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Alias Cancelled??
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Posted by: pkscout

Driving into work this morning the local morning show folks quoted a story from somewhere (I didn't hear where) that Alias has not been renewed for next season. There wasn't anymore information, and a quick Google search didn't reveal any information.

So, has anyone else heard anything about this? I don't want to start rumors, so I'm hoping there's someone that can confirm this. Actually, I'm really hoping there is someone who can categorically deny this. I'm gonna be bummed if Alias gets canceled.

Posted by: LoadStar

It hasn't been renewed yet - nor has it been cancelled. ABC hasn't said either way.

It's generally assumed that it's a lock for next season though, and Jen Garner has made comments about next season that imply that they've been given the impression that they'll be renewed.

Posted by: Knative

The local paper had a blurb of the renewed shows on ABC. Alias wasn't listed. Take that for what it's worth.

No link, so you'll have to trust my typing

quote:

Tampa Tribune, 04/15/04, Walt Belcher's 'Television' Column

... Noticeably absent from ABC's pickup list: "Alias" and "8 Simple Rules"

Posted by: rasheed

Jennifer Garner indicated the show was being renewed in an interview. While she indicated that she may have let that slip out, it also puts some pressure on ABC to go ahead and renew even if they would prefer to try something else. However, it would not be the first time that a show still didn't make it even with some star power as the lead. The ratings are still not great (often gets beat in its time slot).

Rasheed

Posted by: Rob Helmerichs

But they do owe the syndication two more years...

Posted by: devdogaz

Here is the article from Zap2it.com. The important part of the article says:

quote:
Missing from the list are "Alias," which could be ABC's only other returning drama next season; "8 Simple Rules," its highest-rated comedy; and dependable unscripted franchise "The Bachelor." The network could make more announcements in advance of May's upfront presentation to advertisers.

Posted by: landrumdh

It will totally suck if the cancel it :-(

Posted by: Graymalkin

Nothing done by TV execs surprises me anymore. Well, if HBO cancels this season of the Sopranos midway through, that would be surprising. And about as likely as a meteor crashing into whatever mountain hideaway Osama is hiding in.

Posted by: Rob Helmerichs

I wonder, if they do cancel it, do they have to refund TNT for the two years TNT paid for that haven't been produced yet?

I wonder if that will be a factor in deciding whether to renew the series? :D

Posted by: canonelan2

wow... I had no idea Alias was in jeopardy. I guess Graymalkin is right... nothing the moronic execs do can be surprising anymore.

Posted by: Kylep

Hrmph, I just started watching this show, catching the first two season's on DVD.

I am surprised how they can maintain an audiance when every friggin episode ends in a cliff hanger.

Posted by: Fofer

quote:
Originally posted by Kylep
I am surprised how they can maintain an audiance when every friggin episode ends in a cliff hanger.

Um, maybe because the audience keeps watching to see how the previous cliffhanger gets resolved?

(Or is that too obvious?)

Posted by: dansee

quote:
Originally posted by Fofer
Um, maybe because the audience keeps watching to see how the previous cliffhanger gets resolved?

My God! You might be on to something here! Why, if they did that every week, people would just keep watching again and again!

Posted by: tuneman

the cliffhanger technique is hit and miss. i'm rabid about catching the first run episodes, but i hate watching reruns, because they're out of order.

Posted by: dtle

Someone mentioned that it'll get renewed because it's one of the only two dramas (other being NYPD Blue) returning for ABC.

Posted by: grecorj

quote:
Originally posted by dtle
Someone mentioned that it'll get renewed because it's one of the only two dramas (other being NYPD Blue) returning for ABC.

Well, The Practice is coming back, but as a "spin-off" with James Spader and some other cast members.

As for Alias, maybe Disney/ABC is waiting to see how "13 Going on 30" does this weekend before committing to another season. :)

Posted by: LlamaLarry

I have not gotten on the Alias boat because I missed it leaving the dock and was *utterly* confused when I tried an episode last year. Maybe if it gets cancelled I can watch all of them on DVD and *then* moan about it getting the axe. ;)

Posted by: grecorj

Honestly, I love Alias, but I'd rather not see it go the way of the X-Files and go on way past it's expiration date. I'd like to see 1 or 2 more years at most...

With the state of ABC's lineup, I still think it's a lock for next season and probably Season 5.

quote:
Originally posted by Medieval Guy
I wonder, if they do cancel it, do they have to refund TNT for the two years TNT paid for that haven't been produced yet?

I wonder if that will be a factor in deciding whether to renew the series?

Perhaps, but remember TNT didn't pay a hell of a lot of money anyway!

Posted by: Rcrew

I'd enjoy another season.

But if it doesn't get renewed, and the rest of this season is already done, does that imply there will be loose ends?

Posted by: lew

quote:
Originally posted by Rcrew
I'd enjoy another season.

But if it doesn't get renewed, and the rest of this season is already done, does that imply there will be loose ends?

I'd hope for a few episodes or at least a 2 hour episode next year to tie up some loose ends. Based on the low ratings I suspect if it doesn't get renewed it'll just end.

