two seasons

When ITV canceled their hit series Primeval, I was baffled. This was the top-rated show on BBC America, and it was a pretty solid hit worldwide as well. Apparently, I was right about that, though, as BBC Worldwide and German ProSeiben are part of a complex deal that enabled the show to go back into production.

If only there were an organizaton like that that could step in every time a network axes a sci-fi show on a massive cliffhanger, like Primeval was. Even better, the renewal gives the series two new seasons at 13 episodes each. We're going to have to wait until 2011 to find out how Connor and Abby get out of that tree, but that's better than never finding out.

Unlike the Jericho renewal of a few years back, this deal doesn't include any reductions in budget of any kind, so not only will they be able to keep the entire cast intact, the effects budget remains untouched. I'm glad to hear that, as I don't think I was ready for men in rubber suits chasing the crew around.

Interesting piece of news on Ricky Gervais' web site ("RickyGervais.com: The website of Ricky Gervais... obviously."). We already knew that the American version of The Office has been picked up for a fourth season, but the "News" section of Ricky's site claims that the show has been picked up for a fourth and fifth season. Here's the quote:

"Ricky has scored further success in America, with NBC deciding to make two more series of the US version of his comedy The Office. Network boss Kevin Reilly said that The Office represented 'the best of what we consider quality shows'. This will bring the total number of episodes to 94."