Last night, ABC wrapped up the first season of 500 Questions, their new primetime game show. How did it do in the ratings? Is it a slam-dunk to be renewed for a second season or, will it certainly be cancelled instead?
Hosted by Richard Quest, 500 Questions lets some adult geniuses try to answer 500 very difficult general knowledge questions and win lots of cash — without answering three in a row incorrectly.
Airing over the course of seven evenings, the series debuted on May 20th to a 1.2 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 5.058 million viewers. It wasn’t a great start, even for a summer series.
The numbers dropped over the seven episodes but didn’t dip below four million. They averaged a 1.04 demo rating with 4.79 million.
Looking at the numbers, there’s really no reason for ABC to renew 500 Questions for a second season. It surely didn’t attract much attention as an “event”. Still, there is a chance that the network will bring it back for another short run, filling a gap in their schedule. It didn’t cost ABC much to make and it did maintain its (small) viewership numbers as people begin to cut back on their television viewing in the warmer months.
But, what do you think? Do you like the 500 Questions series? Cancel or keep it?
I loved it, watched every night & would LOVE for it to come back !!! Yes please !!!!
It was amusing, but the questions were way too easy; that “geniuses” were required seemed silly. But I did watch every night of it. So, with retouching, make the questions much harder, give the challengers a real chance to battle it out, maybe it would get some buzz and ratings might rise.
Sorry, but it is a pretty dumb show.
Keep it! I loved it
This game show is GREAT… Keep It!
It figures you would expect me to rewrite my comment.
I enjoy the variety of questions on the 500 Question TV Program. Much more interesting than Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.
Plus an intelligent Host, Richard Quest.
Richard Quest is far and away the most irritating host on television. He should be 1,2,3 GONE. Just another example of why the show is so bad. There is simply no way that any contestant will answer 500 questions since only 50 to 60 questions get asked every night. There is no doubt that the show is rigged as evidenced by the fact that the last contestant was eliminated just seconds before the end of the show. To introduce the last individual who had yet to answer a question the reigning champion is ludicrous. When will they announce what the… Read more »
I would keep it. I saw at least three places where 500Qs can be slipped in as filler. Also, how about this…and ACTUAL SATURDAY NIGHT LINE UP… How I’d so it….after NCAA Football is done, The network establishes ABC Saturday Game Night, Presented by (Fill in the blank with sponsor of choice). You start the night with Celebrity Family Feud, follow up with Battlebots, and end with 500Qs. Then you follow with a second new run on Sunday, again at 10 (considering that Of Kings And Prophets will suffer the same fate as NBC’s A.D.). Oh…and run 500Qs live (delayed… Read more »
I hadn’t seen it before. I like knowledge/trivia quiz shows so i tried it. I couldn’t get into it, maybe i am just not getting it, but there was one guy who was winning money and there was an opponent. Only the guy who was winning was having turns, either he got it right or he didn’t, apparently. I watched him get several questions right, though i didn’t fully understand how getting a right answer worked, again, probably because i hadn’t seen it before and it was probably explained in the first show, but however it worked, the guy seemed… Read more »
Hey ABC,
I don’t care what you do with any of your shows!!! After canceling “Forever”, your network no longer exist in my household because your DEAD to me!
Keep it at least it has more substance than waltzing in the milky way
Keep it!!!
A very entertaining, stimulating & exciting show, which I hope will continue.
Keep it. It’s better than most quiz shows.
I enjoyed watching one guy but when he left I stopped watching. Without someone to be invested in the show was boring. It would be better if they had two teams answering questions and one of the teams wins. Keep the same people over the course of the show so viewers have favorites to root for.