USA Network Postpones 'Mr. Robot' Finale Due to Virginia Murders

Where was "Mr. Robot?"

Last night fans of the summer's breakout hit tuned in at 10pm for the finale to season one only to find a rerun of last week's penultimate episode.

Others likely didn't tune in at all having seen or heard that USA Network announced earlier in the evening that the episode will be postponed a week. The reason?

"The previously filmed season finale of 'Mr. Robot' contains a graphic scene similar in nature to today's tragic events in Virginia," the network said in a statement. "Out of respect to the victims, their families and colleagues, and our viewers, we are postponing tonight's episode. Our thoughts go out to all those affected during this difficult time."

"Reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward were killed by former station employee Vester L. Flanagan II, who had worked as a television reporter under the name Bryce Williams," reported CNN.

"Flanagan, who also injured a woman being interviewed on air, later shot and killed himself."

"'Mr. Robot' has emerged as a critical darling for USA this summer," wrote Variety on Wednesday. "The series revolves around an anti-social IT whiz who is drafted to work for an underground group of hackers focused on rooting out evil and corruption in corporate America. Rami Malek and Christian Slater star.

"'Mr. Robot' is the first new USA series to have strong pop culture buzz in some time. The postponement is not likely to be too big of a blow to the show's ratings momentum. It's not clear if USA had any time-sensitive sponsorship deals tied to the finale."

USA said the finale will air Sept. 2 in the show's regular 10 p.m. timeslot.

saw the finale for his recap column earlier in the week and supports USA's decision. In discussing the finale, he wrote: "I also noted a more tragic parallel: that the season finale, originally set to air later tonight, featured a graphic, on-camera shooting. Though the scene in question did not specifically mirror today's horrific events in Virginia, USA nonetheless decided late Wednesday to delay the airing of the episode for a week "out of respect to the victims, their families and colleagues, and our viewers." (The quote is taken from a USA press release emailed to journalists at 4:33 p.m. ET.)....