The alphabet network has renewed Sunday night drama Brothers & Sisters for a fifth season. As you may have heard, there are big changes in store for the TV show.
Brothers & Sisters revolves around the Walker family as they deal with their own personal dilemmas and run the family business, Ojai Foods. The ABC cast includes Calista Flockhart, Sally Field, Dave Annable, Emily VanCamp, Kerris Lilla Dorsey, Luke Grimes, Luke Macfarlane, Matthew Rhys, Maxwell Perry Cotton, Patricia Wettig, Rachel Griffiths, Rob Lowe, Ron Rifkin, and Balthazar Getty.
While the ratings this season are down from last year, the decrease isn’t dramatic (unlike most everything on the show). Last season, Brothers & Sisters averaged a 3.4 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 9.87 million viewers. So far, the ABC drama’s averaged a 3.0 in the demo and 9.23 million viewers.
The show’s now been renewed for a fifth season. No word on how many installments ABC will order but a full season of 22-24 episodes is expected.
However many episodes there are, they will likely be full of changes. Lowe is leaving the series later this season and Flockhart is supposedly going to be cutting back the number of episodes she’ll do. In addition, Gilles Marini, who plays the boyfriend of Sarah Walker (Griffiths), may become a series regular next season.
What do you think? Are you glad that Brothers & Sisters has been renewed? Do you think the cast changes will result in the show being cancelled or revitalized?
Image courtesy ABC.
I LOVE this show! The only problem is I NEVER know when it is going to be on….Please give us the schedule! I am not happy Rob Lowe is leaving or that Calista Flockheart is cutting back…both pros and will be missed. So happy they have been picked up for next year….Now, just let us know the schedule for the whole season!
I love this show! I just started finding clips of it on youtube and I really liked it.. I didnt know of this show until the 4th season was already over.. So Now im Just trying to watch 1-4 ..Im so glad there is going to be another. When does it start? all the actors are amazing . I hope they all stay and make this season even better.
@Elisabeth: Likely sometime in the Fall. The current season’s still airing.
I am happy it has been renewed, but what happened to it being completed this season? It just suddenly disappeared. I haven’t been able to find out why, or when it will return. The acting in this series is incredible. It is one of very few shows that can evoke laughter and tears from me. Please keep the talent coming.
Brother’s and Sister’s is a great diverse show. The cast and the writer’s make the show. We the faithful viewers, get hooked on characters and actors. I am disappointed Lowe is leaving. He and Calista have great chemistry. I don’t blame Calista for cutting back–she needs to spend more time with her family. I wish Lowe’s replacement would be someone like Brad Pitt or George Clooney to jump start the ratings!
I would miss Brothers and Sisters if it goes off the air, good program to watch on a Sunday night, good story line, will miss seeing the regular characters though, but that’s Hollywood always making changes. But do hope it stays on for more seasons.
I think it is a shame Rob Lowe is leaving the show and also that Calista is cutting back,i really hope it does not affect the show to badly.
I have watched Brothers n Sisters since it began n i have always enjoyed it!!!!
I’m extremely happy that the show is coming back. Rob Lowe’s loss will not hurt the show, but Calista Flockhart’s will. I think this is well documented in previous comments.
What I think will really hurt the show, however, is the permanent addition of Gilles Marini. While he was fine for Sarah’s vacation romance, he is more or less the cliche Frenchman. Cliche does not go over well on television. It’s how it gets cancelled.
Why is it every time Rob Lowe gets on a successful show he leaves? He is proven he cannot carry a show himself. Why doesn’t he stick with what he does well; Being a member of a good ensemble cast?
I love this show! Sally Field is the best.
I am so sick of this show. I’ve only stuck out this season to see how Rob Lowe leaves. It’s become so overly dramatic that it’s painful to watch. I don’t know if I can stand to see it through to the end of this season. It really should have ended last year.
I have loved this show from episode 1 and can’t wait for a new season to start. Looking forward to changes, but not too many. Sally Field of course is key.
i love brothers and sisters. it is one of my very favorite shows to watch each week. i am sad that rob lowe is leaving..i love his character with kitty. i hope these changes don’t hurt the show, as key people leaving a show, usually change the whole thing..
I AM GLAD ITS BEEN RENEWED IT IS ONE OF MANY SHOWS TO STAND
THE PRESS OF TIME.AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING IT EVERY SUNDAY
BUT I DO THINK ROB LOWE LEAVING AND CALISTA FLACKART CUTTING HER
AIR TIME WILL HURT THE SHOW I JUST HOPE I AM WRONG
BUT I HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE .EXAMPLE LAS VEGAS SOON AS TOM SHELLECK
CAME IN TO REPLACE THE EVERPOPULAR JAMES CANN THE SHOW GOT CANCELLED LETS HOPE BROTHERS AND SISTERS DOESNT SUFFER THE SAME FATE.
I will not miss Rob Lowe. While I think he’s a fine actor and brought a lot to the show, I think his story with this series is over. I’m curious as to how they’re going to write him out. I hope he just becomes an invisible character who will still be married to Kitty. On the topic of Kitty, I will be sorry to see the reduction of Calista Flockhart’s appearances in the show. This actress has great chemistry with not just Sally Field, but also with Rachel Griffiths. Anytime they share screen time I find that those are… Read more »
I am very happy it has been renewed. It is one of my favorite shows. I love the acting, writing, directing…everything about the show. I do not feel any loss with respect to Rob Lowe. I will however miss Calista Flockhart not being on much. I love watching her and Sally Field when they are in a scene together. The combination of both of their acting skills really makes the show light up.