Human Target: FOX Gives Show Big Premiere Push; Cancel or Keep It?

FOX’s new action series, Human Target debuted this week with two episodes in three timeslots. The network is making a big push to make sure it’s a hit. Did they succeed?

Human Target follows Christopher Chance (Mark Valley), a handsome personal bodyguard with a talent for charming the ladies and protecting his clients at the same time. Winston (Chi McBride) is his partner and Guerrero (Jackie Earle Haley) is their tech-talented hired gun.

The show is based on a DC Comics character who assumes the identities of the client he’s protecting. Rick Springfield starred in a 1992 version but it only lasted seven episodes on ABC.

FOX is hoping this new version will last a lot longer. While the network has ordered 12 episodes for season one, based on the early ratings, it’s hard to say if the series will last any longer than that.

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On Sunday night, airing before the season eight premiere of 24, Human Target attracted an average of 10.19 million viewers with a 2.9/7 rating/share in the 18-49 demographic. That puts it in third place in both the total audience and in the all-important demo. It was a positive sign however that the audience for the second half-hour grew from the first.

On Tuesday night, FOX replayed the first episode, leading out of American Idol. The repeat drew 8.83 million viewers and a 3.3/9 rating/share in the demo. While that’s a good showing for a rerun, Human Target lost more than two-thirds of its lead-in audience. That’s not good.

Then, on Wednesday night, episode two attracted 10.46 million viewers and a 3.4/9 in the demo. That’s a 60% loss from its lead-in and Human Target also lost about two million viewers in the second half hour. That’s particularly worrisome because the show’s permanent timeslot will be 8pm on Wednesday nights and won’t have the American Idol lead-in to help draw in viewers. (Next week, it’ll be airing on Tuesday at 9pm because of the President’s address.)

While Human Target isn’t in immediate danger of cancellation, the show could easily be dropped after one season if the numbers erode. Right now, things could go either way and well have to see what happens in the next few weeks.

What do you think? Is Human Target worth watching or should the show be “snuffed out?” Cancel or keep it?

Image courtesy FOX.

More about: Human Target (2010)

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