Trump no factor, says ABC

US TELEVISION network ABC denied on Sunday that it had cancelled comedian Tim Allen’s popular sitcom Last Man Standing due to its conservative politics.

Fans of the show – and Allen himself – were angered when ABC announced in May that one of its most-watched scripted series, a solid ratings draw, was being brought to an end.

The series airs in South Africa on M-Net channel 101 at 6pm on Saturdays.

Allen’s character, an outspoken conservative, echoes the political positions of the 64-year-old actor, a Republican who attended President Donald Trump’s inaugurat

The announcement sparked a firestorm of criticism on social media, with Allen tweeting that he had been “stunned and blindsided” by Disney-owned ABC’s decision.

Meanwhile a petition on Change.org that attracted more than 300 000 signatures claimed the comedy was cancelled because it was the only entertainment programme that was not constantly shoving “liberal ideals down the throats of the viewers”.

“Politics had absolutely nothing to do with it,” ABC entertainment president Channing Dungey told the Television Critics Association press tour in Los Angeles.

“We have actors on our shows who have all sorts of political views. Tim Allen is a valuable part of the Disney family and has been for a very long time.”

She described Last Man Standing as a “high-quality show” but added that the network had not been able to find room in the schedules for a seventh season.

A month before the cancellation, Allen had spoken about Trump’s inauguration on late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live, saying that he was “almost afraid” to say he had been at the event.

Dungey also spoke briefly about the upcoming Roseanne reboot starring comedian Roseanne Barr – another outspoken Trump supporter – during the press tour. — AFP