EXCLUSIVE: After a long journey across broadcast, cable and streaming, defying the odds multiple times, Nasim Pedrad’s praised coming-of-age comedy series Chad is coming to an end. A spokesperson for the Roku Chanel, which released Chad’s second season, confirmed to Deadline that the streamer will not be proceeding with future seasons.
Roku had originally committed to taking in the finished but unaired second season of Chad (along with Season 1 repeats), so a Season 3 was considered a long shot but a possibility. It is now not happening, officially ending the show’s wild ride.
Chad‘s origins date back more than eight years when SNL alumna Pedrad started developing the comedy for Fox. The broadcast network picked the half-hour, starring Pedrad as teen Persian-American boy Chad Amani, to pilot in February 2016.
Fox eventually passed on the pilot, which means certain death for most projects but Chad found a new life with a series order at basic cable network TBS. After a strong ratings debut, ranking as 2021’s #1 new scripted cable comedy series, Chad — which also was lauded for breaking racial stereotypes with an authentic representation of immigrant life and Middle Eastern Americans — was renewed for a second season.
The new season was completed and scheduled, with trailers already running on TBS when the series was caught in the post-WarnerMedia-Discovery merger cost-cutting content write-offs that impacted most TNets scripted shows.
Season 2 was scrapped but Pedrad and the other producers were allowed to shop it, eventually landing a pickup at streamer Roku. In another major bump, Roku last fall underwent a major content removal of original and licensed programming. Chad survived that too, with its second season debuting Jan. 19 on the Roku Channel.
“8 years, 3 networks, 1 great show that I’m deeply proud of. Excited for what comes next,” Pedrad said in a statement to Deadline.
Chad‘s season 2 revolves around Chad’s (Pedrad) sophomore year, which brings a new set of challenges for the 15-year-old. His newfound popularity is under threat, his friendship with best friend Peter (Jake Ryan) is put to the test, and his prepubescent attention is captivated by a new crush, all while Chad continues to come to terms with his cultural identity.
Pedrad served as creator, writer, executive producer and showrunner of the single-camera comedy. Oliver Obst, Rob Rosell, Max Searle and Rhys Thomas also executive produced.
