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The verdict is in: The Good Wife will come to an end in May after seven seasons. CBS broke the news Sunday via a commercial during its telecast of Super Bowl 50.
The promo ran toward the end of the second quarter and touted the drama’s “final nine episodes.” The series finale will air Sunday, May 8 at 9/8c.
It was announced last month that Good Wife creators Robert and Michelle King would step down as showrunners at the end of the show’s current seventh season. However, CBS president Glenn Geller — citing the show’s “deep bench” of producers — said the network was open to bringing the drama back. “We haven’t made any determination,” the exec insisted at the time. “It’s just January, so we have to determine if there will be another season or not.”
Two weeks later, leading lady Julianna Margulies foreshadowed Sunday’s final-season declaration at a Casting Society of America event honoring her bosses in New York. “[The Kings] think I’m here for them,” Margulies told the crowd. “But I’m unemployed come April, and I think you [casting directors] haven’t seen me in a while, at least not in person, so I thought I should show up.”
In a statement released Sunday following the promo’s unveiling, Geller conceded that the the Kings’ looming exit played a major role in the decision to pull the plug. “It’s never easy to say goodbye to one of the crown jewels of your network and studio, much less to a show that is among the best on television,” he said. “But it also feels very right to end with the seven-year story its creators envisioned, and to celebrate the show’s final run while at the top of its creative game.”
The Kings, meanwhile, released a statement of their own on Twitter: “Telling the story of the Education of Alicia Florrick is the creative dream of a lifetime. It was always our plan to tell it over 7 seasons. We wanted the story to have a beginning, middle, and an end — that’s the only way actions can have real consequences — and it’s the reason we had episode titles count up from one word to four, then back down again (it would have been pretty embarrassing if we were cancelled in our fifth season). We are forever grateful to our fans, cast and crew and CBS. We’re excited to celebrate the final 9 eps and bring the story to its natural conclusion. Here’s a spoiler: the last episode will be called ‘End.'”
Lastly, Margulies said, “Being a part of The Good Wife has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. As an actress and a producer, it has been an absolute honor to be a part of a series that, throughout seven years, never settled on being just good… but always strived to be extraordinary. I have witnessed magic happen when Robert and Michelle King put pen to paper, and it has been a privilege to be in the company of their brilliance. To the most amazing and talented cast and crew, there will always be a special place in my heart for our Good Wife family. As we close the book on our beloved show, I am humbled and grateful to know that together, we created and were a part of something truly remarkable.”
What do you think? Relieved CBS opted not to move forward without the Kings at the helm? Watch the Super promo again below and then hit the comments with your reaction!
Don’t miss the final nine episodes of #TheGoodWife. Alicia’s story concludes May 8th: https://t.co/gCGfum3AIuhttps://t.co/eS3aK4zj4e
— The Good Wife (@TheGoodWife_CBS) February 8, 2016
Will miss it but it’s the right decision with the Kings leaving.
100% agree. It’s been floundering aimlessly for 2 seasons now.
Couldn’t agree more. I wonder if that was part of the “7 year plan”
Yeah. There’s no way they planned it to go this wrong.
Did they plan all along to make Robyn and everybody else at Lockhart and people simply disappear?
they very easily could have taken this into a whole new spin off without changing the name. Diane and Carie simply stopped mattering. Alycia and Luka were the new show. The spin off. They could have had their own firm with her own issues. I think the Kings ran out of ideas. Out of ideas, they had Alycia returning to Lockhart and Agos.
The show kinda went down hill without Josh Charles in the show. Without the character “Will”, the show was missing that huge key character to keep you drawn to the show. Would Alicia and Will get back together, and maybe get married? Alicia become Governor with Will being involved in politics with her? Hmmmmmm.
Love TGW! I’ve made my peace, knew the end was near and now it’s official, as CBS has had the final say. All the best to the entire remaining cast and crew! It’s been a “Good” run and God’s speed!
I must say…JM is a class act! That farewell fan letter written above, truly came across as heartfelt and genuine and made me tear up! I remember when the show was first announced, several years ago. Seems like yesterday. There was a gorgeous full size picture of JM on the side of a New York City bus and I thought to myself quietly while walking to work, “That’s gonna be a good show…I’m definitely watching it!” Needless to say, I was hooked since the first episode! Just pure greatness! Complex/layered, smart and thought provoking. Superb television. This was truly well done tv, as the writers were able to cover personal situations, legal issues, political dilemmas, balancing throughout. The Good Wife will be seriously missed. It’s truly a sad day.
