Network: NBC
Episodes: 22 (hour)
Seasons: One
TV show dates: September 20, 2010 — May 23, 2011
Series status: Cancelled
Performers include: Jason Ritter, Blair Underwood, Ian Anthony Dale, Laura Innes, Sarah Roemer, Scott Patterson, Taylor Cole, and Zeljko Ivanek.
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TV show description:
This conspiracy thriller series follows a man who discovers the biggest cover-up in US history while investigating the strange disappearance of his girlfriend. The cover-up has implications that are life-changing and could shape the very core of mankind.
Sean Walker (Jason Ritter) is the typical boy next-door as well as a somewhat geeky Computer Science graduate of MIT. A reformed hacker, he now freelances as a video game programmer. Sean grew up in a poorer suburb of Chicago. With a realized gift for computer programming, he spent his time in the school’s computer lab because his family couldn’t afford a computer of their own. He only got through college because of three jobs and financial aid. He’s now in a relationship with Lelia Buchanan and is confident she’s the woman for him. He was ready to propose when she disappeared.
Leila (Sarah Roemer) studied Biochemistry after growing up a science geek and bookworm. She and Sean met in the swimming pool at MIT in their senior year. She fell for his nerdy ways and was impressed when he hacked her name into getting good tickets for a concert. A nature lover, she and Sean like to go rock climbing and hiking. Leila is very close with her family after her mother, Val, put her own modeling career aside to raise Leila and her adopted sister, Samantha.
Michael Buchanan (Scott Patterson), Leila’s father, is a ruggedly handsome man who prefers the peace and quiet rather than hustle and bustle of the city. All his vacations have been spent in national parks, jungles, and rain forests, having taken multiple survival classes. He enjoys taking photos of the beauty that surrounds him. He was initially protective of Leila when she started dating Sean, but eventually, Michael welcomed him into the family.
The President of the United States, Elias Martinez (Blake Underwood), is idealistic and hugely popular with the American people and the rest of the world. He is very proud of his heritage, being born in Miami to Cuban refugees. He met his wife, Christina (Lisa Vidal), while both were attending Yale, and were set up by her mother. They support a charity program for education reform for refugee children, and she has now put her own law career on hold. They have a 7-year-old son named David.
President Martinez is in charge of the first completely bipartisan administration in recent years and recently was handed a top secret file that will change the entire course of his presidency.
President Martinez’s Vice President, Raymond “Ray” Jarvis (Bill Smitrovich), learned to argue effectively as the youngest of four sons, and later as a member of the Debate team in high school. He used all that to guide him through politics, eventually getting elected to the Louisiana State House of Representatives, then later as a senator, and later yet as the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. He and Blake Sterling are working together on a classified project.
Blake Sterling (Zeljko Ivanek), the Director of National Intelligence, is often at odds with President Martinez. Sterling is astute and very well-connected within the intelligence community after spending most of his career rising through the ranks of the CIA. President Martinez nominated him for the new position of Director of National Intelligence because of his immense experience. Sterling’s not above political manipulation or covert force when needed and has been criticized for supporting the CIA’s detention program. To deal with all this stress, he jogs around the CIA headquarters at 4:30am every morning.
Simon Lee (Ian Anthony Dale) is a CIA operative who is working with a division handling the security issues related to the detainees at Mount Inostranka in Alaska. He’s another one to rise through the ranks to where he now has access to the President and reports to Sterling. He originally hails from Fort Yates, North Dakota, and it’s because of that upbringing that he can handle the weather there in Alaska. Like Sterling, he’s another runner, having completed several marathons.
Sophia Maguire (Laura Innes) is the leader/spokesperson of the Mount Inostranka facility for detainees. They have endured the very interrogation and torture that Sterling has been so supportive of. Sophia is still hoping that if she continues to work with them calmly, she’ll be rewarded. With the sympathetic President Martinez, it seems like it may be about to pay off after his press conference announcing the closing of Inostranka.
Vicky Roberts (Taylor Cole) is a single socialite from Manhattan who enjoys her partying lifestyle. The niece of the late Ralph Clement Quinn, she was only 10 when he died in a car crash and inherited half of the Quinn fortune when she turned 18. Vicky was initially accepted into the Joffrey Ballet School, but had to turn them down because of a foot injury from eight-inch stilettos during Fashion Week. Fashion is a passion of hers, and she’d like to craft her own clothing called Sassy.
Episode 22 — The Arrival
Sean tells a weakened Leila that Sterling has called someone at the CDC who will be able to help her. Leila has given up hope, but Sean begs her to fight the virus with all her might. Meanwhile, Sterling finds a damaging report on Dr. Lu’s computer that shows the rapid spread of the deadly pathogen. After careful research, Sterling learns that the Sleepers are depositing pressurized aerosol containers carrying the virus at three distinct locations (a food processing plant, the Bureau of Engraving, and Dulles Airport).
