One of the most upsetting cancellations of the 2008 -2009 season was ABC’s October Road. Faithful viewers were truly tied into the characters’ struggles and emotional journeys. When the show ended, there were many unresolved questions. Now, thanks to the creators and cast, it looks like we’re going to get some closure.
October Road was moderately successful in the ratings in its first season and earned a renewal based on ABC’s belief that the audience would grow. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen and viewership only dropped in season two. There were some discussions about moving the series to another channel but there weren’t any takers. As a result, the series finale aired on March 10th.
Thankfully for the fans, the creators of October Road are just as invested in the show as the viewers. Though Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg had already committed to running ABC’s new Life on Mars series, they wanted to finish the Knights Ridge saga properly. Appelbaum told Zap2It, “We got the call that the show was cancelled on Tuesday at 9:45 in the morning and by 10 o’clock at night, [we] were writing the finale. It’s sort of like therapy for us, but the most important thing is that it means closure for the fans.” Soonafter, the team called each of the castmembers about being involved and they all signed on without question.
Rosenberg told TV Guide that he and the show’s writers felt they had a commitment to wrap up the show. “We had a small audience, but they genuinely fell in love with these characters, and I feel we owe it not only to them, but also to the cast.” They came up with a 15-minute episode called, appropriately enough, “Don’t Look Back: An Epilogue for an Epic Love.”
The mini-episode will pick up where the series left off, starting with the wedding of Ray “Big Cat” Cataldo (Warren Christie) and Hannah Daniels (Laura Prepon). It will then skip ahead seven years and viewers will be given answers to most of the series’ outstanding questions — including the identity of Sam’s papa, the Commander’s health, and the fate of each of the relationships.
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Applebaum says that the team has always known how they would end the series. He tells Zap2It, “Whether the show went two years or seven years, there’s always been a particular moment and piece of closure that we wanted and we’re going to be able to get to that intended end.” Series star Bryan Greenberg says that he’s in the same boat as the show’s loyal viewers — he’s got a lot of questions and can’t wait to have them answered.
The actual shooting schedule hasn’t been firmed up as yet but that shouldn’t concern fans. Lindy Booth (Pizza Girl) notes, “We all love the show, so we’ll all be there.” Applebaum echoes that sentiment by saying, “The nice thing about this whole experience is that this show about friendship has created an environment of friendship and community among the cast. And when we look at the message boards, we feel like that’s sort of extended to our viewership too. We’re happy to do this for them.”
The October Road creators won’t have to look far for one of the castmembers. Jonathan “Ronnie Garrett” Murphy has just signed on as a regular on Life on Mars.
It’s expected that the short-but-sweet October Road series finale will be included on the season two DVD set and may be made available online as well. Stay tuned! 
I am very sad that ABC hasn’t renewed 1 of my favorite shows. I was looking forward to watching the new season of October Road but it looks like I have been left with nothing to watch. I’ve even had to wait over 18 months for 24 to start again.
I agree that this was best show that has been on tv in a long time. Every episode left you hanging until the next one. Its a shame they aren’t renewing the show. It will be missed.
I could cry… I watch very little tv and this was one of the only shows I ever bothered to follow for quite some time…
I am so disappointed that October Road was cancelled. I am so tired of the reality tv, crime shows, etc. I finally found a show I really enjoyed, and I loved the characters. It figures that ABC would cancel the show after not promoting it as it does the other cheap reality shows!
i agree with what everyone has said. I’m tired of all the sucky reality tv shows – seriously american tv has gone down the toilet, October Road was one of the VERY few saving graces on TV. Not smutty, not high crime drama (which is great but gets tiring after a while), just good solid television. I was really looking forward to having it back on – but the bachelor? seriously, isn’t that just prostitution? I mean, c’mon guys! what are our youth learning about relationships and how to treat others by these ridiculous shows?
I am getting really tired of ABC! every time I like a show it gets cancelled. But they have lots of reality shows! don’t get me wrong I like some of the reality shows but to cut a great show like October Road, that just sucks! I have been waiting for it to come back on! some times it is good to leave sitcoms on the air. That show had great characters and great music. It was a great show and I did fall in love with it. To the point that i would schedule my night around it and… Read more »
Ok so now Im mad I really love this show! Why does it have to end?
october road was one of those shows you could relate too, it was a liitle more about daily life and it is hard to beleive it was cancelled. Everyone is tired of reality and comedy shows. I agree with a earlier comment that we need shows that can last for years as they use too so that we can have more of a reason to watch tv for. I also liked Men in trees, it was even more about day to day like with comedy twist. Can’t they bring them back???? People are staying home more and more and are… Read more »
TV is ridiculous these days there is no reason to watch TV anymore, as soon as you fond a quality show they cancel it. Honestly that was the only ABC show I watched, the rest are just lame, and that includes desparate housewives, what garbage the first year was it after that crap. I am tired of reality shows nobody cares whos the next american idol because they will be on the TV guide channel in 2 years anyway, nor do I care who can dance. What happened to TV shows that lasted 7,8,9 years and you could get into… Read more »
I am very disappointed that October Road was cancelled. It was an amazing crew. The show always had you on the edge of your seat, wondering what was going to appen next. I wish they would give it one more chance. 15 min. Is just noy enough to end the show, they should atleast make a 2 hour finale on movie. They owe it to the viewers.
I am so disappointed ABC has decided to cancel the only good show on television. I loved October Road. It was a show that made me long for my childhood. It promoted a comfort level for me. It saddens me to think that shows like this are being cancelled so the rest of America can watch trash. I limit myself to 5 hours of television every week including the weekends and I ALWAYS dedicated one hour of it to October Road, even if it meant missing some of the other shows I watched on a regular basis. I am happy… Read more »
Im very dissapointed that october Road has been cancelled! 15 minutes isnt enough for closure! get rid of these crazy realitie shows;
Can’t believe ABC has cancelled October Road and is airing shows like Wipeout and I survived a Japanese gameshow – freaks. It’s hard enough to find interesting tv shows in this country.
The only reason this show was cancelled was because there was not enough smutt for the viewers. What a shame it was a great show with “real” characters with real life problems. I will miss it.
15 minutes???? Are you kidding me???? That’s like eating one pringle…
Want me to write the ending??? …bad enough you cancelled it and now we get a 15 minute ending…ABC is ridiculous…And I won’t watch anything on ABC again. Why get hung up in a great series for the idiots to yank it out from under you…