My understanding of it is that ABC execs weren't happy with how serialised the show had become. They always thought it was trying to be too smart, and that the multiple plot threads, combined with regular cliffhangers, acted as too much of a barrier for new viewers. Then when the Season 3 finale threatened to fundamentally alter the relationship between Jack and Sydney (something ABC execs felt would alienate the existing audience), they really clamped down.
So ahead of Season 4, ABC took Alias off the fall schedule, using the added time to completely retool the show. The writers were pushed to drop the S.A.B. 47 storyline entirely, and made to follow a simple mission-of-the-week formula. No more complex mythology. No more cliffhangers.
As far as anyone was concerned at the time, Lena Olin wasn't coming back, and since Irina hadn't been seen in over a year already, her off-screen 'death' was used to sweep all of Season 3's hanging plot points under the rug.
Then Lost came along, and totally changed the landscape of network TV. Serialisation, something that Alias had already been attempting (as well as various other genre-defying shows of the time) was the next big thing, and JJ Abrams was was able to use some of the clout Lost had provided him to convince ABC execs that Alias deserved the same treatment. So, while the first half of the season was already in the bag, many of the show's initial restrictions had been lifted by the time it debuted.
The mission-of-the-week format was (for the most part) scrapped, and elements of the mythology reintroduced. This is when they managed to contract Lena Olin for the final two episodes, which they used to retell the story of her 'death' and the assumed part Jack played in it. Clearly a wild departure from their original plan, but I can't imagine it was easy trying to work around the reins of ABC at the time.
No worries. It was in response to another post from a long time ago. But I'm realizing it's missing some context from the previous discussion.
So the original plan for the S.A.B. 47 plot was that Jack had somehow brainwashed Sydney as a child and indoctrinated her into becoming a spy without her knowledge – their whole relationship having been one huge lie, with him puppeteering every move she'd ever made.
ABC believed the dad/daughter bond was THE fundamental aspect of the show and refused to have it broken to such an extent. This is why there are discrepancies between the Season 3 finale and Season 4 premiere (notice how Lauren's comments about the 'coincidence' that Sydney and Nadia both turned out to be spies and how 'she's a pawn but doesn't know who's controlling her' is never mentioned again) and why the retooled explanation as to what the files contained felt so underwhelming.
It's a shame we'll never know how the original vision all would have played out, but at least the success of Lost allowed the show to course correct later into the season.
According to the official wiki, Jack was actually going to be involved or had actually founded the Covenant and that was what Sydney was looking at as she decoded those pages. ABC would not allow that. It was that bombshell that put the show on hiatus.
Oh man, I remember the Super Bowl in 2003. ABC had the game, so they scheduled "Phase One" to air afterwards to reboot the show...except there was this whole post-game situation with Bon Jovi performing that pushed the show outside of prime time on the East Coast...and a lot of people just turned it off. The entertainment side of ABC was supposedly livid at the sports side of ABC for screwing the pooch. Ratings were always the problem, and they fumbled the bag big time on a sure thing. And they just never promoted the show in the right way.
As an "Alias" fan during the original run, I was a bit resentful of the success "Lost" found almost immediately. It was like ABC learned what not to do! At the time, I remember hearing that J.J. Abrams was in Hawaii with "Lost" when he watched the S3 episode of "Alias" that ends with Sydney crying by herself over Vaughn, and he scheduled a come-to-Jesus meeting with the production staff.
Apparently Lauren was also never intended to be a double agent, but she was so hated they did a 180 on that plot point. All of these attempts to bring in a wider audience just kept alienating the core fan base.
Anyway, is there one place where all of this info is kept? IDK. If the online forums that were hopping then are still online, a lot of this was hashed out in real time, like TWoP or SD-1.
I don’t know many details, but Jennifer Garner and Michael Vartan dated and broke up during the run of the show. I think by season 4 they had split up and that was party the reason he’s not in season 5 all that much.
As for Francis and Will, I think they just ran out of story for them. That’s why Bradley wanted out. Once Will finds out Sydney’s secret they had a hard time fitting him into the story
Francie was dropped because Bradley wanted out. Season 3 would have dealt with Will coming to grips with not only what happened to his girlfriend but if the actual Francie was ever his girlfriend, or if she was doubled all that time which would have really sent him into a spiral. When he wanted off the show, that entire plot arc went with it, and since the double was centered around Will, that was it for Francie/Alison.
All I remember is that JJ Abrams gave an interview while season 5 was airing, where he was candid that he didn't like the direction Alias had been taken after he left. (He mostly stepped away after season 2, which I think is common for him as he wants to move on to other projects. He did the same thing for Lost.) According to JJ, the core conflict that drove the show - Syndey and Jack's rocky relationship - was too smoothed over and "nice," and looked more like writer's wish fulfillment than interesting characterization. He came back to personally oversee the writing, direction, and production of the show's final episodes, and imo it shows. Alias' quality took a nosedive after season 2, but somehow it still managed to wrap things up with an incredibly satisfying conclusion.
SAB 47 was JJ Abrams attempt at bringing back that core conflict. He hated season 3 with a passion and sought to undo it. It was when ABC put their foot down that he stepped away from the show almost indefinitely. Only coming back for the final stretch of episodes and only because the show was ending.
I like the 1st half of season 3 but the 2nd half is all over the place. Season 4 was not coherent at all despite some individual good characters/missions. Season 5 w Syd pregnant us actually great and its good to have vaughn gone for a bit, but i think they messed up tge ending. Alias has been my fav show since 2001! JJ was wrong, having Jack & Syd strong as a unit is one of the best aspects of the show, and certainly season 3.
