While we may never get a complete answer as to why the series was canceled, we do know that it received unimpressive ratings during its time on air, as well as generally mixed reviews amongst critics. In its reporting of the series' cancelation, Variety noted that the show had middling ratings among the crucial 18-49 demographic, while over on Rotten Tomatoes, the series only has a 50% critic score. Writing for The New York Times, Mike Hale said of the series, "Once you've figured out the plots, though, you see that they're all generic dramedy setups ... and the triple plotting doesn't give the actors time to build real characters."
Fans of "Ordinary Joe" will no doubt wonder whether or not the series' relatively mild reception warranted a full-blown cancellation so soon after its initial release, but it appears that the damage is already done. "Ordinary Joe" will join the hundreds upon hundreds of other shows which were abruptly canceled after just one season on air, and one has to wonder how NBC will feel about this decision when they look back on the show in the years to come.
