'Battlestar Galactica': Say it ain't frakkin so!

Sad but true: "Battlestar Galactica" will end its run next year after its fourth and final season.

After weeks of speculation, the end is in fact near. According to a high level source at Sci Fi Channel parent company NBC Universal, the show will dock after its next 22-episode season, slated to kick off in early 2008.

Sources say the decision came down from executive producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, who are said to feel creatively like this upcoming arc will be its last.

Rumors began circulating this month when two "Battlestar Galactica" stars, Edward James Olmos and Katee Sackhoff, referred to the next season as the show's swan song while attending the annual Saturn Awards.

“It’s the final season, so it’s definitely going to be the most vicious,” Olmos told reporters.  “As far as we know, in respects of the way we have this show constructed, this is the final season.”

Sci Fi Channel is expected to announce the news as soon as this afternoon.

UPDATE: Minutes after this was posted, Sci Fi Channel sent us the press release confirming the show is ending. See what Eick and Moore have to say after the jump...

"This show was always meant to have a beginning, a middle and finally, an end. Over the course of the last year, the story and the characters have been moving strongly toward that end and we've decided to listen to those internal voices and conclude the show on our own terms," Eick and Moore said in the statement. "And while we know our fans will be saddened to know the end is coming, they should brace themselves for a wild ride getting there –- we're going out with a bang ."

-- Denise Martin

(Photo courtesy NBC Universal)

Comments

[Frank]

so bummed its the last season

so happy for the last season

at least I won't be hanging for 20 or 30 years like last time :) Waiting to see if they ever find Earth.

Sad to see this vanishing...

[Spaderfan]

Well, history repeats itself. What did you expect? Producers and TV Execs killed the original series, and they're doing it again. Different set of execs, same end result. Back in the 70's, that network (which shall remain nameless) forced the original series' ratings to drop in an effort to kill it (too expensive and too big of risk they thought...'its not what the public wants'..uh...right, lets replace it with "Buck Rogers") and despite the outcry from many loyal fans to bring it back managed to sink it for good (driving a stake through its heart with the fortunately forgetable...with therapy..."Galactica 1980"). Hopefully, this incarnation won't suffer that fate....an honourable ending and maybe a good mini-series re-visit (or two) in the future would be nice.

After the cancelations of "Farscape", "Firefly", and "Stargate:SG-1", this was my only reason to watch Sci-Fi, or cable in general. "Stargate: Atlantis" probably won't be far behind on the hit list, and now "Galactica" has been nixed. And all they're replacing these shows with is cookie-cutter crap. Sci-Fi has lost the originality that made it so cool. Might as well hang it up now and just wait for the DVD collections...without all thise annoying 'Sci-Fi Original' B-movie commercials.

[Craig Miller]

Its one of the only good things to watch on tv and they are ending it! I don't understand why they won't wait until the end of a fifth season to pull the plug considering a show needs the five year minimum to qualify for royalties for reruns.

A depressing series of events indeed.

[Glenn Space]

I love the show. It definately put an exclamation point on my SciFi Fridays. Then it was something to stay up for on Sunday nights. If they are going to end it after the 4th season. I just hope they do it right and a million frackin times better than the origional series did with Galactica 1980.

With SG-1 almost out the door and now Galactica, the SciFi channel may drop from my most favorite list.....

I'm sad the show has to end.
But "better to burn out than to fade away".
I allway's missed the end of BSG1!!

Can not wait until S4E1,....

Dave The Netherlands

[Greg BSG]

I hate that is ending, I did not even know it was until I found out over the web. While I say I hate that it is ending but then again I am in a small way glad, they did not do a good job in keeping anything like the old show. I did not have to be an overlay of the old show but it could have referenced it alittle more.
The actor where prefect for there roles, the role of Adoma, prefect match for the actor, he was a natureal.
I hate to see it go and I hope that this 4th season will be as they say going out with a bang, The only thing I want to know is when will this 4th season start?????

[Charzim]

I want BSG movies!!

[Raul]

BG kept me on the edge of my seat for the whole first season, and most of the 2nd. The humans-fleeing-cylons and looking-for-earth storyline can't keep going any longer, though, because tension has just disappeared, and the 3rd season was an unnecessary soap-opera-like exploitation of the success of the series. It wasn't even good at that.

Good news that they are wrapping up the series. There is still a chance that they will bring back the great experience of seasons 1 and 2, but I have my reservations after season 3 lost it so badly. At the very least, though, I expect to be entertained by season 4, although I suspect it will be mostly because of the remarkable memories of the beginnings of the series. Also, we know now the producers won't artificially over-extend the series or come up with too many filler episodes, which is acceptable enough in advance for me.

As for the future, BSG has set a great precedent for series to come. Focus on a TV-level top-class plot and characters, and we will have more successful series like BSG. I particularly believe the BSG universe itself has a great potential for many more ground-breaking stories.

[E Rice]

4 seasons is hardly enough to satisfy me. BSG is one most unique shows to grace the airwaves and the best show Sci-Fi has ever produced and it blows me to see the show end prematurely. I know it's best to have the show end on the writers terms as opposed to suddenly getting canceled one day due to low ratings but I can't help but feel that if the show was more popular in North America we'd get more than 4 seasons. Jack Bauer has saved the day 6 times already, with 2 more seasons on the way. I'm not knocking 24, actually I like it better than BSG, but how can that story arc last for 8 seasons while BSG only gets 4. If Ronald D. Moore, David Eick and crew were giving the budget and resources the show deserves then it would be less stress on the production team resulting in an even higher quality show than produced now. BSG's story is too dynamic to be told in 4 seasons I think 5 would be the minimum the show needs to flesh out and end the story. Considering how long it took Sci-Fi to renew the show for a 4th season (at first a mere 13 eps before a full season of 22) and Sci-Fi admittedly changing the show's time slot to boast ratings it is obviously clear that due to the low ratings in North America the show is ending period. Also, thank you NBC for betting the farm on Heroes and ignoring the shows you already have.

