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 just found out that they are cancelling October Road. What a disappointment! Good shows are so rare these days. Why get rid of a great drama with characters that people really care about? I really hope they reconsider. Cancelling this show is a big mistake!
I can not believe this….. I am in shock. I got online to find out when the season was starting! Like another viewer stated above- I looked forward all week to view this show! ~~~~Still in shock~~~
Bring BACK OCTOBER ROAD.. Why do they always cancel the best shows. Don’t judge last season due to strike. Schedule was not consistent. WE want to continue.
PLEASE
What a disappointment. I loved this show. It is disheartening to me the level of attention reality shows get, and medical drama shows that have nothing based on real life (what an oxymoron)! Nevertheless, I would really like to see a third season of October Road. To cancel this series when it was never given a chance (the writers strike with a mid-season pick-up) is hardly fare. The writing, acting, and plot are a great asset to television. Viewers deserve more then a 15 minute ending hastily written and without proper time to allow that characters to fully evolve.
Give up ABC with letting go of October Road, their are way to many doctor shows. Give us the shows that speak to our heart. Keep shows that matter like October Road and stop bring new ones at least three to five years. Everyone knows what night its on matters. Thanks for bring October Road back. Sept. 21, 2008
Fan
I can’t believe that they are cancelling such a great show. October Road was the highlight of my week and it saddens me that I will have many questions unanswered. I feel that every show I start to watch they always end it too soon. I think I will just stick to movies that have endings or read books that I can start and finish on my own. I am tired of this big networks having way too much say. It is a shame if ABC doesn’t reconsider and I will have to maybe look for a different network to… Read more »
It is heartening to read all these posts about October Road. I guess I wasn’t really surprised to find out I will only be watching one hour of television each week since Grey’s Anatomy is all I have left to look forward to. Men in Trees and October Road seemed to offer something to actually think about, like a good book, and those of us who got interested in the story line and characters do not even have the benefit of a final chapter. This epilogue sounds like an afterthought at best, but if it happens it will be better… Read more »
Just a heads up for all Roadies who are just finding out ABC has cancelled “October Road” (whether you are a long-time fan or have just recently come into the fold) to drop by afterwards to the official “October Road” message board on abc.com. (Yes, we’re still there. Go to Google and type in ?October Road ABC message board?.) The first round of a massive letter-writing campaign to ABC (specifically Stephen McPherson, President of ABC Primetime and Anne Sweeney, President of the Disney-ABC Television Group) was about a week ago (for the target dates of September 11th and 12th). The… Read more »
I CANNOT BELIEVE yet another good quality show is being cancelled! I LOVED OCTOBER ROAD and have been waiting for it’s return. I am so tired of these Television stations canceling things that are actually enjoyable to watch. I should just go back to READING BOOKS MORE OFTEN – AT LEAST THEN ITS MY CHOICE – not some exec who doesn’t have a clue. Oh and by the way – I AM THE DEMOGRAPHIC YOU LOOK( 18-49) TO AND I AM SICK OF IT!
I HOPE THEY RECONSIDER……………
I can not believe that they would cancel such a good show . It seems like unless there is no violence in a show its not popular with the network. Any show that has is family oriented just doesnt appeal to the people who decide what we should see. Forget about teaching good values, lets teach people how to kill or cheat someone . Those are the things were are made to watch , because when we finally get something that has values its taken away from us. Please dont take this show off I have been waiting all summer… Read more »
I am SO SAD that ABC has cancelled OCTOBER ROAD. I Love that show. I connected to it. Me and my husband watched ever episode together we loved it. October Road was the BEST show I had seen in many years and now ABC cancelled it. What is the deal?? That was dumb to not renew October Road!! I think I will just NOT watch any of ABC.
i love october road.. and will miss it. we need closure. when is the episode being filmed and released? the longer they wait, the more chances of actors not being available….
I am so sick of ABC cancelling good shows. So what do we get now, another reality show? You can bet I will not let myself watch any more new shows on ABC because I know the show will be canceled.
This is the best show I have seen in ages. I can’t believe you are cancelling it. Don’t you know a good thing when you see it. Grow up ABC.
Finally a show that you could truly connect with. There was no sugar-coating ooey goodness. It was rough, when they were mad, they were mad. No one loved one day and then broke and remained happy-go-lucky friends. That’s not life and they showed that. Not everything has a happy ending, not everything can be smoothed over. It takes work and determination. Thank you for showing that, but unfortunately, you also chose to take it away.