The Idol Season 2 Cancellation Makes HBO’s Disastrous TV Experiment Even More Confusing

The Idol has been canceled after just one season, which makes HBO’s risky experiment all the more confusing. The announcement comes after months of denial from the network in the face of ferocious backlash to The Idol season 1. Starring Lily-Rose Depp and marking the first major acting role for musician Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, The Idol was intended to follow in the footsteps of co-creator and director Sam Levinson’s provocative hit Euphoria in broadening HBO’s scope and adding to its repertoire of well-received shows. Where Euphoria succeeded for HBO, however, The Idol was a catastrophic failure.