Last November, ABC opted not to order any additional episodes of Eli Stone’s second season, effectively cancelling the drama. The series’ co-creator, Marc Guggenheim, held out hope that the network might still order a third round.
The chances of that happening were very remote and they were finally put to rest in May when ABC announced its new schedule and Eli Stone wasn’t on it. In April, the network announced plans to air the final four installments. They start running tonight.
Guggenheim recently told SCI FI Wire, “I have to say these four are among my favorite of the whole series run, quite frankly. I just feel like, ironically, we ended up getting cancelled right around the time we were really hitting on all cylinders.”
So, will the fans finally get some closure?
The series finale, titled “Flight Path,” is set to air on July 11th and will bring the series full circle. Guggenheim said, “For those people familiar with the pilot and fans of the show, we return to the Himalayas. That was in the very first episode. So there’s a sense of closure with that last episode. We returned to the scene of the crime, as it were.”
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The co-creator promises that the last episode will give an ending of sorts to the series. He noted, “We wrote it knowing that we were on the bubble, so we wrote it to work like it could be a mid-season finale or it could be a series finale. It has a real satisfying sense of closure.”
After all this time, Guggenheim is very happy that the final episodes of Eli Stone are finally being aired. He related, “I have to say the worst part about being canceled was the possibility that these episodes wouldn’t get aired. Because, first and foremost, a lot of very talented, hardworking people gave their all to write, produce and film these episodes.”
“Especially episode 13, ‘Flight Path,’ because that was produced when we knew we were canceled. We had written it beforehand, but it was actually filmed around the time we learned of our cancellation, and yet no one phoned anything in. You see the episode, and you see the level of ambition from the plane crash to the Himalayas to everything in between, and you go, ‘Wow! That was everyone trying to leave on the best note possible.’ I’m just really glad that everyone’s hard work is going to get a chance to shine.”
Though Guggenheim has moved on and is working on a new ABC series, FlashForward, he’s very grateful to Eli Stone’s loyal audience. To them, he wanted to say, “Just thank you for all your support. Thanks for watching. Thank you for posting. Thank you for creating Web sites. I’ve always said that I would rather have the number of viewers that we had — even though it wasn’t enough to keep us on the air — I would rather have the number of viewers that we had with all of them loving the show as they did, than three times the number of viewers — while that number might have kept us on the air — that didn’t care about the show as much as all the people who watched.”
Image courtesy ABC.
You know I don’t even know why the hell I try to even watch any good show I like from ABC they will just cancel the damn show any way not even asking the people who watch their channel what they think is Better Off Ted and less hope to god they don’t cancel that show
Loved this show. Would be thrilled to see it return. I agree that ABC could have made a better decision. But that’s the way it goes. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Some brilliant mind canceled Star Trek after just a few episodes and look what happened. So someday the executives who made the decision here could also come to regret it. I do wish that networks could see their way to supporting gems like this one, really supporting them, and giving audiences a chance to find them. Maybe they’ll put it up on Hulu. It… Read more »
Dumbest idea that ABC could’ve made. There’s so many shows that are moronic on tv and no one cares about them. There’s also so many shows that are the exact same shows with just different people writing them and acting in them. Eli Stone was actually a different and original show. It was a wonderful show. And all they do is take it away? ABC has some of the worst shows on their network and they take away one of their best? It’s illogical. And just so ABC knows… there’s only about 3 other shows that I like on the… Read more »
One show I watched religously that wasn’t Sports or I hate too admit HGTV and they go and cancel it. It did make you feel good but of course that’s not enough in ABC eyes. One other show I watch and I forgot but its like it in some ways is Lost. I couldn’t wait until the next show would air.
I am so sad that Eli Stone was canceled!! I absolutely love this show. Maybe ABC will reconsider…
I love this show because it doesn’t base the whole show on cops and hospitals and that stuff. but i watch this show with my whole family all the time because it is one of the best shows on the air and if you want better viewings you should keep this show on the air. If you don’t want to loose a lot of viewers you should keep this show on the air.
I watched my first Eli Stone show last week and really liked, so looked for it again today, but alas, no. I just found out that it was the series finale. It seemed like a show I could really get in to, but just my luck; find a show I like and it’s already gone!
I want to re-watch the Eli Stone. There are scenes within, where characters don’t say too much. However, what little they do say, speaks volumes. The portrayals do justice to the story, rather than jabber to fill in as much words as possible. ie . Take the Season 2 Finale’s closing scene with Eli and his father Aaron atop the mountain. Magic. I wonder if the show could be bought off ABC. Is there another network willing to prop up what could be one of the all-time TV greats? Watch – Season 1, Episode 11: Patience (Live Brave) That episode… Read more »
I thought it was going to be repeats when I came across Eli Stone on a Saturday night at 10:00. I had already Netflixed the previous seasons and couldn’t get enough But when I noticed (original air date}… I was thrilled and immediately DVr’d the series. I checked twice this last Saturday to see if it said “Final” anywhere on the screen, then I asked the question…and found this website. I hope it returns and I have enjoyed reading other people comments and feeling there desire for the show to return. Lets keep our fingers crossed
Eli Stone is one of the best shows on TV. I am disgusted that it is being taken off. I guess you will put on another stupid reality show.
Eli Stone had eveything including wonderful acting. The story lines were exceptional.
Eli you will be missed. ABC or another network please reconsider and keep Eli Stone on.
Our family is really sad and shocked that this show has been cancelled. We too DVR the show and just got the news. It’s one of two shows we enjoy and can watch with our 13 year old son who loves it too. Thanks to ABC there’s nothing left on their network that lives on our DVR schedule.
Thank you to all the people who worked so hard on this show and entertained us. Goodbye ABC. You’ll soon be going the way of the American Automakers because you only cater to the mindless public who doesn’t care about quality.
I am truly bummed out about this show being canceled. We DVR the show since we are not around when it airs at night. Honestly we hadn’t heard the rumors about the show being canceled and when we put the last episode on tonight and saw in the info section that it was the series finale I think we were both completely shocked! My boyfriend and I really loved this show and will miss it!
I am truly upset by the cancellation of this show. It was so well done and promotes thought and goodness. Why is this type of programming so hard to keep on tv? I am so tired of stupid reality and cop shows. Just when there is something worth watching, it is taken away to be replaced with more mindless junk. To the writers of the show, it has been a pleasure to watch and thankyou.
It’s really too bad, but ABC killed this show when they decided not to renew it. The ratings weren’t great, but they weren’t weak, either. Until November 2008, the show was doing okay. The moment the cancellation rumors started, people tuned out, likely not wanting to invest any more time in a show that was just going to end. It’s really a shame when 8 million people, the population of all of New York City, isn’t enough to keep a show alive. That’s to be expected, I suppose, when you move a show around like ABC did this this, Life… Read more »
My heart is broken. I cannot believe a show of such excellence has been cancelled. Each character brought so much to the series; the story lines were so well written; after each show I couldn’t wait until the next one was to air. The last eposide moved me to tears because I knew it was the last. There was so much more for Marc Guggenheim to tell us with all the wonderful story lines left uncomplete because of ABC’s cancellation of one of the greatest series ever produced. What on earth were they thinking . . . shame on them.… Read more »