Nix | September 15, 2009
210 comments

Is Defying Gravity Canceled or isn’t it? ABC Answers.

I never really gave Defying Gravity a shot, mostly because the concept of Grey’s Anatomy In Space made me want to barf. I have no use for Grey’s Anatomy, so any offshoot of it, well, ain’t that tempting. Recent rumors have Defying Gravity being canceled after just eight episodes. This, says ABC, is not true.

The Futon Critic has the word from the Alphabet network themselves that the show is not, despite rumors to the contrary, canceled. In fact, it was always the plan to air just the first eight episodes of the show’s first season, which was originally scheduled for 13 episodes.

So when can fans of Defying Gravity (I’m assuming it has fans, right? though frankly, the ratings don’t seem to bear that out) see the remaining five episodes? According to the Futon Critic, ABC is currently mulling its “scheduling options”, which means soon, or later, or possibly never. This wouldn’t be the first time a network decides to shelve unaired episodes of a failing show, even if they’ve already spent the money to make them.

So yeah, Defying Gravity has NOT been canceled. It just, well, ain’t gonna be airing anytime soon. Stay tune, Grey’s Anatomy in Space fans!

Hey, guys, I think I saw a black hole. Oh wait, that's just our second season. Nevermind.

Hey, guys, I think I saw a black hole. Oh wait, that's just our second season. Nevermind.


Category: Defying Gravity TV Series, Sci-Fi TV News |
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  • Name

    I enjoy this show. I am disappointed that it may not be shown on ABC anymore. Reminds me of that old 80's flick, Space Camp more than it does Grey's Anatomy.

  • omphalos

    Its only SF my wife will watch with me, so naturally, I love it. Ive been trying for years to get her to enjoy any part of my hobby.

    However, I disagree about it being “Grey's Anatomy” in Space. I think its more like Studio-60 in Space.

  • Mack

    I was never a Grey's Anatomy fan, but have watched every episode of Defying Gravity, though on Hulu rather than on TV. It's a shame shows are still judged by the outmoded idea that millions of viewers *must* tune in at a predetermined time to prove that show is successful. Especially in the current age of on-demand entertainment.

    I hope this show does not fall to shortsighted network execs and snarky journalists.

  • ras668

    Would be a damn shame, if this show wasn't fully aired, if not signed for a second season. This is the one and only ABC show I've watched in years. I imagine they'll just continue with more of there dumbed down crap that caters to the lowest common denominator. It really is a damn shame though, it's a great show, with good actors, and good writers. And I totally agree with Mack, today's mode of calculating ratings is ridiculous. With on demand, TiVO, and online viewing, it's an outdated process.

    • AndyB

      I completely agree. I’m dying to find out the conclusion of the mission.

      I might watch network TV if they had more quality programming like this. But they insist on catering to double-digit IQs. This show is so rich with exploring and overcoming human frailty. Brilliant! But now it’s gone as soon as I found out it existed.

      But I guess ABC wants to replace it with something more appealing to trailer park mentality.

      Guess I’ll give up on watching network TV again if they don’t bring it back.

    • http://davidbankston.blogspot.com/ TechWizard

      OMgoodness. Totally dug this intelligent show. The ONLY show ive watched on ABC in years too. Congratulations to ABC for taking a chance and not doing another crappy “Real World” show- Bachelor, Cougar, Bachelorette bla bla, Dancing with the bla bla, Hospital greys bla bla show.
      ABC, If its gone, so am I.

  • AJ

    One point the article missed is that ABC didn't actually “spend the money making them.” The show is a CTV original, produced for Canadian television, much like Flashpoint. The show is being co-produced by the BBC, Fox Television Studios, and Omni Film Productions in association with Canadian broadcasters CTV Television Network, SPACE, and German broadcaster ProSieben. I have seen episode 9, and it was pretty great. My hope is that even if ABC does not buy anymore episodes, CTV and it's partners will continue to produce the show. ABC can follow the old model all they want. I will continue to watch my episodes in the New Media format.

  • Chordmerchant

    “ABC” dropping this series would be as stupid a move as “Showtime” made when canceling “Dead Like Me”. By the way. How and where did you see episode 9?

  • AyeCapn

    Episode 9 is available from a source that rhymes with “abhorrent”. :P

  • webdiva

    The show *wasn't* Grey's Anatomy In Space — the network execs called it that, stupidly thinking that the show would get a bigger audience that way and completely missing the fact that such a description would absolutely alienate real sci-fi fans and anyone else who may have liked the reinvented Battlestar Galactica as a drama, for example. The reference to Grey's Anatomy was the kiss of death. The fact that Defying Gravity got NO advertising was a big mistake, and certainly no promotion where its natural viewership would have seen an ad would have been watching (SciFi — whoops! — SyFy channel, USA Network, on HBO before or after episodes of True Blood, TNT, FX, on PBS before or after Nova Science Now, Discovery channel, Science channel, or History channel during the science programs there. like The Universe. All those possibilities, and ABC did nada — as if it really wanted DG to fail, thus allowing the network to get out from under supporting what is apparently an expensive show to produce. Predictable. And VERY disappointing, but not surprising.

  • webdiva

    okay, I'm missing something here, because I don't get the reference …

  • AyeCapn

    In Canada the only thing CTV promoted was it being sex in space. I kid you not.

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