This story contains details about the series finale ofSo Help Me Toddon CBS.
Watch on Deadline
DEADLINE:Lets start with the cliffhanger.
They all said, of course.
Skylar Astin as Todd Wright and Marcia Gay Harden as Margaret WrightMichael Courtney/CBS
Even they thought at the time, well, of course youll be back.
We wanted to do sort of an Empire Strikes Back-y end with a dangerous note.
By the time we knew that we were canceled, it was too late.
Itd been a month since we shot that episode.
We found out on April 19.
We wrapped production at the end of March.
PRENDERGAST:The conversations were both very short.
We knew it was coming.
There had been little signs, little things that had happened, little administrative things.
We were like, oh, maybe this isnt going to go our way.
We did say, can we try and find another home?
Can we keep the sets up for a little bit?
Can we look around, try and sell the show to somebody else?
And they said, of course.
So we didnt talk specifically about wrapping the story for fans, but we were looking for another home.
DEADLINE:Where does that stand?
So far we havent had any takers.
But theyre still talking.
DEADLINE:What do you think led to the cancellation?
PRENDERGAST: I think it was a combination of factors.
One, the strike shortened our season, and then it was interrupted with March Madness.
Then we heard the web link might be for sale.
That part of the bottom line is probably more important.
So Help Me Todd was among their lower-rated shows.
So I think a lot of those factors went into it.
The real estate is not there.
CBS is such a wonderful place to work and they could not have been more supportive.
We cant wait to work with you again.
DEADLINE:So do you want to hold off explaining how you wouldve wrapped the story?
Hows the show going to end?
What do I do?
And theyre like, just tell people.
The feet that arrive that belong to Merritt Folding, those are my feet.
I was there that day and I played the stand-in.
We were going to try and cast Joe Pantoliano, whos a friend of Marcias.
And Todd would have to be working behind the scenes in the law firm to help clear her name.
The whole family would have had to band together.
DEADLINE:What was the future going to be for Todd and Judy?
PRENDERGAST:Todd and Judy [Heather Morris] were going to be together for a few more seasons.
Heather Morris was spectacular.
She was so charming, so great, so wonderful to work with.
They were going to be together for three seasons.
DEADLINE:What about Todds future?
Would he remain in that investigative role?
PRENDERGAST:He was going to keep working.
Hed be working behind the scenes to help his mother, working as a detective.
Allison [Madeline Wise] was going to become a medical examiner, a forensic pathologist like Quincy Jones.
We were trying to set Allison up as a spinoff where shed eventually be a medical mystery series.
DEADLINE:Were you shocked by the reaction to the cancellation by fans?
PRENDERGAST:I did not expect it.
And let me tell you, I cant go on social media anymore.
How can you do this?
I was trying to explain to people, Im not the one canceling the show.
And then theyre like, but you cant.
We want to know.
We love the show.
I think theres three different petitions now that have up to about 55,000 signatures.
Its very gratifying how much people love the show.
Its a true story about me and my mom.
So the fact that people watch it is a family has been very nice.
DEADLINE:So what do you think it resonated so well with viewers?
Was it that chemistry between Marcia and Skylar?
PRENDERGAST:Theyre an electric pair.
They worked so well together.
Its a familial love.
Everyone can relate to having to deal with their parent or their child.
The minute we saw them together for the first time, we knew that it was going to work.
They just were a perfect pair.
And theyre both from the theater and they both prepare extensively.
They both cared so much.
They were both so invested in the show and they were really spectacular.
But the more the show went on, I said people dont care about the procedural aspect.
They care about these characters and these relationships and they like it because its funny.
I think that is what carried us.
DEADLINE:So with your show canceled, how are you feeling about the future of broadcast TV?
PRENDERGAST:I feel pretty good.
I dont know if Im having a delayed reaction.
Television series is hard work and we were working very, very hard.
So its nice to have a little bit of a break.
Im sure Im going to be sadder about it.
We had such incredibly talented people.
Allisa Swanson, our costume designer, was so spectacular.
Eric Norlin, our production designer, our composers, our editors … everybody was so talented.
I was working 15 hour days, seven days a week.
And dealing with these people all the time was really nice.
I guess now its like, well, onto the next opportunity.
Well see what comes next.
