When Alcatraz debuted, it looked like the show had a very good chance at being renewed for a second season. But how do things look now? Will the TV series be cancelled after all?
Alcatraz follows police detective Rebecca Madsen (Sarah Jones) and Dr. Diego Soto (Jorge Garcia) as they try to solve the mystery of how 340 prison inmates and guards disappeared in 1963 and are now reappearing in modern day. The cast also includes Jonny Coyne, Parminder Nagra, Jason Butler Harner, and Sam Neill.
The TV show debuted with a solid 3.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 10.05 million total viewers. In week two, the demo slipped 9% to a still respectable 3.0 rating with 9.03 million. New shows typically fall 15-20% in their second week so this was a good sign. Week three dropped another 7%. That wasn’t positive but not horrible either.
Unfortunately, the ratings have just kept falling. In February, NBC kicked off the second season of The Voice and Alcaraz took a big hit, dropping 18% on February 6th and then another 17% on the 13th. And the numbers just keep going down. Last week’s episode was a series low with a 2.1 in the demo.
For the first time in many years, the big networks all have really strong programming on Monday nights and FOX has ended up on the bottom. House, which is in its final season, keeps dropping and so does Alcatraz.
Alcatraz’s season average is currently a 2.3 in the demo with 7.1 million. On our FOX report card — which ranks the network’s shows based on demo averages — Alcatraz has a “C.” Terra Nova, which has already been cancelled, had a better demo average and has a “C+”. When a show that was performing better than yours has been cancelled, that’s not a good sign.
Alcatraz is definitely on the bubble but, in light of the downward ratings trend, I expect it to be cancelled by May. There’s just no reason to expect that the series will do any better if given a second season.
But, what do you think? Do you think Alcatraz will beat the odds and be renewed for a second season? Should it be cancelled?
Image courtesy FOX.
Rally like this show, it does seem a bit out of order at times, I did like the 2 hour season finale.
Fringe had a troubled first season as well and picked up steam the second season. I think this show will grow as viewers catch on to the story. The show could use some “Spicing” up though.
Love Sam Neill and Parminder Nagra but this show has unfortunately turned into a boring slumber-fest. The other two main characters don’t help the show at all. We’ve stopped watching and won’t reconsider that unless a complete revamp of the show is done.
No, I don’t think Alcatraz should be cancelled, it has great potential givien a chance, let them learn from their mistakes and hopefully correct them on season 2, if then the ratings do not go up well then they have no one to blame but themselves, but I believe the show is worth salvaging. Frankly, I’m abit tired of all your gloom and doom reporting on these new shows, goodness lighten up already, perfect example, “Alcatraz is definitely on the bubble but, in light of the downward ratings trend, I expect it to be cancelled by May. There’s just no… Read more »
I say give it a chance. Ihad a hard time getting into it, but now am pretty into it. This show has limitless possibilities… It justneeds a chance to get there.
I record and watch the show weekly. Like it very much. Do not watch the Voice but would not make any difference. I would still record and watch at my convenience.
Like Alcatraz but never see it advertised. I watch most of my shows “on demand” not live but Alcatraz is not offered on demand. Why?
I watch Alcatraz on demand every week. I would wonder why you don’t see it there?
Meh, I can’t seem to get into this show. They are trying to be Lost all over again and if they treat it that way, it won’t last. Give us more information and make it better.
I’m with S, every show I seem to get into gets cancelled. They cancelled Life after 2 seasons, and cancelled ‘My Generation’ considering I was the exact target audience.
Television execs wonder why people don’t like television anymore, because they keep putting reality shows on that a certain segment of the population tries to avoid, instead preferring to see a Drama or Comedy. I guess that’s why I always end up doing something else like playing Xbox or watching shows like Dirty Jobs or How it’s made. I can learn something there, unlike the TV execs.
please give this show a chance or like they say i will not get into another new show again all they due is cancel them then they also put up against shows that are already estblished give them time to get a fan base
Please FOX!! Give this show another chance!! My dad and I would like to see this show on for another season. The season finale was good, but it wasn’t enough. We’d like to know more. We’d like to know what happened to the Warden. Perhaps you can move it to a different night?
i love this show! my 4 friends and i have sunday funday by dvr-ing 2 each of our favorite shows and to hear it may be canceled because only 7 million people watch it on average is ridiculous..what about the other millions who watch online or people like us who dvr it…this show is great and the season finalle only makes me wish it will come back and they dont dark angel our asses again
It’s interesting that you bring up Dark Angel, because there’s a show that got two seasons and really expanded the mythos and fun and everything about the show in the second season. That’s exactly what I’d expect Alcatraz to do (well, perhaps minus the fun!) if it got a second season and exactly why Alcatraz could do better in a second season. Of course, it could also go the way of Dollhouse, improving loads in terms of quality in its second season (though the first season is still close to my heart), only to have it be little-watched until its… Read more »
I’m a avid TV Show watcher and over the years I’ve seen shows I watched that have been canceled on NBC as it doesn’t give them a chance. Even during a Writers Strike shows that sucked survived with a 1+ Season whereas an older shows was canceled, prime example: Las Vegas with a “Cliff Hanger” and literally a “Cliff Hanger” because for a few years now The car has been going off a cliff..and we don’t know what’s is to going to happen as the show hasn’t been renewed and there has been subject around where they bring a “TV… Read more »
…I feel like you don’t understand that Alcatraz is on Fox, not NBC.
Yeah, I don’t watch it on TV, I watch it online.
I knew it was on Fox, but for some reason I was thinking it was NBC, but either way I still get my point across, Fox has canceled a lot of known shows too.
I think that Fox should give this show at the very least one more season, and take into account that it was their decision to run the episodes out of order, and to pre-empt the show for absolutely insane reasons. Let the viewers become attached to this show. It deserves at least that. If there is any viewership issue it would have to be due to the lack of continuity that Fox has given the show, and only for that reason. The show is amazing, and not like anything else on TV right now. It would be a huge mistake… Read more »
FOX is stupid if they cancel Alcatraz. The show is great and the best on TV but the time slot on Monday against “the voice” which kills everyone with a 10 or better share is crazy. Put it on another night and the ratings will go through the roof!
Everyone should email or twitter FOX and demand the show is renewed!
FOX will listen if enough viewers are diehard enough to speak up.
i agree alcataz is a great show it ccan use help like where has jj abrams been in this production reality tv kills what television is all about shame on fox for putting this on the bubble bring back television back to normal !!!!!!!!!
They always cancel shows I get hooked on without ending them properly so, they will probably cancel Alcatraz. 🙁
It’s one of the best shows on right now, my favorite being fringe. I would like to see Alcatraz come back and exain more of the mystery and build a stronger following. It happened with shows like fringe and x files. When the story is good, the People will watch.