It’s official, Royal Pains will indeed end after its upcoming eighth season on USA Network, premiering May 18, 2016.
The final eight-episode installment, which was part of a two-season renewal in November 2014, will see the procedural cross the 100th milestone and will feature a special musical episode.
Official press release follows:
USA NETWORK’S ICONIC HIT SUMMER SERIES “ROYAL PAINS”
HEADS TO THE HAMPTONS FOR EIGHTH AND FINAL SEASONThe Universal Cable Productions Series Bids Adieu with
Eight New Episodes – Including Its 100th Episode – Beginning Wednesday, May 18New York, NY – March 10, 2016 – USA Network gives its viewers one last dose of ROYAL PAINS when the hit drama airs its eighth and final season beginning Wednesday, May 18 at 10pm ET/PT with eight all-new episodes. The esteemed summer series, from Universal Cable Productions and creator and executive producer Andrew Lenchewski and executive producer Michael Rauch, has captivated a loyal fan base and consistently ranked as a top 10 series across all key demos on its night for all seven seasons.
In its final season, ROYAL PAINS will celebrate the distinguished honor of crossing the 100th episode milestone midway through the season, and will also include a visit to Hong Kong and a unique musical episode featuring several new and returning guest stars.
“Under the direction of talented showrunners Michael Rauch and Andrew Lenchewski, our entire ensemble cast led by Mark Feuerstein, and amazing crew, ROYAL PAINS took viewers on a remarkable, unforgettable journey for eight wonderful seasons,” said Chris McCumber, President, Entertainment Networks, NBCUniversal. “While summer in the Hamptons may never be the same, this last season promises to be an epic ride.”
“Eight seasons of unadulterated joy! Michael, Chewy, Mark and the entire ROYAL PAINS team have been a joy to work with since day one,” said Jeff Wachtel, Chief Content Officer, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. “We will thank them forever for creating such a wonderful way to spend our summers.”
“It’s with great sadness, but even greater thankfulness, that we prepare for our final summer sunsets as ROYAL PAINS comes to an end. We couldn’t have imagined a more talented and dedicated writers’ room, cast, or crew, and we couldn’t have asked for better partners than USA Network and Universal Cable Productions,” said creator and executive producer Andrew Lenchewski and executive producer Michael Rauch. “We want to thank Bonnie Hammer, Chris McCumber, Jeff Wachtel and every other member of our network and studio family for tirelessly supporting us over eight magical seasons, and more importantly, for giving us the opportunity to complete this series on our own terms. We’ll always have The Hamptons.”
ROYAL PAINS’ final season will explore pivotal life decisions for all of the staff at HankMed, and with everyone’s focus pulled in various directions, the future of the business is at stake. After years in the Hamptons as everyone’s favorite concierge doctor, Hank (Feuerstein) must decide if his professional fulfillment equals his personal fulfillment. Evan (Paulo Costanzo) and Paige (Brooke D’Orsay) endure challenging marital decisions and must examine what family really means to them.
Meanwhile, a number of life events complicate Divya’s (Reshma Shetty) career aspirations. Jeremiah (Ben Shenkman) must choose between research and patient care; and just as Eddie (recurring guest star, Henry Winkler) has earned the trust of Hank and Evan, they discover he still has secrets that can rock their world. All the while, Boris (recurring guest star, Campbell Scott) makes a series of life-altering decisions that could change the group dynamic forever.
A special musical episode will feature guest stars Christine Ebersole and Cloris Leachman. When Ms. Newberg’s (Ebersole) life-long best friend, Annette, (Leachman) visits the Hamptons, she begins seeing every situation around her as a musical number. While Hank attempts to diagnose what is wrong with her, everyone at HankMed bursts into song and dance.
This season also brings back some of the most influential patients and characters including Divya’s husband, Raj (Rupak Ginn), Mark’s on and off love interest Jill (Jill Flint), Libby (Meredith Hagner), and General William Collins (Bob Gunton). Additional prominent guest stars featured in the final season include Annie Potts, Teri Polo, Sebastian Roche, Dan Lauria, Constance Wu, Hal Linden, Ana Ortiz and Maria Dizzia.
Since ROYAL PAINS’ 2009 debut, critics hailed the series with Entertainment Weekly calling the show “…one of cable’s most charming hours.” The series garnered accolades through the years including a People’s Choice Award nomination for Favorite Cable TV Comedy, a GLAAD Media Award nomination and finalist placement in the Cynopsis Social Good Awards.
Many iconic guest stars have graced the Hamptons during the show’s run, including Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden, “Today” host Matt Lauer, Grammy Award-Winner John Legend, NFL wide receiver Greg Jennings, reality stars Khloé Kardashian and Scott Disick, “Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi, and NBA Superstar Muggsy Bogues, among others.
Season seven delivered strong ratings, averaging over three million total viewers on a L7 basis, and over one million in the key demos (1.03M P18-49; 1.24M P25-54). ROYAL PAINS has accumulated 1.4 million social media fans, with 880K Facebook fans and 557K Twitter followers.
Fans can catch up on season seven of ROYAL PAINS anytime on VOD or via streaming at usanetwork.com.
Created by Andrew Lenchewski, ROYAL PAINS is executive produced by Lenchewski and Michael Rauch. Rich Frank also serves as executive producer along with Jeff Kwatinetz from Prospect Park. Connie Burge, Carol Flint, Jon Sherman and Jessica Ball are executive producers.
From Universal Cable Productions, the series filmed in New York (Long Island and Brooklyn) and at locations in and around the Hamptons. Throughout its run, the series travelled abroad to destinations including Hungary, Italy, France, South Africa, Argentina and Puerto Rico, and this season – Hong Kong.
RIP.
Terrie says
So sad to hear that Royal Pains is coming to an end. This has been an excellent show, ad I personally will miss it. I guess it’s good I can buy the DVD set, because I sure will be watching it.
George Booth says
USA NETWORK, I’m so disappointed that you have foolishly chosen not to renew Royal Pains! You are truly in need of new management… Thankfully, I’m going to drop cable and move to Netflix and Amazon Video and Hulu. To hell with the rest…
Patti says
Whoa – I thought this program was canceled and had already ended! I am happy for another season, since our whole family loves this show!
suzyku says
Should have been cancelled a long time ago! Same old, same old every week for years!
Kylie says
This is quite saddening to hear. Was just getting ready for season 8 to come on and to now hear it’s cancelled and there’s only 8 eps left. It’s been a good show and I’ve watched it since the beginning. The first season I thought it’s alright but I doubt it will see another season and then it really grew on me and it lasted this long. It’s not my favourite show ever, but I will no doubt be crying through the final episode. And possibly throughout the season as well. I am hoping for Divya and Jeremiah to end up together. I thought he’d have several more years to grow on her.
Patricia says
Crazy! They cancel the good programs but leave the garbage on.
Diane says
You praise this show tremendously yet it’s being cancelled – that makes absolutely NO sense. It is true – all the great shows being cancelled by networks, i.e. Rizzoli and Isles, and you all (networks) leave garbage. Royal Pains is light and breezy, a great forget about life program, extremely enjoyable with a fabulous, lovable cast. This is so frustrating – what’s the sense of getting invested in these shows when the powers that be will only take them away because they can.
Andrea says
Really enjoyed this for 8 seasons. Love the cast. Wish there was more tv like this.