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Originally posted: November 1, 2005
Breakdown
Nooooooooooooooooooo!

Fox, say it ain’t so!

According to a story in USA Today, “Prison Break” will end its current batch of episodes on Nov. 28, and the locally filmed series won’t come back until May.

You read right -- until May!

Oh, no. No!

Fox expects us to go six months without “Prison Break”? That is just wrong. And cruel. Did I mention cruel?

The network says it has a too-crowded schedule for early 2006, once “American Idol” comes back. Well, Fox could choose not to overstuff its schedule with additional “Idol” episodes. Much as we’re all jazzed here in Chicago by the White Sox World Series win, Fox is, well, not so jazzed.

The Series got low ratings for Fox, hence we’ll be seeing more “Idol” than ever as the network attempts to juice up its overall ratings for the season. I’ve already bought my earplugs in anticipation of the dozens of "Idol" hours that will no doubt feature terrible auditions.

But hey, if the network is committed to endless “Idol” but needs space cleared off its schedule to make room for “Break” in early 2006, how about canceling the abysmal “Killer Instinct”? I know, I know, heaven forbid we should have to go without a TV series about grisly murder cases and the wooden cops who solve them. Somehow I think we could muddle through.

Other things to get rid of: “That ’70s Show,” which is, I think, on its 47th season. Now that both Ashton Kutcher and Topher Grace are gone, it’s time for that show to go. I don’t know if “Trading Spouses” will be part of Fox’s schedule when January rolls around, but if axing it means more “Prison Break,” then by all means, ax away. “Stacked.” Please. The world will not miss its special brand of terribleness. And hey, this season especially, Fox is no longer about the terrible (amazingly enough).

So, c’mon, Fox, clear away the dead wood on your otherwise surprisingly respectable schedule before you consign “Prison Break” to limbo! Don't make us wait six months for new episodes of "Break," especially because you just have to know the show's going to leave us on a massively cruel cliffhanger.

Look, it’s swell that Fox is bringing back “24,” we have that to look forward to in the new year. But if Fox doesn’t overstuff the schedule with too much “Idol” and/or cancels some of its deserving-of-cancellation shows, viola! There’s plenty of room for “Prison Break”!

See, that wasn’t so hard.

UPDATE: A Fox spokesperson says that "Prison Break" will indeed have its "fall finale" on Nov. 28, and will return with nine additional episodes in 2006. But, according to the spokesperson, a May return for the show "is one option, but it is not set in stone yet."

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Comments
Great article, Miss Ryan and I couldn't agree with you more...all the shows you hate (Stacked, American Idol, Trading Spouses, American Idol, That 70s Show, American Idol), I also hate...24 and Prison break are easily 2 of the 5 or 6 best shows on Television, bar none.

Why not create "action Monday" with a Prison Break/24 2 hour Monday block in January? it will be perfect with Monday Night Football going away and it will be high adrenaline time. Besides "House" makes more sense paired with "Bones" on Tuesdays. FOX will have wonderfully and critically acclaimed 'paired' dramas to start the week.

But more 'American Idol'--God help us all...I will never understand how all this reality garbage (Trump, Idol, Survivor, Top Model) keeps garnering so much ratings! I love good, exciting, well constructed shows like Prison Break that surprise and unfold to reveal new things every week. Why FOX wants to deny us this pleasure is beyond me.

Posted by: Alex R. | Nov 1, 2005 3:27:44 PM


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I hope American Idol dies the same way Millionaire did.....from OVEREXPOSURE. For some unexplained reason tv networks are afraid of originality. Prison Break is original, and GOOD. This, 24, and House are the only things I watch on Fox. I am SO over Idol.

Posted by: OVER Idol | Nov 1, 2005 2:31:46 PM


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I was hoping for more 24 promos during the World Series. Oh for the days when one would hear "WHO ARE YOU WORKING FOR!" every two at-bats.

Posted by: Mr. Smith | Nov 1, 2005 1:31:31 PM


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I am not a fan of American Idol at all...who wants to see more people sing? We have soooooo many singers out there...they all sound the same...and you really never hear of them after they win...why end a show like Prison Break? That is really the only show I watch in Fox, except of course the reruns of Seinfeld. They need new management.

