Kidnapped: NBC Really Finishes the Serial Drama
Fans of NBC’s new drama Kidnapped just can’t seem to catch a break. The show debuted to a less than impressive 7.5 million viewers and the numbers dropped with subsequent episodes. As a result, NBC asked producers to wrap up the storyline in 13 episodes and the network moved the show to the television graveyard known as Saturday nights. A sad tale for one of NBC’s most anticipated new shows.
Well, it just got worse.
Only 2.9 million households watched the most recent episode. So, after airing for just two weeks on Saturday nights, NBC has pulled Kidnapped from the schedule, seemingly for good. Repeats of Law & Order: Criminal Intent will fill Kidnapped’s Saturday 9pm timeslot beginning this Saturday, November 4th.
Only five of the 13 serial drama episodes have been broadcast thus far. It’s been reported that the 13th episode has just recently been completed and NBC has announced that they’re making the remaining episodes available online via their website (as was done with the controversial The Book of Daniel series). It’s also been suggested that the series will ultimately be released on DVD. 
October 14th, 2007 at 4:50 am
I’ve watched kidnaped and think its a shame the series was pulled. Its just as gd as Prison Break. I hope they’ll reconsider that decision and hit us with season 2. Cant wait.
September 15th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
Where can I watch it online for free?
June 26th, 2007 at 8:02 am
I am really aggrivated that a great seies like kidnapped was cancelled.The characters were first notch and the story line was suspenseful.What a shame greater publicity was not given to this show.I know more people would have watched.
April 21st, 2007 at 6:11 pm
I have watched and recorded Kiddnapped as it was so good (i watch csi and criminal minds) and its just as good if not better…..i was on the edge of my seat and my heart was raceing. i hope there will be more!!!
April 6th, 2007 at 1:09 am
I have watched kiddnapped on channel 4 to date and the end on line because i coould not wait to see what happened next.
I would love to see a second series of this fantastic, edge of your seat drama.
March 17th, 2007 at 7:08 am
This is a rival to 24 and not dissimilar to LOST. Give it a bit longer and all the other media coverage of the 2 above and you will have a cutting edge runaway success.
January 5th, 2007 at 11:51 am
I agree with the most recent comment. It was a GREAT series and you didn’t give it a chance! It was suspenseful and dramatic. We’ve seen enough of Law and Order repeats to last a lifetime. Please give this series a chance!
December 31st, 2006 at 2:09 pm
Kidnapped apparently was too compelling, intelligent and well-acted for NBC programming executives. Do they really think that the American public wants more of the same predictable, inane comedies with annoying laugh tracks or another can you believe it reality show?
December 13th, 2006 at 11:26 am
Once again, network television proves why people are leaving in droves: overpaid executives expecting even greater and greater dividends for themselves and stockholders sell the vast majority of viewers down the river for failing to provide instant monetary gratification.
Used to be, a show would air at least half a season before being yanked. Because people knew they’d have some sort of chance to form a bond with a show, they tuned in. Now that network tv has turned into a this-minute-or-nothing golddigger, I see formerly regular viewers drop in swarms from taking another chance and expecting to get burned. NBC: you’re doing this to yourself, losing your long-term financial success by seeking short-term, short-sighted benefits. Pretty soon, you’ll be having to sell off shows like Heroes to other networks just to pay your bills. Oh wait, I forgot; you’ll just fire half your newscrews and start up some more inane, low-cost game shows instead.
December 4th, 2006 at 3:53 pm
I loved the complex storylines and great acting on “Kidnapped.” I was very sorry to hear that this great series was taken off the air way before it should have been. At least the latest episode is put online (although they are removed far too quickly, IMHO).NBC is making a huge mistake by not giving Kidnapped more of a chance, and not promoting it in the first place.
December 1st, 2006 at 9:36 am
I have been very upset to learn that NBC has pulled Kidnapped. I have been setting my recorder to record the show and could not figure why Law and Order was recordered. It never occured to me that NBC had cancelled the show. Today I finally went on line to see what was going on, only to discover the show has been cancelled. It was a very entertaining show, much better than the reruns that are now airing in its place. I just cannot figure what NBC was thinking. I do hope that NBC reconsiders their decision and brings back Kidnapped. In my humble opinion this was a very ill thought out descion on NBC’s part.
December 1st, 2006 at 7:39 am
I got into the show on the second episode, then…. poof the show was gone; kidnapped so to speak. Why? Is the network so focused on just one type of viewer? and ignores everyone else. Why is it when you have a new show that intelligent viewers like you cancel it?