“That farewell fan letter written above, truly came across as…” the total BS of someone wanting to find work. “…there will always be a special place in my heart for our Good Wife family.” She has a long long list of her Good Wife “family” and most of the names are crossed out furiously in red pen with expletives written beside them. the show was great – that “farewell” was pure PR.
My thoughts exactly.
LOL … preach, Mike M, preach!
I couldn’t agree more! And so the best drama on network TV abruptly bites the dust. Hey, CBS: Just drop the PR crap and tell us honestly — WHY?
I agree with you Ellen; a sad day indeed.
They can always reboot like the X-files
A spin off is ok. The revenge of kalinder
Agree it was the correct decision. It was a wonderful show in the good years, before Josh left and when Archie was an important cast member. After these losses the show has just gone downhill and I have nothing good to say about JM, her interference is what destroyed the integrity of the show. Will miss Christine, Matt, Tim/Eli and some others. Good luck and God bless to them.
Juliannas acting is one of the best part of the show. It wouldnt have been the same without her. We dont know what happened, so it stupid to say its all her fault. Maybe Archie really did something bad
Dear Jeri: How in the bleep do you know it was JM’s “interference” that got the show cancelled? Talk is SO cheap! Would you mind adding some facts to your accusation?
There’s always someone else to take over.
this sucks.. but this is no surprise
About time.
Noone was forcing you to watch it
Just posted on the commercials thread. I am happy – I think most of us will be happy to hear this news. I hope we get a satisfying ending!
Wasn’t surprised about the announcement. Kind of expected it the way things have been going with the show. Just surprised that they just aired the announcement during the Superbowl.
You mean when 100 million people are watching?
I think it has more to do with getting $5M per 30 seconds of air time being surprising. That announcement aired during the SB cost CBS a lot of money in lost revenue.
That’s a drop in the bucket. $5M is nothing to them. CBS raked it in yesterday.
Plus, they will always run house ads, they’re factored in. No money was “lost” from promoting an acclaimed show’s farewell run.
That’s right it was always on the top 25 list every week in T.V Guide They should never have stuck such and amazing show in that Sunday night slot. It was so often held back because of the football games.
Interesting way to make the announcement! Way to make an impact CBS!
And that impact certainly left a dazed and confused look on Eli’s face at the Super Bowl.
Way to go, producers, now an innocent man is wearing Sibling Rivalry when he’s much bigger than that!
Appropriate that they announced it during the Superbowl. Football games running over meant 1/2 or none of the show recorded regularly!
I was wondering when it would be reported. I just saw that during super bowl as well.
As soon as I saw The Good Wife commercial I knew what was coming. I almost teared up when THE FINAL SEASON flashed on screen.
No real shock here… Let’s them go out on their own terms.
Good move! Love the show but it’s time.
Would love to see Kalinda back for a small arc but that’s impossible, right?
Her scene’s would have to be filmed from another city considering how the star of the show fells about her.
True! hahaha. I think she should just get some closure with Cary but again, not likely.
I really hope it’s impossible. Kalinda/Archie was so overrated. I was sick of her self serving attitude (both on and off the show).
Oh ha ha ha – like Archie was the one responsible for the dramas that happened off screen on that set. People loved her on that set, she did The Fall and became great friends with Gillian Anderson. Your comment is made with no basis, and no supporting facts, because there are none. You are simply wrong.
Huh, I guess only YOU are entitled to have any opinions regarding this show. Uh, no, you are the one that is so wrong–and extremely childish. Grow up and play like an adult. SMFH.
You have no supporting facts either. Very little has been revealed about the feud so Karen is no more right or wrong than you are.
Ehm… you are the one with no basis nor supporting facts. We dont know what happened and we never will, it stupid to keep on blaming Julianna and pretend that Archie was angel: theres a reason if the problem was with her and not with the other actors
“self serving attitude . . . on & off the show” ? Assume you’re referring to media stories about how Margulies wouldn’t film the final Kalinda episode with Panjabi, they had to be done separately. But that was Margulies “I’m the star” attitude, not Archie Panjabi. Really don’t think that Margulies has ever learned her most important “show biz” lesson: whether you’re winning or losing, never piss off anyone; always be gracious. You never know when you might need them. Margulies went more than 15 yrs between hit shows. And now she’s pushing 50. Let’s see how long it is before we see her again, if ever.
