FOX Benches Prison Break

[TIVO_GUY_HERE]

From TV GUIDE.com


Prison Break is once again getting furloughed by Fox. In a November-sweeps press release issued Thursday, Fox referred to the show's Nov. 28 episode as its "fall finale," but gave no indication as to when it would be back. Adding to the mystery: A network rep would only say that Prison's remaining nine episodes would air at a "later date." As previously reported, 24 assumes Prison's Monday-9 pm time slot in early January. (Damn you, 24! Oh, wait — I like 24. Damn you, um, er, um, War at Home!)



ok someone has to say it

BURN IN HELL FOX

[MikeMar]

You have GOT TO BE KIDDING ME

I thought this show was doing pretty well. Whats the reasoning of not showing it in December?

[bentleyml]

Man thats just messed up. Again Fox makes bad decisions.

[TIVO_GUY_HERE]

It got me to thinking...

I thought I read on this board that Fox picked it up for a full season? Also the fact that it is showing during Nov. Sweeps is promising. If I remember from previous seasons, December is pretty much taken over by holiday specials, and January being the month before the Feb Sweeps period might not be as important to the networks per say.
Also with winter olympics showing on NBC in Feb. they might hold it back.

[7thton]

What are the ratings for this show?

[Magister]

So we get a few more episodes then we are SOL for a few months? Ugh...

[KungFuCow]

Jesus.. here we go again. Nothing is worse than getting invested in a show and then crap like this happening. Same thing happened with Boston Legal to a lesser extent.

Fox sucks.

[MikeMar]

Might just have to start tivo'ing and ttg'ing all the shows to the computer and wait til the season ends or something.

[Havana Brown]

Didn't the same thing happen to Reunion because of baseball?

With a show named "Prison Break" don't you think it would be over once they break out?

[SR2]

From TV GUIDE.com


Prison Break is once again getting furloughed by Fox. In a November-sweeps press release issued Thursday, Fox referred to the show's Nov. 28 episode as its "fall finale," but gave no indication as to when it would be back. Adding to the mystery: A network rep would only say that Prison's remaining nine episodes would air at a "later date."


If it is a case where they end this part of the show (ie, resolve the escape issue) with the original episodes, I'd have no problem. Just start a new arc in January. That would make sense.

I would not be a fan of breaking it off mid-arc.

What do the original episodes take us to? Is it possible the end in November, and get through the escape?



With a show named "Prison Break" don't you think it would be over once they break out?

I can't imagine they would not resolve this one, then either move on to a new escape or follow the characters outside prison to resolve the whole murder thing.

As discussed before, this is not Lost or 24, where you can come up with a new adventure every season. There are only so many stories you can come up with in the prison before it turns into a parody of itself. Or, drama/parody of Gilligan's Island, starring T-Bag as the "little buddy" who keeps screwing up the escapes.

[Jeeters]

I've actually been sort of expecting this and have been wondering if it would really happen. Most shows on ALL networks usually disappear in December: networks don't want to waste unaired shows when they think their viewers are either out Xmas shopping or out at one of the multiple holiday parties we seem to get obligated, er, "invited" to go to every year. And since it's already been said that "24" would be replacing "Prison Break" in January, this seemed inevitable.

[TIVO_GUY_HERE]

The writers gave the network 2 full seasons of scripts, so the network knows where the story is heading for at least 2 years of 22 episodes.

[DevdogAZ]

I've actually been sort of expecting this and have been wondering if it would really happen. Most shows on ALL networks usually disappear in December: networks don't want to waste unaired shows when they think their viewers are either out Xmas shopping or out at one of the multiple holiday parties we seem to get obligated, er, "invited" to go to every year. And since it's already been said that "24" would be replacing "Prison Break" in January, this seemed inevitable.
Exactly. I don't think FOX has lost faith in the show at all. I'm sure they've always planned on benching the show in December as is the case with nearly every other show. The only problem is that Fox has already committed the Prison Break timeslot to 24 after the first of the year so they have to figure out where it's going to go and they haven't decided that yet. It's not a question of IF the show will be back, and I doubt it's even a question of WHEN. The only real issue that Fox still has to work out is WHERE (in the schedule) it would be most beneficial.

[Idearat]

I knew I should have just been queuing them up in case this happened. I only started watching when I downloaded the first 2 hrs via bittorrent when there was nothing to watch in August.
If they're going to stop it before the breakout, I'm not watching. From now on I'll just queue them up and check here to see if the 28th is a payoff or just jerking us around.

If they don't at least finish the thread, I feel sorry for "John Doe", he got screwed ( like we did ) last time too.

[ToddAtl]

I guess the real issue is where in the schedule it will come back. Theres no question 24 will start in its timeslot come January and will take up the slot until almost summer. So they either have to wait to cancel another hour long drama (Reunion perhaps?) and let Prison Break anchor another night or perhaps move or (and I shudder to think it) cancel AD and Kitchen Confidential and let Prison break be the lead in for 24...