November 30th, 2006 at 4:50 am
This show is the best. it has everything in it, a great plot and suspense. I was very sad when i found out it wasn’t going to be on the air anymore. Bring Kidnapped back!!!
November 25th, 2006 at 9:15 pm
Apparently NBC did not learn their lesson after passing on Gray’s anatomy only to watch ABC pick it up and take it too the bank! I cannot get enough of this show!! My wife and I now have to sit at the computer now to watch it. At least there is now only one commercial. This show easily beats Law and Order (a show that I have watched for years). It’s no wonder NBC can’t earn their ratings. NO ONE IN MY OFFICE EVEN NEW ABOUT THE SHOW!! Now that they do they are hooked! Too bad.
November 23rd, 2006 at 10:44 am
ah! how come they took kidnapped off the air? it was one of the only shows on NBC that Ive gotten hooked on then you take it off because only 7.2 million people were watching it?? How was anyone supposed to watch it becasue you never gave it a chance and took it off air!, and its pretty hard to watch if no one can find it on NBC . It says it will come on but it never does. I hope it comes out on DVD. Oh yeah, and i love the fact that Canadians (which is me) cannot watch the episods online. It really sucks
November 16th, 2006 at 10:29 am
Kudos to the writers of ‘Kidnapped the series’, even though it’s been cancelled to float the air waves of internet space, which I can’t download and watch…I still hunt blogs to read about this incredible show and to embilsh on what’s going on with this master piece. Any show that can kidnapp it’s viewer into searching for it aimlessly, had something really special…Don’t you think?
Posted by…Britten
November 15th, 2006 at 11:29 pm
As another poster mentioned, Canadians like myself are not permitted to watch episodes online and I was on the edge of my seat after watching the last aired episode. What are viewers like myself to do now? It had better come out on DVD SOON so I can at least rent it! Shame on NBC…..since it’s now only available online, they could have made an exemption and allowed Canadians to watch it as well. (sob)
November 15th, 2006 at 2:51 pm
The show FRIDAY NITE LIGHTS is one of the best shows on television! That’s to bad…
That means according to logic the network will cancel it telling us it didn’t get enough viewers….at least that’s the regular pattern.
November 15th, 2006 at 2:47 pm
Once again a network pulls a show because it didn’t get enouhg viewers….but those viewers didn’t watch because they had moved it without informing them.
The one Saturday I saw 1/2 an episode at about 2AM?
The next Saturday it was listed at 9PM but didn’t come on.
Hard to watch if you don’t know where to find it. This is not thte first time a network has done this. They can air shows like Heroes (which I luv) 3 times but can’t find room for Kidnapped???
Did they really want it to succeed? I don’t know if the kidnapped boy is still in Mexico…..but I’d like to know….
November 13th, 2006 at 9:26 pm
It was a good show. I can not follow NBC’s logic and ask as another poster did, how can repeats of worn out shows produce better ratings? And (so poor to start a sentence with “and”) even if they do, there must be a low performing slot (1 AM?) where Kidnapped could be aired and we all could just record it. To start a story and stop it mid-way is not right to the viewers… NBC has lost my business for a while.
November 13th, 2006 at 7:05 pm
“Kidnapped” is the second time that I got involved in a TV series, that had a continuing theme and was camcelled by NBC before completion. The first was the lottery series that was cancelled this summer. If this happens a third time, I will stop watching this type of show on NBC. Hope another network picks up “Kidnapped” and continues it.
November 13th, 2006 at 5:47 pm
I’m very disappointed the show is no longer on. I was really looking forward to see how things would turn out. With so many good shows on the air this season, it’s hard to see them all. I bet if you look at the numbers across the board most shows are pulling the same numbers. At least they could have finished this season.
November 13th, 2006 at 7:36 am
So, so disappointed! I look forward to the DVD.
November 12th, 2006 at 4:19 pm
I am very disappointed to hear that kidnapped has been withdrawn. I thought it was great. I hope to see the conclusion online if possible.
November 12th, 2006 at 2:49 pm
Why is it that the really well written, KEEP YOUR
ATTENTION shows like E RING and KIDNAPPED get
the boot, just when you one gets hooked. Maybe
NBC should consider shooting whole seasons
and selling whole DVD series to we, appreciative,
discriminating audiences!!!
