Men in Trees

Did You Know?

• Five episodes of the first production season debuted in New Zealand on TV2 in June and July 2007 before airing on ABC.
• Season 2 premiered in New Zealand on TV2 on June 25, 2007, with the episode 'Chemical Reactions'.
• The town sports facility, Thomasson Center, is named after Ben Thomasson.

Scheduling

The series debuted on ABC with a preview on September 12, 2006, following the season premiere of Dancing with the Stars. Its initial time slot was Fridays at 9 pm ET, but from November 30, 2006, through March 2007, it aired on Thursdays at 10 pm. On May 15, 2007, ABC announced the second season would air Fridays at 10 pm, with five episodes held back. Reruns of the first season began on ABC on Thursday, June 28, 2007. The fall 2007 season started in the Friday 10 pm slot, but after failing to retain the audience of Women's Murder Club and because 20/20 underperformed at 8 pm, the show moved to Friday at 8 pm. Following the 2008 writers' strike, it returned on February 27, 2008, in a Wednesday 10 pm time slot.

Characters

Marin Frist, a relationship coach, author, and radio host, relocates to Elmo, Alaska after learning her fiancé Graham was unfaithful. Annie O'Donnell, a devotee of Marin's books and engaged to Patrick, trails Marin to Alaska. Patrick O'Bachelorton manages the local inn and radio station; he altered his surname from Bachelor to O'Bachelorton, merging Annie O'Donnell's O', his mother's Bachelor, and -ton from his biological father Washington. Jane Burns, Marin's editor, develops feelings for a man known as "plow guy."

Jack Slattery, a biologist in town, becomes Marin's romantic interest. Buzz Washington pilots one of the few planes serving Elmo and is Patrick's biological father, resulting from a fling with Celia Bachelor. Ben Thomasson owns The Chieftain bar and the Huskies hockey team; he supposedly earned his wealth by inventing Wetnaps. Sara Jackson, a former sex worker and single mother, works at The Chieftain and previously dated Ben.

Theresa Thomasson, Ben's wife and a past backup singer for Jewel, works as the barmaid; she and Ben were estranged but lived together until he asked her to leave after rekindling with Sara. Police Chief Celia Bachelor is Patrick's widowed mother. Mai Washington, Buzz's wife, runs a business selling items from unclaimed luggage.

Production history

The series received a 13-episode order at ABC's May 2006 upfronts, originally to follow Ugly Betty. After that show shifted, Men in Trees followed Friday encore episodes of Grey's Anatomy until November 30, when it moved to follow first-run Grey's episodes. On October 28, 2006, ABC ordered four more scripts, then gave a full 22-episode season order on November 8. The 2007-08 Writers Guild of America strike affected the show: 14 new episodes were written for the second season versus an order for 22, and combined with five carryover episodes, the second broadcast season had 19 completed episodes. The series was on hiatus from late December 2007 until February 27, 2008. ABC announced cancellation on May 4, 2008, with final episodes airing starting May 28, 2008.