After six seasons, Netflix has canceled comedian Hasan Minhaj’s ‘Patriot Act,’ known for its searing and deep commentary on a wide range of news topics and for being one of the few shows of its kind hosted by a comedian of colour.
Minhaj announced Tuesday on Twitter that the show would not return for another season, after its most recent one this summer, which was produced remotely due to COVID-19.
“What a run. ‘Patriot Act’ has come to an end,” he wrote. “I got to work with the best writers, producers, researchers, and animators in the game. My 2 babies were born and grew up with the show. TY to @netflix and everyone who watched. Now it’s time to return these screens to Best Buy.”
One of the few major comedy news shows hosted by a comedian of colour, ‘Patriot Act’ delved deep into big news topics of all stripes, as well as issues surrounding South Asian identity. Minhaj, an alum of ‘The Daily Show,’ earned praise for his candour on mental health and other subjects that are frequently stigmatised in South Asian cultures and communities.
Recently, he urged Asian Americans to confront the history of anti-Blackness in their families and communities, as part of the societal reckoning over race catalysed by the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery.
He also interviewed Senator Kamala Harris, now the Democratic vice presidential nominee and the first Black and South Asian woman on a major-party presidential ticket.
Netflix declined to comment on why the show, which won an Emmy and a Peabody Award, was cancelled.
While traditional networks often make cancellation decisions based on viewership and ratings, the streaming giant rarely discloses such numbers, and cherry-picks them when it does. Netflix has previously canceled several other comedy and talk shows, including Chelsea Handler’s ‘Chelsea,’ Michelle Wolf’s ‘The Break’ and ‘The Joel McHale Show With Joel McHale.’