Paramount+ pulls ‘Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies’ & ‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ in tax write-off move

Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies

Paramount+ is joining HBO Max and Disney+ in pulling shows from its service to save cash, with its recently released Grease remake and a Star Trek spin-off among the high-profile asualties.

Drama duo Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies and The Game have been axed along with kids animation Star Trek: Prodigy and competition show Queen Of The Universe, all of which have been been taken off Paramount+ as it combines with Showtime later today.

Paramount will recoup cash from the move via a tax write-off with further titles likely to be pulled in the coming weeks, following similar moves by HBO Max and Disney+. Details of the savings have not been revealed but will be accessible in Paramount’s next quarterly report.

Paramount+ said: “As we prepare to combine Paramount+ and Showtime later this month in the US, we are refining our content offering to deliver the best streaming experience for subscribers.

“This is consistent with our content strategy since launch and across our business, which ensures we make smart, efficient choices, informed by audience data and insights.”

Grease remakes’ slip & slide

The move highlights the ongoing travails facing streamers as they struggle to stem losses. Removing the shows entirely means there are no residuals to pay

The Grease remake had originally started life as a WarnerMedia project before being picked up by Paramount in 2020. It had been billed as a tentpole offering for Paramount+ prior to its launch, but the show’s one season run – which began this month – suggests viewers were not enticed.

It was produced by Paramount TV Studios, which will look to sell the show elsewhere, and was a prequel to the hit movie, which is also owned by Paramount.

The US studio has a raft of other movie-based spin-offs in the works, including shows based on The Italian Job and Fatal Attraction.

Star Trek: Prodigy

Star Trek: Prodigy, meanwhile, has had its planned second season axed, while The Game and Queen Of The Universe have both been pulled after two seasons.

The Star Trek animation was a kids show that debuted in 2021 and was produced by Nickelodeon Animation and CBS Studios. A new home is being sought for the series.

The Game, meanwhile, was a remake of the BET and The CW show that tracks American footballers and focuses on black culture. It is from CBS Studios, which will look to shop elsewhere.

Finally, Graham Norton’s singing competition Queen Of The Universe was produced by World Of Wonder and its second season ended last week.

It is not the first time Paramount has moved shows, after programming such as Coyote, Guilty Party and The Real World were removed from the streamer earlier this year.