Kidnapped: NBC Orders the Last Episode
Right out of the gate, NBC has not been pleased with the performance of one of its newest serial dramas, Kidnapped.As a result, the peacock network has decided to cut the story short — but thankfully won’t leave viewers hanging.
Kidnapped is a new series that tells the story of a wealthy New York City couple (Timothy Hutton and Dana Delany) whose teenage son (Will Denton) is abducted and, the investigative team assigned to find him (headed by an ex-FBI operative played by Jeremy Sisto).
The series premiere of Kidnapped on September 20, 2006 garnered a mediocre 7.5 million viewers, losing to a repeat of Grey’s Anatomy by three million viewers. The second and third episodes dipped even lower with 6.3 million viewers each.
As a result, NBC will move Kidnapped to Saturday nights (beginning October 21, 2006). They’ve also decided to shorten the planned 22 episode order to 13 episodes. Fortunately, with such advance notice, the Kidnapped creative team will be able to make use of a contingency plan which will allow them to wrap up the kidnapping mystery by the end of 13 episodes.
It’s unfortunate that the series won’t have as many episodes but at least fans won’t be left hanging (unlike fans of last year’s Reunion series). Since NBC is still struggling for ratings and Saturday night viewership expectations are so low, it’s a pretty sure bet that all 10 of the remaining episodes will be allowed to air. 
January 13th, 2007 at 8:04 am
It was definitely the best new show. Hard to figure it out when it was going to air as it kept changing! Americans are busy but will plan to be home IF they know when their show is going to be on! We don’t all have TEVO or DVR. The next thing you know it’s cnelled! The best of actors and a great story. Bring it back NBC or at least throw the season on DVD—PLEASE!!!!!!!!!
January 10th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
cant wait for the video of episode 13… pretty please!!!!!!!
December 28th, 2006 at 9:14 pm
Right on Martin I could not have said it any better. I will add that the network should look back at history on CBS and see that Everybody loves Raymond did terribly the first year. Look what it became! The fans are also going to this site and commenting on the show in every catagory; http://www.nbc.com/Movies_Specials_More/Best_of_06/sexiest.shtml Maybe NBC will see all the support and reconsider.
November 27th, 2006 at 8:29 am
I have to agree with everyhing said here. ‘Kidnapped’ is a gem amongst alot of repetive, boring, non creative drivel on tv these days. Too many doctors, nurses, lawyers, unfunny sitcoms, stupid reality shows, trading spouses shows……etc. The networks just repackage what works in a slightly different outfit and resell it to us, or give us ‘let’s appeal to their lowest common brain cell’ junk. It’s actually a sad time for tv in general. There are only a handful of good shows left(on all the networks) that actually engage you and this show was one of them. Great actors….I mean come on……Timothy Hutton and Dana Delany? These actors don’t come easily to tv, the writing has to be there, and it is. It’s just that the networks are suffering the “we want it to be successful sooner,cheaper,now, now,now!!” syndrome. And then it’s,”Next”!!
Time is money to them, and that’s unfortunate for us the viewers. Hope my rant made sense.
November 24th, 2006 at 4:47 pm
I can’t believe they’ve cancelled Kidnapped, and what happened to at least letting us have the 13 episodes.
You studio people need to get your eyes and careers checked.
Think about what time slot to place this show, that allows it the life it deserves. It’s far better than a lot of shows that have been left on.
This business is so obviously run on too much policy and paper work, rather than an understanding of good entertainment.
Unfortunately for us, it means that too much drivel stays on the air, not to mention repackaging CSI and Law & Order to the exponential degree. Yuck, give us a break.
Don’t make us suffer your idiot decisions.
November 22nd, 2006 at 5:11 pm
I was very disappointed, with the quick decision…..not to mention short notice of it’s end..great actors, really great, I was surprised at first…but now I won’t bother with any NBC shows.
November 15th, 2006 at 2:45 pm
I enjoyed watching Kidnapped with my 13 year old and husband. It did not have all those sex scenes that you see in all the shows. Why give up so quickly on it…
November 13th, 2006 at 2:40 pm
What a shame that we are robbed again of good programming. Not enough sex, vulgar language, womanizing, stupid patriarchs, bumbling police? Shame on NBC.
November 12th, 2006 at 6:25 pm
I agree with all of the previous comments and feel betrayed by NBC’s cancellation of KIDNAPPED. Another good, well scripted, well acted program bites the dust. I don’t think NBC did enough to promote the program and it’s intriguing premise. What a disappointment.
November 11th, 2006 at 11:20 am
I too join the ranks of disappointed fans. I can’t believe you are yanking “Kidnapped!” It’s a fantastic show. It’s the only NBC show I watch. I guess I will continue watching the other networks. It’s smart, good acting, had me on the edge of my seat, I couldn’t wait until the next week to see what was going to happen. It wasn’t predicable like all your “Law and Order” shows and wasn’t about bed hopping doctors like ER (I gave that up a long time ago)! It’s sad that you didn’t give it a chance. Even trying a new time slot I think you only had it one Saturday night one time. Come on people. Give us something to enjoy! You have made a big mistake. I agree with everyone else’s letters. You won’t be catching me on your network unless you can come up with some better programming. Shame on you.
