
Fox's ambitious social experiment on TV was scrapped after only two months on air.



Fox launched the TV series "Utopia" as a one-year social experiment where 15 people will try to create a new society from scratch. But it seems the studio has a hard time finding an audience for the show, so it got no choice but to cancel it only 66 days after it went on air.



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The US-adaptation of the popular Dutch TV series, where the contestants will have to practice Utopians living in isolation on a ranch in Santa Clarita, California, aired its final episode on Oct. 31, shutting down its 24/7 online live-stream Nov. 2.



"Utopia" went on air Sept. 7. Fox planned for two-nights-a-week series (Tuesdays and Fridays), but low ratings on the onset forced the studio to air only on Fridays.



Viewers who wanted 24-7 access of the show for a US$5 monthly subscription.



One of the 15 contestants should have been evicted every week. Online subscribers could vote and possibly replace the eliminated contestant, but Fox got no feedback from the audience.



Participants were given challenges of "wildly diverse backgrounds" in order to create a working society, despite scarce resources and the absence of indoor plumbing. They were also given the opportunity to choose what type of government, economy, religion and other community aspects to prefer.



In an online message, Fox issued a statement announcing the end of the "Utopia" project on Nov. 2, although it is unknown if participants had been notified or what.



The TV series was created by Dutch producer John de Mol of Talpa Media. The Dutch version will outlast its US version and is slated to end Dec. 31. Furthermore, it was announced last September that current Utopians, as what participants are called, could opt to stay in their new society for another full year, Utopia Madness reports.




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