The cast of The Vineyard filmed scenes at State Beach.

Reality Bites: ABC Family and Martha's Vineyard Break Up

Remy Tumin
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A spokesperson for the ABC Family show confirmed this week that The Vineyard won't be renewed for a second season.

It ended on a cliff hanger at the Gay Head Light, but fans of the reality show The Vineyard won’t be tuning in to find out what happens next.

A spokesperson for the ABC Family show confirmed this week that the docu-drama was cancelled by the network. There was no further comment.

The show put a spotlight on a group of 20-somethings, all on a quest to find themselves as they worked and played over the course of a Vineyard summer. Filming occurred last spring, resulting in eight hour-long episodes. The Vineyard premiered on July 23.

With picturesque Martha’s Vineyard as a backdrop, the show followed a cast that worked at the Black Dog Tavern and lived in a house on East Chop Drive in Oak Bluffs, The television program often filmed the guys and girls sunning themselves in the cooler spring months and splashing around the waterfront. Romantic entanglements, friendship loyalties and life decisions dominated the plot lines.

The season ended with some cast members announcing they planned to stay on through the winter while others went off in pursuit of other dreams.

At the end of the season, Nielsen ratings showed The Vineyard averaged 517,000 viewers over the course of the season and received a rating of 0.4.

Even when many questioned the authenticity of the show, most agreed that the glossy shots and aerial views of the Island were beautiful.

When the show wrapped last September, executive producer Dave Broome told the Gazette that he was “proud” of the show.

“I think we’re making a series that cuts through into a new genre for us — not just for us, but for the industry,” he said. “I hope we did [Vineyarders] proud at the end of the day and how we portrayed what the Island looks like.”

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 03/12/2014 - 18:09

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Kimberlia CO

Thank Goodness... I couldn't muster up any "feelings" for a single person on this show. The dialogue was atrocious at best. I watched here and there because I miss my beloved Vineyard, loved the scenery and familiar picturesque places I used to enjoy. The characters were all so narcissistic and ridiculous, it was laughable.

Angry Native Vineyard Haven

My family's been on the Vineyard for close to 5 generations and the series was just insulting.It portrayed the island as sanctuary for the rich and famous and left out the true heart of the island "the Natives".Without us, the Vineyard wouldn't be what it is today.
I'm truly glad that the series was cancelled, maybe they can try it over on Nantucket.The Vineyard has enough to deal with and didn't need the over bearing hype of the series..

David West Tisbury

You've made some very valid points and I'm glad the series was cancelled as well.The series just made the island more unbearable, than it usually is in the summer.People need to respect that this is are home, but they believe that there entitled to the entire island.

fred jones boston, ma

You must not have watched because it included year round residents. Part of the theme was the interaction between locals and annual visitors.

It was a cute summery show, i liked it, thought it was worth it. Sad to see there wont be any more episodes this summer. I thought maybe they would do it again with a new cast.

nicole peluso pennsylvania

i definitely agree with fred jones! i really enjoyed watching this summery and cute show! it was perfection! i loved all the little plot twists and drama there was. it made me want to go there and live with them! i even ordered clothes from the black dog online store. i was obssessed. im so sad that there isnt going to be another season.

Island Native Chilmark

How could you understand, you're from Jamaica, you'd have to be born and raised here to do that.Not come down for a summer and leave at the end of the season.To you, the Vineyard is a playground and then you leave just like the series did.It does make sense why you'd like it, it's exactly what you do.You buy the BD-T, the the MV stickers,The I'm Bluffin-t and maybe the inkwell-T and leave for the summer.
The series was doomed from the beginning and was a bad call to create and make.Maybe they'll be a series about Jamaica and I'm sure you'd be passionate about your home.Being portrayed in a condescending light, then it'd be a different story..

roxanne ashton

I all winter I was looking forward to watching this show. It was my number 1 favorite show to watch in the summer. I think people hated the show because they don't it watch every episode.

Kylie California

I also loved this TV series! I have been waiting all year for it to come on again only to find out today that it will be canceled! I thought it was an intriguing series. I always wanted to see what happened next even though I could predict it all haha! I will miss the show, and now we are all left hanging... WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!? Guess we will never know

Shannon Maryland

I loved the Vineyard too. It showed the struggles of relationships and even friendships. I felt the show could help young people understand the meaning of friendship and even when your in a long-distance relationship for a few months. Struggles are apart of life and it just matters how you handle them. I also felt that Lew and Katie made a beautiful couple when they started connecting. I would've loved to see what happened with them in the next season. Lame :(

Abi Oregon

I loved the show! I was really bummed to hear It was cancelled.I dont understand why so many people say it was a crappy show, it was really interesting to watch and always had new suprises to it.

Tyauna Pla

I looooveedd the Vineyard!! It was sooo worth watching. I loved loving and hating some of the characters Lol and in the end seeing how everyone grew not only in themselves but also together as friends. Whether it was scripted or not the story lines and interactions they had with the people of the island and the island itself made for beautiful television. I think the vineyard should come back on a different network.

Kendra USA

I believe that the show was getting its sea legs & that the characters were growing albeit rapidly... I too, was looking to see where the show would go this summer... I didn't see that it catered to the rich... I've lived in tourist spots... It's part of the attraction & unfortunate when tourist disrespect...

