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.
my wife and myself really enjoyed The Unit and was looking forward to this season . DISAPOINTED!
Another station needs to pick up this show. There is SO much potential for storylines, romance, intrigue and plot twists. I personally think the writers got bored, the plot lines could have been more inspiring. With gifted writers this show could go on for five more seasons!
I am a little upset that they decided to cancel this show. Its easily one of the best shows aired.
I’ve loved watching the DVD sets on all four seasons!!! We even TIVO it weekly when the repeats are on. Being an Army brat, a disabled veteran and married to a soldier, this show really was the best thing to showing how and what the true Army is like. There are so many shows out there that can even get the rank and title correct, and can’t hold a gun the correct way, that it is ridiculous; but The Unit’s producers did their research and made it as accurate as possible! Great Job! I hope to see it return to… Read more »
Yup, the Unit should never have been cancelled. I believe it could have went on, and on. CBS or someone else should really consider bringing it back.
this is pathetic the unit is one of the best shows to ever even be played on CBS…
I agree with everybody above, CBS is stupid! My wife and I both watch this show and my wife will even tell you this show has the potential for more than even 5 seasons. We have seen every episode at least once, I wish another network would pick it up and produce at least the final season. I will not watch CBS anymore, I hate reality tv. All the reality tv shows on tv are rediculous and I will not watch any of them. The Unit is one of 2 shows that I watch on tv, other than that I… Read more »
I cannot comprehend the reason for cancelling such a dramatic show that has captivated such a vast amoun t of viewers. Yet, CBS is bringing on new shows that hasn’t peeked much interest. They need to remember that it is the viewers who make or break a series. I personally don’t watch a lot of CBS.
I didn’t watch the show when it was on because everything I saw about it made me think it was a CSI clone. I caught and interview on Attack of the Show about the Season 4 DVD drop and it piqued my interest. Now I’m hooked, I’m TIVOing all the episodes I can find.
This is rediculous for them to cancel the show for nothing.If 9.67 million viewers isnt enough for them i dont know what is.I met one of the actors at an airport and he took time to turn around and talk to me, thats alot to ask of an actor.and if you do that to any other big shots they would just blow you off.
Its funny cbs cancelled the show for the Three Rivers hows that working out oh wait its cancelled
All of you complaining, just go here and actually TELL CBS what you think. Maybe if they get enough complaints, they might do something… who knows.
http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.php
I can not believe what i am reading…. The Unit was the best action drama that i have and many other people in new zealand has seen!! i just seems so unreal that the executives at CBS are not jumping on this potential money maker by properly marketing the show and putting it onto decent time slots!! how could they leave us hanging not knowing what is going to happen after what happened in season 4. I like a fellow blogger before me fell for the show after watching by chance while on vacation and was instantly addicted. i do… Read more »
The UNIT was a great show. Shame to see CBS throw it away…! Pleas concider making a Season five…..
At least fox finished the story line of Prison Break…..ABC is finishing the story line of LOST………Hey CBS, get with real life here…..don’t leave us hanging……finish the story line! I agree with the other poster about what use is their getting involved with a show only to have it canceled before a conclusion……… I am really ticked about it……..