On Monday night, ABC aired what was promoted as the season finale of the dramatic series What About Brian. But as fans of the show know, the March 26th episode only marked the 19th episode of the season. If the series was given an order for 22 episodes and there are lots of storylines unresolved, where are the rest?
What About Brian debuted on ABC on April 16, 2006 with the first of five initial episodes. The series follows the story of Brian Davis (7th Heaven alumni Barry Watson) as a “third wheel” in a group of close-knit friends and couples. The series also stars Sarah Lancaster, Rosanna Arquette, Matthew Davis, Rick Gomez, Amanda Detmer, Jason George, Amanda Foreman, Tiffani Thiessen, and Jessica Szohr.
Following the initial season’s ratings, it seemed fairly certain that the series would not return for another. ABC surprised many by renewing the series with an initial order of 13 episodes for a second season for Fall 2007. When the show returned on October 9th, ABC seemed encouraged by its early second season performance. On November 10th, ABC increased the 13 episode order to a full 22.
So, with the March 26th episode only marking the 19th episode, some are wondering if this means that there are three episodes that haven’t been aired? In short, no. Shortly after ABC gave the additional episode order in November, the ratings dropped by about 20%. A network rep has confirmed to us that the episode order was trimmed back, though this was not officially announced. Losing three episodes likely made it difficult for the producers to end the season as they would have liked.
ABC has already announced that 11 of its series have been renewed for next year. What About Brian wasn’t one of them. With the drop in viewership and its shortened season, it’s unlikely that ABC has enough faith in the show to give it another chance.
We’ll probably know Brian’s fate by mid-May when the network announces its full Fall schedule. Until then, Brian viewers can take sollace in knowing that they’ve seen all of the episodes that were produced. Fans of other ABC shows like Big Day haven’t been as lucky. Stay tuned! 
I am so disappointed,My husband and I wer over at our friends house and we were talking about when it would start up again, so I came home to look it up and found bad news. Please bring back What about Brian. It was a really nice show to watch.
Sooo disappointed in ABC’s fall line up. After watching about 2 minutes of Caveman….???? What are they thinking…and they dropped good shows like “What
About Brian?” for this??? I
did the same thing making adjustments to schedules for Monday nights. Not a whole lot to watch on ABC any more.
I was so excited to see all the new season premieres coming. I kept looking out for “What about Brian” I was even asking people at work if they had heard anything. I finally decided to look on the web to find out and sure enough I see it’s cancelled. I LOVED that show. I’d sure love to see the last three episodes they’re talking about that weren’t aired. It would at least give me closure. LOL
I am so upset!!!! I just found out when I saw a promo for “Samantha Who” and saw Barry Watson. I knew something was wrong and looked online to see it was cancelled. It is very frustrating to find a show that could really hold my attention. The stories and cast really worked. I can’t stand to see well written shows get cancelled, while stupid shows thrive. I always worried about the show from the beginning. They hardly ever advertised the show or pushed it like they do other shows.
My husband and I loved What About Brian. We couldn’t believe it when it did not air again! I agree with everyone else BRING WHAT ABOUT BRIAN BACK!!!!
I can’t believe it! We decided to go online since we hadn’t seen it in the new season line-up. Figured they moved it again or were bringing it back a little later like they are going to do with October Road. What a disappointment. This show was one my husband and I bothe loved as well as all our friends and family. Please bring it back, we adjusted our work schedules around this show and could really relate, being 30 somethings ourselves. And yes, ex 90210, Melrose fans. What a big mistake. I won’t have anything to talk to the… Read more »
The reason why networks opt to air reality shows is because they do not have to compensate the people who participate, unlike actors in a series. Finally, I would like to point out that people no longer value substance, if a show seems to deep then people will inevitably shy away.Why else would there be three installments of the”Fast and the Furious”. Fact of the matter is that people hate having to think.Hooray, Mindless Entertainment!!!!
Maybe ABC should reconsider airing this wonderful show on a different night. Where I live it aired on Monday which would conflict with football. If ABC is so disappointed with the ratings, they should try something different before cancelling a series as good as What About Brian.
I loved this show. I am so tired of watching a show till I get hooked and then find out its been cancled. I hope the networks learn a lesson. I wish nelsons would contact me…….
In short I agree with everyone. Great show, my husband and I loved it, too bad there is always crap to watch on TV, and the good stuff gets cancelled.
I can’t believe this show was canceled. There are so many other shows out there that suck (REALITY TV)and are still being aired. BRING BACK BRIAN!!!!!
I agree with the person that compared ABC to their choice to make a stupid Geico commercial into a show. I am so very disappointed that they took off such a good show that was fun to watch instead of violence, etc.
I am completely irritated to find out that What About Brian has been canceled. There goes and yet another fantastic show down the drain. Apparently you watch very little to no television, and have no idea what a great show consists of. First its Jerico, thank God they brought that back. Then Hidden Palms, great story line. And now this. No need to watch television what so ever. All I got to say.
WHY????? I LOVED this show!!!! Seriously .. reality t.v. is becoming too much. Damn you ABC!!!!
I’m MAD that it wasn’t renewed too! 🙁 🙁
Such a GREAT SHOW!!! GONE!