During a 2018 interview on SiriusXM's The Michelle Collins Show, Cybill Shepherd said that this show was abruptly canceled, despite its popularity, because she refused to have sex with CBS executive Les Moonves. She recounted that he invited her to a private dinner at which he complained that "his wife didn't turn him on, some mistress didn't turn him on," and then he invited her to come home with him. She refused, and "quite shortly" afterward, the showrunners started getting executive notes forbidding them to discuss topics (such as menstruation and menopause) that were previously fine, and soon after that the show was canceled. This was one of many accusations of sexual misconduct and assault levied against Moonves in 2018.
Show creator Chuck Lorre (later of The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men fame) was fired during the second season from his own show due to creative differences with star Cybill Shepherd. Lorre claims in interviews that Shepherd wanted more attention on her character after second lead Christine Baranski won the lion's share of attention and awards the first season. When Lorre refused to change the show's tone and format Shepherd used her star power to get him fired. Soon after he was fired the show won a Golden Globe for the first season. Lorre was not even invited to the ceremony and he had to watch the awards show on TV.
The grand piano in the living room set was more than an aesthetic decoration. Alicia Witt, who portrayed Zoey, had been a child prodigy and is frequently shown playing the piano, minus off-stage dubbing, during the run of the series.
Despite critical praise and strong ratings, CBS abruptly cancelled the show at the end of its fourth season. In her autobiography, Cybill Shepherd attributes this to increasing backstage tensions between the cast and crew, as well as the network's displeasure with the show's feminist leanings. In that sense, it is ironic that it got canceled over the same reasons as the show it closely copied: Ellen.
According to Alan Ball, Cybill Shepherd demurred from storylines that depicted her character in a negative light. Conversely, in the tradition of Lucille Ball, she dove enthusiastically into any physical situation the show called for, with little concern over her aesthetic appearance.