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EXCLUSIVE: There will be a change at the helm of Showtime’s flagship drama Dexter for its upcoming sixth season. The series’ executive producer Scott Buck has been named new showrunner. He will succeed Chip Johannessen, who ran the show last season. Dexter‘s fifth season, which concluded on Sunday, ranks as the highest-rated season of the drama series to date, averaging more than 5 million viewers per week on TV and on-demand. And while Johannessen is well regarded, the feeling was that Buck, who had been on the show since the second season, serving as No.2 to Johannessen and previous showrunner Clyde Phillips, was ready to take the reins of the series, which landed several Golden Globe and SAG nominations this week. Buck also has had great rapport with the show’s writers, all of whom are returning next season. Buck joined Dexter at the beginning of Season 2 as a co-executive producer and was upped to executive producer at the beginning of Season 4. He has written or co-written the last three season finales, including the one that aired on Sunday. Before Dexter, WME-repped Buck was a writer/producer on HBO’s Six Feet Under.
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Good to see. The fifth season didn’t have the same rhythm as previous seasons.
I stayed with it, but it wasn’t a good season. Writing just not up to par. I’m glad they are making a change.
Showtime should never have hired Chip in the first place. He’s a Grade A hack that has ruined countless shows including Dexter. How does this guy continue to get jobs in this town? He can’t write worth sh!t as evidenced by the abysmal Dexter finale.
Chip Johannessen did a fine job showrunning Season 5. Scott Buck is a fantastic writer. Best of luck to both of them.
Too many plot holes in season five (and too much LaGuerta-Batista soap opera plotting).
Looking forward to season six.
Spot on with your assessment.
Yes! There is a God, after all. Season 5 was BY FAR the worst of the series, and Johannessen’s firing is completely justified. He clearly didn’t get the show and didn’t want to. Scott Buck is a great talent and he’ll do a fantastic job.
Season 5 was great – Michael Hall finally got to show what he can do and the real depth of Dexter’s condition was shown. Finale was amazing. I hope Season 6 can match it.
I don’t feel this show should go more than seven seasons (which would be 84 episodes). They’ve got to move toward the Dex/Deb endgame eventually.
Buck didn’t write this season’s finale, it was the team of Johannesen & Manny Coto. Which is why for the most part it was mediocre.
This was a much-needed change. Hell, maybe Melissa Rosenberg can come back for a few eps if she has holes in her feature schedule…
I love Dexter! I enjoyed Season 5 — even though it wasn’t as good as Season 4. Still thought it was better than Season 3 which I feel was the weakest. Julia Stiles was surprisingly good this year and I wasn’t a fan of hers before. Peter Weller is the man!
Season Five was the BEST!!! Having the highest-rated season must prove something. The finale, written by Johannessen, was my favorite.
Don’t blame Coto. He wrote two of the best eps this season. Rumor says he was the only one holding things together under jojanneson. Probably why cotos staying on.
Interesting decision after garnering the best rated season of the series and maintaining the viewers through the finale. The show got better every week, and Johannessen’s team did a superb job of creating escalating suspense from episode 6 through 12. Wish I could see what he had planned for season 6. Changing the showrunner for next season is a mistake.
Showtime just saved the series.
Johannessen alienated cast, crew and writers alike with his indecision and perpetual state of confusion. Apparently he convinced himself the show was fundamentally flawed and his role was to be its savior.
Alas, the lackluster finale perfectly sums up his contribution to the show this season. Banal network sensibilities. Simplistic scene work. On the nose dialog.
Good riddance.
Thought this season was the best yet. Liked how Dexter’s humanity was brought out in the season finale.
Really loved the season’s ending…. I think the relationship between Deb and Dexter is one the most compelling aspects of the show!
Thought this season was great! I think Johannessen helped give depth to Dexter and his relationship with Deb. Loved the ending.
I thought the finale of Season 5 was excellent and have been surprised at the backlash. It took awhile for the season to find its legs but I loved the ending.
Got to wonder why this show has run through so many showrunners. It’s like a new show each season. Anyone have any insight?
In my opinion, the show has never been the same in terms of writing quality since Daniel Cerone left in Season 2. I hope Buck, who’s been there since the beginning, can bring it back.
Lumen was a terrible character and Julia Stiles a bad actress. Both of which made this season fail, thank God the writer is out – kick out the person that cast Stiles (as the “hot blonde” above all things) and we’re good to go.
i loved every season of DEXTER !! Each one was great in its own way ! Season 5 showed that DEXTER actually has feelings !!I cannot wait for season 6 !!! BEST SHOW EVER !!!!!!!!!!!!
Just finished watched the season last night..easily the worst season, a couple notches under the second. And it started off so well.
Showtime needs to get their shit together.
Tara sucks, Dexter’s limping, Big C underwhelmed, Nurse Jackie was DOA and Shameless ain’t gonna cut it.
This is the best news I could have heard for Dexter’s future. The show can now have a plan to the end of the series.
Well it appears that alot has indeed gone on with my most favorite show on t v and how I miss it as I dont subscribe at this time. I do want to say there was a season where it was kinda disappointing and so I just backed away. I guess it is off to the Video Store so that I can play a bit of catch up, and oh My Gosh Julia Stiles is a Wonderful Actress in the right setting and Movie. Ive never seen a film yet she was in that was a Pooper. Thanks