You Were Staffed. The Show Got Canceled. Now What?

I had a young client who got staffed out of a Writers Program. Dream gig. She was on the show for two seasons. The room wrapped in March, with a May return on the calendar and everyone was sure a Season 3 pickup was a done deal.

So she treated those months like her “summer vacation.” She traveled, splurged on massages, bought new clothes — and why not? She thought the show was coming back.

Until late April, when it wasn’t. The show was canceled. Just like that.

First, she was devastated (understandably). Then she was pissed off — she had believed, like everyone else, that it was “definitely coming back” and had spent a lot of money based on that assumption.

But here’s what she did next: she regrouped. She looked at her bank account and made a plan to be extremely thrifty until her balance was back up at her comfort level. Then — she hunkered down to write new samples. 

She was a comedy writer, single-cam, so she pushed herself: wrote a multi-cam sample. Then a one-hour. She stayed in touch with her agent, went on generals (even when they went nowhere), maintained connections with writers from her old show and met new ones. She did everything in her control to move her career forward.

A year and half later, it paid off. One of the co-EPs from her first show became a Showrunner on a new show — they remembered what an excellent job she’d done and brought her on staff. It wasn’t easy, but her persistence — and positive attitude — eventually won out.

Here’s the harsh truth: shows get canceled all the time. Sometimes before they air, sometimes after three episodes. But the good news is, a cancellation is not the end of your career. It’s just one of those sharp, unwelcome detours you have to move through.

Here are some tips on what to do when your dream gig disappears and you’re left wondering what it all means and what to do now:

1. Give yourself permission to grieve

Even though a cancelled show is far from “career-ending” — it is a loss. Not just of a paycheck, but of a sense of community, momentum and validation. So take a beat to feel all the feelings. Eat the fancy ice cream. Scream into your pillow. Rant to your therapist. Screenwriters are experts at getting pushed down and getting back up, but this was a big ‘push down’ — allow yourself some time to process. 

2. Don’t panic, you’re still a staff writer

You were staffed. Period. That’s a huge milestone. The show’s fate doesn’t erase the fact that you got hired and worked in a professional room. So, mention it in generals, put it in your bio. No one’s going to ding you for the show being canceled; they’ll respect that you were hired. Getting staffed, even briefly, proves you can do it and if the door opened once, it can open again.

3. Stay in touch with your room

That Showrunner and all of those writers you just spent months with? They’re now part of your network. Even on a short-lived show, those relationships can turn into future opportunities (the number one way writers get hired is through relationships, and you now have a whole set of colleagues who know your voice and your work ethic). So reach out for commiserating drinks or coffee and stay connected.

4. Channel this energy into your next spec

Your next spec script is everything. Not just for getting hired again, but for getting back on the horse and reminding yourself why you love doing this in the first place. Take the discipline you built in the room, the tricks you picked up from other writers, any “wise words” from your Showrunner, and pour it all into something new. Don’t chase the ghost of the canceled show — write the kind of script you’d be proud to hand to anyone, because it’s personal, sharp, and undeniably you. One of the biggest mistakes I see new (and not so new) writers make is not writing a new sample each year. You don’t do this when you’re in the first season of your first show… all of your focus, energy and creativity needs to be in service of the show.  But, once you process the loss of the cancelation and write a new sample, your chances of getting hired on another show are significantly higher with new material.

5. Stay visible

Even though you might feel like curling up and hiding under your duvet right now — don’t. In this industry, visibility is what gets you your next gig. So say yes to generals, attend networking events (even just one), and grab coffee with execs and fellow writers. Don’t get me wrong, you don’t need to hustle 24/7 after such a big blow — just do enough that people know you’re still around (and you’re available for hire).

6. The financial whiplash is real

Facing your finances when a show gets cancelled can be brutal. If you suddenly feel overextended, adjust what you can as soon as you can: Renegotiate that car lease; maybe look for a smaller, more affordable apartment when the lease on your current one is over. Budget like the next job might take a while (because it might). And if you need to take on a side hustle to tide yourself over — it doesn’t mean you’re failing or “moving backwards”; it means you’re smart. Remember: almost every working TV writer has a “my show got canceled” war story. You’re not alone, and you’re not ‘financially reckless’ — you’re just in an unpredictable business.

7. Take care of your mental health

Losing a show feels personal even when it’s not. If you’re hearing that nasty inner voice whisper, “Maybe I wasn’t good enough.” Shut it down. Rooms are canceled for business reasons far beyond any staffer’s control. So whether it’s through therapy, a writers support group, meditation or long walks — find a way to keep yourself mentally healthy and grounded.

8. The narrative matters

You are absolutely allowed to vent post-cancellation — just make sure you save it for your friends or therapist. When asked in generals or job interviews, “What happened to the show?” Do your best to spin it forward, “We had a great run, I learned a ton, and now I’m excited about what’s next.” You don’t have to lie, but you don’t have to tell them every heartbreaking detail either. Executives and showrunners want to hire writers who can roll with the punches and keep it positive.

9. Remember — it’s part of the game

Almost every writer you admire has been on a canceled show (sometimes multiple canceled shows). It’s part of the game. The difference between those who quit and those who build long careers is simple: they keep going. A canceled show isn’t a dead end. It’s a door to the next opportunity.

What are your best tips for surviving your first cancelled show ? Let me know @CaroleKirsch!

For more industry info and tips check out these additional resources:

If you're interested in finding out more about my one-on-one coaching, go to: carolekirschner.com/options

For the ultimate guide to pitching a TV show that sells, check out my e-book, The Ultimate Guide to a Killer Pitch

To learn how to create your “personal logline” read my free e-book, Tell Your Story in 60 Seconds.

For my in-depth video course on breaking into the business go to: Carole Kirschner’s Hollywood Boot Camp.

And you can find my book, Hollywood Game Plan on Amazon or at Michael Wiese Productions (MWP).