Much to the dismay of the show’s loyal followers, The Unit was cancelled by CBS in May. The series’ viewership had declined in its later years but, despite being preempted several times, still attracted 9.67 million viewers in season four.
The Unit was supposedly being seriously considered to continue in first-run syndication but the deal didn’t work out, likely because of production costs. Sadly, while the military drama and Dennis Haysbert, Regina Taylor, Robert Patrick, and Scott Foley will be around in syndication for years to come, we won’t be seeing season five of The Unit.
It turns out that the writers had a full plan for year five which Executive Producer Shawn Ryan was expecting to be the show’s last. He pitched the storyline ideas to the CBS execs but ultimately they weren’t interested.
At the recent TCA press tour, Ryan shared with The Futon Critic what would have happened. He said, “It was going to be a whole new show in the sense that we were going to be training some young people, Bob was going to be training some people for a whole new organization. Jonas was finally going to be seeing his run end.”
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Ryan continued, “The final season was going to be, I figured the fifth season was going to be the last… It was going to be a long, sort of final mission for Jonas. He’s not medically cleared, Mac has to go in and sort of change the medical records so that Jonas can keep on [going on missions]. We had a whole thing planned, it was going to be good.”
Of the cancellation, Ryan points to CBS’ last-minute decision to save NBC’s discarded Medium series. If things had been reversed and The Unit “had been owned by Paramount and Medium had been owned by 20th Century Fox, we’d be making the fifth season of The Unit right now. I don’t know how else to say that.”
What do you think? Do the plans for season five sound like a good way for the military drama to finish?
Image courtesy CBS.
bring back the unit –
the unit is the one of the best programs on tv how could they do this!
We will see how CBS finally feels about the decision with their new shows. The Medium on friday? and NCIS: LA, which has started off with a bang, are horrible shows and to replace such a great show as The Unit, I think, will end up being a huge financial mistake. But what do I know I’m just a guy who won’t watch those other horribly written, directed, acted shows. Will they pay out? I doubt it. NCIS: LA is using a good name for a bad spin off. Bad mistake CBS.
I am upset that The Unit was cancelled. We are a military family and really enjoy the show. I can see where production cost would be high, but can’t their be some changes to make the cost go down? I wish another network would pick up the show so everyone could watch the show again. I have all 4 seasons recorded and I never get tired of watching them over and over again! Please someone put the show back on the air!!
How can you guys do this to me, this was one of the best shows on TV and you cancelled it, give me a break.
The Unit was an awesome show. I dont understand why they couldnt have it on at a decent and consistent time.
I think its wrong!!! Bring the UNIT Back please
I’ve been watching The Unit since I discovered it, and I must say CBS didn’t do a very good job advertising when it was going to be on. I had to buy the DVDs or Netflix them.
Having said that, I was anticipating season 5, and to my dismay CBS decided to drop it in favor of the not-nearly-as-good Medium. By the way, the season opener of Medium was a real dud. I am beseeching NBC or anybody else to pick up The Unit. It’s a top notch show. Drop Medium, who cares, but keep The Unit!!!
This was my favorite show as well as some of my friends. Hope to see new episodes on a different channel! Needs a regular time so others can enjoy as well!!!
I enjoyed The Unit, but it kept getting pre-empted, and it seems that was a sign that it would not last another season. I believe that if it had been on at it’s scheduled time consistently maybe it would have gone another season.
Both my wife and I enjoyed The Unit and were looking forward to this seasons shows!
Maybe NBC should pick it up since CBS got the Medium.
I’ve been waiting all summer to see new episodes of The Unit. I don’t have time to watch much TV, but I made time for the The Unit and tried my best to follow it through CBS’ best attempts to hide it from me. I was shocked to learn of the cancellation. It was by far one of the best written and acted shows on air. EPIC FAIL – CBS.
As I was lookin for the unit airing time this bs I see ..they cancelled the show there is truly no reason to watch cbs anymore. That was actually pretty good quality show …which there are very few of on tv today. Thats why I don’t like cbs they cancel shows that are quality shows and put crap on tv.
What the h… as with most here I too was looking forward to season 5 no clouser .. Ok Fox its time to step up and lets have a movie to have some closuer for a few millon thats was spent per season you couls have a damn good movie..
This show was like serval others that I have read my favorite. I looked forward to it coming on, set the recorder and everything just to get to view it. I have been wondering where it has been if it was coming back on or not. Very upset to hear that “THEY” (CBS) decided to take The Unit off there network and put on something in its place that by no means has the acting nor the story line that The Unit had (Lie to Me). I feel CBS made a mistake and wish they would reconsider it and put… Read more »