Not even the marvels of plastic surgery could save what's become, believe it or not, one of cable TV's oldest dramas - Nip/Tuck.
The wildly successful medical drama starring Julian McMahon and Dylan Walsh as plastic surgeons wrapped production on its series finale (and 100th episode) last week and according to The LA Times, it was a quiet day.
Why the lack of fanfare typically associated with the end of such a popular show? Simple - the finale likely won't air until 2011, around two years from now.
With only 19 original episodes left in Nip/Tuck's run, it's expected that FX will split them into two seasons, with the 10 episode sixth chapter set to return in January 2010 with Damages. If that holds, the last nine episodes comprising season seven wouldn't be seen until another year after that.
Personally, I'm against this. I'm all for the show ending (it's time), but splitting up the remaining episodes would be a mistake. FX is currently airing a 22 episode season of Rescue Me, so we know that 19 is doable, but what's more important is considering the effects of season five's recent run. Twenty-two episodes long, it was split up because of the WGA strike and viewership suffered as a result. Viewers for the premieres of season five part one vs. part two dropped from 3.5m to 2.4m in the coveted 18-49 demo overall.
If there were say, 24 episodes left and each season would be 12 installments long, I might feel differently about this. However, holding off only nine episodes when you really don't have to just doesn't seem worth it when you could sustain viewers for all 19 instead.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-22-2009 @ 2:10PM
Christopher said...
Very bad move FX, very stupid.
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6-23-2009 @ 10:10AM
donna said...
im gonna mis this show too. i agree very stupid.
6-22-2009 @ 2:11PM
Key Rick said...
I'm no showrunner, but your logic seems sound to me. One long (like just about every series used to be) season, please, especiallys since all the episodes are finished filming. Plus, I'd go head-to-head with whatever the other cable networks are airing as soon as Rescue Me is done for this season. Give us past fans something for a change, since the network's so confident Nip/Tuck won't ever garner any new ones.
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6-22-2009 @ 3:28PM
slicendice said...
I really enjoyed the run that this show has made, but I do believe it is time for it to call it quits, the characters have gone about as far as they can go. However to rush and split up the end and take so far in between FX is really screwing themselves and the fans of the show. Strangely making 23 episodes of Dennis Leary half naked drinking and talking in a monotonous voice is better then Nip/Tuck but I guess thats why im not making tv shows.
No wonder companies are going bankrupt and losing $$$ when they make ill decisions like airing a final 9 episodes a year after other episodes, the ratings will be terrible.
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6-23-2009 @ 8:21PM
donna said...
no no no say it isnt so !!MY family and friends loved watching nip and tuck!!! what is wrong with you people, it was very intertainig please rethink this, we will really miss this show.
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6-23-2009 @ 10:10AM
donna said...
no !!no !!no please dont end this show my friends and i love it. and now you what to spread it out 2 years whos stupid idea was that.
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6-23-2009 @ 12:09PM
Adriana said...
Bad Move FX. Why would you cancel such a popular show? We don't need anymore reality shows, please bring back Nip Tuck or at least let the last shows air before 2010. All tv shows deserve an ending.
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6-23-2009 @ 1:22PM
Suzanne said...
What are you thinking? Rescue Me started out very interesting and different....now it's BORING and all you hear is cursing. Now, you are removing one of the best shows on TV....so different, so many characters and stories, and so very interesting. Who are the "geniuses" that decided to end this great show? THINK AGAIN!!!!!!!
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6-24-2009 @ 8:26AM
Bev said...
POOR MOVE...... LOVE NIP TUCK..... SO WELL WRITTEN AND THE ACTORS ARE GREAT ...... NO CHRISTIAN BUTT
HELP..............
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6-26-2009 @ 9:42AM
Kim said...
What the hell? Why are they canceling the "good" shows? Pushing Daises, Moonlight, The Game and now this. I'm tired of getting into a show, and Nip/Tuck was the sh*t, and having them yank it from me. Damn it!
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