You remember the sweaters. Those vibrant, patterned, quintessentially 90s knits that David Ruprecht used to rock while people sprinted past stacks of canned hams. When ABC announced they were bringing back the grocery store chaos in 2020, people lost it. But this time, the vibe was different. Out went the soft-spoken charm of the original and in came the high-octane, loud-and-proud energy of SNL alum Leslie Jones.
Leslie Jones Supermarket Sweep was more than just a revival; it was a full-blown cultural moment during a time when we were all stuck at home, sanitizing our own groceries and dreaming of a world where we could touch a frozen turkey without a hazmat suit.
But then, it just... stopped. One minute Leslie is screaming encouragement at a guy fumbling with a giant inflatable bunch of bananas, and the next, the aisles are empty. If you've been wondering why the show vanished or if it's ever coming back, you aren't alone. Honestly, the story of this reboot is a wild mix of bad timing, shifting ratings, and the sheer polarizing force of Leslie’s personality.
Why the Reboot Felt Different
The 2020 version of the show didn't just copy the old homework. It went big. ABC expanded the format to a full hour, which, if we’re being real, is a long time to watch people guess the price of detergent. To fill that time, they leaned heavily into Leslie Jones. She wasn't just a host; she was a superfan who had actually auditioned for the original show years ago and got rejected.
Talk about a redemption arc.
The energy was chaotic. She was yelling. She was dancing. She was genuinely losing her mind when someone missed a "Mini-Sweep" clue. For some, it was the breath of fresh air the genre needed. For others? It was a bit much for a Sunday night.
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The Ratings Rollercoaster
The first season was actually a hit. It premiered to a 0.7 rating in the key 18-49 demographic, pulling in over 3 million viewers. People were hungry for nostalgia. But by the time Season 2 wrapped up in early 2022, those numbers had cratered. We’re talking about a 45% drop in the demo.
Why the nose-dive?
- The Pandemic Bubble: In 2020, we’d watch anything. By 2022, the world was opening back up.
- The Hour-Long Format: Most fans of the classic Lifetime era felt the 30-minute episodes were punchier. An hour of grocery trivia can feel like a chore.
- The Competition: Sunday nights are brutal. You’re up against the NFL and prestige dramas. A neon-colored game show has a hard time holding its own in that landscape.
Leslie Jones Supermarket Sweep: Cancelled or Just Shelved?
Technically, ABC never officially used the "C-word." In May 2022, reports surfaced that the network had "indefinitely shelved" the series. In the TV world, that’s usually a polite way of saying it’s headed to the big grocery store in the sky.
The show wasn't on the 2022-2023 schedule. It wasn't on the 2024 schedule. And as of 2026, the status remains the same: dormant.
There was a lot of chatter about Leslie’s "loud" hosting style being a factor. If you look at the viewer comments on sites like TV Series Finale, the audience was split down the middle. One half loved her "sassy" and authentic enthusiasm. The other half found it grating compared to the low-key energy of the 90s version. It’s the classic reboot struggle—how do you update a brand without alienating the people who liked the original brand's specific flavor?
Behind the Scenes Tweaks
Season 2 tried to fix things. They made it easier to win money. They tweaked the "Big Sweep" rules to keep the stakes high. But it felt like the more they changed it to please everyone, the more it lost that weird, specific magic that made the original a cult classic.
Leslie herself has stayed busy. She’s moved on to guest hosting The Daily Show, recording her podcast, and doing stand-up specials. She’s fine. But for the fans who wanted to see her crown more "Supermarket Sweep" champions, the silence from ABC has been deafening.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Show
A common misconception is that Leslie Jones was just a hired gun. That's not true. She was an Executive Producer. She had skin in the game. This wasn't just a paycheck for her; it was a passion project. When the show was shelved, it wasn't because the host walked away to do bigger things. It was a business decision based on the cost of production versus the shrinking audience.
Running a grocery store set is expensive. You have to stock real food—though they did donate the perishables to local food banks, which is a cool detail most people miss. You have to manage the logistics of a massive crew in a warehouse. If the ratings don't justify the overhead, the network pulls the plug. Simple as that.
Where to Watch it Now
If you’re feeling nostalgic for Leslie’s era, you can still find episodes floating around on Hulu or through ABC’s on-demand services, depending on your region. It serves as a weird, colorful time capsule of the early 2020s.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you’re holding out hope for a Season 3 or a different reboot, here is how you can actually track what's happening:
- Check the Production Slate: Keep an eye on Fremantle’s official website. They own the rights to the format. If a new version is being pitched to a streamer like Netflix or Amazon, they’ll be the first to announce it.
- Follow the Crew: Tahir Moore, the announcer from Leslie’s version, is often active on social media. If there’s ever a "reunion" or a revival, the supporting cast usually leaks hints before the network does.
- Watch the Originals: If the Leslie Jones version was too high-energy for you, Pluto TV often runs a 24/7 channel dedicated to the David Ruprecht years. It’s a great way to see the evolution of the game.
- Voice Your Interest: Networks actually do pay attention to social media engagement. Using the show's hashtag on X or Instagram can occasionally signal to executives that there is still an "undserved" audience.
The reality is that Leslie Jones Supermarket Sweep was a high-risk, high-reward experiment. It proved that game shows can still be "event TV," but it also showed that nostalgia only carries a show so far. For now, the checkout line is closed.