These days, it seems like the first move for a network series that's in danger of being canceled is to find a cable network or other partner that's willing to take it on. See: Law & Order: Criminal Intent moving to USA from NBC last year, or Friday Night Lights trying to get a deal with DirecTV to bring it back.
So I guess it's no surprise that ABC wanted to shop its low-rated Men in Trees and October Road to another network. It's not even surprising that they chose Lifetime, which is also owned by Disney. But what's a little shocking is that Lifetime said no.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, network executives reviewed the tapes of both shows but decided to pass on picking them up, leaving the shows in limbo. The paper reported that Men in Trees still has support at ABC proper (not that it's obvious from the way the show's been treated there) and could return for a third season on the network — but it sounds like this was the final nail in the coffin for October Road.
Both shows have been ratings duds this year: October Road's most recent episodes got just 4.7 million viewers, and Wednesday night's Men in Trees pulled in 5.8 million people. But they both have fervent fans, and there must be something to like about them for ABC to want to save them at all. So, fans, this is your chance: Why do Road and Trees deserve to come back? Sound off below.
Photos copyright 2008 ABC, Inc.
Pinko
Buti
Woolrich
I hate that they don't let shows know and they just end like they are going to have another season: tons of unanswered questions. I actually really like October Road (what can I say, it sucks you in...) and the last episode left a TON of new questions and it would be really disappointing to not see them answered.
1i love october road- i hate the time slot- i wish they'd at least give it a better time slot before pulling it.
2I love Men in Trees...! Though I always tivo it now that it's on at 10:00 pm Wednesdays...I actually liked it better on Friday nights, but ABC should find a better time slot for it, great show!!
3i was so glad they brought october road back this year and this season was actually better than last. i don't know why i like it so much...maybe it just has a lot of loveable actors that i miss from other shows.
4I really like October Road - but they did a TERRIBLE job promoting and airing it. Just like with Six Degrees, they aired a few episodes, then kind of went away for a while then came back with no warning. Now I'm out of the loop and behind in episodes.
5i've never watched october road so i cant say anything about that one - but with Men - i liked the show the first season, but it was on Friday nights which is just hard. then this season it's been a bit dull to be honest...but you never know.
6I love October Road! I caught the first season on SoapNet and was hooked, and watched the second season normally. Maybe they should shop it to SoapNet? I don't want it to go away forever. I think it is a much better show than a lot of the garbage out there. If Flavor of Love can come back for a third season, so can October Road!
7I love October Road, but I have to admit... this season hasn't been up to par, not to say it was BAD but they've been dragging it out sooo much that I myself lost a little interest, I havent even watched the last 2 eps (accidentally missed them) but I don't wish it to go! Gosh... well I want to know if the kid is Nick's or not!!!
8I started to watch a few episodes from their first season very recently from October Road... I thought I would like it, but the more I watch, the more I lose interest. And I really can't bring myself to watch it anymore. :/ I was disappointed, because I think the lead character (the actor was a favorite of mine when he was on One Tree Hill) is adorable and the show in general makes me all nostalgic for Massachusetts/New England. I wasn't that impressed with the writing.
9Save Men in Trees!
10I HATE october road yet I watch it every week (well i DVR it and skip through it) just to find out who the father is to that freakin kid!!! If it goes off the air and I never find out, I will be an ABC hater, which says a lot since I love LOST.
11Oh no no noooo - they can't kill men in trees! The ultimate feel good show. I've seen every episode, some even twice...
12I have a friend with a big part on October Road, and for him my husband and I said we would watch it....but we just can't do it! It's just so patchy! I think there are some great performances, but the writing and some of the supporting cast are weak. We watched all of the 6 episodes from Season One, but haven't seen any at all from Season Two. Am I missing out?
13I love both of these shows and they need to come back!!!!!!
14I got addicted to October Road from day one and I really want to see how these new questions get answered at least. I really hope they at least wrap everything up before canceling it.
15I love October Road!
16This makes me sad. I want October Road to come back!
17I really like October Road! Geez.....I hope they figure something out because I don't want them to cancel it!
18I love Men in Trees! It seems, especially this past season, that it's better than even Grey's Anatomy which receives higher ratings.