Posted by: RLC | Nov 1, 2005 12:03:04 PM


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I can't believe that Nov. 28th will be the last episode until mid 2006!! This is a great show and I make a point of watching it every Monday night!! For Prison Break to be pushed back because of American Idol coming up is ridiculous. Who is running the show over at Fox? They should be fired!!

Posted by: Dedicated Prison Break Watcher | Nov 1, 2005 11:54:07 AM


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Hey Fox Network, why end a show that a lot of viewers been waiting for so long to see. This is one show that is so intense that make me sit down and watch the commercials. And the reason is that, I am so afraid that I will be missing something. I have came across a lot of people who really said that they love watching a show like Prison Break. Actually, Prison Break keeps me on the edge of my seat. But if it was up to me I will show it twice a week or more. Fox, that is one show I am looking forward to watch every Monday night. And if I'm not at home, I make sure that I record it so that I can watch it when I get there. Actually, I can't go to bed until I watch Prison Break.

So please think twice before your cancellation of this show.

Posted by: ron davis | Nov 1, 2005 11:47:30 AM


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Remember that great bit at the start of the return of Family Guy when Peter Griffin rattles off the names of dozen of quality shows Fox has given the shaft through the years? Here is another one getting it good. Good lord, Fox is such a badly run network.

Posted by: Bill Quigley | Nov 1, 2005 9:44:10 AM


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Stupid people at Fox...why oh why when there is something finally so damn good, they got to do this???? and then they keep crappy shows like "Stacked" on??? American Idol...omg, why can't they show both shows? why not put aside something else???? I can't believe this...WTF!!!!!

I got the perfect answer, take off Stacked and the 18 years past it's prime show That 70's Show.

Fox doesn't have a good track record with it's good shows. A move like this could seriously hurt Prison Break's ratings.

Fox should just stop making sitcoms all together. Over the years this channel has built a reputation in my mind for creating some of the worst comedies (The Simpsons and Family Guy being the only exceptions). But they have made some good dramas in recent years: House, The Jury (which of course got canceled after 9 episodes), and 24 (which I have never seen but am thinking about starting a DVD collection).

Another solution would be to get rid of that stupid Trading Spouses. Seriously, does anyone actually watch that? If you ask me that whole concept has been done to death in one form or another.

But anyway, it sounds like we will only have to wait until March now.

Fox should just stop making sitcoms all together. Over the years this channel has built a reputation in my mind for creating some of the worst comedies (The Simpsons and Family Guy being the only exceptions). But they have made some good dramas in recent years: House, The Jury (which of course got canceled after 9 episodes), and 24 (which I have never seen but am thinking about starting a DVD collection).

Another solution would be to get rid of that stupid Trading Spouses. Seriously, does anyone actually watch that? If you ask me that whole concept has been done to death in one form or another.

But anyway, it sounds like we will only have to wait until March now.
You should definately try out 24. Its one of the best shows on tv.


Yea I'm glad we only have to wait until March but thats still to long. They could have found a place for it in January.

I hope that doesn't change viewership! :(

I hope that doesn't change viewership! :(
Me too. I can't believe Fox is doing this to us. They have a hit show and they're taking a big chance keeping it off the air for so long. :(

I got the perfect answer, take off Stacked and the 18 years past it's prime show That 70's Show.

Fox doesn't have a good track record with it's good shows. A move like this could seriously hurt Prison Break's ratings.
They should change the title of "That 70's Show" to "That 80's Show" but, since that title was already used for another stupid show of theirs, I guess the next best thing would be to just cancel it. My God, I remember when this was thee show I would look forward to watch; Now, it's just another show that I can't wait to see go off the air.

They should change the title of "That 70's Show" to "That 80's Show" but, since that title was already used for another stupid show of theirs, I guess the next best thing would be to just cancel it. My God, I remember when this was thee show I would look forward to watch; Now, it's just another show that I can't wait to see go off the air.
I haven't watched the show in almost 2 years. It used to be one of my favorites but its stayed well past its welcome. Speaking of shows that will never end, I guess The Simpsons is going to go on until we all die. :lol: