Okay, this doesn't at all tell you what happened in Season 4, so rest easy, Michael. Anyway, I thought I would post this for Alias fans. This is sort of spoilers, so I'll give you the warning now. Okay? Okay.

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ALIAS (ABC) - Rachel Nichols ("The Inside") reportedly has joined the cast of the veteran spy drama. She'll play a young C.I.A. trainee whom Jennifer Garner's character takes under her wing. As expected, Nichols's casting is designed to help take some of the stunt load off the Garner (whose pregnancy will be written into the show) as well as fill the void left by Mia Maestro, whose character has been downgraded to a semi-recurring role. In addition, the producers are also understood to be casting a new male character who will likewise fill in for the also-exiting Greg Grunberg. (Click here for full details about this news from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.)

Source: http://www.thefutoncritic.com

What the hell? When was all this decided? I just heard today that ABC was bringing back Alias in September, not midseason like some thought due to Jennifer's pregnancy and crap timeslot. So, they're writing it in now? I think that's a horrible move. Couldn't they just hide her here and there, and make believe she's not pregnant.

And, Greg Grunberg is leaving?! Mia Maestro is only semi-recurring. Damn it, these changes came out of nowhere.

They're really trying to get his cancelled aren't they? It's making me, a die hard Alias fan, not feel compelled to even watch it this season. What with less Mia Maestro? I think she's was great addition to the cast and everyone seems to like her. And Greg Grunberg is great for some comedy relief. I'm truly disapointed. Stupid, stupid Alias ](*,)

Same kind of Spoilers ahead.....



I just picked up the new ALIAS magazine and read some Season 5 stuff... not much more than what was posted.

There is indeed going to be 2 new younger agents, one male and one female. I guess the point is to be how they affect Sydney like her sister did last season. From what I understand Rambaldi is not going to have much of a presence but will "never go away" cuz it's so much a part of the show. Vaughn's secret and its repercussions are going to play a big part of Season 5.

You know maybe normally I'd say incorporating a baby in the show at this time... like when her and Vaughn are growing distant because of this revelation.... might be interesting, but it's too soap-opera-ish. I don't know. I'm not exactly thrilled about it. I didn't know they were going to incorporate it in until this thread...

Greg Grunberg sort of leaving wasn't that big a surprise since he has done another pilot for JJ I believe and it could get picked up mid-season. As for Mia Maestro... Am I the only one who will be glad she won't be a huge character? God, she became so annoying at the end of the last season.

The one thing I want to know is if Lena Olin will be a recurring character... ?????
The magazine mentions so many times in articles and interviews how great it was to get her because, in JJ's words (paraphrasing) "it was something I was pursuing for some time so that it could be a great way to tell the end of that story." But they never once mentioned whether she will be returning or what she will be doing in Season 5. The impression I got from the finale was that she won't be a recurring character next season, which just sucks.


Here is my little mini-analysis....
ALIAS, as far as I'm concerned, has drifted so far from what it originally was that for it to succeed now I think it needs a whole, completely new direction; no more make-overs... I'm talking re-inventions... change the core of the show. I wouldn't mind that really, but it has to be done REALLY WELL. And if that's not what we get in Season 5, then maybe it won't be such a bad thing everyone's trying to make ths show fail! EEK!

Season five will be the best season ever.

(That's just my blind optimism shining through.)

Hey, season four worked for me, so complaints here.

I loved season four. It really got back to what made the show great and added a fresh slap of paint on it and some interested complexes with the characters.

Its finishing in about 9 weeks here so then i can post like MAD!

But suffice to say; you know this whole baby thing might actually be interesting.

What is insanely stupid is sidelining garner as the lead action actress; its just...fucking insane. I mean; Garner is the one who people love watching beat bad guys up. Not some hooker who looks like a doll.

Anyway; i REALLY REALLY want them to do the whole "8 episodes of garner pregnant" then come back in the spring with the rest of the season. That would be much better. Theres more talk than ever though of Alias' fifth season being its last.
I think its a big mistake on the part of ABC if it IS because the show really deserves another year ; garners pregnancy shouldnt be the final year... I mean; they get 3 hits; one of which is a hit by proxy; and then they think that Alias is suddenly superflous to demand? It anchored ABC'S schedule for the past 4 years; dumping it when it was the only thing keeping the network afloat before would be a sure sign of arrogance.

QUOTE>>
Long a cult and critical favorite, Alias is coming off its most watched season ever. But insiders have suspected that its fifth year would be its last. Certainly, the move to Thursday nights at 8 p.m., opposite CBS' Survivor, couldn't have inspired confidence. From Joanie Loves Chachi to Fall Guy, ABC has been sending veteran shows to die there for more than 20 years. The network's last scripted success in the 8 p.m., Thursday time slot: Mork & Mindy, back in 1978. And when it hit, it was moved to Sundays. And when it was ready to pass on, it was returned to, yes, Thursdays.

As a midseason launch of the 2004-05 TV year, Alias aired in the Wednesday, 9-10 p.m. hour, and benefited from its Lost lead in. But even then, an average of 6 million viewers tuned out each week as creator J.J. Abrams' castaway series ended, and Abrams' spy series began.

While the baby-on-board story line might sound like something destined to boost interest in the show, history suggests otherwise. "Anytime you introduce a baby--I don't care what the show is--the show is destined to jump the shark," said Jon Hein, who knows such things. He is the Jump the Shark author and Webmaster.

In Hein's parlance, jumping the shark is the precise moment when a TV series runs its course. On his site, JumpTheShark.com, babies have been blamed for contributing to the artistic demises of Mad About You, Murphy Brown, Family Ties and even The Flintstones. At least those series, Hein said, are home or work-based sitcoms, not globe-trotting, high-flying action adventures, a la Alias.

"I don't know how they're going to pull it off," Hein said of the show's addition plans. "Unless the baby is either a super baby or the baby from V, where you're not sure if it's an alien."

On the other hand, babies don't necessarily kill ratings. Shows such as The Flintstones and Family Ties ran for several seasons following their blessed events.

As long as Syd steers clear of Cousin Oliver, she just might make it.

HUGE.... HUGE SPOILERS FOR SEASON 5 (or should I say what's left of the series!)

Now... I don't exactly know how reliable this is... I don't usually read US Weekly so I don't know, but there would be no reason to just put that in there if it was fabricated because it took up only 1/3 a page!

Don't read on if you don't want to be spoiled. It has nothing to do with the series ending or anything but it has something major to do with a part of the show, a character!


I was reading the latest issue of US Weekly and found a sidebar with a pic of Micheal Vartan and ALIAS news. It stated that Micheal Vartan has been killed off the show. they claimed it may have been due to problems he was giving Jennifer Garner. But, ya, basically his last episode was shot August 17 and he wouldn't be returning to do cameos or anything!

Yeaa I heard that also. Extra asked him about it..and all he said was WATCH AND FIND OUT.

So I pretty much think its true.