‘Castle’ season 8 now getting the hiatus treatment from ABC
Remember how ABC loves to put some of its shows on extended hiatuses at midseason? This is a pattern that they started to set with “Once Upon a Time,” but have extended it to a variety of other shows including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal,” and Marvel’s “Agents of SHIELD.”
Now, it is more or less confirmed that “Castle” season 8 and is also going to be joining the trend. It was already reported that “Nashville” would be getting the same thing this time to make way for “Secrets and Lies” season 2, and the Nathan Fillion – Stana Katic series is now going to go off the air in November, and then take more than two months off before its return.
One of the major benefits to the network doing this is that it allows for fewer repeats during the most important months of the year. For example, if there are somewhere between 11-15 episodes of “Castle” still to air in the new year, they can air one a week until the finale in mid-to-late May without any interruption. That means no more questioning as to when the show is on. Granted, you do run the risk of some people getting bored, finding a new TV vice, and then sticking with that instead. We certainly know that not everyone out there is thrilled with the big decision that came at the end of this past episode.
So what will ABC do during the hiatus? We wonder if one thing that will be considered is ordering a “Bachelor” aftershow similar to what they did with “After Paradise,” where they bring back Chris Harrison / Jenny Mollen with a rotating panel of guests. While this was not a huge ratings success this summer after “Bachelor in Paradise,” it was serviceable given the budget and it could fare better after a show known to generate better ratings.
What do you think about giving a semi-procedural like “Castle” the split-season treatment: Good move or bad move? Let us know below, and click here to subscribe to our newsletter for further TV news sent to you weekly. (Photo: ABC.)
Ronald Byers
November 24, 2015 @ 10:03 pm
This has been my favorite show on network television. For seven years I really enjoyed it. This season, however, has been a real disaster. Maybe they can use the hiatus to hire better writers. The main characters have terrific chemistry. Use it. There are good supporting characters as well. Use them. Enough with the current story arch. Hire some writers who can write. Fire the current “show runners.” They are running the show right off the air.
PC
October 6, 2015 @ 6:47 pm
I love Castle and have watched every episode. I was concerned about splitting them up after the second episode, even though the split is not permanent, it still was painful to watch. I don’t like the hiatus thing, as you say fans may find another obsession in the meantime. That said, I’m still obsessing over Major Crimes and Rizzoli and Ailes which are both on hiatus regularly every year and they are still hits. However, when Bones went on hiatus, the time period was so long I thought they would never come back from it. But Bones is starting up again, thank God. I don’t want to lose my Castle fix!!!
TF
October 3, 2015 @ 6:56 pm
Prior to Season 7 I would have said Terrible Idea, too much down time but after the Crap Winters and A Hawley put out, I agree I will not be watching it either, so really don’t care for first time in 7 years,
diane
September 30, 2015 @ 8:44 pm
Great way to Kill a good show!!!
Jim45
September 30, 2015 @ 6:08 pm
The show runners could use a little extra time to think things through more completely. They didn’t get much time from ABC when the switch was made. Really rushed and messed up evidenced by the contract thing. Show is about 80% solid with 20% of things tacked on. They need to do a better job of cutting off the deadwood like Alexis, Haley and the PI office, and diving deeper on the basics – obsession and love. Someone needs to say “no” more often.
Lainiejay
September 30, 2015 @ 2:41 pm
I don’t like the idea. It’s the reason I stopped watching OUAT which I understand is a good show, but I couldn’t keep track of when it was on and missed too many episodes. With Castle, however, unless they use the hiatus to re-write the season, I won’t be watching anyway. This latest lame excuse to split them up to create tension, drama, or whatever is the last straw for me. I’ve cancelled it from my dvr and won’t be watching as of next week.