Is Numb3rs' number up? TV Guide Magazine asked Cheryl Heuton, the co-creator of the show that’s been doing yeoman duty for CBS on Fridays for six years, for her take after the network’s surprise move to cut the show’s order from 22 episodes to 16. We asked her about the show’s future, as well as for some scoop about what could be the series last season.

So what happened?
It’s a six-year-old show. I think the 10:00 hour is struggling across all of broadcast television. The whole Friday night is difficult. Some networks have actually given up on scripted material. CBS has hung in there longer and stronger. I don’t think they’re giving it up yet. The show has had a great run and we’re very happy about it.

When I saw a lot of promos for Medium and Ghost Whisperer but not Numb3rs, my antenna went up.
That’s almost not an indicator. Every person on every show would say their show isn’t promoted enough, but I think promotion was always stronger for the 8 and 9 hours.

You’re talking as if this is the end for the show?
In a way, we do prepare ourselves for that in case it is. But you never know, the network could extend the order this year. There’s no decision made on the seventh season.

If this is the final season, do you think it’s disrespectful of the network not to give such a longtime staple a full season run?
It’s very hard to use that term in the context of financial decisions. I’d love the show to have another year, but if this is it, we’ve done six seasons, over 100 episodes! When I first proposed this, people said “It’s a great pilot, but I don’t know what you can do after this.” So to me, everything’s been a win. And we’ve had a wonderful wonderful time.

Do you take responsibility for making geeky geniuses cool with your warm and funny depiction of Charlie Eppes, played so well by David Krumholtz. There are so many now on procedurals and sitcoms.
Oh yeah! We made geeky guys cool for mainstream television. I totally am willing to take responsibility for that.

Are you moving story lines up? Cutting any out?
I wouldn’t say we’re cutting anything out. The overall season arc just will happen quicker now. We definitely have time to do that. Some of the stand alone parts of the stories won’t be done. But the overall arc will be done.

What does that mean for Charlie and Amita’s wedding, which many fans have looking forward to?
We can definitely say what the fans have been waiting for and want to see, they will be happy about.

Will you show the wedding?
I don’t think the fans will be disappointed. We’re here to make sure the audience is happy.

Do you have a finale in mind?
Definitely. It’s a funny finale because we will wrap up lines, we will answer questions, we will give the audience what it wants. But we will leave things open, if they end up coming back and ask for an episode 17 or 18. We’re open to do that and to come back next season.

This is a show where everyone can have a happy ending. Will you give it to them?
We just don’t kill our characters. That’s something we decided early on. If this turns out to be a series finale, you will see each character in a place they needed to go to. I think we can answer on the love front, on the professional front, on the comfort in the world front.

Any scoop for the rest of the season?
We’re doing a lot of fun stuff. Henry Winkler is coming back, as is Fisher Stevens. In episode 11, we cast Nicole Sullivan in a great part. It’s amazing that it took us this long to do this, but we’re a lottery episode. Nicole plays a lottery official who gets caught up in something. It’s a funny quirky role.

What was the reaction of the actors to the news?
They were surprised. Rob and David would very much like to keep making it. Very much. There’s also just a sense of gratitude for how long it’s gone on. I was talking to Alimi (Ballard, who plays David) the other night. He’s been with us since the pilot. I told him, “When we cast you, you were practically a kid and now you’re a grown man with a wife and two kids.’ He said, “I owe everything to this show.”

I see Rob Morrow just asked for a fan protest to keep the show on the air.
Rob is our in-house rebel leader. He’s asking for fans to write in and stuff.

What do you have to say to your fans?
We’d love to come back and give them more and we love the support and enthusiasm. It’s just been great the whole time to have their support and enthusiasm and we hope we can make them happy whatever happens.