It doesn’t come as a big surprise considering the ratings of late but FOX has announced that they’re cancelling Prison Break after four seasons. Will there be a conclusion to this high-suspense series?
Prison Break follows Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller), a young structural engineer whose brother (Dominic Purcell) has been framed and incarcerated for murder. To save his brother’s life, Michael concocts a detailed plan to have himself sent to prison and then to free both of them. Along the way, they realize they’re involved in a far-reaching conspiracy with dire consequences for all around them. The rest of the show’s large cast has also included Amaury Nolasco, Robert Knepper, Wade Williams, Sarah Wayne Callies, William Fichtner, Paul Adelstein, Marshall Allman, Rockmond Dunbar, Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, Robin Tunney, Stacy Keach, Leon Russom, Phillip Edward Van Lear, Peter Stormare, Muse Watson, and Patricia Wettig.
The FOX drama debuted on August 29, 2005 to solid ratings of over 10.5 million viewers and a healthy number of 18-49 viewers. Prison’s first season finished with an average audience of 12.1 million. The second season declined a bit with an average of 10.1 million viewers. Season three dropped further to 8.2 million and the current season has averaged just 6.1 million viewers.
Based on the year four numbers to date, many have suspected that this season would be the drama’s last. Prison was missing from the midseason schedule and the network said it wouldn’t return until at least Spring. A spin-off had been in the works in 2007 but, with Prison’s declining numbers, those plans were put on hold.
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Today, FOX announced that Prison would be ending after four seasons. FOX president Kevin Reilly said, “Prison Break had a hell of a run, but the run has ended. This will be the last year of the show.” Reilly claims that the decision wasn’t mandated by ratings but rather by the show’s storyline. He said, “The show has just played out. You get to a point creatively where you feel all the stories have been told, and you want to end strong and not gimp out in the end of the season.”
As longtime fans are well aware, Prison has plenty of ongoing and unresolved storylines. In November, the show’s writers pitched the network with the possibility of extending the season by two episodes. The idea was originally envisioned as a way to make up for the abbreviated season three (because of the writers strike). Now, they may be used to wrap things up.
The final six of Prison’s season four episodes are scheduled to kick off on Friday, April 17th. It’ll be taking over the timeslot of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles when that’s finished completing its sophomore year.
Reilly says that the network is contemplating ordering a couple more installments to finish out the show. Of the producers’ story ideas to wrap the series, Reilly said, “They have a really cool ending, actually. I know where they end, and it’s a hell of an idea.”
Apparently, those additional episodes aren’t a done deal yet. Hopefully the network will decide to pay a little extra so that we can actually see the ending that the producers want to do. After four years of watching Linc and Michael run, will viewers be satisfied with how the story ends?
Image courtesy FOX.
putting then in another jail didnt make sense? Well what did? Sailing off into the sunset? continuing a ridicuous manhunt lead by a guy with a crazy addiction?
This show went downhill in season 4, but they better at least let them take down the company, give it an ending, even if it means killing of a main character.
Personally I thought this show was at its best when in prison, aka season 1,3.
I was a fan of the show but the story started to lose me in the end. Teaming up with people they were just fighting was getting old. Still watched every show hoping it would get better. Good call to end it but at least give us an ending! Journeyman on the other hand was a great show and should not have been cancelled!
It’s ridiculous to cancel it. A complete joke!
I think that you guys are crazy for canceling the show. They are about to take the company down and boom you leave us in the dust by not having a season 5 you guys should think about it and put it back on. That was my favorite show on Fox but your gonna keep stupid shows still airing. ALOT of people are gonna be mad
Ok Prison Break is really good. and after 4 seasons its getting cancelled.
just like the O.C. does anything really last more then 4 seasons other then the simpsons on this station?
Man that stinks, in a way its a good thing. I do want to see the brothers take down the company and i also want to see Wentworth do more movies as the main character, he needs to move on.
c’mon. the brothers are not done yet.
I was hooked on Prison Break from day 1. I never missed it, as I found it exciting and will really miss the show when it’s cancelled. I must admit, it wasn’t as interesting this year, but surely they could have figured out a good story line, so it would not have to be cancelled. I hated T-Bag – he really played that part well. Sara was boring in it this year. Of course, I liked Michael and Lincoln the best. I want it to stay on the air!
Why is it that they always cancel the GOOD shows and leave the BAD suckfest of tv shows on the air??? Prison Break still has a lot of soul left in it, if the writers are stuck then bring on new people to help on the creative team. Networks need to listen to fans of shows a lot more than they do. I understand the ratings things but look at what happened to the WB when they got rid of every single show that brought them promise and loyal fans. Why do you think DVD’s and reruns are so popular???… Read more »
I’m also very sad that PB is ending soon. My hopes were up for Season 5. Too bad it had to end soon. My fave character is also T-Bag and Mahone.
I watched Prison Break and it always kept my interest every week. Or should I say the weeks it was on. I find it increasingly difficult to follow some shows because the network has a tendency to put another show on to see if they can bring up the ratings on a particular show. Or they like to air the show on a different day rather than keep it on the same day and time. I am extremely unhappy that this will be the last of this show.
Come on man,this show is wondeful,they can’t cancel it!!!!!!!!!
I CANNOT ******* BELEVE THEY ARE CANCELLING THIS SHOW. KEVIN REILEY IS A ******* IDOIT!!!!!
If the shows going to end a least let the Brothers take out the Company & walk off in the sunset.
The first season was great. The bank robbery was unreasonable. Most of the characters helped the plot. Digging through prison walls was a very weak idea. Plots like that should be banned. The map was clever. Putting them into another prison didn’t make sense. The show lost the uniqueness of its plot and started downhill. It turned into a soap opera. I’m sorry that happened because I was originally a strong fan. My favorite character was T-Bag. He was revolting.