Before Evil and From became streaming staples, ABC took a gamble on a devilish drama set in a Manhattan apartment building. 666 Park Avenue promised a mix of supernatural chills and high-end real estate intrigue, but it only lasted a single season. Now streaming on Prime Video, the show has found a second life—and its cancellation story is as twisted as any plot twist.
A Promising Premise with a Stellar Cast
The series centers on The Drake, a luxurious Upper East Side building where residents can have their deepest wishes granted—for a price. The building's owners, Gavin and Olivia Doran (played by Terry O'Quinn and Vanessa Williams), are not your typical landlords. Gavin, it turns out, is the devil himself. The show follows new resident managers Jane (Rachael Taylor) and Henry (Dave Annable) as they uncover the building's dark secrets.
With O'Quinn fresh off Lost and Williams from Ugly Betty, the cast was a major draw. ABC had high hopes, scheduling it after the hit Revenge on Sundays. But trouble started before the pilot even aired.
The One Million Moms Boycott
In September 2012, the conservative group One Million Moms launched a campaign against 666 Park Avenue, calling it a “satanic and demonic series.” They urged ABC to pull the show and later targeted sponsors like KFC, Subway, Revlon, and Johnson & Johnson. The group claimed success when those ads disappeared from later episodes. When ABC canceled the series after just seven episodes, One Million Moms celebrated.
Ratings Over Religion
But was the boycott the real reason? Probably not. ABC had already seen horror shows struggle—like Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital in 2004, which started strong but faded fast. 666 Park Avenue premiered to 6.9 million viewers, a 32% drop from the previous fall's Pan Am. Even with Revenge as a lead-in, viewers tuned out. Critics also panned the show for being too predictable—revealing the devil in the pilot left little mystery.
For fans of supernatural horror, 666 Park Avenue is a fascinating what-if. It's a perfect weekend binge for those who love R-rated horror franchises or want to see a show that never got a chance to find its footing. The series is available now on Prime Video, and its controversial history makes it even more intriguing.
Whether you blame the boycott or the ratings, 666 Park Avenue remains a cult curiosity. And for those who enjoy a good devil-in-the-details story, it's well worth a look.
