CMT’s “Party Down South” to be Canceled After Upcoming Season
Many prayers, criticisms, concerns, and even a petition or two will be answered after the upcoming season of the filthy and culturally-bereft reality series Party Down South. CMT, who airs the program, has announced that after the fifth season of the show scheduled to start on January 28th, they’re putting the series on on ice.
Despite the show being positioned as CMT’s premier franchise since it’s debut, and despite it becoming one of CMT’s biggest ratings winners over its run, the show failed to reach the popularity level of its predecessor Jersey Shore, which was organized by the same producers as Party Down South. The show also put CMT at odds with many of the once country music video station’s core, traditional viewers.
There is no official word about why CMT has decided to cancel the show. Previously, the cast has battled producers over pay disputes, and the show had to deal with the loss of one of the show’s highest-profile cast members, Taylor “Lil Bit” Wright who left after what she characterized as safety concerns. Lil Bit left in August of 2014—the day after another cast member, Ryan “Daddy” Richards was accused of rape in the Party Down South house. Charges were never brought against Richards, but numerous other cast members faced legal issues throughout the show’s run, including multiple drunk driving charges, burglary, bench warrants, and a felony child support violation.
READ: Party Down South Rap Sheet The Cast’s List of Legal Offenses
CMT and Party Down South faced stiff criticism for the show’s content from viewers who were concerned the show painted negative cultural stereotypes of Southerners, and shouldn’t be on the same network once known for family entertainment. As bad as the show was, it could be avoided by viewers. However, as CMT’s flagship franchise, the network was flooded with promos for the show that in many cases were just as inappropriate as the show itself. CMT’s social network feeds were also regularly bombarded with raunchy material to promote upcoming shows.
Former Congressman and actor from the show The Dukes of Hazzard, Ben “Cooter” Jones, wrote an open letter to CMT, begging the network to not show the promos during family friendly programming. Some of the locations Party Down South looked to film the series in moved to block the show from the city limits. Pensacola successfully avoided the show taping in the town. The show them moved to Athens, GA, where some locals attempted to petition to have the show removed, fearing it would portray residents negatively.
CMT launched a second show called Party Down South 2 in November of 2014, doubling down on the reality show concept as being the future of the network, but it appears the spinoff won’t be back either. Two of the cast members, Raven and Bradley, have since had a baby together, and said they would not be returning to the show.
Viewers who were hoping for the show’s cancellation shouldn’t celebrate just yet, while fans of the controversial series will still have plenty of options on CMT. The network’s “docu-series” Gainesville may not be as salacious as Party Down South, but it’s close. Meanwhile CMT offers many other “redneck” reality show franchises for viewers to watch that reinforce stereotypical Southern behavior.
January 10, 2016 @ 2:59 pm
Comcast just pulled CMT from my channel lineup. How will I get my fill of drunken idiots if I can’t watch the final season?
I all reality I never even watched the channel except for when it might have aired a movie that was worth watching. Anything music related on the channel was garbage.
April 2, 2016 @ 6:17 pm
Efen sucks love this show an the only show I have left to watch is empire ever other one has bn canceled
August 15, 2016 @ 10:59 am
ARE YA’LL NOT PUTTING PARTY DOWN SOUTH, ON FOR ANOTHER SEASON?
September 8, 2016 @ 11:42 am
Anything beats MTV…..
January 10, 2016 @ 3:24 pm
Five seasons? has it been that long already??
You know, between Idol and PDS getting dropped, all we have left to get rid of is the Voice and Nashville and there won’t be any more shows ruining Country Music.
I wonder what the channel tries replacing this garbage with…
January 10, 2016 @ 3:39 pm
May I ask how the show Nashville is ruining country music? Unless you mean the show can get overly dramatic at times then I would see what you mean. I tried watching the first season and getting caught up but I couldn’t make it though. It just felt like it was trying to be a country much soap opera or close to it, I don’t know.
January 10, 2016 @ 3:44 pm
I think Nashville, as with all Country Media, is trying to make Country Music “cool” and “popular” but the end result is that it presents bland pop music filled with Country stereotypes, and presents them in the same kind of format that gave us “Young and Restless.” The end result is complete nonsense, which is harmful to Country Music by trying to distance itself from its traditional and rural roots.
We need a “real” show about “Real” Country Music.
How about a docudrama series that recounts the history of various items at the Hall of Fame? they could recount the life stories of several artists, showcase video performance, and set it up like “Mysteries at the Museum.”
