The Morpho machine is shutting down. Apple TV+ has canceled “The Big Door Prize” after two seasons, Variety has confirmed. The series, produced by Skydance Television and CJ ENM/Studio Dragon, concluded its Season 2 run on June 12.
“The Big Door Prize” was created by David West Read, known for his work on “Schitt’s Creek,” and is based on the novel of the same name by M.O. Walsh. The whimsical series garnered positive attention in its first season, which aired in spring 2023. The cast included Chris O’Dowd, Gabrielle Dennis, Josh Segarra, Ally Maki, Djouliet Amara, Sammy Fourlas, Crystal Fox, and Damon Gupton.
The show revolves around the residents of Deerfield, a small town that is turned upside down when a mysterious machine appears in the general store, promising to reveal each resident’s true life potential.
David West Read served as showrunner and executive producer, alongside David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Matt Thunell for Skydance Television, Miky Lee, Jey-hyun Kim, and Hyun Park for Studio Dragon, Bill Bost, and Sarah Walker. The series was directed by Steven Tsuchida, Heather Jack, Jordan Canning, Satya Bhabha, and Declan Lowney.
“The Big Door Prize” achieved Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh status during its first season. Variety praised the show, stating, “It’s an interesting comparison of generations, but it also leads to honest conversations about the pressure to succeed, the dangers of settling, and flexibility in the pursuit of dreams. The show is careful never to answer those questions, mind you, but it presents these topics and allows viewers to walk away with their own interpretations. The series uses M.O. Walsh’s novel as a launch point but settles into a mix of sci-fi, philosophy, and small-town comedy as the episodes unroll. Former ‘Schitt’s Creek’ writer David West Read helms the adaptation, and his experience with quirky small-town characters certainly comes through.”
TV Line was the first to report the news of the cancellation.
Chris O’Dowd and the residents of Deerfield will not be returning for new adventures after Apple TV+ decided not to renew the series for a third season, Deadline has confirmed.
The series, which received an early Season 2 pick-up in April 2023, tells the story of a small town forever changed when a mysterious machine appears in the general store, promising to reveal each resident’s true life potential.
O’Dowd stars as Dusty Hubbard, a seemingly content, cheerful family man and high school teacher, who watches everyone around him reevaluate their life choices and ambitions based on the machine’s printouts. This forces him to question whether he is truly as happy as he once thought.
While Dusty remains skeptical of the machine, his wife, Cass (Gabrielle Dennis), indulges in the dream that there’s something bigger out there for her. Like many of Deerfield’s residents, the couple has lived a relatively safe, uncomplicated life until the arrival of the Morpho machine. However, all of that changes as the community is forced to reconcile with their unfulfilled achievements in pursuit of a better future.
Season two of “The Big Door Prize,” like many canceled shows, ended on a cliffhanger.
The series also starred Gabrielle Dennis, Ally Maki, Josh Segarra, Damon Gupton, Crystal Fox, Djouliet Amara, and Sammy Fourlas.
“The Big Door Prize” was produced by Skydance Television and CJ ENM/Studio Dragon. David West Read served as showrunner and executive producer alongside David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Miky Lee, Young Kyu Kim, Hyun Park, Bill Bost, and Sarah Walker. TV Line broke the news.
Apple TV+ had previously unveiled the premiere date and first look at the second season of “The Big Door Prize,” the critically acclaimed and character-driven comedy from Emmy Award-winning creator David West Read. The 10-episode second season premiered globally on Apple TV+ on April 24, 2024, with three episodes, followed by one new episode every Wednesday through June 12, 2024.
Based on M.O. Walsh’s novel, “The Big Door Prize” season two followed the residents of Deerfield as the Morpho machine readied them for the mysterious “next stage.” As everyone’s potentials were exchanged for visions, new relationships formed, and new questions were asked. Dusty (Chris O’Dowd) and Cass (Gabrielle Dennis) decided to take time apart while Trina (Djouliet Amara) and Jacob (Sammy Fourlas) learned that they could shed their old labels. Giorgio (Josh Segarra) and Izzy (Crystal Fox) each found romance while Hana (Ally Maki) and Father Reuben (Damon Gupton) attempted to discover the purpose of the machine. The small town was once again left questioning what they thought they knew about their lives, relationships, potentials, and about the Morpho itself.
“The Big Door Prize” featured an ensemble cast led by Emmy Award winner O’Dowd (“Bridesmaids”), Dennis (“A Black Lady Sketch Show,” “Luke Cage”), Maki (“Shortcomings,” “Wrecked”), Gupton (“Bates Motel”), Segarra (“The Other Two,” “Arrow”), Crystal Fox (“Big Little Lies,” “The Haves and the Have Nots”), Fourlas, Amara (“Fitting In”), and was produced by Skydance Television and CJ ENM/Studio Dragon.
Season two welcomed new guest stars including Justine Lupe (“Succession”), Aaron Roman Weiner (“Power Book III: Raising Kanan”), Mary Holland (“Harley Quinn”), Patrick Kerr (“Frasier”), Cocoa Brown (“For Better or Worse”), Carrie Barrett (“Henry Danger”), Elizabeth Hunter (“Jersey Boys”), Jim Meskimen (“Parks and Recreation”), Matt Dellapina (“For Life”), and Melissa Ponzio (“Chicago Fire”).
David West Read served as showrunner and executive producer, alongside David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Matt Thunell for Skydance Television, Miky Lee, Jey-hyun Kim, and Hyun Park for Studio Dragon, Bill Bost, and Sarah Walker. The series was directed by Steven Tsuchida, Heather Jack, Jordan Canning, Satya Bhabha, and Declan Lowney.
Following its global debut on Apple TV+ last year, “The Big Door Prize” quickly rose to Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh status and was hailed as “thought-provoking,” “hilarious,” and “one of the best comedy debuts in years.”
Source: Variety, Deadline, TV Line
