Update on "Damages" Situation: "Is "Damages" Canceled?"

[JamesG]

This Just In: "Damages" in Danger? Here's the Latest...
April 5, 2010
by Jenna Mullins


"Damages": Critically loved but only "meh" in the ratings, "Damages" is in serious trouble.


FX has reportedly not renewed the FX series for a fourth season. At least, not if they have to pay for it themselves.


Our sources just confirmed that Sony is in talks to partner with DirecTV's 101 Network, and that deal would lead to the same type of situation "FNL" has, meaning the fourth season would air first on the 101 Network, and then on FX later. We do love DirecTV for saving "Friday Night Lights", so we can only hope that "Damages" is kept afloat for another season.


We reached out to FX reps for comment, and here's what we got:

"We have not made any announcements concerning "Damages" season 4."

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watc...imdb_tv-movies

[JamesG]

"Damages" Third Season Could Be Its Last
April 13, 2010 | By: Audrey Fine


With "Damages" viewership down a whopping 46 percent from its first season, it seems less and less likely that the critically acclaimed but ratings-challenged FX drama will be back for a fourth season, despite discussions between Sony Pictures Television and DirecTV about the possibility of switching the series to the satellite provider.


The bottom line? Big bucks.




According to Variety, a fourth season would have the cast and crew looking for a bump in salaries -- not a good thing when trying to become a lean-for-satellite property.

Fans might hold out hope, however, as "Damages" would certainly fit in well with DirectTV's testosterone-friendly fare of "OZ", "Deadwood", "Brotherhood" and "Friday Night Lights".



And, Monday's DirecTV announcement that it had acquired David Simon's gritty cop drama "The Wire" from HBO certainly points to the fact that the satellite company is hungry for new, quality, offerings.




Time will tell whether a deal can be reached, but until then, any actresses hoping to be nominated for an Emmy will just have to hold their breath to see whether or not the peerless Glenn Close will finally be out of the running.

Deep breath, Julianna Margulies, deep breath.

http://insidetv.aol.com/2010/04/13/d...d-be-its-last/

[JamesG]

FX Rep: No Announcement Yet on "Damages" Future
Posted May 4th 2010
by Andrew Scott


Is "Damages" about to get the ax?

According to an unconfirmed source for TV by the Numbers, crew members received word today that the Emmy-winning series has been canceled.



But don't fret just yet, "Damages" fans:

TV Squad spoke to a rep for FX this afternoon, who said that an announcement has not been made about the show's future.





Still, that the fate of "Damages" is in question should surprise no one.

The show earned abysmal ratings in its most recent season, averaging just 1.4 million viewers during its premiere episode in January. The following episode was seen by just 1.02 million viewers, and received an embarrassing 0.2 rating among adults 18-49.


Last month, network president confirmed to the Ausiello Files that Sony was in talks with DirecTV to save "Damages" for a fourth season, a la NBC's "Friday Night Lights".

However, insiders later told Variety that a deal was unlikely.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/05/04/fx...amages-future/

[JamesG]

Is "Damages" Canceled?
by Gary Susman
posted Jul 6th 2010


For all its critical acclaim and the Emmy-grabbing prowess of Glenn Close, FX's "Damages" is not expected to be renewed for a fourth season.

Still, a report in TV Guide declaring the show dead may be premature.



In his column on Monday, the magazine's Matt Roush wrote, "Where FX is concerned, it really is over for "Damages"." He cited the twisted legal drama's low ratings and high production cost (with its New York City location shooting and its big-name cast, which this season included Close, Ted Danson, Lily Tomlin, Martin Short, and Campbell Scott).

"While season 3 was a vast improvement over 2 in terms of quality and story, it didn't draw an audience big enough to justify the expense of a star-heavy show filmed in New York," Roush wrote.

"This was a business, not a creative decision."











If "Damages" really has been canceled, however, FX has yet to say so. "No announcement has been made," FX Vice President of Media Relations Roslyn Bibby told TV Squad today.

She said she did not know when a decision on the show's future would be announced.




An announcement of the show's cancellation has been widely expected, for the reasons Roush stated, for nearly three months, ever since FX aired the season 3 finale.

There was talk this spring that Direct TV might come to the show's rescue, the way it did for the similarly situated "Friday Night Lights" (lots of kudos, few viewers), but that hasn't panned out so far, with insiders saying such a deal is unlikely.











At least the show has a chance to go out on a high note.


The season 3 finale brought some closure to the characters played by Close, Rose Byrne, and Tate Donovan (fatal closure, in the case of Donovan's Tom Shayes).

And when the Emmy nominations are announced this Thursday, Close's name is likely to appear on the ballot for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama, and she could certainly take home her third consecutive trophy in that category for her portrayal of win-at-all-costs lawyer Patty Hewes.




Meantime, until FX finally says otherwise, "Damages" fans can hold onto a slim reed of hope for a fourth season.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/07/06/is-damages-canceled/