This sucks:

http://66.51.173.18/cgi/gofuton.cgi?...wswire&id=6590

ABC
(presents on Tuesday, May 18)

Not surprisingly the Alphabet is set to launch eight new series this fall with changes to every night of the week, save for Saturday. The big news however is that the network is expected to shelve the fourth season of "Alias" until midseason in order to give newcomer "Desperate Housewives" a higher profile launch on Sunday nights. "Alias" would then return in January for the an uninterrupted run.

I'm not sure how I feel about this move toward uninterrupted runs. Granted, it sucks when shows are pulled for like two months at a time but I'm not loving Alias not returning until January.

Yeah, I'm pretty torn on this one too. One the one hand, it's great not having to wait so long between new episodes, but it seems Alias isn't as important to ABC any more.

It's going to be one killer of a wait if this season has a huge cliffhanger!

Especially as former Angel producer Jeffrey Bell is onboard for Alias's 4th season, Tim Minear as well I think. Those two promise a good 4th season.

Sucky news for fans, but for me it is a great move.

I watched the first episode of alias and loved it. I got really behind and haven;'t seen a single episode since. I have the first 2 seasons on dvd and am beginning to watch them. When the 3rd season comes out in Sept, I can get that and watch those episodes. If I have until Jan, that will be cool as I will be all caught up and able to watch the show every week.

I think you would rather have a full season, then half a season, how's that a great move. When you get the dvd boxset, you'll feel short filled, as 4th season will be half the episodes.

I really hate some of the viewing habbits of people in the USA, shows like Alias, Angel deserve bigger ratings, but some of them just watch the crap stuff and the whole world has to pay for it, when things get canceled, that sucks.


To put a show like Alias on a mid season thing, shows lack of confidence, I'm preparing for the 4th season to be the last, just to not get my hopes up high.

I don't think it's saying it's a half season: it's being pushed back to start midseason with an uninterrupted run. New episodes from January (?) to May with no repeats for a "full" season.

That's how interpreted it, too.

I'm disappointed, but as long as they eventually air the season I will be happy. Maybe it will give the producers and writers time to work on the show and put a better finished product out for the viewers.

This will also give everyone a chance to catch up on the first three seasons on DVD (for those who fell behind or missed it entirely). I can see ABC's add department already working on their adds to promote the show and it's DVDs throughout the fall in preparation for the season premiere in January.

This also gives their budding movie star a longer summer break to work on other projects.

The only thing that worries me is that this is the same network that said that it would bring KAREN SISCO back. I know ALIAS has three seasons under it's belt, but you never know what the MouseHouse will do lately...

Lets not forget that ABC has licensed the first three seasons to TNT to show in the fall. Perhaps some of the reasoning is that people will get to watch the first three seasons on TNT (they'll cycle through all of the episodes at least once before "midseason"). Then they'll be all caught up for when season 4 begins.

Alias' greatest strength and weakness is seriality (is that even a word?). The same aspect that keeps regular viewers coming back week after week keeps casual viewers away. IIFC, the reasoning behind the TNT deal was to help casual viewers get into it and build up the dedicated fan base.

Just looking for a ray of hope in this announcement.

Edit: Whoops! I misunderstood and thought that the TNT deal began Fall 2004 but it doesn't actually start until Fall 2005. So now people will get a chance to see the show after its already been canceled.

Whoever had the bright idea to do this to Alias should be not literally though but he is definately

I totally forgot about TNT and how much they will air the shows. My brother-in-law started watching ER last year and he got into it so much that he TIVO'd the repeats on TNT and watched the first nine seasons over the past year.

Good call, Booth.

Didnt ABC do this to NYPD Blue once or twice?

Otherwise known as "getting the NYPD Blue treatment"

To my knowledge, the only thing ABC hasn't done to NYPD Blue is move it out of its timeslot.

Didnt they do that too, to make room for that Kim Delaney show?

I don't trust the Mouse...

It's a rat. Don't be fooled.

das

I don't think so. Wasn't it on before NYPD Blue @ 9/8 central?

It was 10pm ET.

das

I thought they switched NYPD BLUE to 9/8 and had the Delaney show on at 10. I could be wrong, but im pretty sure, and I think I remember Bochco being pissed.

I'm in the exact same boat as you.

For anyone that cares, that Kim Delaney show was called "Philly".

what took you so long to chime in?

I'm a little worried about people forgetting about the show, but the uninterrupted run thing beats the hell out of how the season went down this year.

And Philly was pretty damn good, iirc.