Carlos and Sophia feel tremors as a city road shakes and street lamps topple over. Sophia tells Carlos that the portal has affected the Earth’s precession; their people will arrive soon. News of the strange earthquake reaches the White House. Before Martinez can act, Sterling calls to urge Martinez to send counterterrorist agents to the three locations the Sleepers are targeting. Martinez says any action will be delayed because he still hasn’t been able to wrest power away from Jarvis. Peel can deploy agents at the food processing plant and at the Bureau of Engraving, but shutting down the airport is beyond Martinez’s reach. Sterling, Simon, Vicky and Sean decide to go to Dulles Airport to do what they can.
Martinez begs Jarvis to step down so he can stop Sophia’s plot. When Jarvis resists, Martinez begs Jarvis to send a biocontainment team to Dulles in order to stop the spread of Sophia’s deadly virus. Jarvis refuses to believe Sophia would kill humans in order to take over the planet. Desperate, Martinez tells Jarvis he’ll let him complete his presidential term as long as he shuts down Dulles. Jarvis won’t budge. He trusts Sophia and doesn’t need Martinez’s cooperation in order to remain President. Jarvis is confident that no matter what Martinez says, the Cabinet will not reinstate him.
Secretly shaken by Martinez’s words, Jarvis calls Sophia to ask if she’s planning to unleash a virus on American soil. Sophia says it’s a total fabrication and reminds Jarvis that she wanted to join forces with him because of his unflagging strength. Concerned, Sophia decides that they should move up the virus’ release time. Meanwhile a reporter at Mt. Shasta says that lava flows from a dormant volcano are puzzling scientists. Locals are concerned that a full-blown eruption will occur any moment.
Federal agents contain the threats at the food processing plant and the Bureau of Engraving. Meanwhile, Sean, Vicky, Sterling and Simon arrive at Dulles looking for Sophia. A Sleeper disguised as a TSA employee sneaks a canister past security and into a secured area of the airport. Devon calls Sophia and tells her that the contamination attempts at the food processing plant and the Bureau of Engraving have been foiled. Infecting people at Dulles Airport becomes Sophia’s only hope. Back at the White House, Martinez’s Cabinet gives him a standing ovation. Suddenly, without warning, Martinez becomes light-headed and collapses to the floor!
Sterling and Simon try to warn an airport employee about Sophia’s plot but he disregards them when they are unable to prove that they’re federal agents. Meanwhile, Sophia bumps into a child who looks exactly like the young victim in her nightmare. For a moment, the gravity of Sophia’s terrible actions seems to sink in. Inside the secured area of the airport, Simon and Sterling shoot at the Sleeper before he gets away with the infected canister. The Sleeper manages to shoot Simon before escaping. Thankfully Simon’s wearing a bulletproof vest. Moments later, Sean and Vicky find the Sleeper handing the canister to Sophia and Carlos. Sean and Vicky shoot and kill the Sleeper, but Sophia escapes. Carlos puts up a fight but Sterling manages to ambush him and shoot him dead.
Due to Martinez’s absence, the Cabinet has no choice but to reject his plea for reinstatement. Just then, Martinez enters with Christina! Jarvis tells the Cabinet that Bethesda Hospital did not discharge Martinez; he left early against their recommendation. When it’s Martinez’s turn to defend himself, he warns the Cabinet about an imminent threat against national security. He claims that Jarvis is working with Sophia to unleash a deadly virus that will decimate mankind. The Cabinet thinks Martinez has clearly lost his mind – that is, until Martinez plays a recording of Jarvis admitting that he poisoned Martinez!
Having swayed the Cabinet, Martinez tells Peel to shut down Dulles Airport. Meanwhile, Sophia locks herself in an airport lounge and takes the infected container out of her bag. Sean begs Sophia to reconsider; after all, the planes have been grounded and all of her other contamination attempts have been foiled. If she releases the virus, it will only kill the people in the airport. It will just be senseless murder and will not benefit her people in any way. Sean is able to get through to Sophia. She puts down the container and allows federal agents to arrest her.
At the White House, Simon, Sterling, Martinez and Peel look for the location of the portal array. They discover that Jarvis had recently moved a satellite from an area near Tibet. Martinez correctly guesses that this means that the portal array must have been nearby. Moments later, Martinez looks at satellite footage of the portal array. Simon points out that since it’s emitting radiation, it’s already been activated. More of them are coming to Earth!
At the White House, Martinez watches news footage of strange earthquakes occurring around the globe. Meanwhile, at a hospital Sean parts ways with Vicky. She thanks him for including her on this transformative journey and bids him farewell. A doctor gives Sean clearance to visit Leila’s hospital room. Leila tells Sean some incredible news: she’s pregnant!
Martinez summons Sophia to his office and demands that she tell him where her people plan on landing. Sophia says she won’t reveal anything. Spreading the virus was an act of mercy. Now that her people are coming, their course of action will be “far from humane.” Then she adds cryptically, “It’s too late.” Suddenly, the ground shakes and in the sky, a strange light can be seen. Then the great mass coalesces into a great planet! A new planet and moon appear on the horizon! “What is it?” Christina’s son asks. “Home,” she replies.
First aired: May 23, 2011.