Maybe in a Kalinda spin-off: Kalinda and her snakes on a plane.
Still you dont know the reason. It stupid to blame Julianna and say pretend that Archie didnt do anything wrong
I think your post is a horrible thing to say! There are hundreds of 50+ men on TV. Age shouldn’t make a difference. Would you like people to say that about you when you are ‘pushing 50’ I hope for your sake you are allowed to work until retirement age.
Julianna has no real need to work. She along with her co-stars (sans Sherry Stringfield) made a fortune off of the ER syndication package back in 1998 and she still receives checks for ER related revenue to this day. Not only that but I’m sure her contract entitles her for streaming revenue for The Good Wife. She will be fine.
Agreed
Well it was a good run. At least there is time for a good series finale
No tears here. Tired of Alicia’s whining.
Then why did you keep watching?
Actually, I had quit watching as I found the show had deteriorated so much I thought it a boring waste of time.
Ugh. It’s really annoying seeing many comments like this that try to simplify Alicia’s emotions and everything she’s going through and gone through by saying that she’s whining.
You may watch thr show, but you clearly havent understood anything of it
So what are they claiming is the biggest surprise yet?
Josh Charles in a dream sequence? She finally divorces Peter? She shares the screen with AP?
I think the biggest surprise is that this is the last season. I think that was the point of the commercial. The “surprise” is that this is the last season and that they announced it during the Super Bowl. At least that is what I took it as.
The biggest surprise yet was that it’s the last season, heretofore unannounced (but suspected by anyone reading the writing on the wall). So, ausiello— any spinoffs possible?
I think they were referring to the fact that it was the final season.
That Iowa episode on Jan 10th was AWFUL. The show’s been so bad for at least a season and a half. Any chance Archie P can make a surprise appearance in the season finale? No? I thought not.
Please leave Kalinda where she is. Her repetitiveness ruined the show. And btw episode 7×11 was awesome
Best commercial so far! ;) Actually, at first, I thought it was a joke since I had heard nothing about it, but kudos to CBS for keeping it under wraps and announcing it when the most people would be watching.
.
That being said, even though the show has had its ups and downs for the past three seasons, I’ll actually miss watching it on Sunday nights as it was part of my usual schedule. Hopefully with the last few episodes, they can redeem it and make it worth watching again. Hey, they did it with last week’s episode. If they could keep that momentum, they just might salvage this show after all.
No!!
The last two seasons haven’t being the best especially don’t like that most of the cast don’t interact with Alicia most of the time. At least they get a have to write a good series finale…it’s time!!!
me to my mom(who has seen every episode) right after the ad
“well i guess cbs mad their decision”
I was wondering how that one got past you!! Saw the commercial and came right to the site and saw it was still listed as a safe bet. Crazy way to announce!!!!
Good call! It was a great series but it came to its natural end so prolonging it would make no sense.
Sez you!
Agree, it’s the right decision, but I was still shocked to see it announced that way, almost to tears. The people I’m watching the game with thought I was having an attack of some sort, lol.
If you responded so noticeably and negatively to the accouncement, why do you now say it was the right decision?
With the Kings gone, this is the right choice. Though I will miss it immensely. It’s been must-see tv for me since episode 1.
LETS START A HASHTAG TO GET THEM TO KEEP GOING!!! #15seasonsand5movies !!!
NOT! Coming back with new showrunners is a risk. Time to preserve the King/TGW legacy.
So sad to see this. It’s been my appointment TV for 7 years. It needs to finish with Alicia on top and the Florricks divorced.
Justice for Kalinda
Exactly!
And for Archie, who has been working since she left TGW and now has a new pilot.
Actually his season is a hundred times better than the last one due to Kalindas absence. Also, this isnt happening because of her leaving. The Kings have always said that the show would last seven seasons
This show should have ended when Josh Charles left the show. Last season was so fake and boring it could only be watched via DVR so the bad parts could be skipped with fast forward.
This season has been highlighted by an ex-con (Peter) running for president, Eli’s small office, and The Good Wife at the bottom of the court-house (bond court).
The bond court episodes were hilarious. This show was never squeamish about going off on different tangents. That’s one of prime reasons it was so compelling. I also loved the Iowa Caucus episodes — once again a whole new angle!