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?
My husband and I loved 500 questions.
I greatly enjoyed the show and have been looking at TV schedules each day trying to find it again. Unfortunately it seems to be finished for the season. Not only was the program very entertaining, but also extremely informative, and I’m disappointed not to be able to watch it each weekday evening. I thought Richard Quest was the perfect host for this particular game and that the network did an excellent job in selecting him. Congratulations also must go to the person or persons who thought up such a trendies challenge for the contestants. Won’t you please reconsider your decision… Read more »
I hope they keep 500 Questions. At least it challenges your mind, and isn’t “dribble” like most TV shows … ie: Celebrity Wife Swap… seriously? The Bachelor … SERIOUSLY? Astronaut Wives Club … Seriously?? WHO watches this crap?? I think they take the ratings from households with IQs of 70 or less! Nothing decent stays on, but the garbage returns! Everytime I find something worth watching, it is cancelled!
My whole enjoyed it here in Florida. The game helped my middle and high school boys with history & math. Please keep it!!!!!!!
Give us small doses and a revised format. I like a question with a specific answer and a ban on ‘brain diarrhea’ where the contestant just rambles every possible answer for the question.
Also, eliminate Richards’s annoying announcement of “10seconds”….which I guess is designed to increase tension.
I love this show and I love the concept of this show. Please bring it back.
Keep it! I really enjoyed it
Keep it
Keep the show-really liked it!
Keep it nothing better on
my whole family got into the show online in canada . It was very well done.We would love to see more
Keep it, please!
I loved the show and just finished watching them all over again on Comcast’s ON DEMAND. There aren’t enough shows like this and there should be more. I would like to see someone like Brad Rutter of Jeopardy! fame who has never lost to a human being.
I loved it! Will anyone Ever get to 500 Questions? Hoping it comes back in the Fall, but agree on the host being a bit annoying.
I liked the concept of the show overall, it’s fun to play along with and I found that there was a good mix of things I knew, things I should have known, and things that had me stumped. I agree with Jane that the competitors need something more to do so that they can earn money when they get things right. Also, display the correct answer after every question! If I tried to play along and said my answers out loud, I could never hear the correct answer given by the contestant. It’s not enough to show the right answer… Read more »