Last week, it was Men in Trees. Now the end has officially come for another ABC drama series. ABC has confirmed that October Road is over. The long and winding road is no more, so to speak. ABC has no room in the fall lineup, apparently, and a plan to move October Road and Men in Trees to Lifetime never panned out. So all the die-hard fans who've been writing the network and crafting petitions can give it up. No amount of peanuts or blood drives -- oh, wait, that was Jericho and Moonlight. The Roadies had a different tack; buy the DVD, donate it to a library to get more people watching and writing to ABC. Despite the sincere efforts, the network still chose to end the road and move on to a newer, different show.According to sources, the show runners for October Road have already been reassigned. They're going to take over Life on Mars, which was to be headed by David E. Kelly. Kelly agreed to let the O-Road guys take on the U.S. version of BBC's Life on Mars in exchange for ABC's commitment for a fifth season of Boston Legal.
I know the fans won't give a fig about where the executive producers land, or that one of the stars of October Road is shopping around for a new series. Roadies only care that a favorite show has ended too soon. That's exactly how the Men in Trees crowd feels. Consider it the downside of being a TV fan. I do. I still haven't gotten over Profit, and that was -- what -- 12 years ago. And don't even get me started on Now and Again.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-13-2008 @ 12:27AM
Basketcase456 said...
I am very depressed about this. October Road was addicting since the characters were down to earth, yet completely unbelievable. At least the show wasn't left on too much of a Cliffhanger at the end.
As for Now and Again, I feel the same way. That show was clever, and should have been given a second season.
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5-13-2008 @ 12:41AM
yourstarla said...
Sucks. That show was cheesy but awesome in the same way. I hated admitting that I watched it when my boyfriend caught me, but it made me laugh and made me cry and I'll be sad that I'll never find out if the chubby girl ever ends up happily every after with the hot guy. And after two seasons we never found out who Sam's real father was.
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5-13-2008 @ 1:24AM
Coronaboy said...
It's a load of crap that ABC didn't give this a fair chance. How much you wanna bet they'll cancel half the shows they roll out in the fall, when they could've had something here?
In all honesty, it didn't help with the night and time slots they stuck the series in. I'm just glad they didn't throw a major cliffhanger on the final episode, you know it would've had people going nuts on ABC's board. Hopefully the cast will find something long-term, guess we'll have to wait and see.
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5-13-2008 @ 2:35AM
Brent McKee said...
Frankly this show should have been canceled last May. It didn't do well in the ratings or with the critics, even in the post "Grey's Anatomy" timeslot that it forced "Men In Trees" out of. I'd rather have "Men In Trees" than this but of course the latter was a pariah for the network while the former somehow became this season's "What About Brian?"
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5-13-2008 @ 7:34AM
Bash said...
I watched both shows until I couldn't stand it anymore. Both shows ran out of material pretty fast and became a complete suckfest. The setting was nice, the characters were nice - but everything was said and we should've left them where they were and be done with it.
Again I ask why it is necessary to have a show running when the writers actually don't have a clue anymore what story to tell? The premise is dealt with and then? Nothing.
On the other hand I consider some of the episodes of Dawson's Creek in the later seasons really great - with a lot of garbage in between, and the finale to be excellent. But you can't just expect this for every show.
I think the next show like this which has to go is Brothers and Sisters. They have been running around in circles for a couple of episodes too.
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5-14-2008 @ 4:17AM
Seye MAWA said...
Let's contact CW (feedback@CWTV.com) and ask them to pick up this wonderful series!
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5-14-2008 @ 4:17AM
Seye MAWA said...
Let's contact CW (feedback@CWTV.com) and ask them to pick up this wonderful series!
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5-15-2008 @ 1:40AM
chuuzelife said...
Thanks for the article Allison. It's great to have unbiased writers report on October Road. We're so used to the stinging barbs of the critics that it's refreshing for a writer to say anything nice about October Road. We haven't given up though I think we'd have a better chance on the CW, Lifetime, Oxygen, ABC Family, etc. than on ABC as it sounds like deals have been struck over there.
LONG LIVE KNIGHT'S RIDGE...thanks for a great ride guys!
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5-15-2008 @ 1:56AM
roadie4life said...
October Road certainly was a great show and us Roadies are trying to see if another network will take it under it's wings if ABC can't figure it out that they had a good thing going, maybe they will snap out of it. No more reality shows, this show gave us a story and a darn good one at that.
