FX’s praised Cold War spy drama The Americans is getting an end date. The network has given the series, now airing its fourth season, a pickup for two more seasons, a 13-episode Season 5 to air in 2017 and 10-episode sixth and final season to air in 2018.
Additionally, FX Productions, which co-produces The Americans with Fox 21 TV Studios, has closed new overall deals with executive producers/co-showrunners Joe Weisberg, who created the series, and Joel Fields to develop their next show.
“Through its first four seasons, critics have lauded The Americans as one of the best shows on television and, remarkably, a series that keeps getting better every year,” said FX’s president of original programming Eric Schrier. “We have no doubt that this two-season order will allow Joe and Joel to tell this story to its perfect conclusion.”
Added Fox 21 president Bert Salke, “While we are already mourning the eventual end, we are grateful to FX for this generous two-season pickup that enables the show to go out on its own terms and gives the creators time to craft a final stretch as satisfying as the show itself.”
While The Americans has been lauded by critics throughout its run as one of the best dramas on TV, the series has been largely overlooked by the Emmys except for a best guest actress trophy won by Margo Martindale. (It has won TCA, Critics’ Choice and Peabody drama series awards.) The period drama starring Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys also has been a very modest ratings performer, helped a bit by solid DVR gains.
“It’s hard to believe we’re heading into the final stretch on The Americans, and we’re so grateful to know we’ll be telling the story to its conclusion,” said Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg. “It’s a lot of people putting their hearts and souls into The Americans, at this point for a lot of years. We’re looking forward to the final two.”
Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields executive produce alongside Graham Yost, Chris Long and Stephen Schiff , along with Amblin Television heads Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank. Joshua Brand is consulting Producer. The Americans is produced by Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions.
Easily among the best, if not THE best, series on TV. So glad FX is letting the Joe’s go out on their own terms
Fantastic (and a bit sad) news!
Love this show so, so much! Sad it’s ending, but am eager to watch where they take the viewers and respect that they aren’t drawing it out past its welcome.
Best show on TV, period.
BRAVO!
Best damn show on television.
This is the only show my wife and I watch together. Fantastic news. It will allow them to go out on the right note. Truly one of the top three shows on air and top ten of all time.
Thank you FX for fulfilling your promise to see the show through to a natural conclusion. This show is up there with The Wire & The Sopranos for quality writing and acting in my opinion and I’m really happy to get 2 more seasons (23 episodes) to finish it properly and let it stand for people to discover it in years to come.
This is great news we will get a conclusion to this storyline, instead being left hanging. I think all shows should be set up with a specific ending to story.
Consistently superb writing and directing on this show. Hate to hear they’ll be closing it out but it makes sense given the subject matter and the upcoming end of the Cold war on the show. Can’t wait to see how it ends.
It’s a well written and played show. I just think it’s funny, or depressing rather, how ratings continue to show how fascinated viewers are with a storyline that depicts the sabotage of our nation. Not harping on the screen writers or actors at all, but geepers creeper’s people.
So many posts by the street-teamers. Too bad the false impression given by this thread does not translate to the awful ratings.
While I see what you’re saying, the show simply isn’t that simple. Sure, the “main characters” (Philip and Elizabeth) are Russian spies, but it doesn’t always portray them–or even Communist Russia–in an unquestionably flattering manner.
I think the show does a really good job of showing the defects of both Russia and America, particularly during the Cold War. Don’t get me wrong, I’m absolutely glad we “won” the Cold War; however, part of the reason *why* we won was our freedom–specifically our freedom to criticize the government. Pastor Tim exemplifies exercising our American rights, while time and time again minor characters are “knocked off” by defying the Russian government for mere dissent about what its government is doing.
In my opinion, The Americans actually has mostly the opposite effect of “rooting” for Russia. Sure, sometimes America isn’t portrayed flatteringly, but all of the Russians just seem to have something disgusting buried deep within them, while the American characters are able to live more freely with their decisions.
Maybe that’s because the majority of Russian characters are spies carrying out military orders, but even when Russia is presented in the show, it isn’t exactly represented as a desirable place to live.
Long story short, I think you could just as easily to reverse your point and paint the show as the Americans’ (I mean real Americans like Stan) attempt to *stop* the sabotage of our nation .
Once again, relationships trumps talent or results in Hollywood.
Here’s a badly-made, low-rated show renewed yet again in spite of not having viewers and the producers getting a big check for a job badly done…
Nauseating.
lol. Wow. I can only imagine the amount of sour grapes you must eat every day.
If you’ve watched a single episode of the series and couldn’t spot the talent, you’ve got terrible taste and even worse judgement.
What………!
Now off to watch As The World Turns
Have you ever even watched the shows? If so, why ?
Best show going. I am sort of prejudice tho cause I worked this “arena” in the 80s. And the writers do a great job
I love any and everytime I get a chance to play on The Americans…Amazing cast and crew!… gonna hate to see it end, but at least we know when we’re gonna end…I’ve been a KGB agent (in the Rezidentura) since the pilot, and have had a BLAST every time. Our first season’s “Rezidentura” set was Columbia University’s Italian Studies building in Harlem (NYC)…second season onward was on an exact copy set right on the Gowanus Canal, a couple blocks from the Barclay Center in Brooklyn. I’ve made amazing friends on set and hopefully can get another period piece with the writing, and cast/crew like The Americans! I’m so happy for the two Joes about their deal signing!!!
Great show. One of the very few TV shows I watch. I am Russian-American, thus I do appreciate it from the both side of the cultural and political spectrum. Great script, great acting. I like the spirit of the last season. It’s about the people, the family. Pastor Tim’s advise to Elizabeth, friendship between Gourov and the KGB agent, and so much more.
This show is as good as Breaking Bad, and that was my all time favorite. So well written and acted. Can’t wait for the next season.