How the Bob Hearts Abishola Finale Set Up a Potentially Revamped Season 5
Warning: The following contains spoilers about the Season 4 finale of CBS’ Bob Hearts Abishola.
Bob Hearts Abishola‘s central couple has some difficult decisions ahead of them.
At the end of Monday’s episode, Abishola received her acceptance letter from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, which is more than 700 miles from the marrieds’ current home in Detroit.
Bob, who was initially on board with moving, decided that he did not want to work remotely. To be fair, though, it was a moot point at the time he made his feelings clear to Abishola; they were both working under the assumption that she’d been rejected by her dream school. Ergo, when her acceptance arrived, husband and wife were at a loss.
“What are we going to do?” she asked.
“I have no idea,” he replied. “But whatever happens, we’re going to be fine….” But are they going to be fine? After all, Bob was a lot less confident than he let on to Abishola, as evidenced by his late father Max resurfacing and asking his son if he was sure.
As previously reported, only Billy Gardell and Folake Olowofoyeku are returning to their titular roles as series regulars for Season 5. Everyone else — Christine Ebersole (as Dottie), Matt Jones (as Douglas), Maribeth Monroe (as Christina), Vernee Watson (as Gloria), Shola Adewusi (as Auntie Olu), Barry Shabaka Henley (as Uncle Tunde), Travis Wolfe Jr. (as Dele), Bayo Akinfemi (as Goodwin), Anthony Okungbowa (as Kofo), Saidah Arrika Ekulona (as Ebunoluwa) and series co-creator Gina Yashere (as Kemi) — has been bumped to recurring status, with each actor reportedly offered just five episodes next year.
As a result, Warner Bros., which produces B❤️A, has waved exclusivity. That means the rest of the ensemble is free to look for other work — and their returns are in no way guaranteed.
Should Bob and Abishola ultimately move to Baltimore, that’d put more than enough mileage between them and their loved ones in the Motor City to explain why the most of the cast isn’t present every week. What seems more likely, though, is that Bob and Abishola will split their time between Michigan and Maryland, or perhaps give long distance a go. Whatever happens, it’s unlikely the series will look the same when it returns, post-writers’ strike.
In the meantime, grade the finale via the following poll, then hit the comments with your hopes for Season 5.
I don’t know why, but after the credits rolled, all I could think of was “The Ropers.” They were a huge part of the popularity of “Three’s Company,” enough TPTB decided to spin them off. But they quickly found that moving the “straight guys” to solo status just killed their magic. (Meanwhile, Don Knotts became a superstar when he slid into replace The Ropers.)
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I really wonder about shifting the focus to the most “boring” characters on the canvas, and getting rid of all the color that makes this show what it is. What made this show better than just OK was expanding the canvas to include more family and less boring couple.
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I hate to say it, but a planned end date would have been preferable than watching a slow death. This is more kill Three’s Company for a mediocre spin off than risking a spin off while keeping the mothership. They need to go back and rewatch those early episodes to remind themselves of what didn’t work nearly as well.
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Does anyone who likes this show enough to join in a discussion about it really think this is going to be any kind of improvement?
It’s a terrible idea and I agree that shifting to the most boring characters will be the end for this show. It was all that I was thinking about while watching the finale tonight.
Don Knotts was already a 5 time Emmy winner when he joined Threes Company. Otherwise, I agree with your analysis.
Thanks. In my head I typed “Don Knotts became a superhero to a whole new generation,” but part of that didn’t make it through my fingers to the post. ;) You are correct, and I meant to imply he returned to former glory than that Three’s Company was his career maker. :) Either way, he made folks forget all about the Ropers, while rose back to his former star power.
It’s not going to be an improvement, but it is a natural transition. I’m sure there are going to be more recurring characters in Baltimore once they move. However, I can’t see them doing four years of this.
It’s a shame because I will miss the supporting cast, especially Kemi, Tunde and Olu. Bob’s siblings are too annoying to be consistently funny.
Especially Douglas.
Don’t sleep on the sister. She can be just as annoying, if not moreso. Plus the fact that all of the Nigerians are more dynamic and funnier emphasizes it more.
great comparison!
While a huge cast. The approach seems rather reckless on a winning format. Some of the roles could have been trimmed without what appears to a reboot of a winning show. Spinoff Uncle Tunde and his wife.
JohnS Hopkins
Ha… There was a medical show called “Rosewood” that lasted two seasons a few years ago. I stopped watching when the lead character, a supposedly brilliant pathologist, said he had attended “John Hopkins.”
