TV Land Regrets Canceling Fran Drescher's 'Happily Divorced' After 36 Episodes

Fran Drescher has expressed regret over the cancellation of her TV Land series Happily Divorced after just 36 episodes, calling it a mistake that TV Land executives later acknowledged as their "big regret." Drescher attributed the show's premature end to a poor business model, explaining that sponsors needed more time to recognize the show's appeal, as it was "finding its own" audience despite a slow start. The sitcom, which Drescher co-created with her ex-husband Peter Marc Jacobson and was based on their real-life relationship, followed a florist whose husband revealed he was gay, leading them to divorce but continue living together for financial reasons. Several TV Land executives admitted to Drescher that canceling the show was a decision they wished they could reverse, praising the series' quality and the unique story it told. Despite its short run, the show maintained a devoted fan base, with some viewers preferring it to Drescher's earlier hit, The Nanny. Drescher, who recently received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, emphasized the importance of patience and proper funding for shows to find and grow their audiences.