Posted by: Fofer

I'll bet this show is waaay expensive to produce as well.

Posted by: mask2343

Why do you think we have to live with all the Ford product placements? "Look, the F150!"

Posted by: brott

I'd watch another season, but if it gets cancelled. Oh well.

Posted by: devdogaz

I really don't think there is any chance it gets cancelled. Everyone in the know says it's a lock to return, as it is one of the few bright spots on ABC's schedule.

Posted by: Kylep

quote:
Originally posted by Fofer
Um, maybe because the audience keeps watching to see how the previous cliffhanger gets resolved?

(Or is that too obvious?)

But most people don't catch every episode of a show, and in Alias if you miss one you not only missed the resolution to the cliff hanger you saw, but your starting off the next show you watch having to completely rely on the "previously on" scenes to set you up.

This is very frustrating. In fact, I had tried to watch the show a few months ago to see if i could get into it but was totally turned off by this format. The only reason I decided to give it another try was because my netflix queue was low, and I figured starting at the begining would be better. It is a fun show other then this frustration.

Posted by: dnemec123

quote:
Originally posted by LlamaLarry
I have not gotten on the Alias boat because I missed it leaving the dock and was *utterly* confused when I tried an episode last year. Maybe if it gets cancelled I can watch all of them on DVD and *then* moan about it getting the axe. ;)

It's already out on DVD. Season 1 and 2 I believe. Blockbuster's has them.

Enjoy!

Posted by: Kylep

quote:
Originally posted by dnemec123
It's already out on DVD. Season 1 and 2 I believe. Blockbuster's has them.

Enjoy!

Warning!!! the end of season 2 ended in a HUGE cliffhanger!!! I had to go to bit-torrent!

Posted by: cmontyburns

I'm assuming it'll be back but then I also assumed ABC was telling the truth when it said Karen Sisco would be given an honest chance. (Still dreaming of the Karen Sisco-Alias Sunday night double-bill that coulda-shoulda been...) I do think Alias will eventually be canceled, though, and before I'm ready for it to be, all my nit-picking of it aside. In a way it would almost be a relief, so I could just be done with ABC altogether. It's the last show on that net that I watch.

Posted by: rasheed

quote:
Originally posted by Medieval Guy
I wonder, if they do cancel it, do they have to refund TNT for the two years TNT paid for that haven't been produced yet?

I wonder if that will be a factor in deciding whether to renew the series? :D

Well, I could be wrong, but I don't believe TNT actually paid the entire amount in full for the show. I believe they committed to the price and paid at least some sort of deposit, but the remainder of the actual payment should come with a payment plan somewhat related to when the episodes will be aired or delivered to the network. So, I am not sure if there is a refund issue involved.

I still think this show will be renewed, but its ratings are not good.

Rasheed

Posted by: cmontyburns

Here's an article from Entertainment Weekly's website. The gist is that Jennifer Garner is everybody's presumptive Next Big Thing. Despite only a modest (to be charitable) presence in anything besides Alias to this point ("13 Going on 30" about to be the first exception) her star certainly has been on the rise. If she really does take off, her presence on ABC could draw new viewers to her show and to the network -- both results ABC should desperately want. They have far worse problems on their schedule than Alias at the moment, and patience certainly could prove a virtue (even if a modest one) for them.

From ew.com:

Her TV show is ranked a measly 74th among prime-time network series. Her most momentous big-screen turn has been a supporting role in 2003's mediocre ''Daredevil.'' And she won't even prove whether or not she can carry a starring vehicle on her ripped deltoids until April 23, when the romantic comedy ''13 Going on 30'' opens. But when it comes to Jennifer Garner, the kick-butt star of ABC's ''Alias,'' nobody seems to care. Already, the 32-year-old is mentioned in the same panting breath as box office sweethearts Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, and Reese Witherspoon. While their asking prices (for Roberts and Witherspoon it's in the $15 million range) are far ahead of the nascent star's reported $3 million pay for ''13 Going on 30,'' the comparison is hardly a stretch: Witherspoon, for example, reportedly earned $1 million for 2001's ''Legally Blonde,'' then $5 million for 2002's ''Sweet Home Alabama,'' and $15 mil for ''Blonde 2'' last summer. So what's working so well for Garner -- whose sum is truly greater than her parts?

the sally field syndrome
People like her. Not only is Garner praised by coworkers and press alike, but that aura of likability translates to the screen. Explains ''Alias'' creator J.J. Abrams, ''She's a beautiful girl with an ugly girl's personality.'' We're not sure what that says about beautiful and ugly girls, but we do know that Garner's charm can beat movie-star muscle: Ben Affleck toplined ''Daredevil,'' but Garner walked off with the sequel, ''Elektra,'' which begins filming in May. And, while the tabloids threw ''husband stealing'' at Roberts when she began dating then-married Danny Moder, they treated Garner with kid gloves when she left her husband, actor Scott Foley, amid rumors she was involved with ''Alias'' costar Michael Vartan.

