Despite being well-received, the sitcom Bless This Mess was canceled after season 2 and it seems unlikely that it will receive a season 3 anywhere else. Bless This Mess was partially spearheaded by Lake Bell who, while she has taken larger more mainstream roles like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, mostly works on independent productions such as her first outing as a director in In A World... or Shot Caller. While the ABC Sitcom Bless This Mess came as a surprise when it first aired in 2019, it was partially its unexpected nature that led to it being a success.
Elizabeth Meriwether (New Girl) served alongside Lake Bell as her co-creator, while Bell starred as a woman married to Dax Shepard. The two inherit an old farm in Nebraska and, despite coming from New York and having little to no experience of country life, work to adapt to a different way of living. The show follows the couple as they develop relationships with the locals that seem quirky to them such as Rudy (Ed Begley Jr.) and sheriff Constance (Pam Grier, The L Word). The show received mostly good reviews for its warmth and for being genuinely funny.
It didn't take long for Bless This Mess to find itself a strong following. Throughout its production, that following continued to grow. Unfortunately, that was not enough to secure it a third season. Here is why Bless This Mess was canceled.
Bless This Mess Season 2 Ended On A Happy Note
Bless This Mess' season 2 finale saw a tornado about to hit Bucksnort, with the main characters taking shelter and having various heart-to-heart discussions with one another while waiting it out. Rio also discovers she's pregnant with her and Mike's first child, with the whole town celebrating the news. It's likely season 3 would have seen them adjust to life as parents while dealing with the stress of running a farm too.
Bless The Mess Was Cancelled In May 2020
Viewership for the show actually went up during Bless This Mess' second season, where it averaged nearly four million viewers per episode. While it wasn't a ratings smash, it was a solid performer for ABC that looked like it was building an audience through word of mouth. While it was assumed Bless This Mess season 3 would happen, ABC canceled it and other shows like Single Parents in May 2020. While there has not been any official word on why Bless This Mess was canceled, the timing of its cancellation likely holds the key. May 2020 was early on in the COVID-19 pandemic and a lot of studios were working to tighten their belts. With production on hold for many projects, there were several that it was easier to just cancel, and Bless This Mess likely met its fate because of this.
Bless This Mess Season 3 Is Unlikely To Be Picked Up
Unfortunately for fans, it's doubtful Bless This Mess season 3 will be picked up by another platform now. While the show has a fandom and is well-regarded, it never became a breakout hit, and there's been little sign of life since it was canceled. Lake Bell is currently voicing Poison Ivy on Harley Quinn and provided the voice of Black Widow in Marvel's What If...?, while Dax Shepard is set to co-host the forthcoming motor show Top Gear America.