The Real Reason Glee Ended After Season 6

Glee's early ratings success earned the breakout dramedy an equally early renewal, followed by a season 2 debut audience of nearly 13 million Americans (which boosted up to over 13.5 million viewers with its second episode). 

Unfortunately, Glee would start to see some of that success shaken in 2011, when season 3 experienced a rapid ratings decline. The show lost nearly a quarter of its audience (and more than that in the 18-49 demographic) – which, at the time, was more than any other show with such high ratings (via TheWrap). Part of the reason for the sharp decline was critical response, particularly to the series' shaky writing. Additionally, TheWrap's Tom Molloy noted that show had cut down on special guests as well as thematic episodes. 

Ratings continued on a downward trend from there, and when the final 13-episode season debuted, it had earned the title of the lowest-watched season premiere in Glee history, with viewership down a staggering 65 percent from the previous season's premiere (via Bustle). 

At the very least, Glee got a proper send-off. While some shows are canceled without warning, before the renewal of the sixth and final season of Glee, Fox's then-president of entertainment, Kevin Reilly, essentially confirmed during the Summer 2013 Television Critics Association presentation that the sixth season would be its last. 

"I would not anticipate it goes on," Reilly said, according to Give Me My Remote. "Never say never, but there [are] two very clear arcs to get to there and conclude. If we discover a new crop of kids and there's some breakout, who knows. But right now, it's being treated as two seasons [and then done]."