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.
We were also loyal viewers of the Unit; I’ve never even heard of “Medium”. Very dissappointed to see it cancelled – it was well done! If it’s still possible I would vote to bring it back.
I just found out that the unit will not be returning and I am very upset, I have been watching since season one and am a loyal fan. I believe if CBS would have had The Unit in a desent time slot there would be alot more viewers. I am sorry but I don;t think Medium is a better show that the unit. HOPEFULLY another network will pick it up and we will get to see a final season!!! PLEASE!!! I would settle for a feature film. 😉
i loved this show i cant believe it was cancled and wont be bak….. Bring back the show and prove that ryan had hammerhead killed and the gang can finish him off like they should of earlyer in season 4
I was addicted to this show. Yet another good show cancelled so that networks can put new stuff on, which almost always gets cancelled quickly anyways. They lose the faith of a lot of viewers. Don’t they know that we only stick around for the shows that we love and that last? Why would I put myself into a show that I grow to like, and then have it cancelled, which leaves me unhappy, unsatisfied, and annoyed? The only show I like to watch are the ones that make two or three seasons and are still going strong. And why… Read more »
Why oh why do they cancel all the good shows that really are so true to life?? Anyone here remember The Agency?? An also excellent show..They were doing things on the show that were all being done in the secret ops.. Have a relative that was with tommy franks in his main aena and things that we couldn’t even imagine were happening & were reflected on the show…just like The Unit I cannot believe that they have taken another winner away from fans!!!!
What was CBS thinking? The producer should make season 5 available to be purchased anyway, I guarantee he would still make his money. This show was one of the best displays of “teamwork” within a small group on television, which churches and this nation as a whole definitely needs some pointers on.
this was the best and closest miatary based show i have ever seen.
to bad cbs cant see it
I enjoyed The Unit, although the last shows of Season 4 were getting a bit ‘out there’, as the killing of the Vice President was a bit of a muddled episode. I wonder what would have happened with their C.O. now that he had been promoted to brigadier general. That usually means reassignment. Who would have taken his place? How would a new person affect the dynamics of their group? I think they needed somebody to do what Mrs. Blaine did at the end of the show- leave. Be strong enough to say she didn’t want to be constantly spied… Read more »
I am a military solider and i watch this show all the time it was my let out of doing thing in the military that i do in real life….. i think the show should be able to finish……………..
The best series in many years.I would like to know the name of the idiot who made the decision to cancel and how the he– he knows who watched and who didn’t, I never saw any poll or questionaire.If it sounds like I’m pissed, you’re right.
The Unit is the best show CBC has offered in several years! They have lost one loyal viewer for sure! Medium, seriously who needs another random detective drama. If there is any consideration of putting it back on the air…PLease DO !!!!
Next to NCIS and Law and Order, The Unit was the best tv night show EVER!!PUT IT BACK ON!!!
Bad idea to cancel this show without an ending and pick up medium. The Unit fits more now with what our reality is like. Instead of The Medium Crap
CBS made a bad move with canceling this show! It’s never too late for execs to change their minds and put it back on! They would be smart to do just that, if not, grow a pair and sell it off to NBC! At least that’s a real network that would do the right thing!
Maybe since they are not going to put out the 5th season on TV, perhaps someone would consider putting the 5th season out in paperback. At least all the loyal fans could read about what would have happened and have some “closure”.