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Fox to close ``X-Files'' in May
Yahoo/Variety ^ | January 17, 2002 | Josef Adalian

Posted on 01/17/2002 2:55:05 AM PST by Brandon

Thursday January 17 1:36 AM ET

Fox to close ``X-Files'' in May

By Josef Adalian

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Trust this one: the Emmy-winning sci-fi powerhouse ``The X-Files'' will wrap its nine-season run on Fox in May.

Series creator Chris Carter and Fox confirmed the decision Wednesday following a meeting in which Carter told Fox Entertainment Television Group chairman Sandy Grushow and entertainment president Gail Berman he was ready to end the series.

``The X-Files'' has been a signature series for Fox -- and a cash cow for parent News Corp. -- since its September 1993 premiere. It continues to pull in profits in syndication, where it's ranked as the top-rated off-network hour since bowing in syndication in 1997. Its network run will end with a two-part episode penned by Carter -- the show's 201st.

While the series remains a solid performer, particularly demographically, its ratings have declined this season opposite tougher competition and in the wake of cast changes. Carter wanted ``The X-Files'' to end while it still had creative and commercial strength.

``It's the ninth inning. We want to go out on top,'' he said. ``We wanted to go out as a strong show.''

Bowing on Friday nights, ``The X-Files'' was an instant cult hit as fans tuned in for the ever-spooky adventures of Agents Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson). Ratings soared still higher when Fox moved the show to Sundays in 1996.

Carter singled out recent additions Robert Patrick and Annabeth Gish for praise, saying their work ``will stand up to the best of 'The X-Files.''' Patrick replaced Duchovny, who exited last season.

Grushow, who put ``The X-Files'' on the network in his former post as entertainment president, said it's impossible to overstate the positive impact the drama has had on Fox.

``It was instrumental in putting Fox on the map, plain and simple,'' he said. ``It helped define the network. It alerted the industry to the fact that we could succeed with a quality drama.''

Grushow said Carter's vision ``inspired the best from everyone at this company, because Chris was so inspiring. He created a television series not just for our times, but for all times.''

Carter said despite numerous cast changes and the natural aging process, ``The X-Files'' had managed to maintain its distinctiveness.

``I'd like to think the show is still one of the most imaginative on television,'' he said. ``It never quit being original.''

Though he's been mulling the finale for years, Carter hasn't yet started putting it together. He did promise, once and for all, to tie up all the show's mythological loose ends.

Carter said he'd ``love'' to have Duchovny return for the finale, which may be preceded by a clipfest. Characters are expected to develop in a second ``X-Files'' feature in the works at Fox.

``This show's afterlife will be strong,'' Carter said.

Reuters/Variety REUTERS

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1 posted on 01/17/2002 2:55:06 AM PST by Brandon (publius@avalon.net)
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To: Brandon
Oh well, this will reduce by one more the remaining handful of things I watch on TV.
2 posted on 01/17/2002 2:57:59 AM PST by Seeking the truth
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To: Seeking the truth
too bad - it was a neat show - I enjoyed the occasional offbeat attempts at humor - particularly the episode where the bug crawled across the screen.

Mulder was the show for me - though I have to admit, Scully is a major babe

3 posted on 01/17/2002 3:24:15 AM PST by Revelation 911
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To: Seeking the truth
Check out the new Babylon 5 movie this Saturday. If the ratings are good enough, they may revive the series.
4 posted on 01/17/2002 3:26:04 AM PST by Truth29
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To: Brandon
This nut wants to end a successful, money-making series, while it's still on top. Does this make sense?

That's like David Duchovny leaving the series to pursue a serious acting career.

5 posted on 01/17/2002 3:27:54 AM PST by 4Freedom
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To: Revelation 911
While I will miss the show, it just wasn't as interesting after Mulder left. Jose Chung's "From Outer Space" may have been one of the funniest things I've ever seen.
6 posted on 01/17/2002 3:33:47 AM PST by ABG(anybody but Gore)
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To: 4Freedom
This nut wants to end a successful, money-making series, while it's still on top. Does this make sense?

In a way it does in that from a creative standpoint, I'm sure Chris Carter doesn't want the product they place on the air to go downhill so much that it sullies the show. This is one of my all-time favorite series and I will miss it. I'm not sure they could reproduce something this unique with a second series in a million years.
7 posted on 01/17/2002 3:33:55 AM PST by Ptaz
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To: Brandon
Carter wanted "The X-Files" to end while it still had creative and commercial strength.

I'm afraid that he's a couple seasons too late on the former.

