Why was The Client List canceled? Reasons explored

After airing two seasons of The Client List, Lifetime canceled a third season of the American drama television series on November 1, 2013. Although the network did not cite any reasons for doing the same, fans of the show have reached certain deductions based on the trends observed during the period leading up to its cancelation.

Fans have been under the impression that one of the main reasons The Client List was canceled was the ongoing protests from several masseuse groups who retorted against the alleged misrepresentation of masseuses in the show.

Another reason the viewers believe could have had a part in the show's cancelation was the alleged fallout between the showrunners and the show's lead star, Jennifer Love Hewitt, who demanded a change in the show's narrative.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers. Please read at your discretion.

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Reasons for The Client List's cancelation explored

As previously stated, following The Client List's cancelation, two main reasons that could have led to it emerged. While one faction of the audience believed that its discontinuation was a result of the criticism it faced from several masseuse groups who accused the show of wrongful portrayal of their profession, another faction believed that the cancelation was a result of a rift between Jennifer Love Hewitt and the showrunners.

That being said, there have been more conversations about the second possibility being a more viable one than the first, leading to the show's cancelation. According to Deadline, one of the reasons the show was canceled after a second season was due to Jennifer Love Hewitt's pregnancy, which they were initially finding difficult to incorporate into the show.

However, when that issue was resolved, it was reported that Hewitt, who also served as executive producer on the show, requested the makers to depict her real-life husband, Brian Hallisay (also a part of the show) as the fictional father of the baby on the show. This was something the makers were not okay with, which allegedly led to creative differences, resulting in the show's cancelation.

Another less talked-about reason leading to The Client List's cancelation was its declining viewership. According to International Business Times, the movie that led to the emergence of the show boasted an impressive 3.9 million views.

The show's first season which was released on April 8, 2012, also had impressive viewership, but it started tanking from Season 2 onwards, reaching the lowest towards the end of the season. Some believe that the show's declining fan base could have resulted in its eventual cancelation.

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The Client List ended in a conundrum

One of the reasons fans of The Client List have been eager to get a third season of the show is because its second season ended on a massive cliffhanger. The season finale of the show's second installment ended with Riley accidentally revealing to his brother-in-law about her dual life who later revealed the same to Riley's husband.

The incident then triggered Riley into burning down the infamous The Rub massage parlour along with Greg who had previously blackmailed her. Her elaborate client list was also in the building when she burned it.

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A short synopsis of the show

The Client List's official synopsis as per Lifetime is as follows :

"Riley is a single mother living in a small Texas town and leading a shocking double life. Her secret would send shockwaves through the community and possibly land her in jail if it was ever exposed."

It continues:

"Riley's taken a job at a seemingly traditional day spa, but soon realizes that the parlor offers a little more than just massage therapy. It's not the happy ending she was expecting but it does open her eyes to a world she's never seen before."

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All episodes of The Client List are available for viewing on Hulu, Disney Plus, Apple TV Plus, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Tubi, The Roku Channel, and Fandango at Home.