We’ve suspected the bad news for months but now, it’s been confirmed that the Brotherhood series has indeed been cancelled by Showtime.
Brotherhood revolves around the lives of two brothers in an Irish-American neighborhood in Rhode Island. Tommy Caffee (Jason Clarke) is a family man and local politician while his brother Michael (Jason Isaacs) is a professional criminal who’s involved with the Irish mob. Others in the cast of this gritty drama include Kevin Chapman, Annabeth Gish, Fiona C. Erickson, Brian Scannell, Kerry O’Malley, Fionnula Flanagan, Madison Garland, Billy Smith, Frank Ridley, Matt Servitto, Ethan Embry, Brian F. O’Byrne, Tina Benko, and John Fiore.
The series debuted on Showtime on July 9, 2006 and, despite some very positive reviews, Brotherhood didn’t attract a lot of viewers; just 450,000. Showtime nevertheless renewed the show for a second season — albeit one made up of only 10 episodes. They started airing in September of 2007 and the premiere brought in just 370,000 viewers.
Brotherhood won a Peabody Award in 2007 and continued to garner critical attention. Situated behind Dexter, the show attracted its best ratings with 650,000 viewers on November 18, 2007. The pay-for-view cable channel continued to stand behind the show and renewed it for a third season.
Entertainment president Robert Greenblatt said, “Brotherhood is one of our shining hours at Showtime — a drama series that is among the highest-quality shows offered anywhere on television, and we’re proud to keep it firmly in our portfolio.” In November 2008, the season three debut attracted just 305,000 viewers.
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Earlier this year, rumors started to circulate that Brotherhood wouldn’t be returning for a fourth season. Showtime execs wouldn’t say one way or the other and the actors, as well as viewers, were kept in the dark as to the show’s future.
In January, Greenblatt said, “It’s a show that we love, and we’re just trying to figure out what the future might be. We have a finite number of slots for shows, and we’re in that difficult place of trying to make that decision.”
Lost actress Flanagan told EOnline in February, “We’re on hiatus, and we’re waiting to hear what Showtime’s pleasure is about that. It will all have to be balanced with what else Showtime has on its roster for this next year. Usually the shooting season was the summer, so I should imagine that we’ll know soon.”
The show’s future began to look especially grim when Australian actor Clarke was cast in U.S. Attorney, a new drama series for CBS. Though the show was not picked up for Fall, it may end up on the network’s midseason schedule.
Now, the speculation about Brotherhood can finally be put to rest. Showtime and Paramount Home Entertainment have officially announced the DVD release of season three and the title is Brotherhood – The Final Season. Things don’t get any plainer than that. The set will be released on September 22nd and can be purchased now at a pre-release discount
Some have expressed that the third season finale gave closure to the series. Tommy became the speaker of the house and Michael left Providence once again. Do you agree, or are you just left wanting another visit to The Hill?
Image courtesy Showtime.
I have had a void for a great show to watch for some time. So I just settle for on demand binges. This was in my opinion a show with lots of potential. They did a nice job wrapping it up.
This was an absolutely great series. I hate to see it not return. Please reconsider.
binged watched all 3 seasons then realized it was like 2008 and knew it was canceled! Please bring this series back, it’s because Showtime did not promote it correctly otherwise you have a hit series on your hands!! Great cast great story lines, and great characters!!
I also binged on the 3 seasons. I watch series on HBO and Showtime consistently – never even heard about this show until I just happened upon it. LOVED IT right up there with Ray Donovan & the late Sopranos – what a shame. Miss it already!!!!
This was my favorite show. I held it up there with The Sopranos on HBO. Wish I could have seen more. Better marketing could have gone a long way, it would have been a gold mine. Bring it back, better late than never. Add it to the Ray Donovan lineup.
I just binge watched all 3 seasons. The reason it wasn’t successful has to be that Showtime didn’t promote it correctly.
My friend got me to watch and I went through each season waiting for the next episode!
Now that I’m hooked I find out it has been cancelled!!! Not fair!
Loved the show!
Not ONE likable character, and people like this junk? Guess it just goes to show you. Glad it didn’t get picked up.
Great series, please continue with #4!
Great series totally dissapointed not renewed!
Just finished this series. Wish there were more episodes. Great story line, great writing
Please continue with the series…..it’s great.. Just advertise it more maybe. …they don’t know what they’re missing. Pleeeeeeaaassseeeee
ya its stupid they should really re think about that bc one of the best shows on tv!!
Brotherhood was one of the best shows on TV. I can’t understand why it didn’t fl . It was great. How about a movie for closure?.
Truth be told, the first and second seasons were really good but the 3rd season became somewhat unbelieveable. Micahel went around having shootings like the wild west and never a police car shows up, no law enforcement looks for him. How long could that go on?