Medium: Did NBC Cancel the Patricia Arquette Series?
One of the most frequent questions that I receive here is “Why did NBC cancel Medium?” Well, I’m quite happy to report that the Patricia Arquette series has not been cancelled at all. Medium will return for a third season on NBC. It was officially renewed for season three back on April 28, 2006. Contrary to popular belief, NBC does not want to kill the show — it’s one of the few successful shows that it has. So where is it? Well…
NBC, who had a very weak showing last season, was trying very hard to come up with groundbreaking and interesting new shows. Shows that people will actually watch. The strongest of that campaign was the new series from The West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin called Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip starring Amanda Peet, Mathew Perry and Bradley Whitford. It was clearly one of NBC’s most promising new shows. (Now that the Studio 60’s debuted to lackluster ratings, it will be interesting to see how long NBC sticks with it.)
The network originally scheduled Studio 60 for Thursday nights to presumably try to re-establish their “Must See TV” night domination. But, when ABC unveiled its tough new Thursday night line-up (headed by Grey’s Anatomy), NBC decided against “scheduling suicide” and to move Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip to Mondays at 10pm. Medium’s slot. Rather than forcing Medium to do battle on the competitive Thursday night, NBC instead opted to move Medium to Sunday nights at 10pm (9pm central). Unfortunately for Medium fans, NBC now has the rights to air Sunday Night Football (which usually garners huge ratings). Football will run on Sunday nights for the rest of the year.
For that reason, Medium’s third season debut has been pushed back to January 2007 (*see update below). The first two episodes (of the 22 episodes that have been ordered) are entitled “Blood Relation and “Four Dreams” (not that the titles tell you very much). Depending on how their season goes, NBC may run Medium uninterupted (no reruns) much like 24 on Fox. No radical changes to the show cast or basic storyline/concept are expected.
Could Medium return to the airwaves sooner than January 2007? Possibly — especially if some of the new NBC shows fail and the peacock network runs out of Dateline “Catch a Predator” episodes.
In the meantime, loyal viewers can watch reruns of the Alison Dubois inspired series on Sunday nights on on Lifetime or via the Season One or Season Two DVD sets currently available (each set offers some great extras and cast & creator commentaries).
*10/12/06 UPDATE: NBC has just announced that Medium will return to the schedule on Wednesday nights at 10pm, starting on November 15, 2006 (in part due to the recent cancellation of Kidnapped). President of NBC Entertainment Kevin Reilly said, “We have been waiting for the right moment to bring back this excellent, chilling drama to our lineup and we know this will make the show’s legion of devoted fans very happy. Medium is an especially creative show, led by the vision of executive producer-creator Glenn Gordon Caron, that is ready to hit the ground running with its new season of thrilling episodes.” 
Related links
Medium on DVD || Allison DuBois books
38. pj said,
BRING BACK MEDIUM….PLEASE..PLEASE. I miss seeing excellent actors with very interesting story lines. Plus the kids are GREAT!!!!I like Medium because it potrays a down to earth family with real everyday problems and joys.
37. Wendy said,
Is this show coming back in 2008? Was it cancelled?
36. Jerry Barringer said,
Has Medium disappeared AGAIN? Why the reruns already?
35. Samia Abdelmoneim said,
I seem to be the last one to wonder, I have watched Medium every other Sunday night at 11 pm(because of my work schedule) on NBC since I have found out about it and suddenly Fall of 2006 comes and the show disapperars. I found out by chance that it is on Lifetime on Wednesday night,at 11pm. I have been following it since & now again, it seems to have disappeared. I have a VERY busy life but today I just decided to go online and search. This is such a great show that it is really a shame to have it disappear like that “falling off the face of the earth”. Please bring back this show, I don’t care to what channel, I am sure that if NBC does not want it (even though NBC is my favorite channel) that ABC or CBS will be happy to take it.
Samia from Nottingham, MD
34. phantommoviefreak said,
I watched this show from the begining and will continue to watch it. So glad it’s back for a 3rd season and hoping many more returns!
33. Teeder said,
Wow. Sitting here reading all of these e-mails, I guess I’m not the only one left wondering. Although I’m glad I have not missed any episodes, a hit show like this deserves a trailer or two to get the information out there. If the the other programs were not so crappy this year, I could have been hooked on another show by now. Now that I know, I will sit and wait patiently.
