Tonight, Syfy announced the show will end after its fifth season.  This is not your average cancellation, though.  Eureka is currently in the middle of airing season 4.5, and just last week, the network committed to a six-episode sixth season.  Syfy exec Mark Stern even stated, "We are hopeful that this will not be the end of the franchise."  Instead, Eureka has 18 segments to finish out its run; 6 more in season four and 12 episodes on the way in 2012 for the fifth and final season.  Read the network's explanation after the break:

eureka_season_4_poster

Syfy released this statement to EW:

“After painstaking consideration, we have had to make the difficult business decision to not order a season six of Eureka. But Eureka is not over yet. There is a new holiday episode this December and 12 stellar episodes set to debut next year, marking its fifth season and six memorable years on Syfy. The 2012 episodes are some of the best we’ve seen, and will bring this great series to a satisfying end. We are very grateful to Bruce Miller and Jaime Paglia, their team of incredible writers, and an amazing cast and crew who have consistently delivered a series we continue to be very proud of. We thank the fans for their support of this show and know they will enjoy its final season in 2012."

Five seasons and 75 episodes is impressive for any show.  But it's too bad the show has to go out like this.  I believe Eureka used to be Syfy's highest-rated scripted series (back when it was still Sci-Fi), though I think it's been supplanted by Warehouse 13 since then.

Eureka, you were always good for lighthearted entertainment.  You will be missed.  Here's to going out with a bang.