Though Eureka remains one of Syfy’s most popular TV series, the cable channel cancelled it earlier this week. What’s even more perplexing is that Syfy announced that Eureka had been renewed for an abbreviated sixth season last week. They even issued a statement to assure viewers that they hoped to continue the show beyond that. Why was it cancelled?
Eureka executive producer Amy Berg shed some light on the move via Twitter, indicating that Syfy didn’t want to cancel the show but financially, Comcast mandated it. She said, “We are the network’s golden child in every way, except profit margins. Fact is, #Eureka is an expensive show to make. And we could not maintain the quality of our show with the cuts it would take to make us profitable for Syfy’s new parent company. Our creative execs at Syfy fought hard to keep us. Trust me, they LOVE us. We just couldn’t make the numbers work.”
The cast and crew were in the midst of filming the end of season five when the cancellation news came down. With such short notice, it seemed unlikely that they would be able to bring the show to a satisfying conclusion with such short notice.
Thankfully, Syfy has now ordered one additional episode so that, as Berg puts it, “we can end the series on our terms.” She indicated that she’s working on the series finale and it will be shot the week of the 21st.
For those keeping count, this means that there are 19 episodes of Eureka left; five more for this season and 14 for season five.
What do you think? Are you glad to hear there will be a true series finale? How would you like to see the show end?
Image courtesy Syfy.
Now wait until they start jacking up fees to DirecTv, Dish and other cable providers to carry their programming. Usa, SyFy, Verus, MSNBC and other NBC/Uni channels will probably end disappearing from most non-Comcast providers as Comcast ratchets up the distribution fees. Needless to say, the Feds really screwed the pooch approving this takeover.
DirecTV’s already removed G4 from their lineup thanks to a dispute with Comcast. I really hope USA and Syfy don’t go the same way — we’ve still got one more season of Eureka before it’s gone (airing next summer) and I watch a ton of shows on USA… :/
This sounds like the garbage they spewed when they cancelled Farscape!
I hate Comcast! When Verizon FIOS became available, I couldn’t dump Comcast fast enough!
As a personal protest to the cancelling of Eureka, I have cancelled Comcast as my Cable / Phone / Internet provider. I think maybe we need to boycott Comcast so that they will have to sell SyFy to someone who will appreciate it and not try to use it to offset horrible service in their other businesses, that are losing money hand over fist.
SyFy is going the way of MTV (aka Music Television), its getting rid of all shows that are Sci fi and just putting on crapola. Of course Comcast is not helping either. They should not be owning any network if you ask me.
TV needs to evolve a bit quicker, screw the comcasts, screw the networks produce shows so everything is on demand. Give power to the producers and leave the moron execs in the dumpster with the 8 tracks and the horse and buggy
I wonder what factors went into this business decision. I hope it wasn’t solely based on viewer count of the show. A good majority of the time I spend watching the SyFy channel is because I was watching ‘something’ before Eureka or ‘something’ after. Eureka was the only reason I was informed about the show ‘Alphas’. Eureka brings viewers to SyFy; not just to that specific show. Eureka operating at a loss still contributes to the profitability of the rest of the content on SyFy. I hope this was considered. Thanks to all those who contributed to the show ‘Eureka’.… Read more »
A very disappointing and irrational business decision. I love Eureka!
It’s because they got a spaceship this season. Didn’t you know, every show on syfy with a spaceship gets cancelled. There is currently no show on syfy that takes place in space.
No one is even going to bother getting involved with new series anymore since they keep canceling them just when they’re getting good. Only an idiot would cancel a tv series that’s a winner. Smarten up.
In this world there is so many things going bad this show was going so GOOD .
I do hope they reconsider their very poor choice!!!
This is a real disappointment!!!!!
This is one show my son and I could watch with out too much mushy stuff or violence. I will NEVER use Comcast for anything!
I do hope they reconsider their very poor choice!!!
This is a real disappointment!!!!! 🙁
Whats next, Ghost Hunters? Comcast sucks at everything it owns.
I gotta say, I am pretty hooked on Eureka and I agree with the previous comment about SyFy cancelling SciFi content being pretty stupid. Especially a highly popular and well made show like Eureka that is one of SyFy’s leading offerings. It’s about the only reason I watch SyFy except for Warehouse 13. It’s a great story that the whole family can watch which is rare these days. Thank God I don’t watch much TV. This kind of thing just makes me want to watch it less.
You have to be kidding !!! Who in the heck is running Sy Fy these days ??? Eureka , Warehouse 13 , Haven are the best shows on cable . The acting , writing on these shows are amazing ! They can’t let Eureka go !!!! They left Farscape go years ago and I am still angry at that one. Now , They are ruining my life again ?? These guys should know that this show is keeping this channel alive . Wake up you idiots !!! I am soooooooo pisssssssed !!
Yes…what he said!
My husband told me tonight about the show not being renewed – so MAD.
I, like Billy, (and many others) LOVED Farscape an it really seems that every time I fall in love with a show it gets cancelled. Great cast and storey line. Maybe if they did away with the “true” ghost shorties and wresteling the could afford the SCI FI shows…I mean that is what this channel is to be about. No matter what the cause I am very disappointed with Sci Fi. I really really hope another channel picks them up.
If SyFy is cancelling SCIFI shows as a business decision, then they need to rethink their business plan of SCIFI shows. This does NOT include “wraslin”. SyFy has been making terrible decisions as of late. Is Eureka SyFy’s best show? Not likely. But is heads & shoulders better then “wraslin” and many/most of their “made for TC Scifi movies”. I don’t think SyFy can make a good business decision. Unless they are moving away from scripted scifi shows altogether. Which seems to be the case the last couple of years. Shows like Haven, Warehouse 13 & Akphas need to be… Read more »
Hey, how about the WB picking up Eureka? They stood by Supernatural. Or even the pay cable networks? I just added another yet another pay channel, Starz, because they are carrying the new season of Torchwood (another show formerly seen on Syfy). Even though this makes 3 pay cable channels (1.HBO for True Blood, Game of Thrones, etc 2.Showtime for Dexter, Weeds, etc 3. Starz (for no other reason than Torchwood). I would add yet another channel just to see Eureka. I’ve heard that Netflix was exploring creating original content. Netflix, check out Eureka! Yes, I already have Netflix, but… Read more »
So not even refusing to be their customer will protect me from their idiocy? Thanks alot Comcast… one of the very last things to watch on SyFy. Hopefully another network will pick this up quick.