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.
This sucks! keep the show on! i am tired if finding shows i like and then these people canceling them!
pb cant be cancelled now what am i going to watch!!!!!!!! the directer is making a new show it better be awesome like pb =(
Here I am again, a friend prooved me The last episode it’s called “Free” 🙁 i’m really sad i didn’t expect this from fox, WHY DON’T YOU CANCEL THE SIMPSONS THEN? WHY ARE YOU FOX CANCELING ALL YOUR BEST SHOWS???
The show’s quality began a downswerve with season three and beyond. Season three was boring, lacked a narrative ‘hook’ and seemed inane, while season four is just silly.
I think that there should be a season 5. season 5 should finish off of what happened to micheal scoffield and his brother
3rd season was the worst season, and main reason show lost viewers. This season is quite good and i hope the last episode will be a 2 hour special.
I am a big time fan of P.B. but I have to admit the last season was not the best one, and that is why they are loosing viewers. you cannot start a season like this, with an amazing start and then slack every season to make a quick dollar, and even though the last season was no good, you cannot leave the viewer guessing and assuming the end of it all. just make another quick dollar if you have to but at least finish it. hope they make a season 5. and don’t get me wrong I do love… Read more »
I cannot believe that they are going to end Prison Break. What a shame. The show was great and very suspenseful. You never know where they were going with the next episode. I will be very sad to see it go.
why put an end to the show? its like the best tv show ever in history!
catch a wake up fox. your’l cant be serious in cancelling prison break. The writers of this fantastic series will definitely have more action and suspense awaiting all prison break fans. put a stop to other stupid series but not prison break. Please continue prison break fox. Itz not all about the money Itz want the viewers want. I’ll be really disappointed if fox cans the show.
Hey! I personally think that fox is making a big mistake in cancelling prison break, they stopping one of the best series ever. why?! does all the good stuff always have to come to an end. Prison break will definitely need to be continued. FOX WILL REGRET THE CANCELLATION OF PRISON BREAK!
I love PB!! I can’t imagine not seeing it anymore =( They’re filming down the street from me and I went to show my love and support for this great show, but it’s a closed set and I was turned down. I’m hoping this means we get to see the “really cool ending”!
everyone needs to just start getting the entertainment from other sources quit watching fox all together if you hve to watch a fox show downloaded from the internet lets teach them a lesson.
most comparable show with the action and your heart pounding waiting the for the next show to begin would be the shield but in my eyes prison break is the best show over anything that i seen beforeon fox tv.every reason to go on with a 5,6,and possibly a 7 season. terminator going on and not prison prison break,you got to be kidding me.you guys are writers and cant think of anything,my mind going in numerous ways in which the plot of this story can go on and have the ratings your looking for and so much more.come on go… Read more »
best show i ever watched with so much more that can go with a season 5,own all three seasons and would love to own a couple more.cant wait to see the final 4 shows and wish another season was coming. this show blows 24 away along with half the shows that are being showed now.spend some money and lets do another season because there nothing else to watch which is comparable to watch,come on ,lets do it again.