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. 
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Kidnapped
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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?
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.
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.
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.
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?
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!
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.
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.
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!!!
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.
Where can I watch it online for free?
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.
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