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! 
To Whom It May Concern:
I really like October Road and I look forward to watching it every Thursday.
Please turn it back on!!!!
I can’t live without knowing what is going to happen next. You have left me and all the other viewers out there in a stand still.
Sincerely, Dawn(oregon)
October Road is a great new series. I very seldom watch this type of television however this show caught my interest from the beginning. Please do not cancel the show. Thanks!!
This is an excellent show!
What a bummer today, to find that is NOT what is on my vcr!
why do they always cancel the shows I like? (joan of arcadia, american dreams, commander-in-chief, etc)
Please keep the show going!!! I love it! It actually keeps my interest, between the shuffle of two children under two! Its a show my husband will actually watch with me! Keep it going!!!
October road is a good one My family and friends all watch it and talk about it, we can’t wait to watch it after Grey’s Anatomy every thursday! I think that it is in the perfect place!
I really, really loved this show! Please say they are bringing it back! It really is the only one worth staying up late for!
Please, Please bring back October Road, it’s the one show my husband and I look forward to each week. We are in our 60’s and love it!!
This is one of the few shows on television that does not involve high drama of crime and violence or people cheating on one another. It is a wholesome show. Something that has been lost to primetime television for a very long time. I get very frustrated when I start watching a new show and when I get into it, the station cancels it. It already happened to The Black Donnellys, it shouldn’t happen to October Road. Give it time to grow a solid fan base. Some of the most remembered shows took a while to get such a base.… Read more »
October Road is a great show. I was really disappointed in the short premiere season. I absolutely like the cast and script, and it’s the best follow up to Grey’s Anatomy. I hope ABC will keep this show in it’s Thursday line-up.
I Love October Road…..i hope it comes back full swing. It really is nice to something so down to earth again. I look foward on seeing it again.
I think this is an excellent show. It is well written with multiple sub-plots. It is hard to decide which of the sub-plots peak my interest the most. This last episode was masterful. It would be a shame not to continue it.
I love October Road. It’s a breath of fresh air and a great addition to Thursday night. What a nice change from reality overload!!! Please keep it going.
I love October Road! It’s so nice to have a show that is in my age group!
That would be a bum deal if it got cancelled!
I love October Road! The story lines and cast are GREAT!!! I am totally hooked – It’s my new favorite show. PLEASE don’t cancel this series.
I love, love, love October Road if the network is reading these posts – Please bring it back!!!!