November 12th, 2006 at 12:37 pm
I cannot believe the dimwits at NBC canceled a show AS GOOD IF NOT BETTER than studio 60 and law and order. What in the world could have possessed them to make such a bad decision. What a bunch of jerks.
November 11th, 2006 at 6:19 pm
I cannot believe that you cancelled this excellent show! You obviously cannot decern quality programming from trash programming (which is still playing). Kidnapped was suspensful and cineamatic in it approach to filming and editing. The cast is superb. We eagerly awaited every episode and long for more. If you wonder what the future of television is, it will be choice and programming will be done by the viewer. ie dvd rentals, netflix, etc. why rely on the television business to provide what we want to see. Creative artist and producers with vision will build a market and create directly for dvd and other outlets, leaving the middle man (tv) left in the dust.
November 10th, 2006 at 8:59 pm
Very sad to say that viewers in Canada cannot dl the episodes from the NBC site.
November 10th, 2006 at 12:49 pm
I am dismayed at the info relating to the demise of Kidnapped. I found it to be a fast moving action hour with very good acting. You will obviously find one of the many mindless reality shows that keep me from watching television. Back to HBO!
November 10th, 2006 at 5:01 am
I really hope this series comes out on DVD, though, it should’ve never been taken off of TV to begin with. I love this show, it hardly seems fair that NBC would pull it so quickly. Idiotic shows such as Deal Or No Deal never seem to fail, but when we actually have a good, intelligent show it gets yanked off? Yes, I’m more than just a little bit upset.
November 9th, 2006 at 9:19 am
Hey NBC: Ya know the 7.2 million viewers might like to see the end of Kidnapped!! You gave it ONE SATURDAY NIGHT and then pulled it - thats not even giving it a chance - We were so THRILLED to finally have something on Saturday night - and then we wait and look and wait and look and no Kidnapped!! Come on!! You didnt give it a fair chance in the new slot - at least do what you promised and let it finish off in 13 episodes - you really wouldnt want 7.2 million viewers angry with NBC would you? You are going to make us think we shouldnt bother watching ANY of your new series because more than likely as we get into it - you will remove it!
One more note: Greys Anatomy repeat got more viewers BECAUSE - #1 they have been around and we know the show - and #2People needed to remember what was happening in GA to move on with the new shows….. something you wont let us attempt with shows like Kidnapped….. you made the episodes - so let them be viewed! You are NOT FAIR - its a good show - you starte dit off in the wrong day and time slot - to hard to compete with - but never gave the move to Saturdays a real chance….. could be why a lot of us dont watch anything on NBC - we cant trust that it will be there the next week - so why bother!
November 8th, 2006 at 4:42 am
Where is kidnapped - I love this show, why are they putting repeats on instead of this show, how are repeats of other, older, shows going to offer better ratings than this show? Also how are people who don’t have access to a computer suppose to watch the episodes…very cruel is all I can say!!! When is it going to come out on DVD?
November 8th, 2006 at 1:12 am
I WAS JUST WONDERING WHEN WAS THE SERIES FINALE BECAUSE I RECORDED THE SHOW ON NOV 11TH AND LAW AND ORDER WAS SHOWING NOT KIDNAPPED LIKE IT SAID.
November 5th, 2006 at 9:15 pm
In fact, NBC made good on its promise — the remaining episodes have begun airing online (http://www.nbc.com/Video/rewind/full_episodes/?show=kidnapped), with the first one (”My Heart Belongs to Daddy”) up now (as of Fri 3 Nov), and a new episode promised for each subsequent Friday.
November 5th, 2006 at 8:50 pm
I agree with Raynae 100%. Kidnapped was (is?) a riveting, fast paced, unpredictable, genuinely suspenseful show. A rotten shame that it didn’t even get the chance to even to show it’s 13 episodes. And I just can’t seem to get excited about watching the 645th return of a L & O episode.
THE GOOD NEWS is that now every Friday NBC will put the the remaing shows on it’s website. I’ve just watched the latest episode which would have been on this Saturday night. Believe me it’s just as good as the previous shows. At least I’ll get to see how it all plays out
November 5th, 2006 at 4:03 pm
Please put this show back on the air. You barely gave it a shot. It’s one of the best new shows out there. I am on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I am totally addicted to this show. I have family members who also watch the show and are totally disappointed that it is not on.
I was shocked when I went to my list of shows I TIVO and it was not there. I was glad at least to be able to watch it online. Please do not leave us hanging wondering how this ends. Give it another shot on a different night.