6.2 million people tuned in, which is decent, but not what a new show should fetch, were it aiming to dominate a new generation of viewers. ABC, surprised by how mediocre the show was, pulled the plug immediately. And, yes, the pilot is mediocre. 

The remaining five episodes were better, and if one marathons through them, one can see a small amount of growth. Still, it wasn’t enough to make anyone want to save it from the dustbin. The show is available on DVD, so curious seekers can explore all six episodes, if they are so determined. “Emily’s Reasons Why Not” is notorious for its brevity on the air, but it’s not so terrible as one might believe. It’s merely bad, but hardly a disaster. All six episodes aired in Spain, Austria, Slovenia, and Japan. 

In the Popmatters article, one of the show’s producers, Gavin Polone, is frank about the cancellation. Really, the only reason the show was dumped was lousy ratings. After a nationwide advertising blitz and an already-purchased show, it seemed unwise not to air at least one episode, but when no one is interested, then the door can be swiftly shut. As Polone said: “When the audience stays away, in this super-competitive environment, quick decisions are made.” 

Heather Graham has always had a healthy career in the indie film world, however, and never lost any work over “Emily’s Reasons Why Not.” The same year it aired, she was in “The Oh in Ohio,” “Bobby,” “Broken,” and “Gray Matters.” Since then, she has starred in a few dozen movies, and even made her directorial debut in 2017 with “Half Magic.” and secured recurring roles on shows like “Law & Order: True Crime,” “Get Shorty,” “Californication,” and “Bliss.” Though “Emily” wasn’t a hit, Graham soldiered on.