Despite all the network hype that ABC would stand by its scifi program “Invasion,” the slow-paced program’s network supporters finally had to admit defeat in the face of a season-long lackluster showing in the ratings.
The show is no longer on ABC’s fall slate and the rumors that the new CW Network may pick up and continue the series are also falling by the wayside. To appease fans ABC is touting not a scifi vehicle, but a new thriller that deals with national security called “Traveler.”
The studios are going to start facing big problems at some point. They overhype these shows to bring in the audiences, then as soon as the figures drop a little they drop the shows. The schedules are constantly shuffled, huge hiatuses- and then they are surprised that people turn off? Hellloooooo!!!!
This year we have had Threshold, Invasion and possibly Surface (I’m not holding my breath) all get cancelled. Audiences invest large amounts of time into following these shows, only to be left hanging at the end (if they are lucky) of the season.
I’m really pissed off- I watched Invasion all the way through, and in the past couple of weeks it has really started paying off, ratcheting up the action and suspense- things coming together. Now, once again, I’m left without an ending to the story. You cannot make a show which is all about a mystery and then just leave it hanging. This is not the first time either by a long shot- I watched John Doe all the way through- although from what I hear the ending they had planned was a complete cop out. If you’re going to pull crap like this, go back to the old episode of the week format because long term drama is not going to sell if its future is permanently in jepoardy.
Anyway, I’m not going to bother with the next few series which come along. I’ll go back to my B5 and Firefly DVD sets and wait until a few seasons have gone by before I invest in anything else.
This is a real shame. Of the new sci-fi shows this year, this one was the best by far. And not being a Neilson Ratings hound, I figured that Invasion had to be doing well following LOST. William Fichtner is awesome in this show, and as the previous commenter stated, the show was finally starting to deliver on the set up during the first half of the season.
It’s amazing that LOST has done as well as it has. It seems that since the X-Files any show that tries to keep secrets and not give away the farm by episode six gets cancelled.
Oh yeah, it certainly didn’t help to take the show off the air for six weeks to show that piece of s#*& show “Evidence.” Way to go ABC!!!
That’s pretty crappy news. Invasion’s one of the few shows I make sure I get to watch each week.
Well shucks. The wife and I had given up on this show and decided to watch Surface. Based on what I had heard on the podcast here we took advantage of the marathon on ABC Family so we could get caught up. The show is just finally starting to really get good, we are hooked and now I find out it’s cancelled.
I guess there is not much point watching the rest of the episodes I have on Tivo.
The networks are so stupid. Any show that requires more than 60 seconds of attention span gets cancelled while “Back on Campus” type shows take over the airwaves.
At least we still have SG1,Atlantis and BSG…
Great! I’ve been a big fan of invasion from day one, and haven’t missed a show. This series had a great mix of everyday drama and sci-fi mystique, I enjoy Invasion more than Lost! It seemed like the networks wanted to jump right in and explore the sci-fi universe, then bailed as soon as they realized their shows weren’t mega-hits like Desperate Housewives! I’m bitterly disappointed and frankly I say to Hell with the networks, let’s all support the specialty cable channels!
Typical knee jerk Network thinking. They don’t seem to realize these shows take longer to gather a following, but when they do they are usually loyal, as long as the writing is good. This is another Shaun Cassidy production being shot too soon. “American Gothic”
This show had a lot of potential. I agree with a previous comment, in the future I will wait for the first season to be over, then if they don’t cancel I will catch up with DVD.
My husband told me this morning that he heard on the radio Invasion had been cancelled. I really didn’t want to believe him. This is the first sci-fi showed I’ve gotten into since x-files ended. There’s not much on TV these days worth watching. All the reality shows are a waste of time. Let’s just hope someone realizes this show’s potential and decides to pick it back up.
Where is Chis Carter these days?
Done.
I will continue to watch Lost but ABC has now joined Fox as a netwrok from which I will entertain no new work. If a new show begins on either ofthose networks, I, for one, will simply not be watching. I’ve been burned enough.
and what’s worse is that Shawn Cassidy keeps getting repeatedly screwed. american Gothic was a fantastic show too. when will he learn to pitch his shows to cable?
Speaking of cable – Hello! USA Network? this show is a perfect companion to “The Dead Zone” and “The 4400”
Whatayawaitnfor?
And Invasion just started to hot up. Damn. Typical Network bumbling happening there. I see they managed to bring back the craptastic “The Bachelor”! Sheesh.
