There’s good news and bad news for fans of USA Network’s In Plain Sight TV series. The cable channel has renewed the drama for an abbreviated fifth season. Unlike the past seasons, there will only be eight episodes this time around — versus the usual 12-15 installments.
And sadly, season five will also be the last for In Plain Sight. USA has decided to end the series but has fortunately given the cast and crew advance notice to be able to craft a series finale. The final season will kick off next spring.
Here’s the press release about USA’s renewal and “cancellation:”
USA NETWORK’S “IN PLAIN SIGHT” RETURNS FOR FIFTH SEASON WITH EIGHT EXPLOSIVE EPISODES IN SPRING 2012
Mary McCormack, Frederick Weller, Paul Ben Victor and Rachel Boston Will Star in the Television Event of the Spring Featuring Unexpected Plot Twists and Surprising Guest Stars
NEW YORK – August 11, 2011 – After concluding its fourth season with season high ratings, IN PLAIN SIGHT, USA Network’s hit original scripted series starring Mary McCormack (“The West Wing”), will return for its fifth and final season in Spring 2012. The announcement was made today by USA Co-Presidents Jeff Wachtel and Chris McCumber.
“IN PLAIN SIGHT is an integral part of our original programming slate and we are proud of its critical and commercial success,” said McCumber and Wachtel. “With a talented cast led by the incredible Mary McCormack, the fifth and most explosive season is sure to bring in new audiences with its provocative themes and unexpected story arcs.”
In its shocking season four finale, Mary (Mary McCormack) saved Marshall (Frederick Weller), Stan (Paul Ben Victor) and a witness from near-death in an ambush, but later Mary goes into premature labor after seeing Brandi (Nicole HIltz) flee her wedding to Peter (Joshua Malina). With Marshall, Jinx (Lesley Ann Warren) and ex-husband Mark (Bryan Callen) at her side, a frightened Mary cries out, “I’m not ready.”
The final gripping season of IN PLAIN SIGHT will keep viewers on the edge of their seats with heart-pounding storylines all building to an unforgettable finale. Can Mary blend motherhood with her very dangerous profession? Or will she put the infant up for adoption? Will Marshall finally admit his feelings for Mary, or can he make his relationship with Abigail (Rachel Boston) work? Can Brandi and Peter ever reconcile? After opening up her heart to Raph (Cristian de la Fuente) and Faber (Steven Weber), is it possible for Mary to fall in love again? And the question that has haunted Mary her entire life, where is her father?
Mary McCormack and cast Frederick Weller, Paul Ben Victor and Rachel Boston will return as series regulars, and Lesley Ann Warren, Nichole Hiltz and Tangie Ambrose are expected to recur for the final season. The new season will feature the cast and top name guest stars in more exciting and surprising story arcs than ever. Ed Decter and John J. Strauss (“There’s Something About Mary”) will return as executive producers with Dan Lerner as executive producer/director. Natalie Chaidez is executive producer. Michael Reisz is co-executive producer. IN PLAIN SIGHT is produced by Universal Cable Productions and is shot entirely on location in and around Albuquerque, New Mexico.
IN PLAIN SIGHT stars McCormack as Mary Shannon, a U.S. Marshal working in the highly secretive branch of the witness protection program (WITSEC), who relocates Federal Witnesses, most of whom fall into three categories: career criminals, whistle-blowers or innocents who had the misfortune of witnessing a crime. They all have one thing in common – someone wants them dead. Mary’s job is to see that doesn’t happen, while at the same time attempting to manage her own dysfunctional family.
IN PLAIN SIGHT closed its fourth season with a season high audience, up +6% from last year’s finale. IN PLAIN SIGHT has shown double digit growth over season three among P25-54 (2.2 million, up +13%), P18-49 (1.9 million, +17%) and P18-34 (659,000, +20%) as well as seeing gains in total viewers (4.9 million, +8%) and households (3.7 million, +9%) [with Live+7 data].
Universal Cable Productions creates quality content across multiple media platforms for USA, Syfy and other networks. A leader in innovative and critically acclaimed programming, UCP is the studio behind USA’s “Royal Pains,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Psych,” “In Plain Sight,” “Covert Affairs,” “Fairly Legal” and “Suits,” along with Syfy’s “Eureka,” “Warehouse 13” and “Alphas.” The studio is also producing “Against the Wall” for Lifetime and “I Just Want My Pants Back” for MTV. UCP is a division NBCUniversal.
USA Network is the #1 network in all of basic cable and is seen in over 102 million U.S. homes. A division of NBCUniversal, USA is the cable television leader in original series and home to the best in blockbuster theatrical films, acquired television series and entertainment events. The award-winning USA website is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.
USA Network is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.
What do you think? Are you sorry that In Plain Sight is ending? Do you wish that there was going to be a sixth season? Is eight episodes enough to end the TV show properly?
