Science fiction has experienced a renaissance on prime-time television following the monumental success of Lost. From Heroes to FlashForward to Fringe, most of these shows have been canceled due to low ratings and high prices. However, it still remains a mystery why “Invasion” was preserved. The series, like Invasion of the Body Snatchers, told about a small town in Florida whose inhabitants are being changed by mysterious creatures. Although it aired on ABC on the same network as “Lost,” “Invasion” only ran for one 22-episode season from 2005 to 2006 before the network canceled it.
The reason? In a 2014 interview with the AV Club, Invasion actor Tyler Labine lamented, “I still don’t know why that show got canceled. We had great numbers, we had a good show, good critical acclaim … I I don’t know.” But in 2011, Labinet said unlikely: “The funniest thing is that The Invasion did get a lot of love. Critics loved it. By the time we got cancelled, there was quite a following. It’s just that the network didn’t like it, that’s all.” And in 2019, Labine told StarryMag, “(‘The Invasion’) was a huge hit that got canceled for some reason no one understands. Pure politics. The ratings were through the roof.” Good ratings, strong reviews, and fan support — what happened? Based on what Labine is saying, it sounds like “The Invasion” was canceled simply because it’s not “Lost.”