The award-winning HBO Max Original, Legendary, introduced viewers to the ballroom scene, a subculture that originated in New York City, finally bringing the underrepresented community into the mainstream. Unfortunately, after three seasons of the viral reality competition show, Legendary’s time on HBO Max has come to an end, according to a report from Variety. It is the second unscripted show on the platform to be canceled this week, with F-boy Island also joining the expanding list of purged HBO Max shows.
Legendary judge, Leiomy Maldonado, spoke on the show’s cancelation Tuesday, tweeting, “Thank you everyone who supported the show. On to the next…” In a separate tweet, she expresses her heartbreak for the show’s cancelation. As a prominent member of the ballroom scene since the early 2000s, Maldonado’s “passion for ballroom and its existence” was present in her education and explanation of ball culture during the series.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
Throughout the three seasons, the show invited audiences into the world of ballroom—a private culture created by Black and Brown LGBTQ individuals that is both a competition and a community. 1970s Harlem was the originator of the ball culture we see today. However, its roots can be traced back as early as the late 19th century. The series focused on LGBTQ House members from New York’s ballroom scene. Each house competes in a series of predetermined “categories” and faces off for the chance to win $10,000. Each performance is judged based on ballroom-specific criteria.
Legendary’s Cancelation Triggered a Social Media Reaction
HBO Max
Since its 2020 premiere, Legendary has amassed critical acclaim and a huge following, with clips from the show going viral regularly. The show featured a recognizably diverse cast of Black and Brown individuals, which mimics the representation seen in the traditional ballroom scene. GLAAD praised the series for its inclusion of trans and queer artists from New York’s ballroom community in its Where We Are on TV report. The cancelation comes as a surprise for many as the show’s success and popularity has grown throughout the years. Following the news, supporters of the show have taken to social media platforms to express their grievances.
Despite the untimely termination of Legendary, there might be hope for the beloved ballroom show’s return. Wednesday, Leiomy Maldonado took to Twitter to get fans’ suggestions of what network would support the show’s revival. Maldonado believes Prime Video, Netflix, Paramount Plus, or Peacock could be potential new homes for the series.
Legendary falls under the umbrella of Scout Productions. The show was presided over by Master of Ceremonies Dashaun Wesley and MikeQ as DJ. Maldonado, Law Roach, and Jameela Jamil (The Good Place) served as judges in all three seasons. Other notable judges include Megan Thee Stallion (Seasons 1 and 2) and Keke Palmer (Season 3). The series racked up a prestigious lineup of stars throughout its run, including Issa Rae, Kelly Rowland, Taraji P. Henson, Dominique Jackson (Pose), Bob the Drag Queen (RuPaul’s Drag Race), Demi Lavato, and Tyson Beckford, to name a few. All three seasons of Legendary can still be found on HBO Max’s platform.