In a somewhat surprising move, the alphabet network has cut a beloved family drama after five seasons on the air. Season six of Brothers & Sisters won’t be on ABC’s fall schedule.
Brothers & Sisters debuted in 2006 and revolves around the extended Walker family of Pasadena, California. The current season features a large ensemble cast that includes Calista Flockhart, Dave Annable, Gilles Marini, Luke Macfarlane, Matthew Rhys, Patricia Wettig, Rachel Griffiths, Ron Rifkin, and Sally Field.
The family drama was nearly cancelled last year but was ultimately renewed for an abbreviated fifth season. In light of some positive ratings, ABC ordered additional episodes, bringing the season total to 22 installments. Unfortunately, those ratings didn’t last.
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The numbers slowly declined over the course of the season but really seemed to take a dip in the latter part of the season, just when execs were trying to figure out if it was worth renewing. Rumors started circulating that Brothers & Sisters would be cancelled and then there was word that ABC was considering an abbreviated sixth season to wrap things up.
In the end, network execs decided there just wasn’t enough interest in the show anymore and wanted to use the post-Desperate Housewives timeslot for a new series.
As a result, last Sunday’s season finale will end up being the series finale for Brothers & Sisters. It’s a sad and unfortunate end for a once popular series.
What do you think? Are you sad to hear that Brothers & Sisters won’t be back for season six? Was it time for the series to end?
Wondering where the rest of your shows stand? Check our ABC cancel/renew page.
This is complete BS! This show was inspiring and nothing less than awesome! I wonder what kind of crap show they are going to put on in place of this. Brothers & Sisters actually had real life content to it. I connected with that show and I am VERY upset that its ending… ESPECIALLY with no wrap up… they are just ending it. I HATE that!
I cannot believe it, well I can because quality shows just end up being canceled. I was only watching desperate housewives to get to brothers & sisters. This is so disappointing. Other than Grey’s Anatomy I do not think there is anything worth watching on ABC anymore. I guess I will have to stick with CBS or not watch anything anymore.
Maybe they should realize they went too heavy on the gay storyline. I love the show but felt they spent too much time on trying to push the lifestyle. They spent too much time trying to appeal to a very small group, when they had a much larger group (sorry, just the facts) already interested in the show, thereby alienating the larger group. Simple facts. I watched it anyway, but was irritated at the time spent on shoving that down my throat. Do the research. Try a season without all the male kissing/fighting and see how it goes. You might… Read more »
I´m hetero and had no problem at all with all the “male kissing/fighting”. It´s part of the story and part of many people’s lives, weather gay or not. I´m really pissed that they canceled the show and I think it should continue as it was… gay relationships as much as the hetero relationships. Besides they can´t just drop the pregnancy bomb and cancel the show!
I didn’t have a huge problem with it but it was taking up too large a proportion of the show. I have never seen gay or hetero couples act like the gay couples on the show. It’s part of our lives but not to the extent they portrayed. People like my mother, 79, who tuned in to see Sally Field, didn’t like it, different era, and you won’t hear from them here because most of them don’t have computers. I didn’t miss the Olin family leaving, I didn’t like that storyline. I am really ticked it was canceled also, I… Read more »
Dee…it is so nice to see at least one person mention the very reason that ratings probably dropped. Tooooo many people are too afraid to speak out! Well it’s time. I used to love watching Brothers and Sisters. My husband and I, my daughter and her husband, and just about everyone else in my family have gradually stopped discussing this program, and have gradually stopped tuning in. The storylines used to hit home and were real family issues that everyone could identify with. Being able to identify with a show is major in acheiving popularity. When they started using Brothers… Read more »
Please do not cancel this show!! I love it!!
All these networks have now pretty much cancelled ever show I watch! Guess I’ll have to find something else to do with my time! Way to go networks! This was a really good show!
I am sad to hear Brothers and Sisters will not be airing again. I really loved watching the show. I wish they would reconsider!
ABC I can’t beleive you are cancelling Brothers and Sisters this is the best family show on TV please dont cancell.
Yes, I am sad to see Brothers & Sisters leave the air! I just loved that show!! There aren’t any shows about family except Desperate Housewives and I like that one too!!!! I always looked forward to watch those shows every weekend, Just like Friday Night Lights, Another good show cancelled soon! Guess I’ll go to bed earlier now!! They are taking all the good shows off the air!! Hate it!!!!!! Guess people like murder shows better!
I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS…I AM TRULY DONE WITH ABC…..OVER THEM AND THEIR INABILITY TO SEE QUALITY PROGRAMMING……DONE. OVER THEM
I am sooo mad my whole family watches Brothers and Sisters every sunday!! We all love this show and shame on you ABC bring it back PLEASE!!!!!!!!!
Definitely sad to see the show go. I thought it was a great, talented cast and wish they would have looked for a new timeslot before they just cancelled.
Plenty of horrible tv during the week to experiment with. Unfortunate.
ABC continues to cancel shows that I love. Brothers and Sisters is a smart show that I can actually sit down on a Sunday night and enjoy. My husband, who does not typically enjoy the “soap opera-esque” evening dramas loved to sit down and enjoy Brothers and Sisters with me and we both agree this will be a gap. BOO ABC! Don’t do this again. Yet we continue on with “REALITY (and I use the term loosely) TV” Really?
Every year ABC cancels at least one of my favorite shows! I guess I will just stop watching their network! Brothers and Sisters was one of the best shows on television! The only show worth watching on Sunday nights for sure!
Shame on the comment about Richard Chamberlain’s aging body. God willing, you are going to get old too. Remember what you said about Richard Chamberlain when the wrinkles are staring back at you in the mirror. Wow, superficial society!
Is anyone who counts going to read this? They did not even give it a chance when they brought in Beau Bridges and Richard Chamberlain. They make a positive move and then don’t wait to see how it plays out. The program did hit a little slump when Ken Olin and family left , but the story line with Beau Bridges was a tear jerker when he walked Sara down the aisle. Again, whoever is making the decisions needs to grow up and slow down, obviously someone without too much life experience. Yes, ABC does this a lot, and I… Read more »
I am getting so used to shows of substance being cancelled, that nothing surprises me anymore. Brothers and Sisters had a very talented ensemble and both the writing, story lines and acting were excellent. Sad to say, but the general television public is more interested in idiotic reality shows.
ABC has been consistently cancelling both day and evening programs that I have enjoyed. In fact I their lineup has been so bad that I only watch on Sunday eve for this lineup. And I watch DWTS and Castle I used to always watch ABC, and rarely changed the channel, but whoever is running the show there is rapidly losing its loyal fanbase.