Happy Town (TV series)

Plot

A period of peace following a series of unsolved kidnappings is cut short when a new crime has everyone talking in the small Minnesota town of Haplin. The townsfolk are convinced the crimes are committed by the so-called "Magic Man", a person whom character Merritt Grieves describes as having "an ability to make people disappear that bordered on the mystical". Seven people have vanished, never to be heard from again.

As the series progresses, it seems evident that the disappearances are related to an old German film titled Die Blaue Tür (The Blue Door).

Background

Although the series is set in Minnesota, many of its scenes were filmed in Canadian communities such as Port Hope, Penetanguishene, St. Catharines and Brampton, all in Ontario. Several of the street level shots were filmed in Newnan, GA.

After shooting the pilot episode, actor Ben Schnetzer replaced John Patrick Amedori in the role of Andrew Haplin, and Steven Weber replaced Dean Winters for the role of John Haplin.

Cast and characters

• Geoff Stults as Deputy Tommy Conroy
• Lauren German as Henley Boone/"Chloe"
• Amy Acker as Rachel Conroy
• Robert Ray Wisdom as Detective Roger Hobbs
• Sarah Gadon as Georgia Bravin
• Sam Neill as Merritt Grieves
• Peter Outerbridge as Dan Farmer
• Jay Paulson as Deputy Eli "Root Beer" Rogers
• Steven Weber as John Haplin
• Warren Christie as Aidan "Greggy" Stiviletto
• Lynne Griffin as Dot Meadows
• Ben Schnetzer as Andrew Haplin

Recurring cast

• Sophia Ewaniuk as Emma Conroy
• M. C. Gainey as Sheriff Griffin Conroy
• Frances Conroy as Peggy Haplin
• Natalie Brown as Carol Haplin
• Abraham Benrubi as Big Dave Duncan
• David Cronenberg as Dr. Leichman
• Stephen McHattie as Carl Bravin
• Dee Wallace as Alice Conroy
• Joanna Douglas as Officer Shell Jenkins
• Steve Arbuckle as Baby Boy Stiviletto

Episodes

Ratings

Despite a promotional push from ABC, its debut episode performed poorly, scoring a 1.7/5 among 18-49's, with 5.2 million viewers overall, roughly scoring the same numbers in the same time period that predecessors Ugly Betty and Eastwick had during their run. In its second outing, the ratings slipped as did its audience, scoring a 1.2/4 among 18-49's and a 2.6/5 overall with 3.8 million viewers watching.

On May 11, 2010, ABC announced that it was pulling Happy Town from the schedule for two weeks, planning to resume its episode run on June 2; with the 5 remaining episodes airing on consecutive weeks. On May 17, 2010, ABC confirmed that Happy Town was among the shows cancelled from the 2009–2010 season. On June 18, 2010, ABC officially cancelled the series after its June 16, 2010 episode aired. On July 1, 2010, ABC.com released the two remaining episodes online.

Ratings chart

References

References

1. (July 1, 2010). "Happy Town: watch the last episodes". TV Series Finale.
2. (August 21, 2012). "Finally the Full Specs Are Here for The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Third Season Blu-ray/DVD; An Early Look at the Gag Reel".
3. Huff, Richard. (2009-05-19). "ABC's fall lineup includes 11 new series – but no 'Samantha Who'". NY Daily News.
4. O'Meara, Jennifer. (July 23, 2009). "Port Hope a 'Happy Town' again". Northumberland News.
5. "Guide | TheFutonCritic.com - The Web's Best Television Resource".
6. (April 29, 2010). "Wednesday Broadcast Finals: ''Modern Family'', ''American Idol'', ''Top Model'' Adjusted Up; ''High Society'' Down". TV By The Numbers.
7. (May 6, 2010). "Wednesday Finals: ''American Idol'', ''The Middle'', ''Modern Family'', ''Cougar Town'' and ''CSI: NY'' Adjusted Up". TV By The Numbers.
8. Seidman, Robert. (May 13, 2010). "Wednesday Finals: ''American Idol'', ''Modern Family'', ''Cougar Town'' Adjusted Up; ''Old Christine'', ''Happy Town'' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers.
9. Gorman, Bill. (June 3, 2010). "TV Ratings Wednesday: ''So You Think You Can Dance'', ''America's Got Talent'' Down, Top Repeats". TV by the Numbers.
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11. Gorman, Bill. (June 17, 2010). "TV Ratings Wednesday: ''America's Got Talent'' Steady, ''So You Think You Can Dance'' Falls". TV by the Numbers.
12. [https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118018512.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&ref=verttv "Idol", "Family" Wow on Wednesday], ''Variety'', April 29, 2010
13. [http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/05/06/wednesday-finals-american-idol-the-middle-modern-family-cougar-town-and-csi-ny-adjusted-up/50751 Wednesday Finals: "American Idol", "The Middle", "Modern Family", "Cougar Town" and "CSI: NY" Adjusted Up] {{Webarchive. link. (2010-05-10 , ''TV By the Numbers'', May 6, 2010)
14. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100513064334/http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/05/11/this-just-in-abc-pulls-happy-town/ This Just In: ABC Pulls "Happy Town"], ''Entertainment Weekly'', May 11, 2010
15. [http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/05/abc-pulls-happy-town-will-burn-off-in-summer-.html ABC Pulls "Happy Town", Will Burn Off In Summer] {{webarchive. link. (2010-05-14 , ''Hollywood Reporter'', May 11, 2010)
16. [http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/05/abc-adds-seven-series-for-fall-2010-v-held-till-midseason.html "ABC adds seven series for fall 2010; 'V' held till midseason"] {{webarchive. link. (2010-11-18 fromZap2it (May 17, 2010))
17. [http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/06/18/abc-cancels-happy-town-again-slates-wife-swap-primetime-eastwick-originals/8749/ "ABC CANCELS "HAPPY TOWN" (AGAIN); SLATES "WIFE SWAP," "PRIMETIME," "EASTWICK" ORIGINALS"] from The Futon Critic (June 18, 2010)
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20. "TV Ratings: NBC's 'Talent,' FOX's 'Dance' split Wednesday - from Inside the Box - Zap2it".