Sweden sitcom pulled over 'craptastical' ratings

Produced by US comedian and writer Greg Poehler and his sister Amy Poehler, 'Welcome to Sweden' – about an American love refugee in Sweden – is an international collaboration by Swedish TV4, Entertainment One and FLX.

But the second season, which aired in Sweden earlier this year, has failed to capture the attention of viewers across the pond. And Greg Poehler, who also stars as lead character 'Bruce', on Tuesday announced via Instagram that NBC had cancelled the romantic comedy as a result.

“Due to some craptastically low ratings in the US, WTS is officially done. I am eternally grateful to all of our fans,” wrote the Stockholm-based comedian.

Based on Poehler's own experiences when he first came to Sweden in the middle of the summer nine years ago, the series followed Bruce, a New York accountant who moves to the Nordic country to marry his Swedish girlfriend Emma.

'Welcome to Sweden' saw many a famous face come and go over its two seasons, from series regulars Swedish actresses Josephine Bornebusch and Lena Olin to cameos from US mega stars such as married-to-a-Swede Will Ferrell, Jason Priestley, Björn Ulveaus, and Neve Campbell.

And Poehler himself was full of praise for his co-stars: “I'm sitting here crying, but mostly because I'll prob never work with Josephine, Christopher, Lena, Per and Claes again. They are among the best people I've ever met and I am so, so happy and grateful that they let me act with them.”

The pilot episode of the show was released to popular acclaim in Sweden two years ago with 1.7 million viewers. “Despite rifling through all the unusual and uncomfortable moments, the show has an understated charm and amusing characters,” wrote Variety TV critic Brian Lowry when it premiered in the US last year.