Yipsee-Ki-Yay Mother Failure Averted? 'Happy Endings' Could Move to USA Network If ABC Cancels the Show

Despite ABC pulling an NBC and sabotaging Happy Endings, the network's strongest comedy,* it looks like there's still hope for Happy Endings. Just like Cougar Town found new life on basic cable, it appears that Happy Endings could get a second chance at life away from ABC. Deadline is reporting that both USA Network and NBC are looking at picking up the sitcom if ABC does wind up canceling it, with USA Network being the most active suitor.

I hear that Sony TV, the leading studio behind the underrated comedy series, has quietly reached out to a couple of networks, including USA Network and NBC, about the possibility of continuing the comedy there if ABC does not renew it. I hear USA, which has been looking to break into the half-hour original series space, has expressed interest and has had discussions about picking up Happy Endings in case of a cancellation by ABC. 

If the financials can be worked out, a Happy Endings pickup would be fortuitous for USA, which has been actively developing half-hour comedies and has ordered several pilots but has yet to greenlight a half-hour series.

Interestingly enough, USA allegedly wants Happy Endings to pair with its syndicated run of Modern Family. The two shows had been paired on Wednesdays by ABC before the network made the foolish decision to put Happy Endings and Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 up against Fox's block of comedy led by New Girl. While I would be pleased to see Happy Endings live on anywhere, I'd much prefer USA Network over NBC. The show could push the envelope even more than it already does (last week's episodes included references to Bang Bus and Grindr), and Happy Endings wouldn't have to worry about getting the Community Treatment** a second time, only this time at the hands of the network that invented the Community Treatment.

*Yes, Happy Endings is a stronger comedy than Modern Family. While ABC's Modern Family gets all the buzz and Emmys, the sitcom hasn't changed anything since its first season, recycling plotlines and freezing the growth of its characters. Oh, and Manny is the WORST character in a sitcom right now. Search your feelings. You know it to be true.

**The Community Treatment: When a network fails to promote a show and can't understand why it doesn't get strong ratings. The network will also place the struggling show against another network's juggernaut show ... and then not understand why it doesn't get strong ratings. Other moves that are part of the Community Treatment include taking a show off the air for extended periods of time and moving the show to Fridays. Each of these moves will hurt the show's chances at building an audience, yet the network will continue to not understand why the show can't build an audience.