On the eight returning scripted series renewed by CBS today, one, Person of Interest, was not owned by the network. (It comes from Warner Bros. TV) It was the one series to get a partial order, which I hear is for 13 episodes. That is exactly what happened last May, with a last-minute 13-episode order to another Warner Bros. drama procedural, The Mentalist. Just like last year with The Mentalist, CBS would not say whether the upcoming fifth season of POI would be its last. (The Mentalist announcement came a few months later.)
POI was a breakout when it launched in September 2011 as CBS’ new Thursday anchor. But while fellow WBTV-produced CBS dramas Without a Trace and The Mentalist got to spend four seasons on Thursday before they were moved to another night, POI was transplanted after only two seasons. It has done OK in its new Wednesday 10 PM slot, performing in line with other CBS bubble dramas, which were picked up for full seasons, like NCIS: LA and Hawaii Five-0. The difference is that the other shows are owned by the network and make millions for the company via off-network syndication deals. POI also has an off-network deal with WGN America, but that is money for WBTV, which would be hit financially if POI is cancelled prematurely.
This is just one of the harsh realities of vertical integration that independent studios have to deal with these days, with money-making series assured a long life if they are owned by a network but if they are not, they face an uncertain fate.
POI was a breakout when it launched in September 2011 as CBS’ new Thursday anchor. But while fellow WBTV-produced CBS dramas Without a Trace and The Mentalist got to spend four seasons on Thursday before they were moved to another night, POI was transplanted after only two seasons. It has done OK in its new Wednesday 10 PM slot, performing in line with other CBS bubble dramas, which were picked up for full seasons, like NCIS: LA and Hawaii Five-0. The difference is that the other shows are owned by the network and make millions for the company via off-network syndication deals. POI also has an off-network deal with WGN America, but that is money for WBTV, which would be hit financially if POI is cancelled prematurely.
This is just one of the harsh realities of vertical integration that independent studios have to deal with these days, with money-making series assured a long life if they are owned by a network but if they are not, they face an uncertain fate.
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Nope.
ReplyDeleteSo sad that this is most likely the end for this amazing show who still had so much it could have done. At least it should avoid an outright cancellation :/
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's the final season.
ReplyDeleteI really hope Season 5 isn't the last season.
ReplyDeleteNot sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, it means they can go 100% serialised and deliver 13 AMAZING episodes. On the other... this is probably the end and will they have enough episodes to wrap things up?
ReplyDeleteNot sure whether to cry or smile.
I still think the show needed a 22 episode season and then a 13 final episode season.
ReplyDeleteI think the most important thing is that they know beforehand if it is the end or not. It will be horrible if they don't know.
ReplyDeleteI say better to end on their own terms than risk abrupt cancellation next May. This may be for the best too. Samaritan is a formidable final big bad and after they defeat it, they may not be able to really top it. Could they? I am sure. But they can still end it grandly now and still have over 100 eps. which is a solid run for a serialized show by any stretch.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to miss Person of Interest, but I figured Season 5 would be the last. Hopefully it turns out to be amazing.
ReplyDeleteNo way. NO. Just no. They can't end like this. Nolan and Plageman have more story to tell.
ReplyDeleteYeah, though 35 more episodes does seem a lot - at least this way they can go all out serialised. Maybe two final 13-episode seasons?
ReplyDeleteI love it that they know this is the end.
ReplyDeleteIf CBS don't announce on Wednesday that it's the final season and then make it so anyway, then they are a disgrace of a network.
ReplyDeleteI love the 2 final 13 episode seasons idea, but that won't happen.
ReplyDeleteYep. Though had they pawned it off to Netflix then it definitely would have.
ReplyDeleteSeason 5 will be amazing because every episode will be serialized.
ReplyDeleteIt will and I expected that.
ReplyDelete13 episodes are not enough! There's so much story to tell.. I'm so sad right now.. it's not fair.. this is one of the best show I've ever seen!
ReplyDeleteSo that essentially free the Tuesdays at 10 slot for a new show, probably for CM: BB or Code Black. Unless they move CSI: Cyber there.
ReplyDeleteEvery episode will be serialized. It means they can get a lot of story in the final season.
ReplyDeleteThat was always going to happen since POI wasn't going to keep a weekdayslot with its weak numbers and being owned by WB. I think Code Black is going there.
ReplyDeleteWell sh^t. Is it too late for CBS to change their minds and reallocate the CSI: Cyber pickup by giving their episodes to POI? :P
ReplyDeleteNo way they can wrap this up in 13 episodes, no matter how amazing and epic they are.
ReplyDelete'It has done OK in its new Wednesday 10 PM slot,' wasn't it on Tuesdays
ReplyDeleteYes it was on Tuesdays.
ReplyDeleteI hate this. HATE IT.
ReplyDeleteIf that is the case, I hope that some cable network picks it up for 3 seasons after next season (equivalent to 2 full seasons on network TV).
We'll find out, hopefully they can.
ReplyDeleteWhat is awful is that just last week Nolan and Plageman said they would hope it wouldn't stop at season 5, because they have it all mapped up and have quite a few more stories to tell. And JJ Abrams did mention looking for another network if the worst comes to pass.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather have this show go out in style with 13 amazing final episodes than artificially stretched out over 5 more seasons.