19It's wonderfully written and with a great group of actors.
I wish more people watched because it's a good one.
There's even a campaign to save the show and it's a super great one, too.
http://abc.go.com/primetime/menintrees/index?pn=mb&cat=30893&tid=194171
Ahh, nuts. Every show I like gets cancelled. I watch both of these. That means these two and Journeyman have been axed from my viewing list in the past year...Pushing Daisies better be ok! Can't wait for that one to come back!!!!
I don't watch anything else besides Lost--and thank goodness for DVR'd General Hospital each day! At least I know THAT will keep on truckin'.
20OCTOBER ROAD is such a great show! No hype....just straight forward goodness. I really hope they keep it.
21I love love love October Road. Ever since the first season and this last episode left so many unanswered questions. They can't just get rid of it! I so hope they keep it on the air.
22October Road has become one of my favorite shows. I really like the different characters, plus there are so many unanswered questions!! They can't kill it now!
23Save October Road and Eddie LaTekka!!!! So many unanswered questions and so many great characters (and hot guys). Cut some of the crappier reality shows (does anyone really care to see "The Newlyweds or My Dad is Better than Your Dad" and my apologies if those aren't ABC shows). I hope the fans will "bring the wutang" as Owen says and keep this one alive.
24Love October Road, but hate the time slot.
25i love October Road , i just found this show a few weeks ago , i can't believe they going to cancel her.
26KEEP OCTOBER ROAD!!
27I know they totally kill all of my favorite shows: The Black Donellys, then Journeyman, NBC can't cancel Men In Trees.
Men In Trees is like a thousand times better than Grey's and a lot more exciting.
It's the only show I really look forward to now, since they canceled Journeyman earlier this year.
Without my Gilmore Girls, Men in Trees is the only show keeping me same. Like GG It's smart, funny, interesting with lots of unique quirky characters in a town where everyone knows each others, the setting is beautiful, and you really care for all of the characters. Not to mention all of Marin's loves interests have been very hot menly men.
I really love the actors too, before this show I only though of Anne Heche as the nut job/Ellen's girlfriend/crazy woman from I Know What You Did Last Summer. I am a huge fan of hers now! And let's not forget John Amos, and the women from Carrie 2, King of the Hill, and Stargate respectively (I'm not good with names).
Save Men In Trees!
Oh, and October Road is pretty good too.
28Ok I meant ABC, and I apologize for all of my spelling/grammar errors...but I'm a little upset.
29Men in Trees and October Road are two of my FAVORITE shows. It breaks my heart that they may not be returning. October Road has so many storylines to finish, this cannot be the end!
30We don't even know who is Sam's real father. And Janet and Eddie cannot be over!!
October Road is the best show on TV. I'm really upset that it is possibly not coming back next year, especially with all the storylines left hanging. If only ABC would promote it a bit, it would get a bigger audience. It was never promoted this year, even during the times it was pre-empted by other shows - a critical mistake during the year of the writers strike. How were people to know whether it was not airing for a couple of weeks or out of scripts??? This is such a great show. The relationship between all the guys is so refreshing and fun. So different from what we've been seeing in other shows. Please, ABC, give this show a real chance. Give the writers an opportunity to show us what they can really do. Bring this show back for a season 3!!!
31I absolutely love October Road. It really is the only drama I watch on television anymore. The characters are so lovable and the cast that plays them is perfect. My favorite is Nick and his quest to find himself. Bryan Greenberg does a great job portraying this character and I can't wait to see more! There was way too much left hanging in the season finale, they have to answer the questions somehow, I really hope they consider bringing it back. They need to put it in a new time slot and advertise, I think more people would enjoy it and watch it!
