Why, Me? - Season 14

On March 2, 2035, Jax Garcia announced a further 50 episodes had been ordered for ***Why, Me?*** by *Tanzania* and that these would be split into a fourteenth and fifteenth season. Premiering on October 6, 2035, the fourteenth season concluded on October 18, 2036, after a total of 25 episodes. While Keira left the show to work on other projects, Jo Lott joined the cast - meaning the number of castmates remained at seven this season. The season averaged 2.98 million viewers.

## Plot

Another year in Northdale — with constant success for the YouTubers (with a new addition), with new whodunnits, with relationships both strained and made stronger, with new drama and with new secrets! All this and more around Northdale for another drama-filled year!

Jo Lott‘s offer to merge channels excites Max and Ryan after the loss of viewers due to Keira‘s departure. Yet, it comes with a hunch as she requests to move in to “Max’s Mansion”. Although reluctant, Max agrees. Max soon has second thoughts when she extends her deal to the fact that the channel has to have a fourth person in front of the camera. Shocked at her demands, Max puts up a fight yet when a unanimous decision is made with Ryan siding with Jo, Max is forced to go along with it. However, Ryan doesn’t realise the consequences of his decision when a secret auditonee comes in and after signing her contract, unmasks herself as Mandy. Just after Christmas, the gang are faced with the coldest Winter on record as Northdale is fully snowed. Their few days together after being officially snowed in consist of tempers running high, Jo getting locked in a room and them grappling without any power (no food, no water or no light). Happier times are still overturned when Max battles keeping his secret dinner dates a secret from all the gang. However, showing the respect between the group, when Max is dropped from his record label, the whole group rally around him until he his back on his feet with a new record label and are flexible when he balances his YouTube career with his “relaunching” music career. A special mid-season break gives the opportunity for Max and Jax to show viewers behind the scenes exclusives with production crew as well as Ryan and Mandy showing how their made to look like real-life siblings. Although Ryan and Mandy’s relationship boosts when they tackle the challenge of getting rid of Pam, a super fan of Max’s YouTube channel and also a pageant girl from Joyce’s days, their relationship is strained when she announces her intentions to move in with Chad. Ricky and Jax run into trouble on this episode too as they’re stuck without wallets and phone with nothing to pay. Joyce also completes her shifts to repay the money to the YouTube group that she stole in a previous season yet when Max is suspicious of where it has all come from, their relationship turns frosty; meanwhile Jo attempts to get Ryan to do the Ice Bucket Challenge. This season also features Mandy having drama with the group as she is torn between them and her new friends yet insults fly when they all come together. After realising her true friends, she stands up to the mean girls. Ricky’s parents also come to stay in this season which means the group all move to a nearby hotel so Ricky can put on a persona which isn’t him. However, when Ryan is kept in the knowing of the plans, his return from Marbella in the middle of Ricky’s parents stay causes ruptures as questions fly in both their directions. Joyce receives a shocking family call when she is asked to return to Puerto Rico to take over her family cosmetic’s business which is where she questions her relationship with Jax. As the couple work things out, Max calls upon the gang to help set up a back garden water park as temperatures reach their peak during the Summer. This is followed up by the foursome’s relationship being tested when one seat is not booked ahead of them opening “the best restaurant in town”. Joyce is conflicted upon a return to Northdale after her mother’s passing yet with Jax by her side, she is torn on what decision to make.

