Fans of The Shield will have to wait a little longer to see whether Vic Mackey self-destructs in the show’s last season, its seventh. Though the final 13 episodes were shot before the writers’ strike, FX doesn’t appear to be in any hurry to air them before fall — at the earliest. Running the show opposite the Summer Olympics seems to be FX’s biggest concern, admits creator/executive producer Shawn Ryan. “I wish fans can see them now, but I gotta be a team player,” he says. Though Ryan missed filming of the drama’s final hour in November because he was walking the picket line, he was able to return to the editing booth several weeks ago to do post-production on the last three episodes.
Mar 12
2008
11:17 AM ET
Return of 'The Shield': Summer debut unlikely
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Fall? At the EARLIEST!?!?!? C’mon, FX… We’ve been waiting long enough!
why would they avoid the olympics. its two weeks of 12 hour delay stuff that anyone whoe watches the sheild probably doesn’t care much about. why go against new programming in sept. also, why would we support an olympics in a country that doesn’t give its people freedom and supports the genocide in darfur?? im just sayin.
The Shield usually airs starting in April and ending in June. That would avoid the Olympics altogether. So this Fall start date is a load of crap
Seriously — don’t they realize they are losing people the longer they drag this out? I mean, I’m a huge fan, and even I feel the momentum waning…
Hang in there, I’ll be back before you know it!!!
Hang in there, I’ll be back before you know it!!!
Hi, Shane here. As far as I’m concerned you can take all the time you want. I’m in no hurry for Vic to come after me.
I love the Shield!!! I have been waiting some time for it to come back on. I don’t think FX should delay for the Olympics. If you have seen the ratings for previous Olympic broadcasts, you would know that not many people are watching. Unless FX has the broadcast rights to the Olympics, I don’t see why they have to delay the Shield. Plus, I agree with “Womb”. The Shield usually begins in mid to late March and ends in June. How will it interfere with the Olympics? I would like to see the episodes now, but I am sure I will tune in whenever they come back on.
This decision by FX makes no sense whatsoever. They are afraid of going up against the Olympics? Really? Has anybody cared about the Olympics since 1992? Is FX going to pull all of their programming during the Olympics? Sorry, but I’m not buying it. Someone let me know when the real reason for the delay is revealed.
Very frustrating! I can’t imagine that they’d be worried about the Olympics. I think people watch them, but it’s not the event it used to be. Also, wouldn’t the Shield have tougher competition in the fall when the shows all return? I think that would be more of a threat than the Olympics.
Hmmm, last I heard Shawn Ryan was refusing to edit the last 3 episodes due to the strike. Now he’s a “team player”? FX is probably doing this as payback.
at this rate, we’ll be putting up xmas decorations when rescue me comes back?
i’m in the “chinese democracy” school of thought that allows a work’s creators as much time as they like. i trust they’ll use that time to good effect in post-production and minor reshoots, etc.
plus, i’m sure the EW staff won’t mind not having to split their pleas for emmy love between the swan songs of the shield and the wire this summer around nominating time. bottle up that righteous indignation EW!
If this is one of the only shows that was shot before the writer’s strike, why are we waiting? I agree with the former comment that this doesn’t make it more exciting, it makes me lose interest. It sounds like games are being played out at our expense.
So I have been watching all these stupid repeat shows all winter long, because of the stupid writters strike when FX had the last season of The Shield finished. That has to be the most screwed up thing FX has ever done.