Witty, cozy case-of-the-week TV series have a way of capturing audiences’ attention and building loyal fanbases, as seen in shows like Psych and Monk. The same applies to shows with a similar tone that focus on the legal side of things, such as Leverage. So Help Me Todd straddled both genres and built around two phenomenal, clashing leads in Marcia Gay Harden and Skylar Astin, one a domineering matriarch from a legal background (Margaret), the other (Todd) having cut his teeth as a private detective.
Indeed, fans of the show were instantly drawn in by the dynamic, which injected light humor while also celebrating the enduring power of family, even when those relationships can be complicated or dysfunctional. The show also had a great supporting cast, including guest spots, that kept each weekly case an exciting watch. So Help Me Todd seemed poised to become a cult favorite, but being cut short after only two seasons prevented it from reaching the same status as similar series. The reasons behind the show’s cancellation are varied, and the ending is disappointing, but we will look at both and how So Help Me Todd went from fan favorite to cutting room floor.
The Reason Why ‘So Help Me Todd’ Was Canceled Went Beyond Ratings
Firstly, there is no denying that ratings did play a role in So Help Me Todd‘s cancellation after Season 2. For its second season, the show averaged 7.7 million “Live+35” views (those who watched on the day of release and up to 35 days after new episodes were released) across multiple platforms. These numbers were comparable to other CBS shows, especially in a year with a crowded line-up that included Tracker, Blue Bloods, NCIS, FBI, and Ghosts, all of which averaged more than 10 million viewers.
2024 also marked a year in which CBS was tightening its release schedule and looking to introduce new programs to bolster ratings. The highly anticipated Matlock reboot, in particular, is often cited by the fandom as the direct reason So Help Me Todd was canceled to make way for the new series, even though the shows aired in different time slots. Regardless, it was clear that CBS wanted to prioritize new shows and those with already large followings. Matlock proved more successful in its first season, averaging 17 million viewers in the “Live 35+” demographic, despite a rather disappointing final episode.
Despite building a dedicated fanbase from its first episode, So Help Me Todd struggled with lower ratings, shifts in CBS’s content strategy, and the changing media landscape, which now requires a multilayered approach that includes streaming. Unfortunately, the decision to cancel the show came after Season 2 was completed, leaving fans on a cliffhanger and preventing a proper closure.
‘So Help Me Todd’ Left Audiences on a Cliffhanger
The final episode of Season 2, “The Tooth Is Out There,” saw Margaret take on an integral case for the firm’s future involving a cosmetics company. At the same time, Todd was embroiled in a new case, investigating illegal activity that could sink the firm if brought to light. The pending case and investigation introduced the firm’s other partner, Merritt Folding, who was positioned as a behind-the-scenes manipulator. The season ends with viewers seeing only his feet enter the Crest, Folding & Wright offices. Fans would never get to see Folding or who would play him, but this was a high-stakes conclusion that left a lot open for Todd, Margaret, and broader implications for the show’s future.
In an interview with TV Insider, creator Scott Prendergast spoke about his initial plans for the show, as well as the intention to tell the story he wanted across multiple seasons:
…From day 1 of the pilot. All the name partners would be revealed, and all would play a part in the show. We wanted to put Margaret in the “Todd” position — family outcast, in trouble, making mistakes — while Todd was on the rise.
In the same interview, Prendergast was clear about his immediate plans for Season 3, which included: “Merritt Folding was going to be our Big Bad for Season 3 and beyond. A real enemy for Margaret and Todd to fight together. It would bring Margaret and Beverly [Leslie Silva] and Susan [Inga Schlingmann] together.” Later adding, “For the first half of Season 3, they would have been playing a game of cat and mouse. Merritt had dirt on her, and could easily turn her in to the authorities. So Margaret had to play nice and get Todd to find something incriminating to take him down (think Franklin Hart and the empty warehouse in 9 to 5).”
These plots would have marked a definite tonal shift in the series and added more depth to the characters, but, unfortunately, they were never meant to be. Instead, fans got only a brief tease of the show’s future, which, like many others, would be canceled far too soon.
Is ‘So Help Me Todd’ Still Worth Watching?
Where To Stream ‘So Hold Me Todd’
Despite the abrupt ending, So Help Me Todd‘s enduring charms, including its blend of light-hearted comedy, family drama, and crime/law, remain highly enjoyable. Moreover, the show’s largely episodic nature, which saw each episode focus on a new case, means there is a lot of pleasure to be found in casual re-watches of the show, or warrants checking it out for the first time (as long as audiences’ expectations for the finale are in check).
Unfortunately, potential licensing issues or a lack of a broader interest in streaming have made it hard to revisit the series, as it is not included in the Paramount+ line-up alongside other CBS shows. Hopefully, the show will find a streaming home in the future, but for now, fans need to rent or buy individual episodes on Prime Video or Apple TV.
- Release Date
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2022 – 2024-00-00
- Writers
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Scott Prendergast
