This morning marked the latest cancellation for Peacock, with the axe of underrated, yet critically beloved series, Ponies, which was created by Susanna Fogel and David Iserson, and starred Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) and Haley Lu Richardson (White Lotus). Centered on a couple of widowed secretaries (Clarke & Richardson) working at the United States embassy, Ponies follows how they become CIA operatives, in Moscow in 1977. The spy dramady joins the TV graveyard alongside many hilarious shows, including Rian Johnson’s Columbo inspired whodunnit series starring Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face, and Ted, Seth MacFarlane’s live-action prequel series (which seems to be transition to an upcoming animated series).
Check out interviews with the stars of Ted from WonderCon 2026
Over the last few years, Peacock, the streamer from NBC Universal, was clearly open to launching unique programming and original ideas, yet low-ratings on the platform make its conclusions from unreasonable measurement force quality shows to end prematurely. Streaming platforms are in abundance these days, and Peacock is one of the least accessible. Most of the apps provide an entry point of some sort of trial (usually 7 days, but a few even offer over a month) — but the colorful bird doesn’t even have that. In fact, currently their lowest tier is $8 a month, with ads, and excludes their originals. So even with the service, you’re unable to enjoy their exclusive content.
Since it’s launch during lockdown in 2020, Peacock has produced and premiered a plethora of comedies, dramas, and reality shows, yet the longest running scripted show looks to be the Fresh Prince reimagining Bel-Air, which ran for 38 episodes over four seasons. Most of the other show barely make it through the first season and even fewer getting more than two.
Check out Interviews with the cast of One of Us is Lying
Over the last six years, the platform has taken some fantastic big swings with clever concepts like Wolf Like Me and Poker Face, as well as angsty teen dramas like One of Us Is Lying and Vampire Academy, plus reviving hilarious classic sitcoms with Saved By The Bell and Punky Brewster. Peacock was even the original home for Girls5eva, which was later saved by Netflix after NBCU let it go. Yet none of these titles received more than a couple seasons, so the question remains: How can a show thrive on a platform no one is watching? Does a pick-up from Peacock guarantee a failure for the show?
— Yael Tygiel