Image courtesy USA Network.
Bad move! I don’t bother DVR-ing many shows, but this is one for which I don’t ever want to miss an episode. Great writing, exciting story-lines, and great characters! What a shame!
It figures. It seems if I love a show, it gets cancelled without any explanation. What is wrong with USA? The comments here are on point. Reality TV? CRAP. Guess it just demonstrates that a large percentage of viewers are infantile, moronic, trailer park trash, judging from the plethora of programs that continue to be aired, with new trash cropping up every season. I will sorely miss this fine program. Few actors could deliver the amazing lines the way Mary does. I love the fact that she belittles Marshall for being on a higher intellectual plain than the average person,… Read more »
PLEASE DO NOT END THIS SERIES! The best writing in television and film. Tight, clever and memorable. Characters who are heroic and also flawed. The cast is exceptional. NBC/USA/producers – why cancel a show with top ratings? If it’s the $, work harder and get more sponsers. BIG MISTAKE!
that’s so stupid to cancel the show. it has great ratings (4.0 is great in cable) and seems to gain more each season. so it doesn’t make sense to cancel it. they are probably doing so to bring in new shows, more cops/legal shows.
i just hate to think of this show ending–i have loved it from day one. mm is the funniest, wittiest, most clever female on the air since friends ended. the relationship between her and marshall is so good-never overplayed, always perfectly choreographed. the office interactions add just the right touch of humor and sentimentality, while giving what appears to be a pretty good peek into this fairly secret organization. i heard mm say on ellen awhile back that she was tired of it; i can imagine that could be true-especially with now three children at home. i will miss it… Read more »
of course i intended to say …..
i will miss it immensely–very rich, tightly scripted and produced series are few and far BETWEEN–and if you’re not a reality fan–and i’m not–the selection is slim. this is the very cream of that small crop.
good work, though, folks! going out strongly on top speaks volumes about your product.
This is one of the most original, exciting, and classy TV shows on today. Showing unique writing skills, cast if perfect together all around enjoyable show.
Voice over’s words (read by Mary) are words to live by. Please do not end this great friendship we all have come to know and love, In Plain Site No Please do not cancell., the witness protection agency, is a unique show, there is no other like it on tv. The dynamics between Mary, Marshall and Stan are hilarious.
Are they crazy, or just IN PLAIN SIGHT stupid. We should have a voice. voting on-line or 800#, mail. WHO ARE YOU telling us fans, you are cancelling a great show. I know there have away to track who is watching the show live. There are many of us who, can not watch live, they have life to live, so we PRV to tape, or down load from the internet. Here’s a thought, they should set up like NETFLICS, you rate the show from there. I don’t know about anyone else, but I am TIRED, of the station exec’s, TELLING… Read more »
My husband and I both get such a kick out of IPS. The banter between Marshall and Mary is priceless. I can’t say enough how wrong it seems that this quality show is going to be cancelled. There are too many poor shows on television. We will miss the cast and the way they work their magic. So enjoyable. So disappointed.
USA YOU ARE MAKING A MISTAKE TAKING IN PLAIN SIGHT OF ITS A GREAT SHOW I HATE TO SAY USA IS GOING TO BE LOOSEING ALOT OF VIEWERS BECAUSE OF THIS WE HAVE FRIENDS/FAMILY/RELATIVE ARE VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS ( KEEP IN PLAIN SIGHT ON USA ) TRACY
please dont take in plain sight we all love this show we never miss this show we are so pi-s- off it really a great entertaining tv show the actor are GREAT and now you just take it off RENEW IN PLAIN SIGHT .MARY AND MARHALL and STAN REALLY MAKE THE SHOW
I can’t believe that USA is canceling a show that gets great ratings, no other show like it on any other networks…..it just seems funny that a character has a baby and the show gets cancelled….a coincidence ? I think not……they (USA) should rethink thir decision although I think it is too late as Mary M. is already scheduled to start another series. I did not find the show Suits, anywhere close to being as interesting as IPS…..the ratings will tell the story. Goodbye IPS family, you worked great together.
This is just so sad. It’s one of the very best shows and WHY is it being cancelled? Garbage like “Toddlers & Tiaras” and “Dancing With the Stars” live on but good, quality stuff gets axed? Makes no sense.
I am very bummed about IPS being cancelled. It has been my favorite and 8 episodes is an insult to the fans as an ending. What happened to season 6?????
The nature of the show, the witness protection agency, is a unique show, there is no other like it on tv. The dynamics between Mary, Marshall and Stan are hilarious. Please do not end tjis show.
I love this show and believe USA Network is making a huge mistake. In Plain Sight should be renewed. Period!
I have never commented on anything before..but so bummed about IPS getting cancelled. I just got a few friends hooked. Really is the most entertaining show on tv with endless story lines. Just don’t get it…