November 10th, 2006 at 9:42 pm
NBC kidnapped this show and massacred the viewers by instability
November 7th, 2006 at 8:12 pm
My husband and I couldn’t wait for Kidnapped to air. We got really into it, then wondered were it went the next Wednesday! After looking online and seeing it moved to Saturday we watched it there. But you probably lost most of your viewers right there. Not knowing that it had switched nights then having it be on a weekend. You should have given it more time! We still are very interested in it and were disappointed to see that it was cut completly! We want to know what happens!!!???!!! NBC you guys are morons! You cut this show and leave some of the other crap shows no one watches! Very disappointing!
November 7th, 2006 at 2:58 pm
Kidnapped is an awesome show! It seems to me that every time a good drama is put on television, it gets cancelled. It’s fine to change the night, but when you wait until Saturday night to watch it, Law and Order is on. Isn’t there enough of Law and Order???? I hope NBC plans on finishing it out. All the networks have cancelled most of the new tv lineups,is Shark next?? But of course CBS wants to keep there viewers!!
November 7th, 2006 at 5:53 am
What a disappointment! Unfortunately my husband and I didn’t get your news beforehand so Sunday night (11/5) we set ourselves up for a Kidnapped evening with the two episodes we’d recorded with our DVR, happily caught ourselves up on the 10/28 episode, but when we queued up the 11/4 episode, lo and behold it was Law and Order CSI — a total surprise as even our cable company hadn’t changed the lineup on the schedule. We love Kidnapped and were happy to be able to see the story out in 13 episodes, but this treatment by NBC has us pretty angry. Why watch any new shows at all, especially serialized shows with a real plot like this one? I hope NBC will reconsider and at least bring this one to a conclusion.
November 6th, 2006 at 11:58 am
I don’t know who makes the decision on what program to keep on the air and which one goes. But, one thing I know, Kidnapped is a good quality program and my entire family was hooked on it. Unfortunately, you are removing the program from your TV Series Schedules and you are doing it in a really disrespectful and disorganized way. There is nothing more disappointing than when you schedule a date with your wife to “watch” Kidnapped and you find out that with no notice the program has been cut. What is going on? What do you expect from viewers? I hope all episodes are viewed. Thanks.
November 5th, 2006 at 7:06 am
When can we at least see the last episodes?
I agree with the other person, it was the only show on NBC that we enjoyed.
Ann
November 3rd, 2006 at 11:02 pm
THAT MAKES TWO SHOWS IN LESS THAN A YEAR THAT I HAVE GOTTEN PLEASURE OUT OF WATCHING BUT YOU GUYS GO AND CANCEL IT!!!!!WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?YOU DID NOT EVEN GIVE IT A CHANCE!I DID NOTHING BUT BRAG ABOUT HOW GOOD THAT SHOW WAS TO MY FRIEND AND WHEN SHE DECIDES SHELL START WATCHING IT BECAUSE I BROUGHT HER UP TO DATE YOU GO AND DO THAT!AND WHAT IS UP WITH CANCELLING IT RIGHT AS IT WAS GETTING SO ENTHRALLING?I USED TO SET MY WHOLE EVENING AROUND SITTING DOWN TO WATCH THE SHOW.I DONT BELIEVE THAT ILL EVER DO THAT FOR ANOTHER NBC SHOW AGAIN!
October 30th, 2006 at 6:44 pm
I echo everything said above that was positive.
What do your network execs think when they read the regrets posted here that KIDNAPPED is being cancelled?
Bear in mind, these reviewers don’t rely on spell check and may have not only been interested in KIDNAPPED’s sponsors, but they might also be able to purchase their products.
Too bad the cast, directors and even the catering crew of KIDNAPPED have more on the ball than NBC’s execs (who are really the ones who should be cancelled).
KIDNAPPED really was excellent!!!!!!!!!!!
So now we can expect even more mediocre drivel from NBC… Instead of using the electricity for NBC TV, I think I’ll listen to the radio and read a book instead. Please tell KIDNAPPED’s sponsors I won’t be watching NBC anymore. In fact, this was the only show I did watch on NBC.
Bye-bye Birdie.
October 30th, 2006 at 5:03 pm
You guys suck for cutting Kidnapped short! I think it’s a great show and you should spend whatever money it’s costing you to pull it on advertising it so people know it’s on. I’m sure word of mouth has gained many viewers, but why don’t you do YOUR part? I’ll never forgive you for cutting this show. NEVER!!!
October 30th, 2006 at 2:34 pm
folks should check out the talk on the shows official board at NBC.com. the fans aren’ t taking the news without a fight. who knows, given that Sisto is the only contract in the cast that really has to work out (since he’s pretty much the lead character), maybe if there’s enough talkback they will reconsider. would be amusing to have the fans win and the ratings results mean less (since they are bogus anyway with their 0.02% sample of the population)