How a supernatural drama survived cancellation by switching networks to finish its story
In short: Medium, the supernatural procedural starring Patricia Arquette, defied standard television mortality. After NBC canceled the show in 2009, CBS—which owned the production—immediately picked it up for a sixth season. This rare network jump allowed the series to conclude on its own terms, culminating in a poignant, multi-decade series finale.
Created by Glenn Gordon Caron, Medium debuted on NBC in 2005. The series followed Allison DuBois, a consultant for the Phoenix district attorney's office who used psychic dreams to solve crimes. While the show was initially a ratings success, landing in the Nielsen Top 20 with 13.9 million viewers in its first season, it faced significant scheduling instability. As the show moved across various time slots—often competing against heavy hitters like Lost and CSI: NY—viewership gradually eroded, leading to a precarious position on the network's renewal bubble.
The show's survival was marked by a dramatic shift in 2009. Following NBC's decision to cancel the series despite its reliable performance, CBS stepped in to produce and air the show. This move was largely attributed to the fact that CBS fully owned the series, whereas other shows on the network were split between different studios. This corporate ownership proved to be a lifeline, allowing the show to continue for two additional seasons on CBS, even as other similarly themed programs like Ghost Whisperer were canceled.
The series finale, which aired on January 21, 2011, provided a definitive conclusion. After a plane crash seemingly kills her husband, Joe, Allison spends years as an attorney before discovering that Joe’s death was a vision he sent to help her find independence. The episode ultimately jumps 41 years into the future, showing Allison’s life and her eventual reunion with Joe in death. This ending was made possible by the show's final renewal, which allowed the writers to craft a proper conclusion after CBS cut the seventh season from 22 to 13 episodes.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Medium (TV series)
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