It’s low tide for Rescue HI-Surf as Fox has opted not to renew the freshman drama from producer John Wells for a second season. The news will come as a blow to diehard fans of the Hawaiian lifeguard series who have been showing their support by voting en masse in various Save the Show polls where Rescue HI-Surf has been ranking high. There are no plans for the show to be shopped by producing studio Warner Bros. Television, sources said.

The cancellation comes more than a month after Rescue HI-Surf‘s Season 1 finale, which aired March 31, and a year after Fox revealed its big expectations for the series last spring — giving it a very early seven-episode back order and assigning it the post-Super Bowl slot. That was soon followed by a special Sunday series premiere date behind an NFL double-header.

Rescue HI-Surf developed a loyal following but, possibly hurt by the fact that there is no well known, promotable star in the cast, it was not a breakout the way fellow freshman Fox drama Doc was, earning an early 22-episode renewal. That is despite the strong sampling for the Rescue HI-Surf premiere, which, boosted by the football lead-in, drew 4.7 million Live+Same Day viewers.

The first red flag came in November, two months into Rescue HI-Surf‘s run, when Fox did a very rare last-minute switch of its Super Bowl lead-out program, replacing the freshman drama with the Season 3 premiere of game show The Floor.

Because the decision came so late, the special Super Bowl episode of Rescue HI-Surf had already been filmed; it aired as a regular episode the following Monday after promotion during the big game. There was no post-Super Bowl bump, and the first responders drama wrapped its freshman season with steady but modest ratings, drawing 1.4 million L+SD viewers for the finale. The linear delivery was somewhat offset by Rescue HI-Surf’s streaming performance on Hulu but it ultimately wasn’t strong enough to secure a pickup.

Even with the modest ratings, Rescue HI-Surf was seriously considered for a renewal, in large part because of Wells’ involvement in the show, co-produced by Warner Bros. TV, where his John Wells Production is based, and Fox Entertainment Studios. The prolific producer is behind such popular series as ER, The West Wing, Maid and The Pitt.

While it fits in Fox’s $3M-$4M-an-episode model, Rescue HI-Surf is believed to be at the high end of the range and among the network’s more expensive drama series — despite no big stars in the cast — because it films in Hawaii. The pricey location gives the series its lush look and feel which, along with the characters, has been a main draw for its devoted fans.

Fox’s planned Baywatch reboot is not believed to have played a significant part in deciding Rescue HI-Surf‘s fate as Fox had been considering running both series simultaneously, one in-season, one during the summer. (Baywatch has not been greenlighted yet but has been looking good.)

Fortunately for fans, Rescue HI-Surf did not end its first season on a massive cliffhanger. The finale saw Will (Adam Demos) heading back to Australia, though he did tell Em (Arielle Kebbel) he would be back, and the series’ creator Matt Kester confirmed to TV Insider at the time that Will was expected to return should the show get renewed.

Rescue HI-Surf follows the personal and professional lives of the heavy-water lifeguards who patrol and protect the North Shore of O’ahu — the most famous and dangerous stretch of coastline in the world.

In addition to Demos and Kebbel, the series starred Robbie Magasiva, Kekoa Kekumano, Alex Aiono and Zoe Cipres.

Kester created the series and served as executive producer and showrunner. Wells, who directed the first two episodes, executive produced through John Wells Productions along with JWP’s Erin Jontow. Daniele Nathanson also served as an executive producer.

The romance from The Vampire Diaries is living forever.

Arielle Kebbel and Zach Roerig, who starred as vampire Lexi Branson and human boy-next-door Matt Donovan on the supernatural show, appeared to confirm their romance at a fan convention held in Covington, Ga. The Georgia town served as the location for the popular CW show’s fictional Mystic Falls setting.

Roerig and Kebbel, both 40, briefly shared screen time during The Vampire Diaries’ first season in 2009 and final season in 2017. A fan captured a video dated April 6 from Epic Cons’ I Was Feeling Epic 3 that showed Roerig bringing Kebbel a bouquet of flowers before the couple shared a kiss.

The fan’s video was captioned, “I love a couple 🥹 ❤️ The ultimate romantic,” to which the actress responded “❤️❤️❤️.” PEOPLE reached out to representatives for Kebbel and Roerig.