January 10, 2016 @ 4:20 pm
I have plenty of problems with “Nashville,” and the writing has been getting progressively worse now that all the main characters have all slept with each other. But I wouldn’t put it nearly in the same class as “Party Down South.” Nor would I say that the show’s musical directors, T Bone Burnett and now Buddy Miller, have forwarded an exclusively pop agenda through the show. Some of the early episodes tackled the way country artists become indentured by Music Row quite bluntly. Since then the drama and plot twists have become incredibly predictable and trite, but I don’t think it’s doing harm to country music. If it’s harming anything, it’s Nashville by making it the hot city everyone wants to move to, exacerbating already serious gentrification and cost-of-living issues.
January 10, 2016 @ 6:00 pm
Trust me…once they arrive in Nashville and have been stopped a few times by the Metro Gestapo, they’ll leave in a hurry! I won’t ever live in Nashville again! They stopped you by pulling tags and if you had any tickets on your record, they had you! The judge will simply ask if you plead guilty or not…might as well plead guilty, because they’re going to make you pay it, anyway!
January 10, 2016 @ 6:12 pm
You can all have Nashville! I met some of the nastiest people there, and one still has my daughter’s cremains! Then there were the know-it-all “songwriters” that couldn’t write their way out of a plastic sandwich bag, and changed my lyrics to my own songs, to some nonsensical BS, then get mad when I told them I didn’t appreciate it, and refused to speak to me again…well, if you knew how to write, you might actually not have to hear that, now, would you? My lyrics may not be Emily Bronte quality, but at least they make sense, and they actually still rhyme!
Sorry..Nashville strikes a nerve with me! I thought I was miserable while I was married in VA! Nope, I moved back in with the husband and his gf, since they had my son…didn’t last, but I still let them know I wasn’t going anywhere!
More drama in that town, than any soap opera I have ever watched!
January 10, 2016 @ 9:09 pm
Uh… Metro Gestapo ?
January 10, 2016 @ 11:22 pm
I like the show, the music is on it cringeworthy at times, especially when the Rayna character is called the queen of country and a traditionalidy yet she sounds like popcountry.
January 11, 2016 @ 5:32 am
@applejack metro Gustapo means the police. Nashville metro police is the force or name they go by.
January 10, 2016 @ 5:57 pm
About time they canceled that trashy show!
May 11, 2016 @ 10:37 pm
see it yall people that make good show go away
January 10, 2016 @ 7:50 pm
Party Down South is what happens when a bunch of high-falutin’ yanks from new York and DC think they can come up with “southern” programming. The constant nose-down view towards southerners by the media seems to be the last acceptable stereotype.
January 10, 2016 @ 7:51 pm
That title image is truly stomach-turning.
January 10, 2016 @ 9:31 pm
Good freakin’ riddance.
As for why this show is being canceled, I know that Kellie Pickler’s new reality show has given a ratings boost to CMT, at least according to an article I read. I can’t comment much on the content of that show, since I don’t want to support CMT by watching it, but I think it’s probably pretty wholesome compared to Party Down South.
As this article states, I think it’s possible that the CMT demographic simply wasn’t willing to support pure, unadulterated filth to the extent necessary to make this show a smash hit like Viacom seemed to want. And thank God this show never truly “caught on.” I mean, the weekly ratings might have been fine by modern standards, but I never really heard anyone talk about the show or comment on it.
Either way, it’s gone.
January 10, 2016 @ 9:39 pm
The South.
Along with Christians and conservatives, it is one of the last remaining acceptable targets. And I say that as a Pennsylvania Yankee.
This show just reinforced cruel stereotypes.
January 11, 2016 @ 1:04 am
i like Kelly Pickler’s show. She is naturally funny and likable. Maybe not the greatest country artist in the world, but seems to be a genuine person.
January 11, 2016 @ 7:56 am
I was hoping for a bro country/reality TV murder/suicide situation. You know–Bro country takes reality TV down on its way out? Wishful thinking, but maybe this is a start??
January 11, 2016 @ 12:47 pm
Good riddance.
This certainly won’t be the last of a parade of shameless attempts to lampoon and pigeonhole Southern culture in a dishonest, derogatory, nothing-is-sacred form. But diminished returns for CMT may at least prompt Viacom to back off from this formula indefinitely and re-evaluate what consumers really want for ratings rebounds (even if the product still has minimal quality).
January 11, 2016 @ 2:04 pm
This shit lasted 5 seasons? Who watches this?
January 11, 2016 @ 9:20 pm
Jason Aldean
January 12, 2016 @ 5:08 pm
Fuzzy, don’t forget Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line!!
