It looks like Work It just didn't work out for ABC.
The cross-dressing comedy, which starred Amaury Nolasco and Benjamin Koldyke, was canned after just two episodes, following a bit of a firestorm from the lesbian and gay community (and low ratings to boot).
So, what went down?Â
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The show centered around two unemployed men, Lee Standish (Koldyke) and Angel Ortiz (Nolasco), who dress up as women to land a job…and that did not sit well with organizations like the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), who found the content offensive to transgendered people.
After viewing the pilot for Work It, the org launched a campaign against the show, going on to place a full-page ad in Variety and write a joint opinion piece on the Huffington Post firing back at ABC for airing the comedy in the first place.
"[ABC] should know how offensive this show is, and that it even has the potential to jeopardize the safety of many transgender Americans in the process," the ad said, among other things.Â
Upon hearing news of the show's cancellation, Herndon Graddick, GLAAD's Senior Director of Programs and Communications, said, "While many of ABC's positive and groundbreaking portrayals of LGBT people have been critical and popular successes, the public had little interest in this outdated show. As a result of this campaign, an important dialogue has been started in Hollywood and mainstream media about the real discrimination faced by transgender people today."
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That backlash wasn't the show's only downfall, however.
After premiering to low ratings Jan. 3, its viewership dropped 20 percent the following week, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Repeats of Last Man Standing will air in place of the show Tuesday nights at 8:30 p.m.
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