ReplyDeleteSure it'll be sad to see this amazing show go but hey, better 5 seasons than 1
MOTHERF*CK!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHopefully CBS announce it as the final season then. That will allow the writers to tie all loose ends up and give the show a satisfying ending, which it deserves.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy with this decision, it'll have a great run like Fringe did. 5 solid seasons.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they can try being shopped elsewhere though that seldom works.
ReplyDeleteI think that will happen.
ReplyDeleteCBS and FOX are setting the bar in telling outside productions do not sell to us. We won't treat your shows on equal footing. For Person Of Interest to get 13 and The Good Wife to get a full 22 is corporate politics at play. It's nothing new, but it's going to hurt both networks as WB, Sony, and every other outside production company go elsewhere with their scripted content.
ReplyDeleteWhat has FOX done? They've canned Mindy sure but that was a really low performer. I actually think ABC is worse than FOX, way worse.
ReplyDeleteThey decided to pick up only FOX productions, besides Lucifer which was a last minute reprieve. FOX was also trying to get a piece of Lucifer, but I'm not sure how successful they were in getting that.
ReplyDeleteI figured it would be it's last, because of how they dragged out Samaritan plot, but I think this is for the best, because once the underdogs conquer Samaratin, I think it will be hard to move forward and up the game, unless you bring in a lot of new cast! I think this will feel very rewarding and it's also not like J. Nolan doesn't have some more possibly great works in the pipeline with the likes of Westworld and The Foundation Trilogy...
ReplyDeleteIt sucks that stuff like this happens, but I'm grateful to get these last 13 eps.
Yeah, I have a strong feeling Season 5 will be the show's last. That's usually the case when a show comes back with a far fewer episodes than usual like that such as Fringe and The Mentalist. And I'm fine with Season 5 being the final season. I have no doubt the writers will make it worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteI see nothing really wron with that - it's not like Sony has produced any mega hits
ReplyDeleteWell fhe retention out of NO, coupled with that 1.1 S4 finale make this no surprise. Lucky to get 13.
ReplyDeleteWell that was a precipitous drop from a high to a low today. I think 22 episodes would have been better for the story but at least we and they know so they can work out a fitting ending.
ReplyDeleteHm..Fair enough.
ReplyDeleteThe Blacklist until NBC decided to ruin it with horrible scheduling.
ReplyDeleteBut CBS has a problem in getting mega hits in general. They didn't do it last year. There's no reason to be that selective.
I think they will deliver an epic final season.
ReplyDeleteThe only mega hit drama in the last 6+ years was Empire. Why singling out CBS?
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, I think they can tell a very emotional story in 13 hours, maybe pick up a few more should a miracle happen, but I think it's way better to go out with a bang with this show!
ReplyDeleteI desperately want Shaw back. It would feel incomplete if Sarah Shahi does not return.
ReplyDeleteYeah. Maybe they'll bring Grace back for the final episode. I always had this image of Harold and Grace reuniting and living happily ever after by the end of the series.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they'll work something out.
ReplyDeleteLast season I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteBut, I have no problem with this. The final season can have this 'mini-series event' like feel to it because realistically, and organically after the last four seasons, it has come down to the storyline focusing on these two AIs. No more HR, no more street gangs and turf wars....this is what POI has come down to. 13 or 22, this is irrelevant(hah, no pun intended) because the game plane is obviously focusing on only one story arc compared to two or three with the past four seasons.
I don't mind this at all.
Good point. We shouldn't. My overall thought is that all networks aren't in a position to single out any outside production company. A potential hit is a potential hit, no matter where it comes from. If it's a case of economics, that can always be worked out. But when you start with a bias, it makes the process a lot more complicated.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Netflix will pick up Person of Interest if it performs well for them next season.
ReplyDeleteWell at the networks are failing to get mega hits ( minus Empire)
ReplyDeleteABC has also been doing mostly in studios as well
Preach!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhile I get your point. take ABC all their hits are from their studios
ReplyDeleteBTW, I expect POI to appear in the midseason and will get a bad timeslot.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of it going, as you said "100% serialized" makes me smile. This is what, I think, POI needed to do in its final season anyways. When ALL the best episodes have been centered on the main story arcs in each specific season...can you imagine the quality that could be for all 13 episodes?
ReplyDelete"And Jesus wept!"
LOL! Best comment of the day! :D
ReplyDeleteNo surprise as ratings have been down
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely the final season. It looked like CBS was really thinking about canceling Person of Interest, but WB had to beg them to get a final season. Just like The Mentalist.
ReplyDeleteUggg, ya didn't think about that...
ReplyDeleteI figure CM: BB will go there since they won't want to pair both CMs together. CSI & Cyber both showed with specials out of repeats that the slot may work better for a straight up procedural in terms of compatibility. POI's serialized nature just didn't mesh. I'd love to see POI continue on as a 10-13 episode series on cable/streaming after it leaves CBS. It seems like that could work well with having season-long arcs.
ReplyDeleteLooks like CBS will be getting rid of a good amount of shows next year
ReplyDeleteIronically how those two shows are brought up in the same sentence because I felt like The Mentalist could have ended without that final season, be outright cancelled and still have this feeling of a good conclusion.
ReplyDeleteSo PoI gets 39 episodes?! Sounds awesome.
ReplyDelete