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Is 'Damages' Canceled?
by Gary Susman, posted Jul 6th 2010 3:40PM
For all its critical acclaim and the Emmy-grabbing prowess of Glenn Close, FX's 'Damages' is not expected to be renewed for a fourth season. Still, a report in TV Guide declaring the show dead may be premature.In his column on Monday, the magazine's Matt Roush wrote, "Where FX is concerned, it really is over for 'Damages.'" He cited the twisted legal drama's low ratings and high production cost (with its New York City location shooting and its big-name cast, which this season included Close, Ted Danson, Lily Tomlin, Martin Short, and Campbell Scott). "While season 3 was a vast improvement over 2 in terms of quality and story, it didn't draw an audience big enough to justify the expense of a star-heavy show filmed in New York," Roush wrote. "This was a business, not a creative, decision."
If 'Damages' really has been canceled, however, FX has yet to say so. "No announcement has been made," FX Vice President of Media Relations Roslyn Bibby told TV Squad today. She said she did not know when a decision on the show's future would be announced.
An announcement of the show's cancellation has been widely expected, for the reasons Roush stated, for nearly three months, ever since FX aired the season 3 finale. There was talk this spring that Direct TV might come to the show's rescue, the way it did for the similarly situated 'Friday Night Lights' (lots of kudos, few viewers), but that hasn't panned out so far, with insiders saying such a deal is unlikely.
At least the show has a chance to go out on a high note. The season 3 finale brought some closure to the characters played by Close, Rose Byrne, and Tate Donovan (fatal closure, in the case of Donovan's Tom Shayes). And when the Emmy nominations are announced this Thursday, Close's name is likely to appear on the ballot for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama, and she could certainly take home her third consecutive trophy in that category for her portrayal of win-at-all-costs lawyer Patty Hewes.
Meantime, until FX finally says otherwise, 'Damages' fans can hold onto a slim reed of hope for a fourth season.
•Follow Gary Susman on Twitter @garysusman.
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