Nickelodeon has had to cancel a popular series after it aired just a single season. The show, a spinoff of two previous ratings winners, is "Sam & Cat."

Our good friend Nellie Andreeva at Deadline has been on top of this story for months, and she writes: " 'Sam & Cat' had been a runaway success by any measure. The series, from proven hitmaker Dan Schneider, brought together two popular characters from two popular Nick series — 'iCarly’s' Sam Puckett and 'Victorious' ' Cat Valentine — played by two of the network’s best-known stars and best friends, Jennette McCurdy and Ariana Grande, respectively. The series has been a ratings hit, quickly becoming Nickelodeon’s highest-rated series. Last July, only a month into 'Sam & Cat’s' run, Nick doubled its freshman order from 20 to 40 episodes. Its hourlong Jan. 18 episode drew 4.8 million total viewers."

While 40 episodes seems like — and is — a lot of episodes today for one season, many baby boomers will recall from their childhood that most TV shows used to run close to episodes a season.

Andreeva's story adds: "But as production went on for 'Sam & Cat‘s' 40-episode first season, rumors started circulating about discord on the set, with emotions running high and McCurdy and Grande sometimes showing up late. The grueling 40-episode shoot had been taxing on everyone. …

"Things came to a head in late March when McCurdy publicly accused Nickelodeon of unfair treatment. She also fueled speculation about a rift with her longtime best friend Grande by un-following Grande on social media and not joining her co-star at Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards. A few days later, production on the series was shut down with four episodes from Season 1 left to shoot."

Besides Andreeva's current story, to read more we recommend this earlier story she wrote about the situation.