CW looks to wrap up 'Girlfriends'

Network plans for retrospective special

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

CW's 'Girlfriends,' which will wrap this season after eight years, may get a retrospective special instead of a season finale.

As fans of the long-running comedy "Girlfriends" start harassing the CW over its recent stealth cancellation, the netlet is looking at ways to wrap up the show.

"To better focus its creative and financial resources," the CW said -- via a lengthy statement -- that it opted post-writers strike to "only resume production on shows that are in consideration for renewal next year."

With "Girlfriends" already set to end its run, that meant a sudden end with no series finale to the show after eight years.

"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," the CW stated.

Network said it's now in discussions with creator-exec producer Mara Brock Akil to air a retrospective special featuring the show's cast.

Akil said the special "will honor and celebrate this landmark series."

"Although it's always difficult to say goodbye, I choose to focus my energy on the history that 'Girlfriends' has made, the human stories we told, the beautifully complex images that we projected and the blessing 172 episodes bestowed on us."

"Girlfriends" first bowed on UPN in September 2000, moving to the CW when that network launched in 2006. With "WWE Smackdown" also leaving the CW at the end of the year, that leaves just "America's Next Top Model" and potentially on-the-bubble "Everybody Hates Chris" as the final UPN refugees on the CW.