As hinted at by Catherine Bell, Lifetime has ordered a seventh season of their popular Army Wives TV series. The cable channel has ordered 13 episodes this time around — one of the show’s smallest episode orders — though they could order more at a later date. Seasons one and five had this few episodes while the others have had between 18 and 23 installments apiece.
The Lifetime announcement notes the sixth season cast but doesn’t mention who will or who won’t be back for the seventh round of episodes. As far as we know, only Bell has been locked in with a new contract.
Here’s the press release:
LIFETIME ORDERS ANOTHER TOUR OF DUTY FOR “ARMY WIVES”
Hit Drama’s Seventh Season to Feature 13 All-New Episodes for 2013
LOS ANGELES, CA (September 21, 2012) – Lifetime has renewed its hit drama Army Wives for a seventh season with a 13 episode order for a 2013 return, it was announced today by Rob Sharenow, Executive Vice President, Programming, of Lifetime Networks.
Regarding the announcement, Sharenow said, “Army Wives is a very special program. It’s rare to find a series that connects with viewers and resonates so powerfully after six straight seasons, and we couldn’t be prouder to have it return to Lifetime next year.”
Averaging 3.2 million Total Viewers, Army Wives’ sixth season, which concluded September 9 and was the number one ad-supported cable series in its premiere time period among Women 18+, follows the struggles, dreams and friendships of a diverse group of women – and one man – living with their spouses and families on an active army post.
The series’ sixth season starred Kim Delaney, Sally Pressman, Brian McNamara, Sterling K. Brown, Wendy Davis, Drew Fuller, Terry Serpico, Kelli Williams and Catherine Bell, and also featured Kellie Martin, Alyssa Diaz and JJ Soria. Produced by ABC Studios, with Mark Gordon and Jeff Melvoin serving as executive producers, the series is based on the book Army Wives: The Unwritten Code of Military Marriage by Tanya Biank, who serves as a consultant.
ABOUT ABC STUDIOS
ABC Studios is a leader in the development, production and strategic distribution of entertainment content across television and emerging digital platforms. As a key content driver for the ABC Entertainment Group, the studio has produced multiple seasons of primetime series, such as “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Lost,” “Castle,” “Brothers and Sisters,” “Private Practice,” “Army Wives” and “Criminal Minds,” which have fed the company’s distribution pipelines worldwide with programming and related product lines. During the 2011-12 season (September-May), ABC Studios claimed 4 of the top 5 broadcast dramas among Adults 18-49, with “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Once Upon a Time,” Criminal Minds” and “Desperate Housewives.” “Grey’s Anatomy” stood as the season’s top-rated drama overall in the key young adult sales demo, and “Once Upon a Time” ranked as the # 1 new drama, finishing as TV’s highest-rated freshman drama in 4 years – since the 2007-08 season. ABC Studios continues its history of producing memorable television programming with the recent orders of seven new series set to debut during the 2012-2013 television season (“Malibu Country,” “Zero Hour,” “Red Widow,” “The Neighbors,” “Family Tools,” “Nashville” and “Mistresses”), along with the recent renewal of “Perception” on TNT, comedy “Cougar Town” premiering on TBS on January 8, 2013, and new drama “Devious Maids” premiering on Lifetime in 2013.
ABOUT LIFETIME
Lifetime Television is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. The network posted major growth in viewership among the key demographics in Second Quarter 2012 versus Second Quarter 2011, posting a 13% jump among Women 18-49, +5% among Adults 18-49 and +1% in Women 25-54. Additionally, among Women 18-49, Lifetime marked the network’s strongest 2Q growth in 10 years. Lifetime Television(R), LMN(R), Lifetime Real Women(R) and Lifetime Digital(TM) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, LLC, a subsidiary of A+E Networks. A+E Networks is a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation.
What do you think? Are you glad to hear that Army Wives is returning for another season? How long would you like to see it continue?
This is my favorite show….please don’t take it off the air. There is not alot to watch and enjoy on TV anymore.
I am so happy to know Army Wives will be back! It is by far my favorite show!
I like the show very much. So when will season 7 start.
This is one of my favorite shows. It is my fondest wish that this program could keep going for many years. I wait just for Sunday Night so that I can see it. Please don’t take it off the air after Season 7.
Thrilled at the thought of more Army Wives! Great show!!
Thank You!! Thank You!! SO GLAD it is coming on! I will watch it forever!! IT IS MY SUNDAY NIGHT SHOW THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO SITTING DOWN TO WATCH!!
I AM GLAD TO SEE THAT ARMY WIVES WILL DO SEASON 7. IT SHOULS ALSO DO 8 AND 9 ETC.
I ALSO THINK HARRY’S LAW AND PAN AM SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CANCELLED.
we love this show and would love to see it to run forever. Erika Nobles
One of my favorite shows. So glad it is coming back. We have been around Military people for a long time. We are family. Keep Army Wives coming. Wonderful story lines. Thanks
We love this show and hope it never ends. The military life is one that can be developed forever with new families, new experiences, and new events. Thank you.
My husband was in the army from 1966 until he got an retirement in 2007 . That was between active Army and being a reservist. He pass away in 2011. The show Army Wives is getting me through the hard times. I have watch it from day one. I hope that it doesn`t end soon. I look forward to it each Sunday night. Looking forward to the seventh season. Keep them coming
This show covers every possible hardship that military personnel and their families encounter. To not renew this show would be a BIG loss to a lot of military families, active duty and retired. I’m retired military and I look forward to each episode! I can’t say enought about the cast. They’re all great!!! Welcome back for season seven!!
Im from Australia, I fell in love with Army Wives when I first watched it during my 3 months holiday in South Africa, fell in love with how it was created. I couldn’t be more happier with the news that Army Wives is returning for 7th Season. Would very much like Army Wives to take a run for an extra for years instead of two years. Army Wives is such a great tv show!!!!
I agree with Lynn I love the show keep it on forever
Very glad, keep it on forever!