You may recall that NBC started airing a Canadian series called The Listener during the summer of 2009. It didn’t perform well so the network cancelled the show but it continued to perform well and be renewed in Canada. It was later picked up by the ION cable channel here in the states.
CTV has now decided to end the show after five seasons and 65 episodes. The series finale of The Listener will air on CTV on August 18th. No word on when ION will air the last episode.
Here’s the press release:
CTV Congratulates THE LISTENER on Five Incredible Seasons as Series Finale Confirmed to Air August 18
TORONTO, Aug. 6, 2014 /CNW/ – CTV announced today that after five seasons and 65 episodes, the hit original drama THE LISTENER will conclude on CTV on Monday, Aug. 18 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Produced by Shaftesbury in association with CTV and Fox International Channels, THE LISTENER premiered in June of 2009 on CTV.
“Thank you to Shaftesbury for delivering five straight seasons of this much loved series, and to the cast and crew for bringing its captivating stories to life,” said Phil King, President – CTV, Sports, and Entertainment Programming. “THE LISTENER provided a wonderful narrative arc over its 65 episodes, ending its run at the top of its game with a devoted following at home and around the world. It leaves a strong legacy of which we are immensely proud, and we look forward to working with Shaftesbury in the future.”
CTV is currently in development with Shaftesbury on OLD CITY HALL, a drama series based on the novels by Robert Rotenberg and set within the halls of criminal courts; and SMOKE AND MIRRORS, a drama about an illusionist returning home to Niagara Falls and using his extraordinary skills as a private detective.
“Thank you to CTV (Phil, Corrie, Mike, Trish, Tom and Rebecca) as well as our friends at Fox International Channels (Sharon and Andie) and Shine for taking this seven-year journey with us on THE LISTENER,” said Christina Jennings, Chairman and CEO, Shaftesbury. “From start to finish, CTV has been a wonderful broadcast partner. Not every series achieves 65 episodes, and we couldn’t have done it without our dedicated, hardworking family of cast — led by Craig Olejnik – and crew, most recently led by Peter Mohan — who are simply the best in the business. And, thanks of course to THE LISTENER fans – who grew over time.”
In the final episode, an epic story that has threaded its way through all five seasons comes to a gratifying conclusion as secrets from Toby’s (Craig Olejnik) past are finally brought to light. Also Michelle (Lauren Lee Smith), Toby, and Dev (Rainbow Sun Francks) find themselves in the extremely uncomfortable position of investigating their own boss. On clandestine orders from Judge Samuel Griffin (Bruce Gray) and Deputy Commissioner Earl Bamford (Brian Paul) of the IIB, the team must look into Becker’s (Anthony Lemke) dealings with Curtis Maynard (Noam Jenkins), a disgraced former cop with connections to drug dealing.
THE LISTENER was green-lit by CTV in December 2007 and premiered June 3, 2009 on SPACE and CTV. The series instantly became a hit, debuting at #1 in its 10 p.m. timeslot on CTV with an audience of 1.1 million viewers, and went on to average nearly one million viewers in Canada in its first season. In the years that followed, THE LISTENER continued to connect with audiences, averaging 1.1 million viewers. THE LISTENER has been licensed in over 120 markets – including the U.S. (ION Television), U.K., Italy, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Mexico, Japan, Korea, Poland, Brazil and Turkey – and is seen in 33 languages worldwide.
THE LISTENER Season 5 airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and CTV GO, with the series finale broadcast on Monday, Aug. 18. Viewers can catch encore episodes Saturdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV Two (visit CTV.ca for local broadcast times), and Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on Bravo (visit bravo.ca for local broadcast times). The day after each episode of THE LISTENER airs on CTV, viewers can watch the full episode on CTV.ca and the CTV GO app.
The cast of THE LISTENER includes Craig Olejnik as telepathic crime-solver Toby Logan; Lauren Lee Smith as Integrated Investigative Bureau (IIB) Sergeant Michelle McCluskey; Ennis Esmer as Toby’s best friend, Oz Bey; Rainbow Sun Francks as IIB security and technical expert Corporal Dev Clark; Kris Holden-Ried as Adam Reynolds, Michelle’s reformed gambler husband; Melanie Scrofano as crime reporter Tia Tremblay, Toby’s girlfriend; Anthony Lemke as IIB Supervising Inspector Brian Becker; and Natalie Krill as forensics technician Alex Kendrick.