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 03/12/2014 - 18:25

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G.Y. Spaces Oak Bluffs / S. Carolina

Thank GOD, Thank GOD,Thank GOD! I could not deal with another summer of all my off=island friends ribbing me about the foolishness of that Black Dog mega commercial.
I must say though the aerial views of the Island were beautiful so I watched it with the sound OFF!
Now my concern is the proposed Ink Well reality show. If it does happen this summer I hope Spike Lee dosnt have his fingerprints on this one as I will really be in trouble!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 03/12/2014 - 20:49

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Dirty Beagle Upper East Side, NY

Reality Bites...ouch. I'm sad there won't be another Mike Benjamin Band end of summer party. That was the BEST PARTY OF THE SUMMER!!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 03/13/2014 - 19:27

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Ken Esq Edgartown

I won't miss the show as I thought it was very dull, but I'm sorry for the people that are going to lose their jobs. TV is a very tough business.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/14/2014 - 01:48

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Hungry Native The Vineyard

Speaking as a native of Martha's Vineyard, I can say that the show did not "do me proud" nor did any of the other Vineyarders I spoke to about this disaster have anything positive to say. Frankly, we're glad to see it go. It was disgusting. I only watched about 10 minutes of the first episode and I had to turn it off because it was so ridiculous. Good riddance.

Sophia California

When I watched the show I never once thought wow the entire vineyard is full of drama! They picked these characters for a reason. They picked them because they knew that if they put a bunch of different people with different personalities in one house there is bound to be drama! And for the people that didn't like the show because of the drama.. Well it definitely wasn't the show for you! So I am very sad and disappointed to hear that it has been cancelled

Betty Massachusetts

I am also so disappointed that the show is canceled. I was looking forward to seeing what was going to happen. I enjoyed the show.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/14/2014 - 06:30

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Emily Mv

All I heard was how terrible the show was. I'm glad I missed it- as all I would have thought was "why didn't they film all of us in the 90's" at the drums, beach parties, entrain shows, hot tin roof concerts etc

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/14/2014 - 11:45

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Dean Rosenthal Edgartown

Glad to see this sad excuse for a reality show cancelled. What took NBC so long? Let's hope this happy failure impacts the decisions made by both the networks and the towns in the future.

Sophia California

If you don't like it then don't watch it! A lot of people did like it though and are sad to see it go! But I think that it is weird that people are taking time out of their day to right a comment about a television show that they didn't even like!! I don't know about you but it sounds weird to me.

Janice Cincinnati Ohio

I liked the show as well. Im a reality show sucker. Oh well will have to see what other show I can get hooked on. Maybe the Kardas will be back. Lol

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/16/2014 - 16:35

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Susan Canha Mendell Palmyra Maine

I tried to watch this show twice and it made me sick to my stomach...is this what the youth of today do...disgusting. The only uplifting part of the show was the scenery of the Island, I do miss it but not the massive summer influx. Haven't been back since my grandmother's funeral years ago and it had changed so much since my youth.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/16/2014 - 22:55

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William Cumming NYC

Great call Tom A. Congrats on your new job
Its a shame ABC was ever associated with this show, it made the network look desperate and weak so support such a show

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/18/2014 - 01:14

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Ray Cutler Scottsdale Az. 85260

This was one very boring show. I watched the first one but got so tired of watching the " Black Dog" I just turned something else on. RC

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/25/2014 - 13:50

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Cheryl

I guess I'm the only one that like it. It bought me back to my 20's during the summer. That's what people in there 20's do during the summer. I like it. Lou is hot.

Melanie West Bridgewater

I we are the only two people that liked the show....I went to high school in the late 80's and often spent summers on the Vineyard.....the show brought me back to my younger days as well.....I'm going to miss the show.....The Vineyard was one of 4 shows, that I really liked, that only had their first season in 2013 and then were cancelled. :(

Amy Virginia

I loved this show! I had it recording every episode so I could watch it when I got home from work! I don't understand why TV stations always cancel the shows I end up liking!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 03/26/2014 - 06:44

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LWS OB/DC

Curse of the Black Dog! Hope the currently planned MV "reality" show does as well as this one did in the ratings.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 04/03/2014 - 17:19

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Brigette New York City

I enjoyed the show - it was an escape from big city life. I will miss it.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/08/2014 - 00:01

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roxanne dallas,tx

I watched all of this show I couldn't get enough of it, I was so looking forward to season 2,dame shame I won't get to see it again

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/08/2014 - 10:13

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Mark K Glastonbury, Ct

Here's whats sad...the idea of a show about the Vineyard was fantastic. I'd thought about it for years, how it should be done, and how it could easily run 5-6 seasons. Although I don't live there year round, my family has owned a property in Edgartwon for a very long time. And it's such a special place, Martha's Vineyard. Like most of you I was hoping for a show that had a true, more unrehearsed, watchable story-line, and scenes from all over the Island. I think The Black Dog has it's place on the Vineyard...obviously, but not as a backdrop for the show. Honestly, with a better director, creative team and crew, the vineyard has the potential to provide television with a show that truly shows how special it is and why so many love it so dearly.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/15/2014 - 23:10

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Nicole Scranton PA

I don't really trust this post...nothing officially came out saying the show was actually cancelled. When a show gets cancelled it's usually all over the Internet. I mean look at other shows that have been cancelled. Plus the producer never confirmed it's over yet and neither did the cast. I think they're still making a decision. I wouldn't trust this just yet..

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