Today certainly wasn’t a good day for fans of The Unit. CBS cancelled the show after four seasons on the air. For producers of the series however, today’s dark cloud also had a silver lining.
Though there won’t be any new episodes featuring Dennis Haysbert, Regina Taylor, Robert Patrick, Scott Foley and company, the show will return to the airwaves next year.
The show’s studio, 20th Century TV, announced today that the military drama has been sold in syndication. According to the Hollywood Reporter, The Unit has been cleared in 56% of the country, including Fox and CBS stations. It’s sold in all 15 of the top markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Dallas.
Because only 69 episodes have been produced, the stations are likely to run episodes only once or twice a week. While several series have been saved recently because of potential syndication profits, there’s seemingly no interest in continuing The Unit. This likely stems from the fact that hour-long dramas aren’t as popular in syndication as half-hour sitcoms.
The series launches into syndication beginning in the Fall of 2010.
Image courtesy CBS.
don’t cancel the only show that keeps me watchin tv
The Unit is fast-paced, fun and touching. The look into not only the missions of The Unit but also the homefront is unique and much needed. Please CBS, don’t cancel a great and cool show that keeps us all going! I love the cast and really want to get to see if Jonas wins Molly back, if Sam redeems himself to Bridgette (Hell they could end up together, it’s all good with me!) and how Joss settles into married life with an operator. There are sooooo many loose ends with this, you can’t let it die! I and I’m sure… Read more »
Please do not cancel The Unit!!! This is one of the best shows ever.
I ******* hate CBS, why cancell a perfectly good show!! TWATS!!!!
Did CBS really need to cancel another good show? Well written. Good drama. Close to home about what our military does foreign and domestic. Viewers don’t need three CSI shows or more mind-numbing sitcoms. The Unit gave you some insight of what military families go through when they defend our country. CBS needs to find a way to bring it back. Three or four shows from the new fall season line-up is going to be canceled anyway. CBS can bring it back in January to fill the canceled shows. A January season premiere isn’t new. It works for 24.
I’m so, so disappointed. I loved the show. It was original and interesting, and something different from CSI and Law and Order. How sad.
I am perturbed at the actions with CBS. The Unit along with N.C.I.S. was the only show worth watching on CBS. Although it came on at 9:00PM originally, then changed it to 10:00PM, I still watched it after a long day of work because it was my favorite show. And canceling without even having the nerve to have an ending angers me more.
I am disgusted with CBS. The Unit was my favorite show and to leave it hanging showed total disregard to its viewers. There are very few shows that are worth watching on a regular basis but I looked forward to The Unit every week. I also prefer hour-long series to the 30-minute dribble that is now the norm. I didn’t care what time The Unit came on because I recorded it and watched it as soon as I could.
Best show on CBS. Not overly flashy, intelligent writing, exciting action. Why do fans need 3 csi’s and now 2 NCIS shows? The original is good, we don’t need another NCIS. And CSI Miami is the cheesiest show ever. I think the writer’s strike last year screwed up all the good shows, people moved on with their lives. No memory or attention span to commit an hour a week. You would think with DVRs more shows would survive, b/c you can watch 1 hour show in 42 minutes and get hooked on many more programs. Now all i got left… Read more »
Let’s be honest about the REAL reason. It showed the positive side of our military, that they protect us and other countries from tyranny. We tend to forget that freedom isn’t free. There are millions of people who risk their lives everyday so we can enjoy the luxury of our way of life. It’s not given to us. It was worked for and earned. It’s not a right, it’s a privilege. CBS is notoriously unAmerican and the execs hated the series from the beginning. If you doubt their loyalties, just watch the nightly news. Moving The Unit to Sunday night… Read more »
How could you cancell a show without ending it? The Unit was such a top of the line show. Please bring it back!!!!!
“Producers get some good news”, are you kidding? What about those of us who loved this show and deserve, at the very least a final season? What good are re-runs in syndication when there is no closure to the series? CBS gets it wrong again, as usual. What was the matter? Not enough idiot adolescent angst, gratuitous sex and violence, mindless dialogue of disrespectful and soul-less characters? What’s next to get axed, Numbers? Probably since that’s about all that’s left that is worthwhile and smart television. When are they going to stop pandering to the MTV generation, or generation X… Read more »
I am totally discussted with CBS every time they get somethig worth watching that is not reality or sex sex sex they cancel it. The unit was a great show that took intelegence to watch. you had to follow it to know what was going on, not just be a couch potato. I guess I have to go with the other comments it was a great show with great acting. CBS must not want quality programing with interest and “real” life drama only the “reality” dramas seem to make it any more and who needs to see all that garbage?
Intelligent, gripping, suspenseful and super relevant plots that more Americans should be aware of are the cornerstones of the story lines aired in every episode of the Unit. So what does the intelligence “junta” at CBS do, they cancel this incredibly powerful and 21st century program. We are left with its brother “24” to see how our guardians for better or worse will continue to protect us. I thank the cast, writers, directors, and the crews that made the show possible for their tireless energy and professionalism. Hopefully, you will all go on to bigger and better “things.” but it… Read more »
Some years ago because of reality shows, stupid sitcoms, cancellation of some quality shows, I subscribed to satellite TV. I started watching the big three again when some good shows were aired like the unit. I,m glad I still have satellite as it looks like I’ll have to go back to syndicated shows as well as other quality shows not offered by the big three. The big three, hmmmmm…. maybe they should go the way of the automotive big three.