LOL.

Sorry.... I know some actresses or singers are divas and bitches behind the cameras and spotlight, but there is no way I see Jennifer Garner doing those things or demanding them from others. That's just too funny!

Really enjoyed the premiere. After reading all the clues as to Vaughn's future, if it's all true, then I'm glad they're actually stepping it up again and not "dumbing it down" for the casual viewers to catch after "Lost". New night, new direction. I just hope this isn't the last season. Here's hoping Alias stays consistent or better on Thursdays.

It does suck a little that I can't accept ANYONE's death anymore, because I always say "Well, it's TV. They have to be alive." 24, Alias, The X-Files... and I REFUSE to accept Rex's death on Desperate Housewives. I refuse. I don't care if I have to wait till the last episode of the series in like 8 or 9 years, I refuse to believe he's dead.

Final Prophet Five ratings are in

8.21m viewers and a 2.5/7 in the 18-49s

Competitively, Night Stalker lead out with 7.12m and a 2.6/6

So basically Alias gained ground from the overnights of 8.09m, only slightly but still enough.

It outdelivered everybody loves chris in the 18-49s but only just.

Infact the whole 18-49 demo was tight.
The O.C -3.0/8 [6.6M]
Smallville - 2.6/7 [5.9M]
Alias - 2.5/7 [8.2M]
Chris -2.4/7 [6.0M]

The good news is Alias is likely to average second for the season in its timeslot; just like last year.

Wow. At first I was really disappointed in Alias' 18-49 demo delivery, btu seeing how close all those shows are... it's not that bad at all. then again, aren't all the rest of the shows virtually on their second weeks? Alias should drop a bit next week, so ti could indeed end up behind Chris. What was Chris' demo numbers in its premiere?

I am still convinced that Alias's numbers are solid for ABC Thursdays. It's duplicating its Season 1-3 fast national ratings, and it's also improving on previous ABC Thursday shows (I believe, anyway). It probably will go either way on bringing it back for future seasons, especially if Jennifer Garner decides to leave after this season, but I hold out hope.

Season 5 has had the most flying rumours about any series of Alias ever.

My theory is that someone from Camp Alias is putting those rumours out there to get people guessing and they will drop some sort of bombshell during the year. I mean; Michael Vartan Subject = very very cloudy right now.
Lena Olin possibly returning for some of the season, Mia Maestro with an on off role. I guess in a way Alias is cleansing itself of its weak links and has used the Vartan/Maestro salary to employ three newcomers; one of which im particularly excited by [Eloide Bouchez]

All of this talk of Rachel Nichols as the new Sydney is dangerous though; whilst I think that Jennifer Garner has a very bright future ahead of her as a film actress; and understand that 5/6 years of shooting a tv show probobly becomes stifling if your wanting to broaden your horizons [which is the rumoured reason that Michael Vartan left] i really, really want her to stick around.

I think its safe to say that Alias would go into a ratings free-fall without Garner; and i'd probobly only watch one episode with Nichols in the lead.

AHA!!!!

Now who's the hardcore Alias fan???

Well theres a difference between the plot changing and the entire basis of the show being replaced

If you had faith in the actual show and the writers, that shouldn't matter!
I agree if Garner left, the show would change drastically, but still none of the talent behind the actual making of the show will leave (presumable, of course).

Well if her new movie CATCH & RELEASE flops in April, then she won't be going anywhere.

No matter what anyone does to spin Garner's career, she's far from the top draw that many (including myself) would like her to be. If ABC decided to bring Alias back for two more seasons, I would advise Garner to follow suit. She'll have the show to fall back on for the time being, then she can do her film career. She doesn't want to be a David Caruso or David Duchovny, does she?

I enjoyed how Vaughn survived (almost) despite being shot 96 times at close range.

I strongly doubt even if Catch and Release underperforms that Jennifer Garners going to be out of work; but i do think shes picking roles ahead of her career - notably roles where women are the only leads in the movies. This may be great for showcasing her abilities - but in terms of box office its a very tough sell. She needs to star in something opposite Richard Gere or Adam Sandler if she wishes to truly establish her self in the genre.

And Mr.X; Garner is one of Hollywoods most powerful leading ladys; the "stars" we all still claim to be big have faded fast from public opinon. Many of the people who were big Hollywood names in the start of Alias are putting the film career on the backburner [Julia Roberts] and theres definately an opening for a big female star to take up that position. Her production company has already established strong links with many of the top producers in Hollywood and its clear that studios believe her to be a big star. Shes a household name now and shes has a lot of untapped appeal that would come to the forefront if she chose unchallenging but surely profitable roles.

And you should have noticed by now that Garner is one of very few actresses to pull of a relatively succesfull film career at the same time as filming her series. Shes not vapid in her aspirations like other failed TV transitions. Shes the best bet next to Jennifer Aniston to make the jump smoothly

On the weeknd, four new-to-syndication dramas debuted: Alias premiered at a 2.5, while Smallville and Stargate: Atlantis each opened at 1.7's, while Star Trek: Enterprise landed at a 1.2 in what, at the moment, would be the last syndicated debut for that storied franchise.

Yes it should. The characters are the most important part of any show.

All evidence still points to Vaughn being alive. The dialogue keeps tiptoeing around his absence with no direct mention of death (stuff like "It's hard without him here").

I liked tonight's episode. Nothing great, but enjoyable enough. And although it was slight, I'm glad they actually gave Weiss a storyline out of the show instead of completely dumping his character without any mention of him again.

We'll see how this new recruits thing goes.

Any word on Mia Maestro, by the way?

who's the frozen guy?

Don't worry Michael, no major or minor spoilers ahead...

Halfway through the episode I was thinkng "why don't I care anymore?"
I felt I was losing interest in this new direction they were going. But by the end of the episode, I don't know it grabbed me in again... not as much as I would like, but really spruced things up. The Sydney-Jack scene was very well done.

LOVE seeing Marshal at his house; let's try not limiting that to one to two ep per season like last year!

Mild spoilers.....
I also think they finally gave Weiss a good part in the episode... too bad it's because he's leaving. Don't get me wrong I have been waiting for his departure for 2 seasons... I'm just saying it's a shame that he was actually good (as in the writing and the action for him to do) only when they want to make a big deal. IF they gave him stuff liek this to do before, he could have been a more engaging and entertaing character.

Is the show moving away from the non-linearity of previous seasons would you say? The premiere elluded to that but didnt confirm it.

Im getting sick with people ragging on Alias now; nothing it can do will please anyone and you know theres no reason at all for the hate towards it apart from having some balls and trying to change creatively.

I watched most of the episode, but will wait to watch the whole thing with my dad. Good episode, from what I saw. I'll miss Weiss. A lot.

I wont really,.
Its bizarre people always complained that Vartan wasn't that great when he was on the show. Now hes gone and its a big deal

I think Vartan was overall pretty good on the show. But when the writing for his character kinda went south so did his abilities to deliver.

Umm... heh, you misunderstood what I said. Don't go back, it's a spoiler for Episode 2.

No i didnt
"I wont" was my Wiess line,
He was kind of funny but always was a secondary character that didn't do much for the plot or show.
The new character ; played by Eloide Bouchez - has promise to fill the hole that both Vaughn and Wiess are leaving.

I watch the first season of the show very devotedly, haven't missed a single episode. The 2nd season aired very unluckily here, during my exams, so I just saw some episodes. Not a single season has been aired here since then, but the third season is being released here on DVD in November. I'll pick up all the seasons along with all the previously-released seasons of "24".

Having said that, nothing can beat Lost.