The pair previously reunited when filming the Hallmark Channel film Love in the Great Smoky Mountains: A National Park Romance in 2023. In The Vampire Diaries world, Kebbel’s character was a longtime vampire friend of Stefan Salvatore’s (Paul Wesley), who helped him control his blood cravings. Roerig’s character was Elena Gilbert’s (Nina Dobrev) first love, and one of the only humans in the know about the supernatural activity in Mystic Falls.

Roerig and Kebbel are not the first romantic Vampire Diaries reunion. In December 2023, Candice King confirmed her relationship with former Vampire Diaries’ spinoff Originals star Steven Krueger. The couple’s relationship began after King’s 2022 divorce from The Fray guitarist Joe King, whom she married in New Orleans in 2014.

Kebbel famously starred in the 2006 romantic dramedy John Tucker Must Die, and currently stars in the Fox series Rescue: HI Surf.

Roerig appears in the upcoming Netflix series The Waterfront, which was written and produced by TVD creator, writer and executive producer Kevin Williamson. The show debuts on June 19.

Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company have set Arielle Kebbel, Joshua Bassett, Sophie Skelton and Sammy Dell to star opposite Milo Ventimiglia and returning cast members John Finley, Trace Adkins and Dennis Quaid in I Can Only Imagine 2.

The faith-based film continues the inspirational true story of Bart Millard (Finley), the lead singer of the Christian band MercyMe. Cameras roll in April in Nashville.

Kebbel will play Hilary Timmons, wife of Ventimiglia’s Tim Timmons. Bassett will play Bart’s brother-in-law Christopher, with Skelton taking over the role of Bart’s wife, Shannon. The film will also introduce Dell in his first theatrical film role, playing Bart’s son Sam.

The sequel will be directed by Andrew Erwin and Brent McCorkle from a screenplay written by McCorkle. Producers include Kevin Downes, Andrew Erwin, Cindy Bond, Bart Millard, Daryl Lefever and Joshua Walsh.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled with the level of talent that has come together to continue this extraordinary story,” Downes said.

Said Erwin: “The first I Can Only Imagine film was such a rare magical moment, and with Brent’s script, this new film will complete Bart’s journey in such a satisfying way. It feels like it was always meant to be.”

I Can Only Imagine minted more than $83 million at the domestic box office and was a surprise hit in 2018. It centered on the true story of Millard’s troubled relationship with his father that eventually inspired the hit song “I Can Only Imagine.”

Kebbel currently stars on the Fox series Rescue: HI-Surf. She has appeared in TV series Ballers and Midnight Texas, while also starring in films such as John Tucker Must Die, The Grudge 2 and Fifty Shades Freed. She is represented by Independent Artist Group, Untitled Entertainment, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox. Bassett starred for four seasons on Disney Channel’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series; for his work, he was honored with a Children’s and Family Emmy Award for Best Original Song in 2023, and this year received a second nomination in the category. Last year, he released his debut studio LP, The Golden Years. He is represented by UTA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein.

Skelton stars as Bree Fraser McKenzie on the Starz series Outlander. She is represented by Independent Talent Group, Alchemy Entertainment, and Jackoway Austen.

Dell’s credits include the Disney+ film Trevor: The Musical and he appearances on Bull and Law & Order: SVU. He is represented by Take 3 Talent Agency, Rebel Creative Group, and Vainshtein Law, P.C.

I’ve been slacking on adding screencaptures of our lovely Arielle into the gallery of her appearance from Rescue Hi-Surf. I’ve managed to add screencaptures of her appearances in episode 13-16. Don’t forget another new episode is out tomorrow!

Gallery Links:
– 1X13 | DEPTH CHARGE
– 1X14 | RIPPLE EFFECT
– 1X15 | SOUTH WINDS
– 1X16 | PONO

Captain Emily has a nice ring to it right? I’ve managed to add over 300 HD captures of last night’s episode of Rescue Hi-Surf! Can’t wait until next weeks episode!

Gallery Links:
– 1X07 | PAU

I have been in such shock with that Agatha All Along finale, that I finally have been able to add this fantastic episode of Rescue Hi-Surf! Remember the series is all new tomorrow night!

Gallery Links:
– 1X06 | DRIFT