32. Lisa said,
I am glad I did a search to find out what was going on with medium. My mother and I watch the show ALL the time just as we both watch our CSI’s. Medium to us is just as good as the CSI’s and we would sadly miss it if it didn’t come back on. Waiting till January isn’t too bad as I wait for ‘24′ then too. I just think it’s been far too long a wait with medium as it didn’t air much last year. Anyways, glad to hear it’s coming soon
31. ADOLFO CISNERO said,
MEDIUM IS THE ONLY GOOD SHOW ON TV OTHR THAN NEWS AND FOOTBALL.
30. Marjie said,
I am glad that I have found this site and that Medium is going to return in April. It is an excellent show and I couldn’t believe that it could be cancelled!
It not just the idea of Susan having the dreams etc. that gets me, but how they function as family that I LOVE.Looking forward to the new series and best of luck with that. Love and Laughter, Marjie
29. Jennifer said,
I am also mystified as to why NBC has acted so carelessly with Medium. Perhaps the ratings were not there. Even though we love the program, perhaps we are a small audience.
Here’s a suggestion: allow Medium episodes to be downloaded from the amazon.com Unbox website.
With reruns of Medium on Lifetime on Mondays, and new episodes on NBC on Wednesdays, I’m set. Thanks.
28. Maggie & Larry Scammell said,
My husband and I have been searching every week trying to locate “The Medium” with no luck. We heard that maybe it had been cancelled, but now we do know that it has been renewed. Hooray!!! Here’s hoping it finds the perfect spot on Wednesday night or whenever.
Thank goodness, it will be returning to NBC, because there sure isn’t too much else worth watching.
Comments from 2 more loyal fans,
Maggie & Larry October 27, 2006 @ 9.38 pm
27. steven reilly said,
Love Studio 60! Medium? No way.
26. Kelly Cassell said,
I too am a huge Medium fan. I was crushed when I got on the Medium site and discoverd that no episodes were scheduled. I have been so bummed. I always looked forward to Monday nights even if it was a repeat. I saw on TV a few days ago that the this season will start November 15th. I thought I was going to cry I was so excited. NBC if you ever scare me again I won’t be watching your station! I just don’t understand why you would take a great show off the air just to try out a trashy show!
Kelly
25. Crystal said,
Glad to hear Medium will be on Wednesday at 10! That works for me!! My husband watches The World of Outlaw racing on the outdoors chanel at 8 then we watch Ghost Hunters on scifi at 9 and now Medium at 10. Wednesday is looking like a good tv night for us. Thursday it’s CSI, sorry Grey’s Anatomy but I’ve been watching CSI way before you came on. I’m glad Medium is not coming on Sunday because I’m a Without a Trace watcher. Friday it’s Ghost Whisper and Monday I can always fill in with CSI Miami………
24. Jean said,
When I read starting back Jan I was shocked. What is NBC thinking???. Finally got a wonderful show, where couples are not doing “porn” in the bed and she wears normal clothes, not boobs hanging out. Get this show back on the air. Nov is better, but why was it taken off period???
23. Diane said,
We love Medium. Also watch Lost, Sometimes CSI and Boston Legal.
That’s it. Sometimes the news magazines, but would prefer more meaty stuff, not so much True Crime stories.
22. Denise said,
Hallejuah! I am so glad that I’m not the only Medium fan to wonder what happened to this wonderful show.
However, I think most of the NBC execs are idiots. They tool around with shows, often placing the most popular in obscure time slots. What’s up with that, dudes? Your network is failing, because you keep airing really DUMB shows that only a gorilla would like! You suits also make the mistake in thinking that the majority of your viewers are stupid. Wrong!
So when a an intelligent sassy show like Medium really takes off, what happens? You insert a STUPID program like 60 Sunset Strip, that’ll be cancelled. (Shakes head.) I really do not understand your logic about programming, dudes!
Well, yeah, at least Medium will be airing yet again. Let’s all hope and pray that the network folks will listen to the fans this time AND keep Medium in a steady time slot, and not push it aside, for **** like 60 …. what’s-it-called?
Denise
21. Charlotte said,
I have been searching and searching to try to find out if NBC was going to be really foolish and cancel the best show they ever had. I got on this site today and found out that Medium is coming back and let me say, I am so excited! This was my most favorite show, and I was devastated when it had not returned in September.