Fox comedy show filmed in Wilmington and Burgaw canceled
After two seasons, a TV show filmed mostly in Pender County has been canceled.
According to entertainment industry publication Variety and other outlets, Fox comedy "Welcome to Flatch" won't return for a third go-round. Through its two seasons, the show filmed at a number of locations in Burgaw and Wilmington.
The last episode, which now serves as the series finale, aired Feb. 2.
"Welcome to Flatch," from creator Jenny Bicks (HBO's "Sex and the City") and director Paul Feig (movie comedy "Bridesmaids," TV's "Freaks and Geeks"), both of whom were executive producers, was set in rural Ohio. It's based on a BBC comedy called "This Country" about the quirky residents of a rural British town.
Sam Straley: Star of Fox comedy 'Welcome to Flatch' talks working in Burgaw, playing in Wilmington
Done in a mockumentary, docu-comedy style that recalls TV hit "Parks and Recreation" and the movie work of Christopher Guest ("Waiting for Guffman"), the characters of "Welcome to Flatch" included the lovably bumbling cousins/best friends Shrub and Kelly Mallet (played by Sam Straley and the one-named actor Holmes) and "Father Joe," a former Christian-boy-band-star-turned-small-town-preacher played by Seann William Scott (Stifler of the "American Pie" movies).
Fox brought in a bit more star power for season two of "Flatch," adding Emmy-winning, Golden-Globe-nominated actress Jaime Pressly ("My Name Is Earl") as the animated Barb, a former Flatch resident who returns to her hometown to start a real estate business.
The show's offbeat humor attained a cult following and some critical plaudits, but "Flatch" was nevertheless one of the lowest-rated shows on Fox over the past two years.
In memory of Welcome To Flatch, here is one of the best comedic performances the show has ever aired. pic.twitter.com/tF8PtvXutA
— Trenton Ryder (@trendsryder) October 6, 2023
"It is with a broken heart and a Barbarita that I announce the untimely demise of 'Welcome To Flatch,'" Bicks posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, referencing a drink favored by Pressly's character, Barb. "I am fiercely proud of the show and all the insanely talented folks who made it happen.
"Thank you to all the fans who loved us, including but not limited to The N.Y. Times, the L.A. Times and my parents. 'Flatch' will always live on in our hearts."
And, of course, on a number of streaming services, including Prime Video and Apple TV.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Fox show Welcome to Flatch filmed in Wilmington and Burgaw canceled
