In July, production on NBC’s Parenthood was delayed due to Maura Tierney becoming ill. She eventually had to drop out of the project and Lauren Graham stepped in.
Because of the backstage issues, NBC delayed Parenthood’s Fall premiere and replaced it with a series that was scheduled for midseason, Mercy. Some wondered if having two new medical series might cause one to suffer. It turns out, Mercy and Trauma are both in critical condition.
Mercy follows the lives of three very different nurses at Mercy Hospital in Jersey City. The cast includes Taylor Schilling, Jaime Lee Kirchner, Michelle Trachtenberg, James Tupper, Diego Klattenhoff, Guillermo Diaz, James LeGros, James Van Der Beek, and Delroy Lindo.
The series got off to a mediocre start on September 23, 2009. The premiere attracted a 2.3 rating in the all-important 18-49 demographic and 8.25 million total viewers. That put the debut in fourth place for the demo and in second place for total viewers.
The second episode fell to a 2.1 rating and 7.35 million. The third installment dropped again to a 1.8 rating in the demo and 7.29 million viewers. Not good.
Though the show’s ratings could hardly be called strong, NBC gave Mercy a full season order in October. The rest of the network’s schedule was performing poorly and the order likely had most to do with the fact that NBC just needed original programming. It didn’t hurt that the series is a co-production of NBC’s corporate sister, Universal Media Studios.
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Meanwhile, Trauma struggled from the very beginning and NBC pulled the plug after 13 episodes. But then, based on the need for more programming, the network ordered seven more installments. That show returns on March 8th but is a big longshot for renewal.
While Mercy was initially the better performer, the show’s ratings have now reached Trauma-like levels. The most recent episode of Mercy hit a series low with a dismal 1.4 rating in the demo and just 5.86 million viewers.
NBC’s Primetime Entertainment President Angela Bromstad recently said that she still loves the drama creatively, but she also noted that the show’s ratings need to rise for it to survive. She made that statement before Mercy fell to its most recent low.
The network has commissioned 18 pilots for the 2010-11 season and Bromstad has acknowledged that they’ll have to essentially rebuild their schedule from scratch.
With the ratings as poor as they are, it’s highly likely that Mercy will be cancelled and won’t survive to see a second year.
What do you think? Would you be sorry to see Mercy cancelled? Is it worth watching? Is there a reason that more viewers aren’t tuning in?
Image courtesy NBC.
O my goodness. Please do not cancel this show. I absolutely love this show. I just finished watching season one on Netflix and am so addicted it is not even funny. I would hate to be gaming over this cliff forever. Great cliff hanger, now bring on season 2!!
I just finished season 1 of Mercy and I have to say I like it almost more than Grey’s Anatomy, I mean I love this show and I think it’s pretty messed up that they played it the same season as another show I mean come on why would you do that knowing one or the other would get booted and personally I hate that they left it hanging, I say BRING MERCY BACK NOW I cried so many times watching this show I love it PLEASE!!!!
Omg don’t cancel this show… I need to see what happens next!!!!! Please don’t I will beg please don’t
BRING IT BACK I WANT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
Amazing show. Ive been a paramedic for years and this show is actually pretty darn accurate. And the nurses are EXTREMELY hot….
I just watched this on Netflix as well…BRING IT BACK!!!
Mercy is my absolute favorite show. I have religiously watched all episodes on Hulu but the very last one, and I’m saving it because I don’t want it to be over. I’m such an escapist, it’s bad I know, but Mercy has seriously been my crutch for a long time. I adore this show. I will be so sad if it is cancelled.
Bring it back! Show has a storyline like no other, that challanges how we look at nurses and their patient connections! I thought it was great, and to finish the season with the ending is unfair to not at least finish it with a closing show for the “Things are going to change!” build ups.
I’m in New Zealand and they are showing it here… I’m not sure how old it is now but I loooove it. 🙂 It’s on every monday and I try to watch it every night!
Don’t cancel it!! Please bring it back I just happened to stumble upon this show and now I am obsessed with it!! Please make a season 2 I am dying to see what happens next!!! DONT CANCEL MERCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pleeeeeeeze don’t cancel this show! I love it and am dying to see what happens!!!!
I love Mercy! The last episode was such a Cliff Hanger! You need to bring the show back! Pleaseee!
please bring back mercy!!!!!!!!
I didn’t get a chance to watch Mercy when it originally aired, but recently saw it on Netflix and fell in love with the cast! Please bring back season 2!!
Bring it back ! brilliant show