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?
Great show!! Bring it back.
Why do they want to stop intelligent show like 500 Questions?. This show really made me watch TV again in the era where we are glued to our smart phones. I am in Toronto Canada and I love this show. Bring it back please.
Richard quest was great
I loved the show and hope it come back on.
We loved the show, just amazes us how smart these people are. Beats most of the crap on TV.
Programming Mucks @ ABC !,
KEEP 500 Questions !!! Probably the best show on of its kind. It deserves another season., instead of typical MINDLESS shows
My husband and I really liked this program and were very disappointed to see it was only 7 episodes. Yes! Bring it back!
Great show bring it back
I liked it,even though I didn’t know most of the answers,it was very informative. Learned a few things I didn’t know. Bring it back,and for a longer time,not 7 days in a row,probably once a week.
Keep the show it is very inteesting, and at least better than most of the trash shown on American tv. And that to say a lot…like zombie? witches., and manny other trash…all channels. At least this is for the average and above average people who want to get rid the of the lies (there is a lot) and poor storylines and inferior shows….SO, KEEP IT …pls get rid of the Brit we have enough of them…there are so un smerican and rediculous…
Good production values presented in a fast paced dramatic and suspenseful format. If other viewers became as addicted as I did, it should return.
I love games of skill and chance like Jeopardy and Who Wants to be a Millionaire and, for the most part, enjoyed watching this show. The problem with this game is that the rules and format are just too complicated and confusing for the average viewer. When you add to that the difficulty of the questions it becomes very boring for the average viewer If it is brought back i would simplify it dramatically
The problem, Richard, is if we simplify it like you suggest, is that we have just another game show for average masses.
John
It is if course a tradeoff. If you want shows on prime time national television they need to appeal to a broad audience. If you want a show about geniuses and designed for geniuses with impossible questions and confusing format you are looking in the wrong place
John:
Its a tradeoff. If you want a. Tv show on national tv in prime time then average viewers need to understand it and enjoy it. If you want a show about geniuses, for geniuses, then you’vd come to the wrong place and need to look elsewhere
I’m a trivia game fan, but even I found that it dragged after a few episodes and I lost interest after about 3 shows. Also the questions seemed to get easier in each successive episode, and that was disappointing.
I really like the show. Hope they bring it back next season. The host does a great job keeping it entertaining.
I loved the show and hope it gets renewed. It is so much more entertaining than those 30 minute sit-coms – which are nothing but mindless claptrap.
Loved the show. I hope it does renewed. Much more entertaining than many of the 30 minute sit-coms 0 which are mindless claptrap.
Yes, please return 500 Questions.
A really entertaining show that should be brought back this summer of 2015!
Great show. It needs to stay on ABC
Bring it back, my husband and I loved the show. Very stimulating. Have the host read the questions a bit more slowly and clearly.