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?
Best series ever. They need to rethink this decision and bring it back
OMGG , the listener is my favorite show , i wanna know how it ends don’t leave me hanging, I WANT SEASON 6!
I am very disappointed…this was my favorite show…I will definitely miss it…sad day for me to find out that it has been cancelled. 🙁
we really enjoyed the Listener and are so sorry that it is cancelled.
Show is filled with intrigue. I didn’t know it was being cancelled. I protest that decision. The characters are terrific with humor, suspense, and many plot twists. Always entertaining to me even if some were re-runs.
I always watched it on Tuesdays and Saturdays . I really liked the tv show. I hope they continue showing the re runs.
Hi everybody sorry my english is poor I’m from russian I can’t understand what’s happened IIB it’s just TV series why stop the season 6 its mean we are playing football 75 minutes and stop the match how come we need final then last plz will hope and waiting for answer thanx
While at first I thought this would be a corny story about mind reading, I found myself enjoying each episode. Started watching the reruns in ION. We thought the show was well written incorporating the mind reading talent into an interesting story. Will miss this series.
Sorry that CTV has cancelled the Listener.! It was one of my favourite Canadian shows.
No please bring it backk….it’s my favorite tv show
I just found this show, and I am already caught up on all the seasons. I just looked to see when season 6 starts and found it is cancelled. Please bring it back.. It is a great show! Different than all the other cop shows on tv it is nice to see something different!! The cast has great chemistry together.
Sorry to see The Listener go.
Was one of my favorite TV shows.
I hope they bring it back !!!
I really enjoy the show. I was hoping that they would continue filming. I accidentally came upon the show a few months ago. I think I’ve seen all the episodes at this point. I’m sad to hear it is ending.
I only found this show a few weeks ago on ION. I love this show. While I was watching an episode I decided to look it up and see if it was still running. Sad to say it was the very last episode of the season & the show. Now the first episode is about to start. I will watch it, because as I said, I’ve only been watching a couple of weeks on ION with one episode after another 2 days a week. Sad to say once I get back to the first one I’d seen, there will be… Read more »
Should we have petition signature for the bring “The Listener” back….? Or what?
Yes we should have a petition for this show. This show is so wonderful this show is the reason I couldn’t wait to get home and watch on my laptop. I was heartbroken that there was not going to be no more seasons. So i really really would push toward to get everybody in my school,community to help get it back on air. I think this show if it comeback would be a wonderful thing. It will get young people my age to start getting off social media and etc. So we all should come togather to call the production… Read more »
I think we should stick with the “or what” option.
Yes, we should petition to get The Listener back.
Sign me up.
Yes plz
Sign me up!!! Its my favorite show on ION television.
We love the listner i started watching the reruns on Ion tv, sorry to hear it didn’t do well, i really love the cast members and the drama. Now I have to watch Criminal Minds , but we continue to watch your reruns, wish I could get them on disc of the series.
Sir,
Please the Listen season 6 back! Pretty please! Why did you cancelled the highest rating that show?
Thank you.
Enjoyed the show. Sorry to see it ended last year.
I love watching the listener, it’s an enteresting show.