32I am not quite sure why they are taking October Road off the air. It has a lot of supporters out there that want it left on the air. It is a great show with unique and interesting characters, interesting storylines that keep you guessing and great music. I am not quite sure it got a fair handshake as it always started after the season began and most people were already watching their shows. I do know that people are discovering it now and are loving watching the DVD. It seems that we always have the same reality shows on when there are other people wanting other shows to watch. I also know that there have been groups of people that watched this show instead of watching by themselves which would indicate that there are lots of supporters for this. I wish ABC,Lifetime, or CW would give this show a chance. If you check the boards and HeyNielsen site you will see that this show could be very popular if given a chance. Also I always watched this show and very rarely saw it advertised with clippings to gather interest like other shows. So please ABC give this show a chance to be a hit show. I know some older shows that are still popular today even with reruns did not have good ratings when first on. So as I said just give a chance and listen to the people as what they are saying.
33I would like anyone who supports October Road to come and visit the ABC boards with us. Also you can make comments to help save this show on HeyNielsen.com We are trying to get as many comments on as possible. Thanks
34Love both of these shows, October Road and Men in Trees, both shows are unique and entertaining to watch. The characters and stories are very engaging. PLEASE SAVE THESE SHOWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
35I watch both these shows. I like Men In Trees but I LOVE October Road. I really hope that ABC brings back both, but I will be devestated if they cancel October Road. If you take a look at the message board on abc.com, you will see I am not alone in this!
Please Save October Road!
Christine
36October Road is the best show I've ever seen. It has a great cast, music, and story lines. There is so many unanswered questions that the audience needs to know before they cancel it. I really hope they bring back October Road.
37I LOVE October Road! It's my favorite show on TV. Take off some of those stupid reality shows and promote this show a little!
All those unanswered questions. Will we ever know if Sam is Nick's son. Or could he be Eddie's son?
Please, Please, find a spot for this show. We love it so much! I look forward all week to Monday night because I love these people.They are so real and so interesting. I cannot believe with all the crap on TV that this one good show has to be taken off the air.
Can't someone please find a place for it somewhere?
Don't take my favorite show away!
38Absolutely love October Road. This show deserves to have a full season to give it the proper chance at thriving. Six episodes the first season and 13 the next isn't enough for it to show the networks it has a place. Most businesses need at least three years before they begin to show a profit, and it isn't expected of ANY business to show one before that. Why should a series be any different? In the eyes of networks, this is a commodity, something to be sold. It needs it's third year!! Help save the road by participating in the Save October Road campaign. Visit ABC.com message boards to learn how! Help save the Road!!
39October Road is a diamond in the ruff and by no fault of it's own it has had to struggle to shine. Given a writer's strike, a less than desirable timeslot, and a serious lack of advertising...it still managed to capture the hearts of many (just not enough for ABC). The fans (we Roadies) are a dedicated group. We're spending a lot of time and energy trying to promote and save this show (not complaining, we do it with love). Just pointing out that the network should take a more active role. ABC, it's your baby, don't you want to raise it? Please get season 2 out on DVD asap. This along with our season 1 promotion will insure a larger audience for season 3. And season 3 is what we're all about here!
40October Road is one of the best shows out there...It has genuine characters and storylines...I think it could thrive in a better time slot...We have some many people campaigning for this show...Just check out the ABC message boards and you'll see what I'm talking about!!! We love October Road and it needs to stay on the air!!!
41October Road should not be overlooked. It is quality tv and if ABC or Lifetime or another network wants viewers then they should go and view all the message boards at Heyneilson, abc.com october road and see the overflowing of affection viewers have for this great show. A season 3 is a must and proper advertising would help get more people to realize about this great show. The characters and the sense of home is a great feeling when viewing this show.
42October Road is the best show I have seen in a long time. It has an amazing cast with great chemistry. It has story lines that are meaningful, unlike many programs that rely on shock value. It makes me laugh, cry, smile, think, and always feel good at the end, even when I watch an episode again! October Road should be given a fair chance: Lots of promotion, and a good time slot, for instance, how about 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday? It deserves another season, and the viewers deserve not to be left on a cliffhanger. If you haven't seen this great show already, buy, rent, or borrow the season 1 DVD! You'll be hooked like me!
43October Road has evolved so much since season one. I have been a fan since the first episode, but the episodes keep getting better and better. Juju you really are missing out. The show went from cliche lines (which I still enjoyed) to amazing wit! Some of the one liners this season (2) are priceless. Even the characters have become multi faceted. The show is so much more than "Who is Sam's dad?" It has real substance and charisma! Give it another shot, for your friend and for the show. YOu will not regret it. The season 2 finale is one of the best episodes!