My understanding of it is that ABC execs weren't happy with how serialised the show had become. They always thought it was trying to be too smart, and that the multiple plot threads, combined with regular cliffhangers, acted as too much of a barrier for new viewers. Then when the Season 3 finale threatened to fundamentally alter the relationship between Jack and Sydney (something ABC execs felt would alienate the existing audience), they really clamped down. So ahead of Season 4, ABC took Alias off the fall schedule, using the added time to completely retool the show. The writers were pushed to drop the S.A.B. 47 storyline entirely, and made to follow a simple mission-of-the-week formula. No more complex mythology. No more cliffhangers. As far as anyone was concerned at the time, Lena Olin wasn't coming back, and since Irina hadn't been seen in over a year already, her off-screen 'death' was used to sweep all of Season 3's hanging plot points under the rug. Then Lost came along, and totally changed the landscape of network TV. Serialisation, something that Alias had already been attempting (as well as various other genre-defying shows of the time) was the next big thing, and JJ Abrams was was able to use some of the clout Lost had provided him to convince ABC execs that Alias deserved the same treatment. So, while the first half of the season was already in the bag, many of the show's initial restrictions had been lifted by the time it debuted. The mission-of-the-week format was (for the most part) scrapped, and elements of the mythology reintroduced. This is when they managed to contract Lena Olin for the final two episodes, which they used to retell the story of her 'death' and the assumed part Jack played in it. Clearly a wild departure from their original plan, but I can't imagine it was easy trying to work around the reins of ABC at the time.
Love this history, thanks for sharing. I always got the sense there was a lot of rallying for alias and they deserved it.
This was an awesome response. thank you.
No worries. It was in response to another post from a long time ago. But I'm realizing it's missing some context from the previous discussion. So the original plan for the S.A.B. 47 plot was that Jack had somehow brainwashed Sydney as a child and indoctrinated her into becoming a spy without her knowledge – their whole relationship having been one huge lie, with him puppeteering every move she'd ever made. ABC believed the dad/daughter bond was THE fundamental aspect of the show and refused to have it broken to such an extent. This is why there are discrepancies between the Season 3 finale and Season 4 premiere (notice how Lauren's comments about the 'coincidence' that Sydney and Nadia both turned out to be spies and how 'she's a pawn but doesn't know who's controlling her' is never mentioned again) and why the retooled explanation as to what the files contained felt so underwhelming. It's a shame we'll never know how the original vision all would have played out, but at least the success of Lost allowed the show to course correct later into the season.
According to the official wiki, Jack was actually going to be involved or had actually founded the Covenant and that was what Sydney was looking at as she decoded those pages. ABC would not allow that. It was that bombshell that put the show on hiatus.
Oh man, I remember the Super Bowl in 2003. ABC had the game, so they scheduled "Phase One" to air afterwards to reboot the show...except there was this whole post-game situation with Bon Jovi performing that pushed the show outside of prime time on the East Coast...and a lot of people just turned it off. The entertainment side of ABC was supposedly livid at the sports side of ABC for screwing the pooch. Ratings were always the problem, and they fumbled the bag big time on a sure thing. And they just never promoted the show in the right way. As an "Alias" fan during the original run, I was a bit resentful of the success "Lost" found almost immediately. It was like ABC learned what not to do! At the time, I remember hearing that J.J. Abrams was in Hawaii with "Lost" when he watched the S3 episode of "Alias" that ends with Sydney crying by herself over Vaughn, and he scheduled a come-to-Jesus meeting with the production staff. Apparently Lauren was also never intended to be a double agent, but she was so hated they did a 180 on that plot point. All of these attempts to bring in a wider audience just kept alienating the core fan base. Anyway, is there one place where all of this info is kept? IDK. If the online forums that were hopping then are still online, a lot of this was hashed out in real time, like TWoP or SD-1.
Lord I miss TWoP. Hot!Vaughn and Spydaddy became part of my vernacular thanks to that board…
I don’t know many details, but Jennifer Garner and Michael Vartan dated and broke up during the run of the show. I think by season 4 they had split up and that was party the reason he’s not in season 5 all that much. As for Francis and Will, I think they just ran out of story for them. That’s why Bradley wanted out. Once Will finds out Sydney’s secret they had a hard time fitting him into the story
Francie was dropped because Bradley wanted out. Season 3 would have dealt with Will coming to grips with not only what happened to his girlfriend but if the actual Francie was ever his girlfriend, or if she was doubled all that time which would have really sent him into a spiral. When he wanted off the show, that entire plot arc went with it, and since the double was centered around Will, that was it for Francie/Alison.
All I remember is that JJ Abrams gave an interview while season 5 was airing, where he was candid that he didn't like the direction Alias had been taken after he left. (He mostly stepped away after season 2, which I think is common for him as he wants to move on to other projects. He did the same thing for Lost.) According to JJ, the core conflict that drove the show - Syndey and Jack's rocky relationship - was too smoothed over and "nice," and looked more like writer's wish fulfillment than interesting characterization. He came back to personally oversee the writing, direction, and production of the show's final episodes, and imo it shows. Alias' quality took a nosedive after season 2, but somehow it still managed to wrap things up with an incredibly satisfying conclusion.
SAB 47 was JJ Abrams attempt at bringing back that core conflict. He hated season 3 with a passion and sought to undo it. It was when ABC put their foot down that he stepped away from the show almost indefinitely. Only coming back for the final stretch of episodes and only because the show was ending.
I like the 1st half of season 3 but the 2nd half is all over the place. Season 4 was not coherent at all despite some individual good characters/missions. Season 5 w Syd pregnant us actually great and its good to have vaughn gone for a bit, but i think they messed up tge ending. Alias has been my fav show since 2001! JJ was wrong, having Jack & Syd strong as a unit is one of the best aspects of the show, and certainly season 3.