[IamLocutus]

I think anyone paying attention to the show, or listened to RDMs podcasts about humanitys 3act structure to narratives realized the next season would probably be the last. I was really hoping for a season 5 but after crosroads2 it seems insane to push it beyond season 4. I kind of feel like its the last week of summer camp and I know I haveto say goodbye to my crush. at least this way, when the complete box set comes out, I can barricade myself in my apartment and watch the whole series over a long weekend(ala arrested development).

now a note to you season 3 haters....first, I notice most of you are bab5 fans. in full disclosure, Ive always held contempt for you guys so im not surprised. season 3 was ment to be dark and angsty, thats part of RDMs 3 act structure he talks about. think Empire Strikes Back. and I think it worked wonderfully. Exodus2, measure of salvation, hero, the last 4 episodes! it was a solid season with minimal filler. Even the crappy helo episode wasnt nearly as tedious as pretty much any Lost episode (which I like begrudgingly and refuse to recommend to anyone not already roped into it).

BSG is a masterpiece. easily one of the best story ever told.

[Shoe]

I'm wondering why no one is questioning the announcement of BSG's imminent demise. Remember the disinformation campaign that preceded the "death" of Starbuck? This show still has many possibilities, and one final season, even 22 episodes, will not even remotely address all of them. In addition, there is a very plausible scenario that could lead to the show's continuation even if David, Ron, Edward and Katee are levelling with us for a change. Let's say, for example, that the assumption that BSG is about to die raises viewer interest. Let's also suppose that season four is superior in quality to season three (not hard to imagine, unfortunately). Don't you think the suits at Sci-Fi would think again about cancelling the series? I sure do. Personally, I think seven is a luckier number than four.

[Michael Lee (Costa Rica)]

Fraking life... wars in the world, ebola, aids, and now this... you really want to take my only piece of happiness since Asimov's Foundations... Please guys don't do that. Gods... Reconsider. Even my cat loves the show.

[Michael Lee (Costa Rica)]

Fraking life... wars in the world, ebola, aids, and now this... you really want to take my only piece of happiness since Asimov's Foundations... Please guys don't do that. Gods... Reconsider. Even my cat loves the show.

[Ryan]

I am, like most of you, very disappointed that BSG is coming to an end. But to be fair, I would much rather they end it with a bang than let it go on and on and die with a fizzle and little puff of smoke.

In my opinion BSG is what Star Trek should have been - more drama, more character building, excellent special effects/space sequences and seeing how they handle real-life issues. I.e. not so much focus on aliens, technobabble and impossible technologies (with the exception of FTL and Cylons - they are part of the story and theoretically may be possible)

I heard today about the new Star Trek film slated to start production next year - let's hope the new set of writers are BSG fans and the next installment to the Star Trek saga is as good as BSG.

[naur]

i'll never let that show to end, even if i'll have to star in it !!!!!!!! Battlestar galactica, please.. you have so much more to tell!!!

chant for new episodes !!! COME ON

[Todd HellsKitchen]

Sad news indeed. it was the best show on television.

[Enigmuh0]

BSG: finally a show with some intelligent dialogue, that addresses complex topics such as human morality, the distinction between the military and the police (Posse Comitatus act), and numerous other subtleties of the human experience. It's too bad that money (expensive show to produce) is the bottom line. If BSG's future hinged on quality, surely there would be more than four seasons. Unfortunately the tyranny of the bottom line (Ralph Estes) in this case means the end of BSG, but given the drivel that consumes most American's TV time and attention, this is not surprising. I'm at least thankful to have seen a show where you could hear things like "there's a reason we separate the military and the police..." and see that torture and dehumanization is/are invariably (and always) wrong. Thank you RDM?David Eick and the cast of BSG for a show with dialogue, plotlines, and themes that are a cut above the rest of the garbage that's usually on TV.

[Harrison]

As they say in the movie business: "it's better to leave your audience wanting more, than having too much."

[Dawid]

Could it be that Fantasy genre becomes increasingly more popular (LOTR, etc) at the cost of Sci-Fi?

[Chris]

I really do empathize with the creators on this. They may have needed to improvise on stories from season to season, but that is the nature of the beast and business. What they set out to do from day one was to tell a story, and it's sad for us because it is an enjoyable story.

I would have rather seen them play it out in five seasons, and I especially agree with what has been mentioned about even cutting the episode count down. So many great epics are played in five acts, and for where they are at, I think they would be able to tell the story better.

The real crying shame is that for two people to come out and blaze this trail, they have met with unrelenting resistance, and have been still significantly successful in their product.

From my experience, when you are a lone voice for a good cause, that resistance really wears a person down, and I am sadly suspicious that they have cut things down to 4 seasons because they are tired.

To you, the loyal fans, give them credit for their efforts which have been good. For you the disappointed fans, try taking what you can from the show and thank them for it (season 3 may have been more stagnate, but that was the point, since we all go through periods of stagnation and confusion).

To the people who make this thing happen, I hope you will consider splitting the final season and really getting to the bottom of what makes us tick, and finish with finality that we can accept.

That would be the mark of a great story.