THE LISTENER is broadcast on CTV and Bravo in Canada, ION Television in the United States, Fox International Channels internationally, and distributed by Shine International. Produced by Shaftesbury in association with CTV and Fox International Channels, the series is executive produced by Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Craig Olejnik, and Peter Mohan (LOST GIRL, THE BRIDGE), who is also showrunner. Tina Grewal (HEARTLAND) is producer. Sharon Tal Yguado is executive producer for Fox International Channels. Tom Hastings and Rebecca DiPasquale are production executives for Bell Media. Trish Williams is Director, Independent Production, Bell Media and Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks, Bell Media. Phil King is President, President CTV Sports and Entertainment Programming. THE LISTENER is produced with the financial participation of The Canadian Film or Video Tax Credit and The Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit.
What do you think? Did you like The Listener? Are you sory that there won’t be a sixth seasoon?
More watchers would be obtained by airing this earlier in the night. Times have changed since 2007 and people are watching this type of show more now. I love this show.
I have been watching for many months and love the series and am very very sad that the show was cancelled with no season 6, what is one to do, is there any chance that this may change with a new season produced. Thanks Judith
THIS SHOW WAS, STILL IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE AWESOME!
SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE CONTINUED. Every friend and neighbor I’ve introduced this show to, watches and enjoys it, not just at my house, but willingly watches it on their own time.
Puuuuuuhhhhleeeeeezz bring this show back!!!!!
I love this show please come back I been wanting to buy the tv series but I can’t find it.. We findly have a cable that has the IonHD . I been watching it every Tuesday and Saturday if you can’t can you tell me where to buy it thank you Doretta Shockley
Another great show being cancelled. Started watching on ION as NBC never really communicated this story line well to the US market. NBC does not have a good track record with good TV drama series. I would reconsider my decision on what a proven product has accomplished versus an unproven, yet to be launched product.
Sorry to not have a season 6. Not much I watched on ION. Less now.
THANK YOU FOR finally canceling this show!
Question: What is this thing in my hand?
Answer: A remote control. It gives you great power to not watch what you don’t like.
Amazing technology.
I love this show, and I watch all reruns. Please bring back season 6. It was an awesome show, I even have family and friends watching.
PLEASE BRING IT BACK
I love the show, and I still watch the reruns constantly. Please bring back the show. I even have family and friends watching. It was an awesome show!!!
I love this show and today we watched the marathon on ION. Would love to see more seasons or a spinoff.
Bring it back!
Can anyone tell me where I can find all the episodes, in order, for the Listener? The ones on ION are not in order! It jumped from the ep on 8/13/09 to 2/22/11!! I want to see them all. Are they for sale anywhere? If so…where? I’d really love to get it renewed for a 6th season. I watched when it first came on, then all of a sudden it was gone! Found it again in 2014. Now it’s getting the axe again. Total of 65 eps means 13 eps per season. Not nearly enough!! I’m mad as hell. I… Read more »
YES, I AM ABSOLUTELY HELD HOSTAGE WHILE WATCHING THIS PROGRAM & I AM INDIGNANT THAT THE WRITERS HAVE NO BETTER INSITE THAN TO END SUCH A POPULAR , MOVING, & CAPTIVATING TELEVISION SHOW!! WHAT
ARE THEY THINKING ?? WELL IT’ S OBVIOUS THAT THEY ARE NOT !! THAT JUST
DISGUSTS ME ! WELL THEY SAY IGNORANCE IS BLISS & IN THEIR CASE IT SPEAKS
CLEARLY & LOUDLY FOR ITSELF!! OR IS STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES ? I SAY IF THE
SHOES FIT THE WRITERS HAVE THEM ON!!!!!!!!!!!! BRING THE SHOW BACK!!!!!!!!
I agree with the others. I’m very unhappy that there won’t be any more Listeners. There is only a couple shows that I like and the Listener was one.
Very very very unhappy, this is a great show. They need to do a spin off with most of the cast being moved/transferred to somewhere like Chicago PD or Washington DC. Tia could move there for a big once in a life time job. Toby comes with her because they got married, then Oz follows cuz he needs a change due to something with his parents and/or Sandy. Toby gets himself caught up being asked to work for the PD or FBI or even do alittle side part time work with Tia as a partner at the newspaper . And… Read more »
Unhappy to learn there will be no more seasons of The Listener. We found this show in the third season, and have enjoyed catching up. Hope to see cast members in the future.
I really wish they would continue with season 6 of The Listener
It is very well written and great stories!! Hope that they reconsider and not discontinue the series!! I think there are still a lot of story lines they could pursue l!!
I’m extremely unhappy the series has ended! I just started watching reruns in the past year and was looking forward to the new shows! I believe this show can make come back! I wish they would bring season 6 back so we can knowwhat happens with Toby and TIA, Dev and Alex, Michelle and her husband and Oz!