[cherry ghost]

I guess the real issue is where in the schedule it will come back. Theres no question 24 will start in its timeslot come January and will take up the slot until almost summer. So they either have to wait to cancel another hour long drama (Reunion perhaps?) and let Prison Break anchor another night or perhaps move or (and I shudder to think it) cancel AD and Kitchen Confidential and let Prison break be the lead in for 24...


I thought House was already set to be the lead in for 24.

[vikingguy]

The show will be back it was fox screwing up as usuall. They has no faith in the show at first and put 24 in its time slot in january. I am sure once fox cancels a few other shows they will have a new time slot for prison break. I am not worried in the least this has been expected by me atleast.

[jmoney48]

as long as it never gets cancelled... im happy :D

[Kamakzie]

Please tell me this is an early April fools joke? Well it's not April but Fox exec's are FOOLS! :mad:

[smak]

November 28th is Prison Break's 13th show this year. That's way ahead of most shows. If they were to air it normally, it would end sometime in February or March.

I think Prison Break is doing better than they expected. And like was said above, this had to happen.

You are either going to have it end in March and take 6-7 months before the next season, or they are going to have to break it up and end it in May.

-smak-

[M Tate]

This is doing well, I agree with others that this is just an issue of them trying to figure out where to put it with Idol and 24 coming on in midseason. If I were them I would put it on Wed at 8, not a real tough timeslot. Right now they have That 70's show and Stacked scheduled there. I'm sure they'll have other timeslots open if they want to hang on to them, but I think Break would perform better there than those 2 shows.

[audiocrawford]

Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather have one long break than many short ones. Think "Housewives" last year...near the end it felt like every other week was a repeat.

I actually think this is the wave of the future. "Alias" bucked the system last year by not starting until January which actually ended up being wonderful (they are also taking an extended break this year for Garner's maternity leave, same as "Prison Break"). I have a feeling we are going to move further and further away from the September-May season and into a more european style "Series" schedule. Fox has actually been a pioneer in that respect for quite some time - from way back in the early days of 90210 when they did "summer seasons".

I think it leads to higher quality shows, personally - and as HBO has shown, it can work to your advantage. It's quite an interesting time to be a TV viewer right now, between the risk-taking shows broadcast networks are doing to the chances in schedules they are starting to make. Now if only we can get rid of the silly, useless, antiquated Nielsen system TV may really be ready for a revolution.

AC

[jmoney48]

according to usa today, prison break will be returning in may!

[ufo4sale]

according to usa today, prison break will be returning in may!
NOOO, I can't wait that long. :mad:

[MikeMar]

Dear god MAY!

[appleye1]

according to usa today, prison break will be returning in may!

Link to story. (http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-10-30-fox-second-fall_x.htm)

One victim of Fox's early rebound is Prison Break. Designed as a placeholder for 24, which returns Jan. 8, Break is scheduled to complete its initial 13-week run Nov. 28, but won't return to finish its first season until May. "The appeal of creatively bringing it back later in the year and keeping it on in the summer outweighs the disruption it would cause" to try to fit in the nine remaining episodes sooner, says scheduling chief Preston Beckman.

[MikeMar]

Longest_season_ever

[Rob Helmerichs]

Longest_season_ever
I doubt it--Babylon 5 used to have 12-month seasons, where the season finale would be one week and the season premiere the next!

[cheesesteak]

Pretty dumb decision. Why don't they just displace one of their myriad crappy shows for this good one?

[KungFuCow]

Pretty dumb decision. Why don't they just displace one of their myriad crappy shows for this good one?

Because that would make too much sense.

[DevdogAZ]

Pretty dumb decision. Why don't they just displace one of their myriad crappy shows for this good one?
It does seem odd. This show has been their most successful new show this season and it's likely that the suspense will build throughout the remaining November episodes. Then suddenly they'll leave everyone hanging and expect them to return nearly six months later. You have to wonder if many of the viewers will be turned off by this and simply not come back when the show returns. They could lose any momentum they've built up with the fall portion of the season.

This is especially true if, as some have suggested, they resolve the actual prison break portion of the story at the end of Nov. If the inmates break out and then we are asked to return six months later to simply find out about the conspiracy, they're going to have to make the conspiracy a lot more intriguing in the next few weeks or risk losing everyone once the show returns in May.

[ronsch]

Pretty dumb decision. Why don't they just displace one of their myriad crappy shows for this good one?


And this could very well still happen. If one of their hour shows really tanks during sweeps, PB could be back in January.

[Dmtalon]

Not that matters, but I sent a nasty gram to fox about the decision to 'bench' Prison Break until after 24's over.

At least it made me feel better...

[cwoody222]

I doubt it--Babylon 5 used to have 12-month seasons, where the season finale would be one week and the season premiere the next!

Well, that was a little different.

In order to prevent ending the series in a cliffhanger, they'd always forego airing the last 4 or so episodes every season because they were always in danger or not being renewed.

Then when they were renewed, they aired those last few from last season and then immediately went into the new season.

This also helped them 'ramp up' to production of the new season since usually renewal came late for this struggling show.

Other than from a production (or geek ;) ) standpoint, B5's seasons ended and started like a typical syndicated show.