44October Road deserves a FULL season to show its stuff, not the pitiful 6 eppy first season followed by a 13 eppy second season with a move to the worst tv viewing night of all, Monday. I've been hooked from the very start but even I can see that this show has steadily improved from when it began and the season two finale episode was outstanding with just awesome music! October Road just needs to be given the same chance as most of the other shows get and it will be able to pull away a winner for ABC. A lot of the powerhouse shows started out slow too, like All in the Family, Seinfeld, and Dick Van Dyke. Besides, if you've followed the show at all then you would know about "Jeddie" and how the network just can't leave their breakup like that!
45For me October Road has filled the spot that Ed and Providence previously held. I like the "going back home" theme that all three share. I like the realness of October Road. It's not a sappy soap or some far fetched theme every week, it's more about real life.
I am sick of reality shows and game shows. If this show gets pulled before it's given a fair chance (I agree with whoever stated earlier about not even knowing it was coming back and no reruns to catch up etc....) then I have just about had it with the main three networks. Just go ahead and stick to comedies and reality then because I am tired of giving my time to drama shows that I watch, seeing the characters develop, following story lines only to have them disappear again within a month or two. Sometimes they come back six months later. Then I go through all the catch-up and get back into it only to have it gone again in a month. It's getting ridiculous.
I agree, there are too many unanswered questions and I for one would feel cheated after following the scheduling and waiting to just have it yanked away.
46I love October Road, the storyline is great and it always keeps me coming back. I hope they don't cancel it like they did with What About Brian? I loved that show and they just cancelled it out of no where. There should be a way to count viewers who DVR the shows and watch them at a later time. I CAN'T WATCH ALL THE SHOWS I WATCH WHEN THEY AIR, I WORK FULL TIME AND GO TO SCHOOL FULL TIME!!! I watch all of my shows on my free time outside of school and work so I think they have more viewers then they calculate for some of the shows they just "willy-nilly" cancel.
47Men in Trees is my all time favorite show. I am a married, Mother of three children and a full time college student. I look forward all week to watching My Show. I can't believe ABC has the Nanny on tonight but not Men in Trees. This is a travesty for certain. I can't stand the Nanny. The idea that families turn to National TV to learn how to monitor their children's TV and video time is ridiculous. I truly hope that ABC stops their false advertising. The Men in Trees site still states that it is scheduled for Wednesdays 10/9c but it is obviously not airing tonight. Why???? 5.8 million dedicated viewers is not enough? Please at least let us know when the next episode will air. I loved this season so far and am captivated to see what comes of Marin and Cash's kiss. I can't wait to see if Annie and the ice skater hook up or will Patrick come to his senses while he's in New York and realize his love for her. Buzz and Mai have to patch things up. Please, please don't leave us hanging. This is an awesome show that I am completely hooked on. I love the characters, they have become like family since the very first episode. If you haven't already watched Men in Trees, check it out.
48You dont sit an see to much family tv,or friends you can depend on about things that can happen in real life...October gives you that. Cheating with your friends girl, him forgiving you..that takes guts an it HAPPENS in life, but the thing is when you have a really bad day who do you want by your side at the end of it ? Family or friends thats who....that is October Road, Hanna is still there for Nick even tho she's marrying Bobcat, Nick is there for his dad (knowing he runs in hard times ) he stayed for his dad. The lines in the story jsut got really good an complicated. Please find a home for this show Its home to me ,I come home from a hard day an stay up late just to see this show, it gives me a inner peace at the time I watch it, and excitement for the next weeks show. Think back to when you had a show that did that for you....I bet its been awhile......... Keep these two shows I like MIT too,but Oct warms me .MIT is a good time passer with funny moments.
49I can not believe the ABC canceled October Road. I have watched from the very beginning and it is one of my two favorite shows. ABC is making a huge mistake because with a better time slot and actual advertising this show would have had major success. I am equal puzzled that another network would not jump at ABC's mistake and not grap this show up. Is there anyway to change their minds. I can't not let this show go. Please!!
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