'Star Trek: Prodigy', 'Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies' Among 4 Canceled And To Be Removed

Paramount+ is no longer going to be the home of everything Star Trek, as they have so touted. The streamer has canceled the original series Star Trek: Prodigy, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, Queen of the Universe, and The Game. The shows will be removed from the platform by the end of the month as it becomes the latest to take a content write-down.

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies has been canceled after one season, The Game has been canceled after two seasons and Graham Norton-hosted reality series Queen of the Universe  is done after two seasons. Star Trek: Prodigy will complete post-production on Season 2, which was ordered in 2021. Prodigy was Star Trek's first animated kids show since the '70s animated series that continued The Original Series.

According to someone with knowledge of the removals, the decision was data-driven,  As with most streamers however, Paramount did not share any specific data that highlighted why these actions are being taken. It is the latest example, however, of studio streamers removing their own content from their platforms. Warner Bros. Discovery was the first to pull such a move last August, with over 36 titles removed from what was then HBO Max, plus several more that either didn't make it to Max or were removed in its earliest days, like Clarence, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, and the last three original continuity Ben 10 series. Disney+ and Hulu did theirs at the end of last month, with around 50 titles between the two services, in this case being more originals than Max did. This isn't even Paramount+'s first round, having removed Coyote, No Activity, Guilty Party, The Harper House, The Real World: Homecoming, The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder, and The Twilight Zone in February 

According to an insider, similar to Batman: Caped Crusader being intended to be shared with Cartoon Network's ACME Night when it was ordered by HBO Max but is now being cut off after being picked up by Amazon Prime Video, Star Trek: Prodigy will not be returning to Nickelodeon, where it had gotten linear airings during season 1. All three scripted shows will be shopped to other outlets by their respective studios: Prodigy and The Game by CBS Studios and Grease by Paramount Television Studios.

Developed by Kevin and Dan Hageman and produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studios and CBS Studios, the CG-animated series Star Trek: Prodigy was CG-animated. A motley crew of young aliens who must figure out how to work together while navigating a greater galaxy, in search of a better future. These six young outcasts know nothing about the ship they have commandeered but over the course of their adventures together, they will each be introduced to Starfleet and the ideals it represents.

Starring in the series were Kate Mulgrew as Hologram Kathryn Janeway, Brett Gray as Dal, Ella Purnell as Gwyn, Rylee Alazraqui as Rok-Tahk, Jason Mantzoukas as Jankom Pog, Angus Imrie as Zero,  Dee Bradley Baker as Murf, Jimmi Simpson as Drednok and John Noble as the villainous The Diviner.

The Game will be looking for its fourth home, following its original run on The CW and BET. Its Paramount+ revival premiered in November 2021 and the second season launched in December 2022. It centers on black culture through a pro football lens, moving from San Diego to Las Vegas. The Las Vegas-based team tackled a number of social issues and more as they fight for fame, fortune, respect, and love while trying to stay true to who they are.

Queen of the Universe was a drag singing competition series hosted by Graham Norton, coming from World of Wonder, the production company of the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise. It featured judges including Leona Lewis, Trixie Mattel, Michelle Visage, Vanessa Williams, and Mel B with contestants competing for a cash prize of $250,000. The final four episodes debuted on June 22 and the show will be removed from Paramount+ on June 30.

Sources: Deadline, Variety