[cwoody222]

I don't think FOX has decided anything 100% yet for "Prison Break". That article was from last week and the scheduling guy quoted doesn't say himself that Prison Break will be a "casulty", USA Today does. I think they're making an ASSUMPTION based on his comments about the pros and cons of a move.

No doubt FOX wants to keep the momentum PB has going on right now. They just have the fortunate problem of having too many shows to fit in their schedule.

I can see the potential appeal of ending the show now since it's at a creative "cliffhanger" and bringing it back in the summer when it could run uninterrupted for 9 weeks. They may have a summer show they'd want to launch this with.

However, that's a risk for such an unproven show.

No doubt, they have a difficult decision but, as of now, I don't think anything's in stone yet.

Either way, it's gonna be gone for Dec... like most shows.

[RunnerFL]

You have GOT TO BE KIDDING ME

I thought this show was doing pretty well. Whats the reasoning of not showing it in December?

Fox planned the split season all along, in fact I remember seeing a post on here about it. The second half premieres in June.

[cwoody222]

FYI:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117932759?cs=1&s=h&p=0

[TIV0addict]

I was just surfing around here trying to find out what happened to 24 and now I learn that I'm losing Prison Break! The FOX network suc%s!

[Deekeryu]

Oh, they better not cancel Prison Break. It's getting really exciting now. Best Drama out there.

[ovr8ted]

Let me get this straight:

They "cancel" Arrested Development
Put Prison Break on its place
Then put 24 on in its place

Makes total sense :confused: :confused: :confused:

[lander215]

As has been stated, PB was intended from the beginning to hold the place for 24....the surprise was how good PB has done and now Fox doesn't know how to solve the problem they've created of having two great shows on at the same time.

[Gunnyman]

Fox has 2 networks ready made for drama programming with The OTA Fox Network and FX
IMHO they don't utilize this fact nearly enough.
Prison Break can easily go to FX.
Arrested Development could too, but I don't recall any other comedies on FX.
I've pretty much given up on liking any shows on Fox because I always end up screwed.

[VinceA]

Starved & It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia were comedies on FX. I think Starved was cancelled but the other one is still around.

[smak]

Didn't they just solve the problem by benching AD & Kitchen Confidential?

Prison break at 8, 24 at 9 on Monday's. Sounds workable.

This doesn't solve the problem that even if they do this, Prison Break started so early, that it would end it's run way before May.

-smak-

[allan]

Maybe it's not SO bad. There will be ONE good show from January to May, and another good show after May. It's probably too much to expect FOX to have two good shows at any given time.

[David Platt]

Didn't they just solve the problem by benching AD & Kitchen Confidential?

Prison break at 8, 24 at 9 on Monday's. Sounds workable.

This doesn't solve the problem that even if they do this, Prison Break started so early, that it would end it's run way before May.

-smak-

Also doesn't solve the problem that they probably don't have any episodes ready to jump into that time slot so quickly! ;)

[cherry ghost]

I believe House will be moving to mondays before 24.

[mclark11]

Prison Break is a great name because even once they are out it's is still a prison break (I mean, it doesn't stop it being a prison break because they are actually out). It's a prison break no matter what, even if they are recaptured, they can still plan another prison break... It's a no lose name...

[dr_mal]

Fox has 2 networks ready made for drama programming with The OTA Fox Network and FX
IMHO they don't utilize this fact nearly enough.
Prison Break can easily go to FX.
Not until there's an FX-HD channel.

[Jeeters]

Fox has 2 networks ready made for drama programming with The OTA Fox Network and FX
IMHO they don't utilize this fact nearly enough.
Prison Break can easily go to FX.FX is a cable-only network. Sure, most people get cable, but not all cable companies offer it under their Basic service and require a higher level (and more expensive) service to get it. So any show on FX will likely have a lower number of viewers than if shown on 'regular' FOX. Fox may not be willing to go with the lower number of viewers - it may have business repercussions such as sponsers not interested in advertising on shows below a certain viewership level, or Fox having to lower ad rates for a show with lower viewership, etc.

[peitsche]

:up: I didn't see this (http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/networktv/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001612218) posted anywhere (but I didn't look in the fall finale thread because I have only watched 15 minutes of the pilot so far :D ) but I'm sure it has been discussed here somewhere. anyway, that's great news for people like me who can watch about one episode per week until the new ones start on March 13... :cool:

[IwantmyTiVo]

I believe House will be moving to mondays before 24.

This is not happening anymore. House was going to move to Monday, leaving Bones to fill the Tuesday 9:00 slot, but now they are moving Bones to Wednesday at 9:00 instead, leaving House where it is.

[canonelan2]

Does this mean it was picked up for Season 2?

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/cgi/newswire.cgi?id=7072

[ClutchBrake]

Does this mean it was picked up for Season 2?

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/cgi/newswire.cgi?id=7072

Based on the info in that article, no. That is saying Prison Break was confirmed for 22 episodes this season (2005-2006).

I'm sure it will be renewed though.

[MickeS]

I think that's just confirmation that it got a full season order for season 1.