I am amazed at the quality of this show! I watched it originally on TV, and have watched it on Netflix over and over. I am a Scifi nut, but even my wife (who hates Scifi) loved this show! The final episode was great, and as usual, once the networks see even a minimal rating dip, they cancel a show! I remember when Star Trek got canceled, in the 60’s (yep, I am that old), and then suddenly, movies, spin-offs, etc.
Get your stuff together networks or better yet get a real ratings system!
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I just started watching The Event on my kindle fire, and could not put the thing down; this was a great show. Great character development (I want somethong bad to happen to the VP-he is a weasel,) interesting story line. Bring it back at least to end it. That was an excellent cliffhanger. What does the scroll say, why did the aliens leave earth if they were here first? Cro Magnon vs Neanderthal vs a third? Don’t leave it like this please. At least write a book that continues the story. And advertise it–I did not even hear of the… Read more »
cant believe all the good shows i find on netflix only to find out they have canceled it how could they cancel the event awesome show i am so disappointed what is with whoever cancels shows like this really sad when you see some of the shows they have kept someone please wake up start by asking the public personallly through your shows online site instead of where ever you are getting your ideas to cancel such great great shows like the event, the gates and others
Unlike the TV shows produced in the 60s all the way through most of the 80s…there wasn’t such a thing as a story arc. For 2 reasons..one…syndication. They wanted to be able to air repeats in any order and two…if the show sucked…who cares…they pull the plug. I think if the show is one continuous arc the networks need to committ to a minimum number of episodes. Not only will this give the writers a chance to make things better (remember Seinfeld, STNG, etc.) but also it commits something to the viewer. Nothing sucks to commit to a show only… Read more »
Just came upon The Event through Netflix. Why did they cancel this show? It’s been along time since they had a good show like this! Wish they would bring back, interested to see what the scroll says!! Good show, maybe the writters were sick, so maybe they are better now and can come back to writing this! I would also love to see Dark Shadows come back, perhaps by the same writers or ones like them!!!! It’s been along time since people have truly been entertained and gotten their money’s worth!
I totally agree that every time a good show comes on its dumped. Why is that? The network can put on stupid reality or so they say it is, along w/ignorant sitcoms then say they are great w/fantasic ratings (BULL ****) then keep them on for ever. Sure the good shows may cost more to make-but who cares what the public thinks. We have to pay for programing but only get garbage. I think we should go back to 3 networks that are free, then if the shows suck we wouldn’t feel so cheated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am stunned that “THE EVENT” has been cancelled. Like many others, I too, was glued to the edge of my seat during every episode! I do not believe that this show was UN-POPULAR, in the Least. Maybe the Writers LOST their Imaginations! They definately took the EASY way out. Anyone can write a show that puts People on the edge of their seats….if they CANCEL it when the hardest writing comes up, which is also the part that the AUDUIENCE is waiting for. I believe I represent the average middle-aged American, and every popular T.V. show I watched this… Read more »
Just watched season one and stayed glued to the computer for all 16 hours of it please dont leave us hanging and bring this show back
Here is another prime example of shows that should not have been canceled. I enjoyed watching the Event. In fact, it reminded me of the Fox Show – 24, even using one of the characters – Sophia and having a african-american president. I thought they were going to bring the show back March, 2012, but then it was not. You can’t leave people dangling and the way the show went off, made it obvious that there would be more shows. It would be great to bring back for a second season and then if it does not do well, then… Read more »
saw this show for the first time on netflix, its fantastic. love to see a second season of it.
This show was fantastic. Cant not believe it was cancled. They NEED to bring it back. They have put in all these talk shows yet remove a series that was good and had viewers.
We’re very disappointed that The Event is cancelled. Had recorded so as not to miss!!
It seems every time there is a good show it gets cancelled. Who decides this s—-?
And to think that NBC is always wondering why their ratings are so low…………Well, maybe if they would let a series play out and not cancel it halfway through then just maybe those ratings would go up. After all, watching “The Event” was certainly a lot more interesting than watching a bunch of huffing and puffing fat people on “The Biggest Loser”. NBC is the big loser. Remember how NBC really knew what all the viewers wanted when they moved Jay Leno? Now they are beginning to put the “NBC hex” on the Today show. A show which has been… Read more »
I was cruising through Netflix and came across “The Event.” I was suprised they had so many episodes. I loved the show, but couldn’t always find it. I was disappointed that it was canceled. It would have helped the show if the network had had a more consistent time for the program. I got tired of looking for it and missing episodes. Programs like “Lost,” “24,” and “The Event” depended on the viewers seeing each episode in the intended sequence. Unfortunately, CBS moved it around, so that viewers missed episodes. Sadly, they would rather create trash like the “reality shows”… Read more »
NBC absolutely doesn’t know what they are doing, yes it is true not everyone likes Sci-fi but it is a target audience, and by them cancelling this show and other shows in the past that were similar, points to how unwise they are. The goal is to keep all kinds of different types of people watching your network. But in fact they are alienating all those types and in the end, they will be very sorry– for thier rating overall will drop no matter what they do. They cried wolf to many times and no one will trust thier network… Read more »