The Unit

The Unit is certainly not returning with new episodes this spring but there is a possibility that Jonas Blane and the rest of the team will return next season.  While the CBS military drama's fate will not be decided for a few more weeks, executive producer Shawn Ryan remains positive about the show's chances for renewal.

The Unit has enjoyed three seasons of moderately successful ratings, averaging about 10 million viewers, but the program has become one of the CBS shows that seems to be on the bubble. Production of the show has been halted during the WGA strike with only 11 episodes produced and aired for the latest season.  At present, it is unknown if any more episodes are to be produced since no official confirmation regarding the fourth season has been announced.  As expensive as it is to produce, it needs to be doing consistently better.

“The negatives for us are that we usually, in first-run competition, finish third in our time slot behind House and Dancing with the Stars,” Ryan said.  “It's a brutal timeslot and getting 10 million-plus viewers against those shows is a success in my book.  But networks are looking to finish first, not third, which means we have to wait to learn our fate.”

According to Ryan, The Unit is not owned by another division of CBS so the network doesn't necessarily have a lasting interest in extending the life of the program.

“That always sets the bar higher for shows like ours,” he added.

Nevertheless, The Unit, which stars Scott Foley, Dennis Haysbert and Robert Patrick, has established a solid fan following and is a potential contender for the fall schedule.

“Bottom line, I'm confident that on a creative level and a ratings level the show deserves to return, and I expect it will return, but stranger things have happened in Hollywood and I will wait for official word before popping any champagne,” Ryan said.



-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: chicagotribune.com
(Image courtesy of CBS)