Based on some of the early buzz, it seemed like Prime Suspect was poised to be one of NBC’s most successful shows of the new fall season. Apparently the general public didn’t get the memo.
Last night’s debut of Prime Suspect brought a disappointing 1.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic and just six million viewers, per the fast affiliate numbers. It was in a distant last place in both categories.
The only silver lining was that it did outperform last season’s debut of The Apprentice by 20% in the demo and 31% in total viewership. That’s not saying much though since that non-celebrity edition of Apprentice was such a disaster that NBC won’t be doing one again for a long time, if ever.
The sad truth is that Prime Suspect’s prospects for the future may be even worse than what they appear. We’ll know better when we see the 15-minute ratings and are able to tell how many people fled mid-episode. That will give us an idea of what kind of decline we could see for the second episode. Prime Suspect certainly doesn’t have any viewers to spare.
NOTE: A listing of 2011-12 ratings are now available.
What do you think? Did you watch Prime Suspect last night? Will you be back? What’s your gut instinct? Should the series continue or should it be cancelled instead?
Image courtesy NBC.
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I love Prime suspect and can actually enjoy and appreciate the acting by all members of the fine cast. The second episode asks for answers that take on moral questions..not an easy walk for the audience. It is unfortunate that there is so much bad t.v…that when something really well written, well produced comes along it doesn’t pull the audience it needs to survive. Sad commentary on the state of t.v land…what really AND who really control. Let’s give it a chance to build an audience.
why did they just keep chase
I refuse to watch Prime Suspect because NBC cancelled three Law & Orders in the last two years. Why have a new cop show when you had good ones with the history of L&O? Seems stupid. I hope it fails.
OK this just re-inforces my theory that THE NETWORKS ARE STUPID. This show was pretty good, but that’s not even the point anymore. “A Disappointing 1.8 rating.” This was the FIRST EPISODE that was programmed opposite one of ABC’s most popular shows (I don’t understand why Gray’s Anatomy is still so popular; it was played out YEARS ago for me); and one of CBS’s leading shows, which I’ve never even seen
HOW ABOUT GIVING IT A COUPLE OF WEEKS? Idiot networks.
The show was good and gritty and real in the way that it reminded me of the all boys club from my manufacturing days. I’ll be back. Comcast has it On Demand as well.
I’m trying very hard not to compare it to the original.
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