http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271|98775|1|,00.html

When listing the things they're thankful for on Thanksgiving, the cast and crew of "Alias" will probably skip "steady employment."
While it has been widely assumed that this season, the show's fifth, would be the ABC spy drama's last, the network made the official announcement on Wednesday that this May's finale will conclude the adventures of Sydney Bristow and friends.

"This news, and its timing, is a mixed-blessing," says Executive Producer Jeff Pinkner in a statement. "Though we're obviously very saddened to face the reality that 'Alias' is coming to an end, the lasting quality of every good story is determined by its conclusion -- this news gives us the freedom to end the series in the climactic way it deserves."


The original concept for "Alias" came to creator J.J. Abrams back when he was working on his college drama, "Felicity," for The WB. One year he brainstormed that wouldn't it "just rock" if the main character, a university student, was recruited by the CIA and then had to go off and save the world while keeping her college friends in the dark.
Even though he continued to call the premise "ludicrous," Abrams did think it had the potential to be a comic book or cartoon come to life on its own.

ABC agreed and the story of grad student/international Sydney Bristow -- whose life became even more complicated when the agency she worked for killed her fiance and she learned her father was also a secret agent -- was born.

Abrams and his team managed to rest the clock on the show a number of times, fearlessly scrapping storylines and setting the charcters' world on ear at the drop of a dime ... or for a coveted post-Super Bowl spot.

This season, with star Jennifer Garner slightly restrained from many physical stunts due to her real-life pregnancy, the show attempted to reinvent itself once again with the addition of Rachel Nichols and Balthazar Getty to the cast. And the network promises that the announcement of its demise is really more of an effort to give "Alias" the send-off it has earned.

"Right out of the box, 'Alias' attracted a cult following of fans that were completely invested in the show," says ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson. "'Alias' is not going to wind down as it comes to an end, it's going to rev up, and we're going to make it the event it deserves to be."

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You know, that's a lot of favorites of mine ending this season. "Six Feet Under" ended in August, "Alias" ends in May, this might be the last season for "24" (it's been the last season since the first season, so I guess I'll believe it when it happens), "Arrested Development" is as good as gone. I can only hope UPN sticks with "Veronica Mars" and NBC sticks with "The Office". That'll just leave "Lost" and "My Name is Earl". And the Sunday at 9pm FOX animated hour.

Hey, at least JJ can write an appropriate, kick-ass series finale to the show.

You know...im not shocked.
Im a few months im going to be utterly devestated, but im just not going to think about it right now.

Suffice to say that Alias isn't likely to be toppled from my "favourite tv show ever" list....well...ever.
I mean, if a show of the quality that Lost has can't top Alias imo, then I don't think anything can. God im going to miss it. But on the positive we get to see Jennifer Garner pursue a film career.

Hopefully they can get Olin back for the finale.

I think ABC are a little sad that they've had to do it as well. The networks always spoken fondly of the show, moreso than it has with its other shows.

Touchstone president Mark Pedowitz made special mention of the contributions of Garner, who has earned four consecutive Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe trophy in 2002 for her work on the show. Garner has consistently shown her "dedication to the role and (has) unarguably the best demeanor in the business," Pedowitz said.

"Alias" executive producer Jeff Pinkner promised that the writing team was prepared to "wrap up the story of Sydney Bristow in a surprising and, we think, thrilling way." Instead of prolonging the tough decision about the show's fate, the early notice from ABC and Touchstone will allow cast and crew "the freedom to end the series in the climactic way it deserves," Pinkner said.

ABC said it would begin a "countdown" approach to the series finale in May. The series aired in the Sunday 9 p.m. slot in its first three seasons before moving to Wednesday last year and to the tough Thursday 8 p.m. slot this fall.


Really; I need more time to process


OH, and HAVING SEEN IMAGES FROM COMING EPISODES, i can just say that ALIAS this year certainly is NOT what it seems. WATCH the cast members carefully....

I would have loved Alias to last another season after this. Next year will be weird without Alias. Now Alias is joining the list of shows ending this season currently including Will & Grace, 7th Heaven, Strong Medicine, Arrested Development, and now Alias.

Spider-Man do not put ALIAS and 7TH HEAVEN in the same sentence again.

Hasn't Sutherland signed on "24" till Season 7 or something like that? I thought I read it some months ago.

Uts about damn time,hopefully ABC will replace that shitty show with a good one.

During Season 4, he signed on for two more seasons. So it would be until Season 6, the presumed final season of 24.

I think five are already too much. I loved the first season, but so far didn't bother with the others.

How often can one man save the world within 24 hours?

lol

7th Heaven-10th season
Alias-5th season

Mr SPARKLE - i mean quality wise.

And Neo_Wolf go "stuff" yourself u turd.

That's the awesome part of the show! I believe Kiefer can do anything if we give him 24 hours.

Seems like 4 times so far. LOL.

and

Smart writers have made 24 a classic - most people loved later seasons after #1.

Season 2 was great, Season 3 was pretty good, but I still think Season 4 was as good or even better than the first season. And I think the "2-night, 4-hour premiere" thing for the first four episodes was brilliant. I'm glad they're doing it again (Jan. 15th from 8-10, and Jan. 16th from 8-10).

May your xbox shatter into a thousand pieces.

At least it will go out while still on top, creatively.

Booo I think I'm gonna have to like sell my TV soon since I watch pretty much nothing as of LATE.

Good news for Tonymontana then, whose Jennifer Garner dress wont seem like such a bizarre purchase in 10 years when Garners standing on the Oscar stage and some fat dude is bidding $19k for it on EBAY.

Hell yeah my man! *air five*




And the retarded post of the day award goes to...

i just subscribed to the magazine and backordered the yearbook and the first magazine ever.

I want something to keep
I have some of the books which are in crappy condition after i got drunk and someone flung cola all over my room. And my sister bought be an alias book and calendar and ive obv got all the boxsets. But i crave MORE

It's going to be weird with Alias not being on ABC next season.

I'm fine with it. We got 5 years of one of the best dramas on TV, and that's okay with me.

Im going to cry at the finale. Its not like i want Alias to go on until it dies a slow death, and i do feel that this season has the perfect opportunity to end it on a high because this years really good.

But damn, I dont know what ill do without it. Even the weakest episodes of Alias soothed and enticed me

I knew this would be ending after this season, it was quite obvious. The only way it could have been around longer is if the ratings this year weren't poor, and without a lead-in the ratings haven't been anything special. It will be moving back to Wednesdays after LOST for awhile though which will help it, but still, no matter what it is done for.

I would have been upset but the show went majorly downhill so I don't care anymore.

My blood just boiled over a lil bit