"Justified" fans, I hope you're sitting down...

FX programming president Nick Grad told Variety Tuesday night that "the plan right now" is to end the show after its sixth season wraps next year.

"We like having shows that rate really well, and there's an instinct that you want it to go on forever. But it doesn't," said Grad during "Justified"'s premiere party.

He continued, "Another metric that's important to us [beyond ratings] is, 'What shows are going to be talked about in the next 20 years?' If you're making a great, 80-hour movie, it has to have a beginning, middle and end."

"Justified"'s season premiere ratings came in at a lower number than anticipated; 2.84 million people tuned in, which is a 21% drop from last year's 3.59 million.

"Going out at the right time is going to make your show last forever," said Grad. "(W)e want to make shows that stand the test of time."

You can catch "Justified" Tuesdays at 9 p.m. (CT) on FX.

 

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