Fox Comedy ‘Rel’ Canceled After First Season

Fox sitcom Rel, starring comedian Lil Rel Howery, has been canceled by the network after its first season.

Deadline reports the writing was on the wall for the Jerrod Carmichael, Mike Scully and 20th Century Fox TV production when the network opted not to give a back order to the series last fall and trimmed the original order from 13 to 12 episodes. The crew also faced a major heartbreak, losing co-creator/executive producer Kevin Barnett, who passed suddenly while vacationing in Mexico just days after the Season 1 finale aired.

Howery took to Instagram to share the news and thank fans for their support, writing, “I want to thank all the loyal 2 million plus people that tuned in every week to my show… I’m so proud of what we did and it was a dream come true.”

He went on, “I got a chance to not only create a show based off my material and some real life events I got to work and create magic with my friends… God is so good and I’m truly blessed… Thanks again for the huge opportunity and it’s on to the next one… I learned a lot and it’s still a huge accomplishment for me to pull this off… I wanted to make a dramatic comedy with heart and I did that… I know I made you proud Mom!!!!!! #REL.”