While some networks choose to announce they are ending shows ahead of time, most of the major networks still prefer to wait until spring to ultimately make a decision about whether or not a show will be returning. If you’ve been keeping tabs on Person of Interest, you should know that CBS has already decided not to put the series on its fall or winter schedule, and recently executive producer J.J. Abrams spoke out about the series’ chances of getting renewed at the Television Critics Association winter press tour. Ultimately, things aren’t looking good for Person of Interest. Here’s what Abrams had to say:
My guess is it is the final season. The only heartbreak there is how much good story there was to come if it were to have continued. Jonah [Nolan] and Greg Plageman have done such an amazing job on that show. I know what these episodes are, that they’re done wrapping [the story] up.
If you’ve been keeping tabs at all on Person of Interest, J.J. Abram’s feelings regarding the probable cancellation shouldn’t be a big surprise. Not only has CBS not been supportive of the series as part of its schedule this year, last spring, the channel only ordered 13 episodes of Person of Interest rather than the full 22. This is a similar move to the one CBS made when The Mentalist was ordered for its final run on the Eye Network. In short, while CBS head Nina Tassler has refused to confirm the cancellation, it’s looking very likely.
On the bright side, J.J. Abrams also noted (via EW) that fans will eventually see Season 5 of Person of Interest.
We don’t yet have a schedule. But I know they will see the light of day, [and] people will get to see these episodes. I know the power of that story. Again, to have a show that goes on as many years as that has, it’s very hard to complain. It’s a miracle to get a show on the air and to have it last that long is something that we should just be grateful for. But I do love that show and I would’ve loved to see that continue.
So, there you have it. We don’t know exactly when Person of Interest will be premiering, but eventually it will hit the schedule. This isn’t the first time CBS has kept a show in limbo like this. For the last several years, the network has kept Mike & Molly on a wonky schedule, usually using the comedy as a fill-in when a new series is a total bomb and gets yanked (that show is also reportedly ending its run, though, too). If Person of Interest doesn’t end up acting as a fill-in this spring, I’m guess we’ll get the episodes this summer. The channel’s summer lineup has been depleted after both Extant and Under the Dome got the axe.
While we wait for Person of Interest to end its run, you can check out what is coming up at midseason with our winter TV premiere schedule.
