Tonight’s episode of Accidentally on Purpose marks the final episode of the freshman sitcom’s first season. Will it be the show’s series finale as well?
Accidentally on Purpose follows a thirty-something movie critic (Jenna Elfman) who’s broken up with her charming boss (Grant Show). She ends up having a one-night fling with a much younger man (Jon Foster) and becomes pregnant. She ultimately decides to keep both the baby and the guy. The series also features Lennon Parham, Nicolas Wright, Ashley Jensen, and Pooch Hall.
The sitcom got off to a good start back on September 21, 2009 with 8.99 million viewers and a 3.2 rating in the 18-49 demographic. The numbers started to decline in the next couple of weeks but then came back up.
On Mondays, the show averaged a 3.1 in the all-important demo and 8.23 million viewers. In that same timeslot, Rules of Engagement’s been doing about the same.
For the past couple weeks, CBS has been airing Accidentally on Purpose on Wednesday nights. Without as strong a lead-in as How I Met Your Mother, the sitcom hasn’t been doing as well. In its two weeks of original episodes, Accidentally on Purpose has attracted a 1.9 rating and just 5.97 million viewers. In the same timeslot, Gary Unmarried, averaged a 2.15 rating and 6.65 million viewers.
In the end, Accidentally on Purpose has performed either lower or about the same as other sitcoms in the same timeslots. That’s not bad but likely not good enough to get it a second season. If the show had beaten Gary’s or Rules’ ratings then Accidentally on Purpose would have had a much better chance but it didn’t.
CBS isn’t satisfied with how their lower-rated sitcoms are doing, so they’ll want to try at least one or two new ones next season. They already have a new one from Chuck Lorre (The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men) in the works and won’t want to let that go. They have the least invested in in Accidentally on Purpose and it’s essentially the lowest-rated, so will likely be the first to get the axe.
Still, the ratings aren’t that bad and it is produced by CBS’ in-house studio. It could survive, perhaps as a midseason replacement. It just doesn’t look all that likely. We’ll know on May 19th for sure.
Thankfully, tonight we’ll see the birth of Billie’s baby so that means we’ll get some sort of closure, just in case this is indeed that last episode.
What do you think? Should Accidentally on Purpose get a second season? Is it better than some of the other CBS sitcoms? Would you be satisfied with this being the series finale?
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May 23, 2009





















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Agreed this show is great and needs to come back
best sitcom we have seen on tv in a long time, and hope it continues.
I hope this is not the only season, I thought is hilarious and really like to see a 2nd season. I love to watch Jenna and the young, and fresh sense of humor of the entire cast.
I still agree that we need comedy and fun. Please bring back Jenna Elfa.
Each week I hope Accidentally On Purpose will resume, but no luck. I really loved the show and consider Jenna Elfa one of the few good comedy actresses. For heavens sakes, bring her back in something fun. The TV shows now are totally lacking in humor and I HATE violence. Barring that send me a list of comedies that are not all about sex or violence. I can’t believe that the younger generation (Surprise, I’m in the older) cares only for guns and sex. And don’t forget that there are a few of us who like just plain funny. And this one was. Is there nothing funny enough to laugh at on TV any more?
Ace show please make a second series! ! !
i thought this show was so comedic this is so sad that it got cancelled it was funny in a light hearted way and not so taboo like the concepts on two and a half men for instance, that show makes me uncomfortable sometimes. i hope they bring it back
Show and Jenna Elfman was great, but the lead actor was gay and sucked major ass. They should just have let him go and let Jenna continue as a single mom.
Looking for a 2nd season!! The 2 guys are hilarious on the CBS website. And Jenna is so cute and fun.
This was a great show!!! Don’t let it become another Arrested Development where no one gives it a chance!!!
we need a second season it was a great show………
WHY???????????????? I love this show it’s the best in the hoooll world. I live in Africa but the show has ended i got so sad wen i heard they canceld it I download all the episodes! Please!!!!!!!!!!!! Bring them BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
give us a second season it is my FAVORITE SHOW!!!
IT’S THE BEST FUCKING SHOW IN THE WORLD.
i love this sitcom i live in santo domingo dominican republic and i wish to see the a second season two it have a great wild idea that maybe in the second season billie an zacks friends go into the same delema as zack and billie that would be good carma jaja and would love to see zack and billlies new adventure in parenthood
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