Typical of the networks to reinvent the wheel. This is a fun and funny show. All the characters complement each other. Abishola’s coworkers are funny as well as Bob’ s family, especially his mother. Abidhola’s uncles are also funny. They will ruin the show by changing the format. Season 5 will be the last and it will be replaced by some reality junk
I dont think so because I dont sée them cancel either Neighborhood or Young Sheldon or Ghosts so maybe it will be replaced by Poppa’s House if it works if not a New comedy show will happen
I sadly agree
B♡A is produced by WBTV.
I quit watching this show this past season. To me the show became really boring. Same plot over and over. The show wasn’t ever funny anymore. I think it should be canceled. I quit watching the Neighborhood for the same reasons and think this show should also be canceled.
Sorry,but the show wasn’t very good.
It’s just the beginning of the end. Yes, CBS has a good relationship with Chuck Lorre, but it is a WB production, not CBS. It’s not a huge ratings winner or have the general public knowledge (i.e. BBT, 2 1/2 Men) that previous Lorre shows had. Unless something magical happens with ratings (which seem unlikely), next season will be its last and this is just a way to make the final season cheaper to produce. It being renewed for only 13 episodes is another sign.
Revamping and changing the dynamic of a series rarely works. It screams last-ditch effort and more often than not ends in cancellation.
B&A are the weakest part of the show despite being in the name of it. I’d much prefer to watch the rest of the cast.
I’m sure money is the reason behind the others being bumped to recurring but they are all funnier than the leads and if only on 5 episodes each just not going to be the same
There’s a reason David Zaslav was booed during his ill-thought-out commencement speech at Boston U last week. He’s destroying the WB/HBO properties (like he did with the Discovery properties) and this is just another step in that.
Can’t figure out the real person or entity to blame for something WBD-related that you simply don’t like? Just blame David Zaslav. It always works… somehow.
Hahahahaha! It’s pretty well known his intentions in the industry. But sure, go ahead and defend the billionaire. How much is he paying you?😘
I hope they don’t “revamp” as they tried this with Mike and Molly and totally ruined the show. Why fix something that isn’t broken?
I love this ensemble. Don’t ruin one of your best sitcoms, CBS!
I agree. I enjoy everyone on the show, especially Abisola’s family.
Losing the rest of the characters is a major blow to the show. All the characters gave life to the show. Not just 2. Dumb move. We’ll see how next season fares.
CBS is probably looking for a way to cancel it and this is how you do it. Eliminate all that makes the show it’s best. It’s the same as doing Will and Grace without Karen & Jack, it wouldn’t have worked and it won’t work on this show either. The ratings will plummet.
The show is toast after next season. Too many changes to a cast that people are now comfortable with. You touch vernee and I already hate you! She is gold. I like the cultural lesson we’ve gotten and continue to get but I fear this change will wash that all out.
I don’t know if the show will have the same meaning or feeling of family, friends, co workers. I’m a little disappointed. Even though I love Billy and Folake are great together, they make me laugh which I really need these days , I will miss her coworkers, Dele and aunt and uncle. These people were the highlight of the show.
The supporting characters make this show. The leads are nowhere as likeable as the rest of the cast
Gotta say …this is a dumb move. Relegating so many cast members to “reoccurring” status will diminish this great show. Each of them portray such unique characters…it’ll be a shame to see less of them.
I don’t think they shld split this talented staff. They all deserve to be there. It’s the people that make the show and they are all outstanding actors and characters. It wont survive without them. Is that what u want. I don’t. Pls dont do this.
Hey TV execs. Don’t do it. You’ll turn off viewers for sure. What a stupid idea!!!
big moves like this rarely work. doubt they’ll find the magic of the original cast and setting.
Weird how some people seem to wish all the cast had ended up unemployed. At least now they have 5ep. minimim to fall back on while looking for another gig. But some self-titled “fans” are incredibly selfish creatures.
This can’t be simply about money. The actors are still on their original contracts, and as a multicam with limited sets, it’s not like it costs $10 million an episode a la “9-1-1.” As for Warner Bros., it hasn’t seemed to affect “Young Sheldon.”
I suspect that CBS is looking at the numbers and finding that the show is tanking in the red states, given that most of the cast is not just black but Nigerian–or playing as. (Can you say “immigrants?” I knew that you could.) I’d be curious to see the ratings breakdown by geography.
The most boring characters on this show are Bob & Abishola. One-note characters. The “minor” characters are the best/funniest part of the show and give the writers material to work with. I will miss seeing Abishola’s co-workers and Auntie & Uncle and Dottie regularly. I suspect my days of following this show are limited.