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.
By far the worse decision ever….Not enough episodes to ended the series or the season. Why would they take a show off the air that was gaining rating every it was on??? Stupid Stupid Stupid and I can’t say it enough but just Stupid.
agree, this makes no sense, it’s the only decent show on the entire network. STOOOPID
Dumb decision. One of the best shows on TV and great acting and they take it off the air. Really smart USA.
I don’t understand why when a show is doing as well as In Plain Sight the series suddenly ends. I really enjoyed the show and am very disappointed it won’t be back.
My husband and I were faithful watchers and will miss the show. It offered humor, compassion and intelligence. Hope someone is considering bringing it back!
Love the show. Sad to see it end.
Don’t want it to end. Love the show. Sad to see it over.
It’s a shame when networks cancel such quality shows like “In Plain Sight.”. The overall story itself was unique (something that tv does not seem capable of creating very often) and the individual episodes were always interesting, thought-provoking and made one happy to have spent an hour in front of the tv. This USA network fan does not understand this decision and hopes the show can come back with renewed vigor!
USA must be on drugs. Tgey keep crap shows and get rid od great shows. You should all be fired.
I am very disappointed In Plain Sight has ended. There are so few programs I enjoy anymore. This was a program I enjoyed. It was exciting, funny, serious and showed insight into so many things that could happen if you had to go into witsec. I am hoping with the finale and the changes and promotions, etc. that we will see some of In Plain Sight come back as run off for a new series.
I do not want the show to end. I always looked forward to watching it. Surely the writers can keep it going with the characters that can stay as well as new characters if needed. I don’t ever remember another show about Witsec and believe it’s really good.
So, so sad that In Plain Sight is cancelled. USA network cancels the good stuff, so dumb. It was a realistic show. Mary was so great, attitude and all! USA should bring the darn show back. They should cancel all the stupid stuff they have on and leave this wonderful show.
I totally agree. This show is fantastic! Can’t believe it’s ending:-(…I love this show
My favorite show! Waited all week for it. It had it all
all: humor, action, characters to remember, pathos,
great storylines. Who makes these foolish decision
and why? It was a winning show
Why did it have to go?
Who plays Mary’s duaghter in the show.
With so few ‘good shows’ to watch in general, especially on Friday night primetime.. it is beyond my understanding as to why such a great show is now being ended – in it’s prime… USA gives TV another black eye (as if TV in general needs another one).. USA is making another BIG mistake…
I THOUGHT THE NETWORK WANTED SHOWS ON TV THAT THE VIEWERS LOVED, IFG SO WHY CANCEL THE BEST ONE THAT IS ON THE NETWORK. IN PLAIN SIGHT IS THE BEST EVER, AND I DO NOT WANT IT CANCELLED, YOU CAN STILL BRING IT BACK FOR MORE SEASONS LIKE IT NEVER WAS CANCELLED, SO DO IT. I HATE, SUITS, COMMON LAW, WHITE COLLAR, COVERT AFFAIRS, PSYCH,AND THE STUPID RAW. YOU CAN CANCEL ALL OF THESE AND NO ONE WILL CARE OR EVEN NOTICE. DO NOT CANCEL “IN PLAIN SIGHT” IT IS THE BEST SHOW YOU EVER HAD AND MAY EVER HAVE.… Read more »