Fox Network has made significant changes to its programming lineup by canceling the crime drama “Alert: Missing Persons Unit” and airing the final episode of “The Cleaning Lady.” Alert, which aired in January of 2023, traced a line through the Philadelphia Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit, depicting searches for those who’ve been reported missing. The show was only on for three seasons, a mere 30 episodes.
“The Cleaning Lady,” created by Miranda Kwok, that premiered in September 2022, has recently wrapped after a dirty four-season sweep. The Season 4 finale on Tuesday. This highly anticipated finale would be the culmination of a TV show that developed a true cult following. The series takes the premise from Argentine series La Chica que Limpia. Originally, that series would go on to last only one season, but create waves as it inspired a Mexican telenovela remake as well.
The stunning Dania Ramirez starred in “Alert,” opposite Scott Caan. At the same time, Adan Canto was enchanting audiences as Arman in Fox’s “The Cleaning Lady.” Tragically, Canto succumbed to cancer after Season 2 — a loss that cast a long shadow over the show’s production staff for the rest of its run.
Miranda Kwok expressed her sentiments regarding Canto’s passing, stating, “It was a real challenge for us, but more so it was so heartbreaking to lose Adan.” As you can imagine, the obligation to do justice to him, as well as to his character was deepened as the story went on.
Kwok further explained the creative process following Canto’s death: “We had to figure out how to craft a season based on the circumstances that honors Adan as a human being and Arman as a character in the best way possible.” Even when unsure about whether Canto would be able to participate, she continued to stress the importance of telling dynamic stories. “When we were first told that we may not have him [for the full season], we decided we still wanted to tell those stories and we wanted to leave an opening so he could come right back into the story.”
The Cleaning Lady had success that outstripped its source material, airing for four seasons versus La Chica que Limpia‘s one—and that’s okay. This new adaptation focused on great storytelling and character development, especially with Canto in the role of Arman.
Fox Network is in the middle of a dramatic transition in its overall programming strategy. The cancellation of “Alert” and the recent end of “The Cleaning Lady” make clear the shift. There were very different narratives in both shows. Where “Alert” zeroed in on high priority, urgent responding to missing persons cases, “The Cleaning Lady” explored 3-dimensional, nuanced human experiences and moral dilemmas.
