After being ping-ponged around the ABC schedule for two years, the network has cancelled the series about Marin (Anne Heche) and the residents of Elmo, Alaska. In retrospect, the writing’s been on the wall for awhile.
When Men in Trees premiered in the fall of 2006, it attracted a respectable number of viewers. Unfortunately, the show never seemed to be a priority for the network – possibly because it’s not produced by ABC’s in-house production company. Though its viewership was slowly growing, the TV show’s first season was cut short due to ABC’s scheduling of October Road (which is produced by ABC Studios). Instead of airing all 22 episodes, the network opted to air just 17 and added the remaining five episodes to the series’ season two order, in preparation for a possible writers strike.
When the writers strike hit in November 2007, it was expected that Men in Trees would benefit from the lack of original scripted programming on network television. That never seemed to happen and the series was put on hiatus in December. It returned once the strike was over in February and ABC cut Men in Trees’ second season order to 19 episodes, including the five from season one.
There series is on hiatus once again and isn’t scheduled to return until after the May sweeps period is finished – a sure sign that a network has lost faith in a series. ABC sent tapes of both Men in Trees and October Road to Lifetime to see if they’d be interested in taking on either series. They weren’t.
To little surprise, series creator Jenny Bicks was informed of the Men in Trees cancellation last week. She lamented to TV Guide, “I wish the show had not been moved six times and put onto two long hiatuses. No show could survive that.”
She says, “I am really proud of the work we did on MIT… A huge thank you to our supportive fans.”
On the positive side, Bicks realized that the series might not be back for season three and the cast and crew did some extra filming. As a result, an alternative ending for this season’s finale was filmed to serve as a series finale.
Men in Trees is scheduled to return to ABC on May 28th. If the network lets it remain in that Wednesday night timeslot for three episodes, the series finale should air on June 11, 2008. Based on the network’s track record with this show, it’s hard to say if that will actually happen. Stay tuned! 
More about:
Men in Trees
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I always get hooked on shows that eventually become popular, and this was one of them. I think the “decision makers” made a HUGE mistake. The late bouncing times made it hard for moms like me who love this show to watch, but I craved it! BRING IT BACK AND MAKE IT A PRIORITY!!!
I love the show Men In Trees. I am really disappointed that the show has been cancelled. I wish ABC would really reconsider. This is a wonderful show that would definately be watched.
Why the f*** did they cancel this marvellous show. Even in Holland we watched MIT. Its a good show with good actors and filmed in beautifull surroundings. So much better than all this lousy reality soaps, they make me SICK. I like a serie with a good script and actors who can realy perform; not this loosers which yoy allwaus see on this reality soaps. So bring it back on the screen.
I love “Men in Trees”. The reality shows that dominate the airwaves are simply “awful”. It seems that whenever a fresh, well-written show comes on, the networks do not give it time to “take off”. Then when people really start to enjoy it, they move it. I got hooked on “Men in Trees”, then ABC kept moving it. I tried my best to keep up with that, and watched it faithfully. But…..it was cancelled anyway. I wish there was a way to let the networks know that many people do appreciate “good” shows rather than the trash that is prevalent today/
I really miss MIT I watched it all the time whilst living in the UK. My family and I now live in Canada and no MIT to go with it. Please bring it back we loved it.
I loved MIT, I use to run home just to see the show from start to finish. Please Please bring it back with the same characters.
I love Men in Trees its amazing and i am so upset that it is not on any more. why its so fun, if you dont put it back on i will not be happy. also please put it on english channels so i can watch it as i am a lover ov men in trees and jack is very sexual
I am very upset that men in trees has been cancelled and would like to see it back on in england woop woop cant wait to see it back i love cash he is very hot for me
xx
please bring the show back, i’ve been hoping some how you would because there are so many people disappointed that it was just canceled.
too many “csi, cops, hospital and reality shows on. men in trees was like an 80 show, like sisters, hotel, dallas, shows like that. shows like that are rare, please bring it back or put it on dvd for us broken hearted fans!
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