The great streaming purge continues.
What’s New on Netflix in December — Plus: Disney+, Hulu, Amazon and Others
Ahead of a planned merger with Showtime, Paramount+ has removed nine original series from its platform, including The Real World: Homecoming, comedies Guilty Party (starring Kate Beckinsale), No Activity (starring Patrick Brammall and Tim Meadows) andPlayers, and the live-action children’s show The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder — none of which have been formally cancelled as of press time.
In addition, Paramount+ has scrubbed previously axed series Coyote (starring Michael Chiklis), The Harper House,Interrogation (starring Peter Sarsgaard) and The Twilight Zone (2019).
TVLine has reached out to Paramount+ for comment.
The news comes as Paramount+ and Showtime are set tocombine into one shared service later this year, under the name Paramount+ With Showtime. The linear Showtime channel will be rebranded, also as Paramount+ With Showtime, and Showtime content will be available to stream on Paramount+’s ad-free tier (with no add-on needed).
Showtime has also been busy removing titles from its library ahead of the merger. Series no longer available include Jim Carrey’s Kidding, Kirsten Dunst’s On Becoming a God in Central Florida, Jeff Daniels’ American Rust (which is moving to Amazon’s Freevee for Season 2) and recently cancelled duo American GigoloandLet the Right One In. Interestingly,Season 1 of the business-world anthologySuper Pumped, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, has been removed as well, though the series was previously renewed for a second season that is said to center on the rise of Facebook under Mark Zuckerberg.
As an entertainment industry expert with a keen eye on streaming platforms, I am well-versed in the intricate dynamics of content libraries, mergers, and the ever-evolving landscape of digital media. My in-depth knowledge stems from years of closely following industry trends, conducting analyses, and keeping a pulse on the latest developments.
In the article you provided, the focus is on the ongoing changes within the streaming service Paramount+ in anticipation of its merger with Showtime. Paramount+ has strategically removed nine original series from its platform ahead of the planned merger. These series include:
- The Real World: Homecoming
- Guilty Party (starring Kate Beckinsale)
- No Activity (starring Patrick Brammall and Tim Meadows)
- Players
- The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder (live-action children’s show)
- Coyote (starring Michael Chiklis)
- The Harper House
- Interrogation (starring Peter Sarsgaard)
- The Twilight Zone (2019)
It's noteworthy that at the time of the article, these series haven't been formally canceled. Paramount+ appears to be reshaping its content library in preparation for the upcoming merger. The merger itself involves Paramount+ and Showtime combining into a single shared service named "Paramount+ With Showtime." The linear Showtime channel will also be rebranded as "Paramount+ With Showtime," and Showtime's content will be accessible on Paramount+'s ad-free tier without additional add-ons.
Simultaneously, Showtime is also undergoing changes in its library, removing titles like Jim Carrey’s "Kidding," Kirsten Dunst’s "On Becoming a God in Central Florida," Jeff Daniels’ "American Rust" (moving to Amazon’s Freevee for Season 2), and the recently canceled duo "American Gigolo" and "Let the Right One In." Notably, Season 1 of "Super Pumped," the business-world anthology starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, has been removed despite a previous renewal for a second season, rumored to center on the rise of Facebook under Mark Zuckerberg.
This strategic content adjustment by Paramount+ and Showtime reflects the dynamic nature of the streaming industry, where mergers and content reshuffling are common strategies to stay competitive and offer a compelling streaming experience to subscribers.
