Walker Independence Boss on Show’s Renewal Outlook at CW: We’re ‘Hoping for the Best, Planning for the Worst’
Walker Independence will wrap up its freshman run with this Thursday’s finale, but it remains to be seen whether the episode will be the final one to air on The CW following much turnover at the network.
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In August 2022, local-TV giant Nexstar Media Group acquired majority ownership of The CW, after which network boss Mark Pedowitz exited and was replaced by TV executive-turned-venture capitalist Dennis Miller. Nexstar execs indicated that the plan for The CW’s future includes targeting older viewers and a focus on low-cost unscripted programming. But “there may be a couple of shows that distinguish themselves this year that we want to hold over to next year,” CEO Perry Sook said.
Walker Independence showrunner Seamus Kevin Fahey is hoping that the prequel spinoff is among those series to get a renewal. (Only All American has thus far been picked up for the 2023-24 season.)
“It’s been an interesting time. It’s been an interesting past couple months,” Fahey tells TVLine. “What’s going on in town, there’s just a lot of reinvention and restructuring, and so we’re waiting still for the dust to settle a little bit [to] figure out where we really stand.”
Fahey notes that there’s “a lot of fans at The CW. A lot of folks love the show. A lot of folks are very honest it’s their favorite show on The CW… We have a lot of support at [CBS Studios]. Everyone loves the show. We’re all proud of what we did on the show.”
That said, “it’s still coming out of a fog of speculation to figure out [if], hopefully, we have a home,” Fahey says, adding that Independence is “a great show to pair up with Walker mothership. I think there’s still a lot of opportunity to feed off each other, work in a lot more Easter eggs and crossovers and stuff like that.”
But given these uncertain times at the network, “there’s definitely a Plan B,” Fahey shares. “We just all want to keep telling these stories… Everyone’s just anxious to get back to it. Mentally, that’s where we’re at: hoping for the best, planning for the worst, and just honestly happy with what we’ve done and hoping for more.”
And should the worst happen, does Plan B involve finding the show a new home?
“I don’t know how much I’m allowed to talk about it, but yes,” Fahey says. “If The CW isn’t ready to move forward, what are the other options? So naturally, it would lead to that. But again, we’re still very hopeful. There’s still a lot of champions over there for it. So we’ll see what happens. No one wants it to go away, long story short. We’re going to do what we can to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
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Walker Independence and Kung Fu are the two other shows I hope survive.
I agree
“… the plan for The CW’s future includes targeting older viewers and a focus on low-cost unscripted programming …”
I am “older viewers” and unscripted shows bore me to death.
It shows how out of touch the new owners are.
I don’t know where broadcasters get the idea that all older viewers want to watch are unscripted shows. I’m old..er and I’ve never been interested in an unscripted show, nor do I know anyone who gives a flying crap about one either. The only unscripted show I watch is the news, and that’s on a weekday evening when I sit down to eat my dinner for a half hour. This CW station has very quickly been making it easier to dump what used to be my favorite network where once we enjoyed Arrow, The Flash, Legend of Tomorrow, Superman & Lois and Black Lightning. There’s really nothing left once they decide what to do with S & L, and I’m already heartbroken.
I’m in my 40s and I can’t stand reality…maybe the occasional American Idol episode but never dating shows, Housewives type shows, home makeover/HGTV shows and the rest. I hope Walker Independence and the Winchesters get renewed but with the direction the CW is going I seriously doubt they even have a chance.
Such a change from their current strategy of targeting younger viewers.
As a millennial, I can’t stand most unscripted shows.
I love this show! It has such a great cast of characters, and I’m really hoping it gets renewed!
Me too. There’s a lot they could do with this.
What about Kung Fu and The Winchesters are they also hoping for the best, but planning for the worst too?
That’s all we can hope for, the best.
Bottom line: When it comes to Nexstar, plan for the worse.
I am hoping for a renewal. WI is one of the best shows on the CW.
I agree. I have throughly enjoyed this season, and look forward to what season 2 will bring if renewed!
I’m happy there seems to be a plan B. Jared also said they had “options”. Wherever it lands I will follow.
Let’s hope it gets renewed.
Walker: Independence really is one of the best shows on the CW. I would go so far as to say that WIndy is better than Walker. (Though I love both shows!) I really hope the supporters at the CW and CBS can fight for our friends in Independence!
Don’t. End. It. On . A. Cliffhanger.
I love both Walker shows and the Winchesters. I’m solidly in the demographic they claim to covet, but what they have planned is awful. I’ll never watch golf, and I don’t watch any live unscripted shows or reruns of old shows. I love the programming the original CW had. Not sure why All American was renewed, but these others should be.
Their golf show flopped hard in the ratings.
I know they worry about costs, but the production on this is efficient and the final product gorgeous. Cast & crew are all pros.
You’d think Nexstar would keep at least a few shows to brag about and create VIEWER LOYALTY.
Got to get the eyes to the screen as job one?
I’m loyal to both #Walker and #WalkerIndependence
Where they go, I go.
Walker Independence is definitely my favorite show on the CW and my all around favorite. Never missed an episode. Please don’t cancel.
Walker Independence is definitely the best of the 3 shows spun out by the J’s.
I love the diverse cast and the location is great.
I really do hope they find a new home if the CW cancels them.
I really enjoy both Walker and Walker Independence.
I love that both shows have diverse casts and I have enjoyed learning about the character’s backgrounds.
I rarely watch unscripted television so the CWs proposed direction to more unscripted live television doesn’t interest me.
Wherever Walker and Walker Independence go I will follow.
Paramount Plus? Rumor of budget cuts over there that may impact even STAR TREK….Paramount Network – might do better there than on TheCW…but the lost of YELLOWSTONE could hurt it.
Walker: Independence is such an amazing and beautiful show. The heart behind it is evident in every frame. Here’s to many more seasons.
In a dream world, I’d hope for Netflix to merge or likely take over The CW… maybe call it The CWN. And air shows from both Netflix and The CW. Both their teen/young adult brands ( I’m 26 myself!) and every similar among other demographics. Like “Emily in Paris” or even really any blockbuster hit would do well on The CW and Netflix could have rights to Walker duo, Kung Fu, Winchesters – and other diverse options! IDK
If not, of course, I’d hope for another company to take over The CW and help it regain its TV Fandom gold status as well as help it gain better/bigger ratings and streaming deals. That’s my hypothetical!
Omit *”and every similar” from line 5 -thanks 😂
Walker Independence grew on me throughout the season where I finally purchased the season on Amazon so I could get it commercial free every week instead of using the CW app with repeating commercials, it was driving me insane lol. It’s a great show and I hope we get more!
Definitely hoping for renewal of both Walker and Indepedence. Since they are from CBS studios, what about a home on Paramount plus?
Great
I really hope for a renewal for both Walker and Windy. But I`m glad that to hear that there is a plan B, if they don`t get another season. I will definitely follow to wherever these shows end up. But there won`t be much left to watch on the CW then. I`m not a fan of unscripted live shows.
I love Walker Independence I like it much better than the Walker remake. And nobody needs more crappy unscripted shows. They have ruined every other network.
Please continue walker independence show love it.
I love Walker Independence, it’s far better than Walker. If CW doesn’t renew it, please shop it for another home!
I enjoy Walker independence so much and it and Walker Texas Ranger are two of the best!! I vote to save both of them.