Insider Responds to Jared Padalecki’s Rant on The CW Cancelling ‘Walker’

After Jared Padalecki criticized The CW for canceling “Walker” after four seasons, an insider has responded. The “Walker, Texas Ranger” reboot was axed before its Season 4 finale earlier this summer, becoming another casualty following The CW’s merger with Nexstar. Padalecki expressed to Variety that the network, once famous for steamy teen dramas and superhero shows, was shifting its focus, notably towards game shows like “Trivial Pursuit” and “Scrabble”.

Padalecki accused The CW of resorting to inexpensive programming to remain afloat, adding that he was simply being “brutally honest” about the situation. However, in a July 22 edition of The National Enquirer, an insider retorted candidly, stating, “Walker was only drawing about 500,000 viewers. A game show can attract that many viewers at a tenth of the cost!”

It’s important to note that The CW was never a ratings giant, and for any show to garner over a million viewers was considered impressive. Despite this, “Walker” saw a decline in viewership from Season 3, which averaged a 0.09 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 690,000 viewers, according to TV Series Finale. In its final season, it averaged a 0.06 demo rating and 504,000 viewers. Apart from “All American,” no pre-Nexstar scripted show has been renewed for another season. “All American: Homecoming” has been canceled and will wrap up this year, and the final season of “Superman & Lois” is set to premiere this fall.

In recent years, The CW has significantly reduced its scripted content. It’s feasible that the network might phase out scripted shows altogether soon. The channel is evolving into a hub for sports, reality TV, and acquired programming, though the future remains uncertain. While the cancellation of “Walker” is indeed frustrating—particularly because Season 4 ended on a cliffhanger—it seemed inevitable.

As with any cancellation, there’s always a chance that “Walker” might return in the future, possibly through streaming or The CW itself, depending on the network’s direction in the coming years. Speculation aside, fans can still enjoy all four seasons of “Walker” on Max.