Though October Road debuted to strong ratings, ABC plans to cut the freshman drama’s season short and only air two-thirds of the episodes. Why?
The new October Road drama on ABC (no relation to the 2002 James Taylor album) tells the story of a young and famous NYC writer named Nick Garrett (played by Bryan Greenberg). Nick authored an extremely popular book which was essentially a “tell all” novel based on his home of Knights Ridge, Massachusetts. He subsequently gets a bad case of writer’s block and decides its time to return to his hometown after ten years away. As you might guess, his reception isn’t exactly a warm one. In addition to Greenberg, the series features Laura Prepon (That ’70’s Show), Tom Berenger, Warren Christie, Brad William Henke, Evan Jones, Jay Paulson, Slade Pearce, Geoff Stults (7th Heaven) and Odette Yustman.
Following a new episode of Grey’s Anatomy, October Road debuted on March 15, 2007 to great numbers. Despite mixed reviews, Road attracted 13.93 million viewers and came in at #9 for the week. The second episode lost 16% of its previous audience and about a half of lead-in Grey’s Anatomy’s viewers. Still, Road performed much better than Six Degrees or Men in Trees had in the same timeslot. You would think that ABC would be anxious to air the rest of the season’s episodes. You would be incorrect.
Like more and more new shows, October Road’s initial season is a short one, consisting of only six episodes. Rather than run all six of them to keep viewers hooked, ABC plans to air only four of them this season. If the show gets picked up for another year, the remaining two episodes will be broadcast at that time. ABC did the same thing to Grey’s Anatomy its first year.
You can view this stockpiling as either pretty good assurance that Road will return for season two or, that ABC execs don’t have faith in the series. The final decision will have a lot to do with how well episodes three and four perform. If Road’s audience continues to erode, it probably won’t be back. We’ll likely know by mid-May what ABC decides to do. Stay tuned! 
I really hate when studios tease us with a really good show and cancel it. I love October Road and are hoping it stays on longer. This show is definetly a pontential! We need more tv series than reality tv.
Hey..October Road is a drama that actually makes sense. In grey’s anatomy everyone is sleeping with eachother and when they run out of people then it will be boring. The story line of October Road is “real-life”, and not exaggerated, like other shows. Common people, with real personalities who are not dooped into watching a crap show like american idol appreciate October Road. Society needs a realtiy check …Keep October Road!!!!!
Are you people all brain dead? I’m guessing you all watch “American Idol” as well. October Road SUCKS! No wonder it’s getting harder and harder to find something decent on television, you common denominators are killing it for the rest of us! Go buy a coloring book or something.
Here we go again – ANY show is going to have good ratings when shown after Grey’s Anatomy, Duh! But, you’re beating up your audience by the constant switching… October Road is a bore. Watched it twice and thought who wants to watch a show featuring all of these losers from this small town? And now you’re boring us even further with this Underbelly show? Give me a break.
Bring back something decent to watch like Men in Trees or even better, Six Degrees. The acting in both of these shows are far superior to either of these new “flops”.
I believe October Road is a well written drama. I enjoy watching it. I would like to see some of the complicated storylines that have arisen resolved. Please keep the show on. It is one of the few television shows I watch.
Please bring October Road back — UnderBelly is way underwhelming. October Road is great! Can’t wait to see what happens next. : )
I thought the first episode of October Road was good. Then it all went downhill from there. The writing is horrible.
I was so disappointed after Grey’s Anatomy last night to find out that October Road wasn’t on! Come on, give this show some time! The casting is awesome and it’s got an intriging enough story-line. It balances well after watching the very dramatic Grey’s Anatomy show, which I think has turned a little too soap opraish. Anyway, when is this show going to air again? Please give this show a little time. I think the critics are being way too harsh on a potentially great show.
The execs are gonna do what they have set their mind too anyway, but just incase they read this, “Some of the show’s fanbase have given good reasons to make more episodes. I believe you can work through the nervous tendency of pulling the plug to soon and,( giving new viewers some time to discover October Road), see a show that will create dedicated viewers out of them.”
Bring back my Men in Trees this is the best show you just need to stop moving it around. I have been waiting and will wait till it comes back on.
I absolutely LOVE this show!!! You MUST keep it going!!! I remember Bryan Greenberg in One Tree Hill, and loved his acting (big fan of that too), and I love Tom Berenger and Geoff Stultz. If you take this show off, I will no longer be an avide ABC viewer.
Don’t agree with ABC cutting short new programming. I love October Road. Will look for it in the fall, if that’s when they plan to bring it back. They did a hatchet job on six degrees also. No word for over 4 months, then just one episode and ZAP. Into the ether. I don’t think they even know what might be a good show.
I adore October Road… its a great show with a killer cast. Too many shows are getting pulled off air lately…some deserve it but not October Road. Bryan Greenburg is awesome and he isnt on One Tree Hill anymore and i need my Greenburg Fix.
Please do not let October Road go….. it’s so refreshing.
October Road is very entertaining and fascinating to watch>so therefore it will be canceled because anything worth watching these days never lasts…..I really like to know who the studios cater to? I am so tired of the reality shows.