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5-15-2008 @ 7:49AM
Marta said...
I can't believe ABC would cancel such a great show!!!!It don't want to get involved in any new shows!They give you 2 seasons and that's it?Not fair!!!!!
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7-17-2008 @ 7:21PM
sherry said...
I agree. It is not like back in the day, when shows had a fighting chance. I don't think I want to watch any new shows. Why bother, when they get canceled. I already lost October Road, Women's Murder Club, and Will Traveler. Then there was Now and Again, and a show called reunion. On that they never wrapped up who the killer was. So why bother taking on any new shows. The network cares about numbers, not the people that watch the shows.
5-15-2008 @ 8:13AM
Kooper said...
Roadies don't give up easily. We are passionate about October Road and we aren't ready to settle for "no" as an answer. We were only promoting October Road before the upfronts, now we are fighting for it. Look out cruel world...we are not giving up!
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5-15-2008 @ 8:24AM
Deb (avongal) said...
It is a shame that October Road was cancelled, but we by far are not giving up. The Roadies are continuing to fight. The Pay October Road Forward campaign is still going and dvd donations are still happening. New fans join the efforts daily. The creators applaud our efforts and still do! As do the cast. So, all fans out there that don't know about these efforts, go to yahoo groups, PAY_OCTOBER_ROAD_FORWARD and join in. You'll be glad you did!
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5-15-2008 @ 8:33AM
tbfor18 said...
This show was entertaining to me from the start. It is a shame that it, like MiT did not get the support from ABC that would have made them more successful. The characters, the storylines, the emotions, the friendships were all what made this such a great show, along with a great cast. Here's hoping it pops up again somewhere down the "road".
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5-15-2008 @ 10:31AM
Joanna said...
October Road was by far the most amazing show I have ever had the pleasure of being addicted to! I got a ton of new viewers proudly!!! I will keep up the fight for this show no matter what it takes...Long live the Road!!
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5-15-2008 @ 4:34PM
MegganKofCali said...
You know, they are calling us Roadies a Cult! I love that! So if you are a fan of October Road, don't think for one minute this fight is over. We know Scott Rosenberg and the gang are still committed 100% to this great show. Please come join us in bring back October Road to t.v. Any network would be lucky to have it. Join the Pay October Road Forward Campaign and help our libraries out. Donate a S1 DVD to a soldier over seas, make a care package and see how good you feel. Hear from a soldier personally and see how happy they are that you took the time to think of them. Can't mail a care package your self, donate directly to a charity called TAKE A SOLDIER TO THE MOVIES. Order your S1 DVD online and have it shipped directly to them, so fast and easy, all you have to do is care. ROADIES are united in one cause to bring back October Road to t.v. and help the world in the process. Thanks so much for this article.
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5-15-2008 @ 4:55PM
Bella said...
I like that... I think October Road does have a "cult-like" following. ABC has made a huge mistake. This show still has legs, so much more story to tell. It was cut too short. We have about 18 episodes, not even a full season.
Time will judge this show kindly. Unfortunately the critics and ABC have no vision.
Long live October Road! Long live Janet and Eddie!
5-15-2008 @ 5:35PM
chachmyer said...
October road is/was the best show on tv!!! Please help us bring it back from the dead!!
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5-15-2008 @ 7:24PM
iLuvORoad said...
I love October Road and the Roadies will go on fighting to save our show. This show had heart and great characters who people actually care about. I think the networks have got to start to take notice that the reason people are mainly watching reality tv, game type shows, and weekly shows that don't keep you hanging is because so many of us through the years have watched a drama, loved it and been burned by the network cancelling the show with no closure. People want to watch shows that they know they won't be left hanging on. That is why quality shows like October Road don't get the ratings anymore. That and the fact that networks stop and start these shows, move them all over and not promote them. Audiences can't even find these shows let alone become attached. But October Road deserves to be saved or at least the fans deserve several episodes for closure.
Thanks!
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5-15-2008 @ 8:10PM
DreamerRoad said...
October Road -- FABULOUS show, unfortunate victim of bad scheduling. Not only is it really a great show with amazing characters but it had a ton of GREAT story left to tell. I am not prepared to let it go without a fight. Let's hope that ABC or some network decided to pick up this great show and give it the full season it deserves.
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