September 14, 2024 @ 5:13 am
I don’t know how they stayed on so long . All they did was get drunk and sleep well with each other. Some was drunks and one couldn’t read
January 17, 2016 @ 7:42 pm
Thank god they are cancelling that fake reality crap. I can’t believe people think this show is actually real. They are all paid actors that CMT hires to bring them in more cash from sponsors, and take cash from idiot viewers that don’t know any better. This country is imploding.
February 24, 2016 @ 10:42 am
I guess all of you who commented are Yankees. This show is awesome! It got high ratings for a reason. Also, I take it none of ya have went out and partied,either? Huh? Lame just lame.
March 24, 2016 @ 9:10 pm
I can’t believe y’all are ending this show!! This is one of the very best show on TV!! We look forward to watching every season!!! It never fails when you get good shows going you take them off!!
Your ratings are going to drop so much NY ending this show!!! It’s not fair, y’all should have posted a vote on who wants to keep it and who wants to end it!!!
SMDH!!!!! Best show in forever!!!!
March 31, 2016 @ 4:08 pm
1st of all- Party Down South is FUN ! IT BRINGS JOY 2 THOSE THAT WATCH….. Viacom & CMT shame on yall high flutant TV Networks for not PAYING PDS MEMBERS in reflection of what YOUR POCKETING at there expense. The show was good enough to be the highest rated ever….EVERY WEEK sooo that means Yalls pockets could have protected the show & given credit where Credit was due. Instead you let people like supposed country Congressman ( Cooter ) & their legendary Rebel flag driving orange car show & Daisy Duke where even the cousins showed sexually influence towards their own kin. Have merit that they are some how protecting Country Music. Well I can tell u all this. Country TV failed all of us in the percentage that have been loyal viewers to the show Party Down South now that We are learning the facts of why it is cancelled. The truth is when the Rebel flag needed to be respected for history not for hate not even Congressman Cooter spoke up for that & you can buy an ISIS flag anywhere but the Rebel flag is now extinct. And those that complained of the Rebel flag did so by lighting the American flag on fire & dropping it the the ground & stamping all over it & NO ONE ARRESTED OR SOUNDED OFF ABOUT THE PRIDE OF THE SOUTH & HISTORY MEANINGS BEHIND THE REBEL FLAG WHICH MEANS—-BEING FROM THE SOUTH !!!! Rappers like Ludacris & Little Jon & the Eastside boys & Nelly & Kanye West never spoke a word about have made homemade outfits & pants & coats out of the Rebel flag & wore them during appearances at Concerts while being held in the South to show support of where they were performing in…having been proud to be in the South !!!!! While proudlt even posing for pictures & using it on the Front of their CD covers . ……how’s that for what the (Souths All About)…….it seems as though (Lil Bit) if you watched the show thru her Moral Values right out of her mouth while on the 2nd season of the show. ……saying I’m sorry moma ….etc etc. Then going on to explain how she had been unfaithful to Daddy Ryan Richards & had became pregnant from a boyfriend that just so happened to be from Nashiville. The day of starting the 3rd season. She didn’t show up and that was the true reason. NOT BCUZ OF SAFETY CONCERNS & HER RELIGION. Go watch the show & see for yourself. Any positive speaking of ( lil bit) is completely untrue & false.
2ndly the Party Down South show is no where as raunchy as the Jersey Shore with the smash room & the constant fighting between Sammy & Ronnie. Where you can perfectly see that was the rise & fall of the show…..& they were paid 6 figures & to expose those that acted accordingly to what the show asked for to be apart of the Cast of Party Down South to have Noone try to help keep production going after not paying the Cast their worth & allowing News outlets like this one to save Country Music by discrediting those with real lives not merely the cartoonist you have allowed them to take the fall for….they all other than (lil bit) have been true to themselves & the family towards each other & to those that were issuing their paychecks even though they have been allowed to be utterly humiliated by being apart of the show that has made no intentions of helping them to be proud if their time & efforts of being a family of grown folks showing how to have loyalty to each other in the house & to keep getting it going like the Bosses requested.
What’s humiliating about saving country music is that the way you all have allowed real people from the south to be allowed to have been spoken about so harshly and being a finger pointer while raking in tons of money at their expence.
That’s the truth of this matter. ….so why don’t any of you put all that I’ve said to the test and look it up regarding the Rebel flags being represented proudly by those that are #1 on the Nation’s music charts & how about giving some respect to those millions of Americans & others that have watched Party Down South Proudly. By you all talking so terribly about the Cast is a representing of how you think of its viewers. I myself am insulted at how poorly you have allowed the stigma that we are not good enough to allow mere ratings to speak for themselves as kelly pickler Tv which is made merely in comedy for her lack of smarts ……but as you would have it that’s morally inclined more than PDS I guess it’s because she says (Bless Your Hearts)….that makes it more country stigmatized doesn’t it?! That’s the reason Prayer has been takin our of schools & big business such as Via com & CMT has to get rid of the Party Down south Crew because that’s gonna make the south better.
