fire Country and, in a bit of a surprise, the new drama Elsbeth. However, these renewals are a double-edged sword to other shows that are hoping to go on.

Among those is So Help Me, Todd. Premiering in 2022, the series follows Todd (Skylar Austin), a sharp but otherwise aimless and drifting investigator who’s forced to work for a law firm run by his estranged mother, Margaret (Marcia Gay Harden). Despite their issues, the pair work together on various cases to help others.

The show managed to get a second season renewal in May 2022 and maintained a good audience. Reviews for Season 2 were better, with a tighter focus on the characters and the show just finding its beat. Was that enough to get a renewal?

Why is So Help Me Todd canceled?

Sadly for fans, CBS has axed So Help Me Todd along with CSI: Vegas. The announcement came as a surprise to the timing as most had expected CBS to wait until the May upfronts to make any final decisions on the show's fate. The reason why is simply the ratings. 

Per TV Line, Todd is averaging 6.2 million total viewers and a 0.5 demo rating, about the same as Season 1. Out of the 14 dramas that CBS has aired this TV season, it ranks last in total viewers and bests only CSI: Vegas and the already-renewed NCIS: Sydney in the demo.

With so many renewals as well as a couple of new shows set for fall in Matlock (delayed from this season) and plans for a reboot of Cold Case and a possible spin-off of Fire Country, there just aren’t going to be many open slots in CBS’ schedule. Combine that with the network still recovering from the lost ad revenue due to the strikes and cutting a low-rated series like Todd is sadly brutal business sense.

Making it worse, TV Line reports that the Todd producers seemed sure a third season was coming and planned to end Season 2 on a cliffhanger. That was likely the common tactic of a "bubble" show in hopes a network wouldn't leave fans hanging with no conclusion. Unfortunately, in this case, it didn't work so the May 16th episode will be the series finale

Creator Scott Prendergrast shared his feelings on the show ending on an Instagram post, thanking CBS for their support.

"Thank you CBS for the phenomenal opportunity. CBS is truly a wonderful place to work. Everyone is so supportive, respectful and SMART. Every single executive I interacted with had only one goal in mind: how do we turn your idea into a great show on CBS? Working on this level, with this scope, with these actors, on these sets, with these writers, with this brilliant crew, this wardrobe, these editors, these composers, these creative executives who care so very much - has been the best professional experience of my life. What a privilege to stand on our huge stages and watch all these magicians at work. It is so extraordinary to get to dream up these ideas and characters and jokes and stories and then stand back as incredibly talented professionals bring them to life. WHAT LUCK! WHAT JOY! WHAT GREAT SUCCESS! I took a story about me and my Mom and hundreds of people came together to build it into something else, something huge, something beautiful, something funny. Thank you to everyone involved, and to all our viewers. One million thank yous will never be enough."

So even with that cliffhanger, it's sadly the end of the road for So Help Me Todd and cutting this promising series short.

So Help Me Todd season 2 airs Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS.