The wait is finally over. After having its last season cut short from 22 episodes to 14 due to the WGA Strike, Nip/Tuck is set to return in January 2009 and FX has been airing some great promos to get fans ready.
However, because of the strike, episode number counts, renewal news, and other tidbits of info all sort of got mashed together. So here's what I'm guessing is going to happen after the New Year...
As I mentioned, season five was supposed to be a full network length season of 22 episodes (rather than a traditional cable season of 13 to 15). Only 14 aired and that means eight episodes were left hanging. So here's where things get a little ambiguous. You may recall that back in early 2007, after season four, FX renewed the show for three final seasons - meaning it would end after season seven. Great news, right? That means we should have expected the double length season five, plus two more seasons.
Not so fast. From everything I've read, the new season in January will not be billed as "Season Five, Part Two," but rather as a new "Season Six." With only eight episodes, it makes sense that potentially five more would be added to get it to 13 installments. During this year's TCA, FX President John Landgraf announced that they were giving Nip/Tuck 19 final episodes and that it would end in 2011. OK... so assuming five of those 19 get added to season six, that would mean season seven (the last one) has 14 episodes. Do the math in your head if you'd like, but there's really only one thing to draw from this mess - we're losing out on one season of Nip/Tuck since part two of season five has become its own season. The show will end with an even 100 episodes, but had season five not been split, there probably would have been anywhere from 107 to 111 episodes upon completion.
OK... I'm done ranting. In the grand scheme of things, this really isn't a big deal. While I'm excited that the show is going to get a proper ending, I guess I feel just a tiny bit gypped. Although, having exactly 100 episodes is kind of nice. FX sold The Shield into syndication and that will only have 88 episodes upon its completion. I'm not sure what, if any network, would buy Nip/Tuck up after its run though.
In related FX news, Glenn Close was on Rachael Ray last week and she confirmed that Damages will also return in January.
Oh and here are the two promos I mentioned. Looks like the premiere picks right up after Colleen's attack on Sean. Also, if you're racking your brain over the song in the promos (I was), it's "Flashing Lights" by Kanye West.
[UPDATE -- 11/12/08 -- FX has announced that Nip/Tuck will return on Tuesday, 1/6/09 and will be billed as "Season 5, Part 2." Damages will return on Wednesday, 1/7/09.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-27-2008 @ 3:41PM
MERVE-THE-PERVE said...
Fx is starting to act like a major network, but not in a good way. They're starting to get cancel-happy. They're also screwing around with production schedules, episode orders, and the tv schedules. I think I may have to start treating them like a big network and wait until their new shows are on until year 3 before catching up so I'm not wasting my time on something they are just going to get rid of after a year or two.
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10-27-2008 @ 3:54PM
Chip Douglas said...
Why not have a split season like many of the USA programs? This way the story lines won't be forgotten by the smaller audiences. This might even attract larger audiences, who knows.
I am also sorry that the Riches was canceled as well. I think that this was collateral damage from the writers strike, and should have been afforded another chance.
As for Nip/Tuck. This has always been a favorite of mine. I just want it to push the envelope as much as it did when the show first grabbed me. I want ti to finish strong and not just phone in the last episodes.
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10-27-2008 @ 4:48PM
0megapart!cle said...
The show has phoned in almost every episode last season (and most of the season before). It needs to die. Like an evil dead thing that refuses to stay in the ground, Nip/Tuck needs to be put out of its fucking misery.
(For the record, I think the Nip/Tuck pilot is one of the finest episodes of television ever made, along with most of the first season).
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10-27-2008 @ 5:50PM
tv junkie said...
It's time for Nip/Tuck to say goodbye, and I'll stay with it 'till the bitter end. I accept the fact that it'll never return to the greatness of season one or two, and although I totally enjoyed its over-the-top comeback in season four, the shorten season five was pretty forgettable. I love how the show has jump around the shark so many times that nothing really shock me anymore, even the gore and the blood don't disgust me as much, so I guess that's why 100 episodes is a good number to end on.
I can't wait for its final season and my other FX addiction, Damages, to return...it's been a long time since their last broadcasts.
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10-28-2008 @ 9:27AM
Tim said...
I had to skim through two pages of Nip/Tuck gushing and trailers - to find the single line about Damages return, which really could have been up front.
I just found that interesting.
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10-29-2008 @ 7:54AM
kait23 said...
did sean die??
whats going on?!
AH.
:(
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11-20-2008 @ 4:17PM
debbie said...
I for one am pissed ....nip/tuck is a great show and every year it seems something screwy happened... not alot of episodes the strike ....whatever..... and why is it ending anyway... it is a great show keeps you on the edge of your seat and shows good people can do bad things and be just as messed up as the rest of us.... maybe f/x should get rid of some of this tween crap where kids in high school act like there 30. How about us people who are 30 and enjoy watching stories that are on the edge of your seat cant believe what they did.....Good.....
At least they hopefully will end it right and not just leave us hanging although to finish in 2011. If the new season starts in jan... 8 episodes ... and its season 6 when will the finally be a year later... come on.......
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