Yeah Right. This is a disaster & disgrace to all that appreciate human beings for their personalities & loyal Ness & kindness for all. Party Down south Forever.
April 7, 2016 @ 9:50 pm
It was a fun show to watch but not for everyone. Dang! No more daddy
April 8, 2016 @ 7:45 pm
I am gonna miss this show it was hilarious! The second crew not so much but the original crew awesome hopefully another network will pick up the show since cmt has went politically correct hopefully they cancel the show Nashville. I refuse to watch that show do to the homosexuality ! But I guess it’s more acceptable to have gay shit on tv than some Danm rednecks partying
May 3, 2016 @ 5:57 am
It’s pretty sad when this the best show on cable
April 9, 2016 @ 3:44 am
TAKING PARTY DOWN SOUTH OFF IS THE WORST MISTAKE YOU COULD MAKE. YOUR RATINGS WILL DROP DRASTICLY. IT MADE ME LAUGH, IT MADE ME CRY BUT IT WAS THE BEST SHOW EVER ON CMT. I GUESS I WONT BE WATCHING YOUR CHANNEL ANYMORE. AND THAT KELLIE PICKLER SHOW IS THE DUMBEST SHOW I EVER SAW. ALL THE CAST DONE IS WHAT EVERY PERSON DOES THEY JUST DONT GO PUBLIC WITH IT. THE SOUTHERNERS ARE NOT BAD PEOPLE. TAKE A LOOK AT THE WHOLE WORLD HELL FOR THAT MATTER LOOK IN YOUR OWN CLOSETS OR THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER I BET AT LEAST 95% OF YOU DONE STUPID STUFF.AND KELLIE PICKLER MAKE COUNTRY PEOPLE LOOK STUPID. I HOPE ANOTHER NETWORK WILL PICK UP PARTY DOWN SOUTH AND SHOW YOU WHAT A MISTAKE YOU MADE.
May 3, 2016 @ 5:56 am
It’s pretty sad when this the best show on cable
April 16, 2016 @ 6:45 pm
I can’t help it if people are so shallow there is worse stuff on the tv and I love the Show and so does tons of others… I look forward to it every Thursday, so bring it back soon!!
April 17, 2016 @ 9:51 am
Loved the show, I am college educated and a mother of one 17 yr old and a 19 yr old and I watched every episode. I am not say that you have to be young and dumb to watch, it’s just entainment tv, like the real world. I really enjoyed the relationship between and among the cast. Oh and by the way, I am a also Africian American. I lived in Louisiana for about 4 yrs and saw the hateful aspect of the south and the KKK using the the Rebal flag as a “statement piece,” I like how CMT didn’t glorify this object as just relating to the south, the south is not about a object it is the area and the people who made it what it is and this includes blacks that had their ancestry tied to slavery and truthfully know that the flag was about supporting to keep one set of people in their place. This show showed the fun and contry side of individuals and focused on their love for others and not just themselves. Will miss PDS…
May 11, 2016 @ 10:29 pm
this is bullshit party down south is might be a little sterotype but who care i am from Tennessee and i thought the show was GREAT untill all yalll mf was getting buthurt about sterotype bunch of bull shit take the dam show down there alot of movie and other show that are way more sterotype than this
May 11, 2016 @ 10:34 pm
i think this bullshit they are takeing this off
May 14, 2016 @ 6:50 pm
cmt lost another viewer by canceling Party Down South, A fun show to watch. to bad you idiots
let the politically correct assholes convince you this funny as hell show was bad. bye bye wont
be watching CMT no more.
August 15, 2016 @ 12:04 pm
Holy Jesus Christ on a Stick!!! The trolls are out in full force on this thread!!!
January 27, 2017 @ 11:24 am
Will party down south air in 2017?
March 10, 2017 @ 7:08 pm
i was wondering why i havent seen the show on yet .as you see im not a computer person by my typing but i did faithfully watch party down south and redneck island so you guys need to get your shit together and give the people what they want.
August 2, 2017 @ 4:50 am
I absolutely love this show and party downs south 2, I am so saddened that they have been cancelled…. my whole family got together to watch this show it’s a shame. I say cmt should bring it back, if there is a petition to sign I’ll sign
November 25, 2022 @ 1:32 pm
I’d love for cmt pluto to continue showing Party down South. It’s much better tv programming than what their showing daily Steve Austin’s broken skull challenge! Please continue to show party down south !