she works it
''I don't think I've seen anybody as engaged in the process [from beginning to end] since Arnold Schwarzenegger was young,'' marvels Tom Sherak, a partner at Revolution, which produced ''13 Going on 30.'' And unlike most TV stars, Garner strays beyond the Emmys and Golden Globes (which honored her for best actress in 2002) during awards season. She's made it a point to attend the Oscars, giving her prime coverage in fashion, teen, and gossip mags. Stylist-to-the-stars Phillip Bloch says that Garner's perfect poise is ''no mistake.... She's worked with several stylists and dropped them along the way.'' That decision, Bloch says, is paying off: ''She was my second-best dress at [this year's] Oscars. And Garner's a TV star.''

passion beats popularity
Garner's ''Q'' rating -- or recognizability -- is 33 percent, compared with Julia Roberts' 87 percent. (Have to wonder about the 13 percent who have never heard of Roberts, but that's another story.) Here's the interesting part: 25 percent of those who know Garner say she's their favorite actress, while 35 percent say the same of Roberts. In other words, Garner's fan base is almost as rabid.

she's a range rover
Each week on ''Alias,'' Garner plays an assortment of characters, from superspy Sydney Bristow to a German punk rocker and a high-society partygoer. It's a flexibility that has earned her a unique reputation as an actress who can deliver both punches and punchlines. Although ''Alias'' provides Garner with a small platform to vamp -- it consistently ranks third in its time slot, with 8.2 million viewers -- the series' low viewership could actually help her as she transitions to film. As Ron West, partner of the management firm Thruline Entertainment, speculates, moviegoers have no preconceived notions about what to expect of her.

Hollywood's desperate
At the ripe old age of...36, Julia's hangin' with her hubby in New Mexico. Reese is younger (28) and can do charming, but a leatherette catsuit? Not so much. And Jennifer A., well, one woman can only do so much. Which leaves Garner with the pick of the litter. Says a production exec, ''People really want her to be a big name. Garner fills a niche. Or, perhaps more accurately, everyone hopes she [does], because it's turning into a wide, gaping hole.''

Posted by: Graymalkin

Boy, they just really want her to be the next It Girl, don't they? Gentlemen -- it's the audience who decides. Gretchen Mol? Uh-uh. Kate Bosworth? No go.

Posted by: jwjody

If they do cancel I just want to see some loose ends tied up.

Posted by: cptodd

quote:
Originally posted by rasheed
The ratings are still not great (often gets beat in its time slot).

Rasheed

I really have to see what is on (on network TV) that could have a chance of beating it. I am curious.

Posted by: cptodd

I am REALLLLY thinking of goning to see 13 going on 30 even though it is not the kind of show I would think of seeing. I guess it is because I like Ms. Garner.

Posted by: Graymalkin

As cute as Jennifer Garner is, I will wait for "13 Going on 30" to come out on DVD before I see it.

Posted by: pkscout

quote:
Originally posted by Graymalkin
As cute as Jennifer Garner is, I will wait for "13 Going on 30" to come out on DVD before I see it.

I'll probably just rent "Big" and watch that again. OK, I lied, I'll probably rent this too, but I'll complain the whole time that it's just a rip-off of "Big." :D

Posted by: SparkleMotion

quote:
Originally posted by Graymalkin
And about as likely as a meteor crashing into whatever mountain hideaway Osama is hiding in.

Then he's approached by a dead Mandy Patinkin and recruited to become a Grim Reaper.

Oh wait...that's on SHOWTIME!

Posted by: rasheed

quote:
Originally posted by cptodd
I really have to see what is on (on network TV) that could have a chance of beating it. I am curious.

NBC's L&O: CI often win the time slot with CBS's original Sunday movie placing second. ABC often is third (distant third).

Rasheed

Posted by: cptodd

Oh GOD! Those Sunday movies are HORRRRRIBLE! I could see L&O: CI (I passed it in production on Thursday--I was looking for Vincent D!) but not those dogs they play on CBS on Sundays.

Posted by: super dave

Maybe the ratings could get better if ABC actually kept Alias on EVERY Sunday so folks could get into the habit of seeing it at the same time each week. They haven't given it a chance this year at forming a non-TiVo audience. The average Joe has viewing habits.

Posted by: Rob Helmerichs

Well, do the math. 52 weeks. 22 episodes. And a show where you can't just pick one at random and jump in.

It wouldn't be a bad idea to do what 24 used to do, and just start late & end early with a show almost every week except holidays and State of the Union, but that ain't gonna happen on Sunday night, when a lot of stuff happens.

Posted by: pkscout

quote:
Originally posted by super dave
Maybe the ratings could get better if ABC actually kept Alias on EVERY Sunday so folks could get into the habit of seeing it at the same time each week. They haven't given it a chance this year at forming a non-TiVo audience. The average Joe has viewing habits.

That would be great. I'm a little scared about what ABC thinks about Alias when they're willing to move it to 10pm one week so they can show The Ditz and the Blond Variety Hour (i.e. Jessica Simpson and Nick what's his face - you decide which is the ditz and which is the blond). The *really* scary part of that the Jessica/Nick thing apparently made a killing in the ratings. :(