V: ABC TV Show Renewed for Season Two

The aliens came and, despite some ratings challenges, they are staying — for at least one more season. ABC has renewed the V TV show for a second season.

Like the original, the new V revolves around the arrival of aliens to the planet Earth. While the visitors profess that they’ve come in peace, their ulterior motives slowly become clear. The cast includes Elizabeth Mitchell, Morena Baccarin, Morris Chestnut, Joel Gretsch, Logan Huffman, Lourdes Benedicto, Laura Vandervoort, and Scott Wolf.

The series got off to a strong start in November with a 5.2 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 14.3 million total viewers. At the time, it was the highest rated debut of the 2009-10 season. Unfortunately, a large percentage of those viewers didn’t return for the second week. Episode two brought in a 3.8 rating and 10.7 million.

Week three dropped yet again, to a 3.1 in the demo and 9.26 million viewers. Thankfully, the ratings decline evened off from there. Unfortunately, due to some backstage issues, ABC put the show on hiatus for several months.

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When V returned, the show’s ratings were understandably lower than they had been. Still, the drop could have been far worse than it was — attracting a 2.8 in the demo and 7.03 million viewers. The numbers later slipped to a low of a 1.9 rating and 4.87 million.

But now, in the final weeks of the season, V is starting to show a little growth. Last week’s brought a 2.1 and 5.37 million. This week attracted a 2.3 and 5.69 million. These increases seem to mirror the growth in its lead-in’s viewership (Lost) but they are increases nonetheless.

While it would seem that ABC should realistically cancel V, the network has a tradition of showing some faith in one or two struggling programs each year. It would seem that V is one of those shows. According to executive producer Scott Rosenbaum, ABC has renewed V for a second season of 13 episodes.

Will this gamble pay off? ABC has had mixed results in the past. Samantha Who? didn’t work out while Castle has grown nicely. With an ongoing sci-fi storyline, V isn’t exactly the type of show that’s inviting to new viewers. Perhaps the network has a plan. Time will tell.

What do you think? Are you glad to hear that V has been renewed for season two? Are you surprised? What would you do to boost viewership?

Image courtesy ABC.

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