Brothers & Sisters

So we’re in a little bit of withdrawal this week, with no new Brothers & Sisters episode to talk about. But at least we know our show will be back next Sunday, and appears to be in no particular danger of going away for good. A couple other Greg Berlanti productions aren’t so lucky, with news coming out last week that ABC had declined to order additional episodes of Dirty Sexy Money and Eli Stone, which means they’re good as cancelled.

I’ll admit, I never really got into either of these shows. I watched the first episode of both, and wished them well enough, but I just never felt compelled to follow them along. So while I suspect that, in both cases, the plug-pull was premature — each show had its fans, and some critical appreciation — I’m not going to be personally mourning either one. Especially if somebody else gives Peter Krause a job real quick. (Hey, Sarah’s going to be needing a boyfriend. Who’s up for a Six Feet Under reunion?)

What I wonder about the dual cancellations is what they’re going to mean for the Walker family. I don’t think the show’s ever been as strong as it was at the end of the first season, before Berlanti was distracted by filthy rich people and visionary lawyers. There have been some pretty clumsy missteps, and whatever the reason for them, they make me wonder whether a stronger guiding hand might have kept things from spinning quite so far out of control.

I’m hoping the losses of these shows will be to Brothers & Sisters gain — if not this season, then maybe next. Assuming Berlanti doesn’t have a bunch of other doomed projects lined up.