8 posted on 01/17/2002 3:35:39 AM PST by steve-b
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To: steve-b
Unfortunately correct. They jumped the shark, IMHO, back when Scully got pregnant.
9 posted on 01/17/2002 3:42:26 AM PST by Long Cut
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To: steve-b
I disagree. The last two seasons have been among the best in the series. The season before Mulder left really sucked though.
10 posted on 01/17/2002 3:49:07 AM PST by Duke Nukum
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To: Duke Nukum
Some of the individual episodes have been good, but the series generally has gone downhill. Carter has been painting himself into corners and cutting through the walls to get out of them, and eventually he damaged too many of the story's load-bearing elements.
11 posted on 01/17/2002 3:54:21 AM PST by steve-b
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To: steve-b
I agree with all of your assessments. They should have wrapped up all the loose ends when David Duchovny gave them the heads up that he wanted to jump ship. The last two seasons have been a patchwork of misdirected themes that failed to move the story line forward to a conclusion that would tie up all the loose ends and provide their faithful audience with a satisfactory ending/resolution that successfully deals with all the threads and unanswered questions.

At this stage of the game, due to time and financial constraints, what they will do (true to form) is quickly hobble one or several shows together that try to wrap it all up. They will "HYPE IT, HYPE IT, HYPE IT" and people will watch. But, it will be like cotton candy: a lot of fluff but not much there, sweet to the taste, but ultimately unsatisfying.

As they say; "it was good while it lasted, but the thrill is gone".

12 posted on 01/17/2002 4:12:43 AM PST by Jmouse007
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To: Brandon
What else is there to watch on TV????
13 posted on 01/17/2002 4:40:14 AM PST by RaceBannon
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To: Brandon; mulder
He did promise, once and for all, to tie up all the show's mythological loose ends.

I don't see how that's possible. This is my only weekly TV show I have on my must-see list.

Mulder, you need to change your screen name;^)

14 posted on 01/17/2002 4:49:12 AM PST by Fred Mertz
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To: RaceBannon
If you like the X-Files try:

Alias (ABC - Sunday, 9:00pm)- Smart, edge of your seat action, a little "James Bond" gadgetry, and a little of the X-Files type of conspiracy theory. One show recently featured Sidney (the main babe character) obtaining a bit of binary code written 600 years ago.

Farscape (Sci-Fi Channel, various times) - While it is in reruns now, new episodes are about to be released. It is the story of an American Astronaut who gets sucked into an accidentally created wormhole and transported to a distant part of the galaxy. A good portion of the show is him trying to get home, but he lives on a giant living ship with some really interesting passengers. Great special effects and intelligent - and witty - writing make this one of my favorites.

Also worth mentioning:

On The Sci-Fi Channel: The Chronical (crap, but fun crap)

On UPN: Enterprise (Star Trek lives on as a prequel, but this one is better than Voyager)

On Fox: Dark Angel (Jessica Alby is reason enough to watch, but the show is classy and engaging)

15 posted on 01/17/2002 4:57:39 AM PST by Crusher138
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To: Brandon
"its ratings have declined this season opposite tougher competition and in the wake of cast changes. "

I used to be a regular viewer but I think they have really slipped.

At first they had the characters, action, continuing plot to build week by week. Lately they seem to have gone to flopping from one darkly lit scene with frightening mood music to the next . It is now predictable and more boring.

16 posted on 01/17/2002 4:58:56 AM PST by tberry
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To: RaceBannon
"What else is there to watch on TV????"

Shameless pitch: Root for the revival of Babylon 5 - IMHO, the finest serious SF program in recent years.

17 posted on 01/17/2002 5:00:54 AM PST by Truth29
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To: Fred Mertz
Novelist Fox Mulder awakens with a start. "Whoa! What a weird dream!"
The End
18 posted on 01/17/2002 5:04:09 AM PST by bobsatwork
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To: Truth29
"Check out the new Babylon 5 movie this Saturday. If the ratings are good enough, they may revive the series."

I plan on watching this new movie. I sure do hope they continue the series at the same quality as the original.

I really think the offerings of the Sci Fi Channel and the UPN Network have more than given X Files competition for viewers.

19 posted on 01/17/2002 5:05:35 AM PST by tberry
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To: tberry
At first they had the characters, action, continuing plot to build week by week. Lately they seem to have gone to flopping from one darkly lit scene with frightening mood music to the next . It is now predictable and more boring.

The other problem, at least it seemed to me, is that lately there were never more than 2 or 3 new episodes aired in a row. I would watch a few new episodes, and then they would go back into re-runs or put something else on. I couldn't get into a groove.

I wonder if it means the end of X-Files movies?

20 posted on 01/17/2002 5:06:28 AM PST by Mannaggia l'America
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