I’m sick of ABC. I think I’ll just Netflix Desperate Housewives and Gray’s Anatomy.
I just read what came out of the Upfronts. I’m not hungry anymore.
Except for something called “Day Break” starring Taye Diggs. He plays a police detective framed for murder who lives the same day over and over again. Yep, like “Groundhog Day”.
That could be compelling. Except for it’s on, yep, AB-freakin’-C.
Damn.
I’m with all of you. I don’t watch network TV. However, my wife got me into Lost. After seeing the first episode of Invasion, I was hooled. Forget the sci-fi aspect – I loved this show and found all the actors and their characters very compelling. Tom Underlay in particular is one of the best TV personalities to come down the pike in a very long time. I’ll watch Lost, but otherwise, I’m done with ABC. This cancelation, following the absurd cancelation of Night Stalker in the middle of a two part episode, is the straw that broke the camel’s back.
I agree with every posting here. All the good, thinking man’s shows are being canceled. One can only hope SciFi or even USA (re: 4400) will pick up one or both of these excellent scifi dramas. Surface and Invasion were the ONLY network shows worth watching last season.
our family was so disapointed that abc strung us along,finallly got it going and cancelled invasion.Will another network be bright enough to pick up this great show?
I feel the same way all of you do. I really liked Invasion and Surface. I didn’t really watch Lost, but Invasion I looked forward to and it was just getting good. I can’t believe they would end it like that. I hope another station picks the show up too!
I won’t follow any more ABC series – this network is not honest with his viwers.
Done, Finito, Hasta la vista, No more, etc.
I am so upset about SURFACE being cancelled,and now INVASION TO my daugther and i loved these shows and look forward to them each week! I though it was fun and exciting to see with was going to happen I to hope that it will be pick up by a network that see good programing. there are just a few good show on tv and the rest are about killing, sex, and drugs just what your kids need to see.
I’m Nancy’s daughter who posting is #16 on this list. I agree with all of you. Invasion was one of those show’s that seemed a bit weird at first, but once given the chance it go me hooked right away. Every episode had a lot happening in it and it kept you anxious for the next week to see what would happen next. There aren’t many show’s on t.v. that do that anymore. It was nice having something to watch that was just a good story and not filled with things you had to cover your kids eyes to keep them from seeing.
This is the last straw with network TV when ABC & NBC AXE There 2 Best Shows “INVASION” & “Surface”thay are so unfair to there viewers Maybe one day all there viewers will Axe them and thay will wise up.
What is wrong with these jerks at ABC…they wouldn’t know great programing if it sat on their face…I am so fed up with my favorite shows getting cancelled. If it’s sci fi, then I should expect it wont’ get any further than 1 season, or less…Why bother watching any new shows if I’m only going to get disapointed when they get cut ? We watched every episode of Invasion and Surface and had been looking forward to the next season…(also enjoyed Threshold ) Is Surface returning? my family and I are huge sci-fi fans and look forward to shows or movies that are of this nature. Maybe they want us to read books instead of watching TV.. These network execs are sabotaging themselves by continually disapointing loyal fans…” Please” won’t some other smart network take on this series… thank you for listening…
I agree. I am so dissapointed. I loved Invasion. It was actually better then lost because I got so tired of all of losts re runs. I watched every episode of invasion and now what, we don’t get to see how it ends. Shame on you ABC, you have to at least bring it back for an ending. I will never again invest so much time in any new ABC show.
This sucks. They prime you up at the end of Surface with so many questions left unanswered, and then they axe the show. I don’t understand how they can do that. Don’t they get the ratings from the public watching in the first place. How can networks justify this action. I for one want to know who the hell Kessler was and how he could still be alive. I want to see what the inside of the Marianis Trench looked like, who survived, and all the rest of the answers that frankly left me pissed off. Someone needs to pick up where it left off and at least appease the consumer.
I just finished watching the only season of Invasion on DVD. I so enjoyed the chararter driven show. so very entertainingand well written. I enjoyed it even more than when it was on TV. ABC constantly interrupting it to show it’s tired show of Alias. No wonder the ratings wern’t there. You never new when it was going to be on. ABC screwed it’s success. On DVD at least I didn’t have to put up with ABC jerking me around as a fan. Shame on AbC for leaving the show at agreat cliffhanger. I won’t invest my time with anymore ABC new programs. I’ve learned “Thanks for watching” is a slap in the face.