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.
MY FAMILY WOULD GATHER TO WATCH IPS. THE SHOW WAS SO MUCH FUN AND EXCITING. WHO IS MAKING THESE BAD DECISIONS AT USA. IF IT IS NOT TO LATE TO BRING IPS BACK PLEASE, PLEASE DO!! FORWARD THIS USA.
Why cancel a great show with high ratings? We don’t understand. We LOVE In Plain Sight.
We would like to see it continue for years. Who is responsible for making this decision?
please dont cancel In Plain Sight…..it is my favorite show! thanks
WHY ARE YOU CANCELLING ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS TO COME ALONG IN A WHILE. KEEP THE SHOW GOING.
My husband Richard and I think USA is making a giant mistake by cancelling “In Plain Sight.” It is one of favorite television programs. We hate all the reality shows, and look forward every week to our hour with Mary, Marshall, and the rest of crew. Why would you want to cancel a series with such public appeal? Please consider bringing it make for several more seasons.
I still don’t understand why they cancelled the show. What was the actual reason? Plus 8 episodes, that’s it? They could have done better. With two episodes left how much closure are they really going to pull off?
Love the show. The characters are perfect together. Love the raw, dry, quick-wit of Mary McCormack. Mary and Marshall make perfect partners. USA channel is so wrong to end this original, entertaining series!
The charactor Mary Shanon is truly “Awsome” and her relationship with her partner is funny but real. I was hooked on this show from the beginning and when it was due to come back on, I was so looking forward to it. Now we are told that the show is ending, who ever made this decision is very wrong in doing so. Please reconsider! You have an audience that loves the show, the characters and the Actors that put themselves in it every episode.
As said by all others, WHY end it. I always want more of Mary. She says and does all of the things most of us would like to do were we brave and clever enough. I shall miss her!
Why do they aways cancel the good shows and keep the stupid ones, this is a big mistake for USA. gonna miss this show, love it.
In Plain Sight has been at the top of my favorites list since it started. It has even caught my husband’s interest and that is difficult to do. I was a fan of Monk and I understood why it ended, but it had come to a good place and ending it was ok, ending it made sense. In Plain Sight has many more potential story lines and episodes. It’s characters are captivating. In Plain Sight is not at a good ending place and ending it now is not ok. Ending now is doing nothing but cheating its fans.
I love IPS, I waited all winter for Mary to return and now after just 8 episodes it is being
cancelled! I think USA is making a big mistake. Why end a show that is so well written and funny.
I’m so sorry to see IPS coming to an end.I waited all winter for Mary to return and now
the show well be over in 8 episodes?
USA is making a big mistake.
WHy does it seem that the BEST and most popular, end so quickly??? I love Mary and the rest of In Plain Sight cast. It’s a well written and acted show so, OBVIOUSLY it’s ending!!! The info given here doesn’t seem to make sense………..it’s a good show, it has high ratings?????????? SO end it???????????
TNT seems to do the same thing…..and like ABC ending soaps I’ve watched for YEARS.
SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN IT…..
I can’t believe that USA has cancelled this fabulous series. I have always waited impatiently for the next installment. USA, you’ve made a terrible mistake! What’s wrong with your judgment???