THE OBENSON REPORT

Ouch! I'm not even a regular viewer of the show, but I can't help but feel for the cast. I know it was in its final season, but, damn, at least give them some kind of a send-off, instead of an abrupt ending and notifications via phone!! After all, they've given you 8 pretty good years.

From Black Talent News:

The CW's "Girlfriends" Quietly Gets The Ax; Series Ends without Finale
Feb 13, 2008

The CW network quietly cancelled the long-running series "Girlfriends." Monday night's two episodes were the last episodes ever - no goodbye, no farewell, no finale. Cast members were notified by telephone by creator Mara Brock Akil that the network had decided to end the show. "The prolonged strike has changed business conditions and our programming strategy for the balance of the 2007/08 season. To better focus its creative and financial resources, The CW will only resume production on shows that are in consideration for renewal next year. As a result, we will not order additional episodes of the long-running comedy, `Girlfriends,' which planned to conclude its 8-year run at the end of this season. This was a very difficult decision for us, and was based solely on the considerable cost to license each episode in an extremely unusual business environment," read a statement issued by The CW. The series, produced by Kelsey Grammer, was in its eighth season and was one year way from being the longest-running African American sitcom in television history. It starred Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, Persia White, Jill Marie Jones, Reggie Hayes, Khalil Kain and Keesha Sharp. Prior to the strike the series had nine remaining episodes to shoot. Series star Tracee Ellis Ross directed the last episode. The network is reportedly in discussions with Akil and the cast to bring closure to the show with a retrospective special to air this season.