Relationships are made stronger yet again this season as Jax and Joyce match Mandy and her new boyfriend, Chad, to a Couple Goals challenge, However, they are also strained over arguments about airtime, Jax and Joyce’s relationship also faces cracks when Ricky’s fashion advice to Joyce spoils her fashion show over jealousy reasons. Jax’s leadership skills are put to the test once more when he conducts another whodunnit over Halloween scares at Ricky’s party. Jax is shown to be a loyal friend once more when he forces Ricky to stop with his soda addiction. However, with temptations high, is it confronting demons more for Ricky or Jax? Relationships are strained this season too however: for example when Ricky brings home a pet for his charity work unbeknownst to the gang. Another example is when Ricky eventually comes clean to Joyce about spilling a beverage on her favourite fashion show dress. After the gang don’t come clean to her regarding who did it, she feels a void between all her friendships. However, bonds are always restored and they are always behind one another - especially when they need saving (when the YouTubers are bought to a back alley to recieve a false award after reaching 290 videos for example). The gang also show their support when Jax battles with guilt after catching a notorious criminal that once knew Jax well, Charlie Crewe. Jax toys with the idea of not receiving his commendation from the mayor but with the gang behind him, he picks up the courage and leaves the guilt behind. Jo is also shown to be brave when she finally admits to have children when her children are “dumped” on her. Max is shown to be courageous too when he stands up to the Alexander’s parents when they threaten to take Mandy home with them. Max and Jo bond over parenting techniques as the series draws to a close after their four children meet. Jax calls upon Ricky in this episode as his therapist puts him through his paces at a bootcamp - which includes being separated from Joyce.

## Cast and Production

On March 2, 2035, Jax Garcia announced that a 50-episode order had been placed for the show and that this would be divided up into fourteenth and fifteenth seasons. When asked in an Instagram Story, Garcia did make clear that contracts would be discussed midway through production and that a month’s hiatus would take place after twenty-five episodes had been shot for signing contracts and if neccessary, cast parting way with show. Two months later, Keira once again announced her departure from the series citing “to pursue new projects”. On May 19, 2035, a producer for the show announced a new signing and stated that production would begin two weeks later. Rumours swirled that Keira‘s ex-boyfriend, Jacob, could be joining the cast yet he refuted the claims. On May 23, Jo Lott was announced on *Why, Me?*’s Twitter page to be joining the show. As well as this, the whole cast, bar previously announced Keira, from the previous season would be returning. Production commenced on June 6 and wrapped for it’s mid-production break on May 1, 2036. After fourteen seasons on the show, Garcia was announced to have left the show. Rumours mounted of feuds yet he later clarified that he always knew that once his contract had expired, he’d be leaving the show out of respect for late ex-castmate, Dan and time to pursue new things. Upon this, *Radar Online* also reported that Joyce Gunvalson had been sacked yet *Tanzania* published a statement that they wished Gunvalson well yet due to creativity purposes, a “fresher cast” would benefit the show and without Garcia, Gunvalson didn’t ”fit in” with the storylines. Gunvalson’s agent later spoke out on behalf of her about her anger with the network as “something could’ve been done to fit me in”. Also in between the break, Ricky Diaz was announced to have mutually agreed with *Tanzania* that his character had come to a “natural end”. A few years later, Diaz did say that he had been caught taking drugs and had this come to light, they would’ve fired him so he thought he‘d save them “the grace” and push for an end of his run with the show.

## Trivia

* As part of a bid to increase ratings on many shows on the network, *Tanzania*, the producers held back episodes to air throughout different weeks in different months. In this case, the show aired six episodes over two different weeks hence the two hiatuses.
* Four main characters are absent this season:
	+ Mandy Alexander is absent during five episodes this season. She is absent during the episodes, *Three’s A Squeeze*, *PsychoFan*, *Ice Bucket Friendship*, *Swat Crewe*, and *Bootcamp Luxuries*.
	+ Ricky Diaz is absent during three episodes this season. He is absent during the episodes, *Fiery Four*, *Blazing Heat*, and *One Seat Short*.
	+ Ryan Alexander is absent during two episodes this season. He is absent during the episodes, *Three’s A Squeeze* and *Bootcamp Luxuries*.
	+ Joyce Gunvalson is absent during one episode this season. She is absent during the episode, *Mommy Troubles*.
* Ricky Diaz credits this season as his favorite to film.