Following the ratings success of The Bible mini-series on History, NBC ordered a sequel — AD: The Bible Continues. Has this mini-series been the answer to the network’s prayers? Will they want a second season?
Produced by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, AD: The Bible Continues tells the tale of the later chapters of biblical history (following the Crucifixion of Christ). It focuses on the disciples who had to go forward and spread the teachings of Christ to a world dominated by political unrest. The cast includes Juan Pablo Di Pace, Adam Levy, Richard Coyle, Vincent Regan, Greta Scacchi, Babou Ceesay, Chipo Chung, Emmett J. Scanlan, Jodhi May, Joanne Whalley, Ken Bones, Kevin Doyle, Helen Daniels, and Fraser Ayers.
The series debuted on April 5th to a respectable 2.33 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 9.68 million viewers. Unfortunately, the numbers saw severe drops in weeks two (falling 28%) and three (falling 31%) and the rating have kept coming down nearly every week. AD has hit series lows of a 0.7 rating in the demo and little more than four million viewers.
Though this was billed as a mini-series, the producers have said that their writers have been working on scripting season two. Just in case the network wants a second season, they need the additional lead time to have episodes ready for next Easter.
Still, based on the ratings, there doesn’t seem to be much reason for NBC to order a second season of AD. They could make the show an annual event but the audience numbers really aren’t big enough for a network.
Burnett and Downey could however choose to take the project back to cable where The Bible was a big success for them. That also did very well with DVD sales. In today’s ever-shifting marketplace, they could find enough outlets to keep producing Bible-based series for years to come without being on a network.
What do you think? Would you like to see a second season of AD: The Bible Continues on NBC? Would you watch it elsewhere?
7/3 update: NBC has cancelled the series. They won’t air a second season but…
Yes, I would love to see this series continue. Was on the edge of my seat with the season ending show. Love the way it brought the bible alive.
We have looked forward to it every week. Please continue with a season 2, if not on NBC, then some other channel. Thank you!
Yes!!! please, we need to show another season, so folks who don’t read the bible can have an idea of how the church started. how Saul began to use his Roman name, Paul, how he and Cornelleous became friends, how Peter got out of prison while the others were praying for him, when the servant Rhoda answered the door. there is so much more to the start of the Church, please, bring another series, but don’t keep us waiting an entire year!! how about in the late fall? thank you
Please continue with a 2nd season. My Husband and I would watch it every week if we could . Loved this series….so Please, please bring it back!
Yes!! Bring on the 2nd season!
PLEASE!!! Please bring back AD!! My kids and I both watch this series every Sunday and it’s enriched our lives totally! It must come back!! I’m watching everything….and I don’t care if it’s on Netflix, Hulu cable or network….I’m in!!
I’m so looking toward for the 2nd season, you can’t cancel. This is the one show I look forward to seeing all week long. I’ve learned so much.
Please keep continues!! I enjoyed to watch that show!! That show are VERY good!! Love it!! That is makes me want to watch and do not want to move around until ends time. Do not discontinue that show!! PLEASE don’t discontinue. Please let that show have in NBC! That shows need to be stay in NBC. Thank you!!
Please please, continue AD The Bible for another season. This has been an amazing, eye opening journey into what all was happening all around the biblical documentation as well. It truely makes real the struggles going on surrounding the apostles growth, the Jews stand, the government’s involvement and how all this is seemingly choreographed by God! I feel like I have a whole new understanding of God’s wisdom and workings with the additional insight and possiblilites this portrays. I trust that continued research and documentation will be used moreso than just fictional scenarios, and that the storys will not err… Read more »
We love AD The Bible Series We look forward to seeing it every Sunday.
PLEASE continue the second Series People in this world need to come closer to God!
with all the murder shows and earthly shows, AD is one show I enjoy. It is not one we have to monitor with children. I look forward to this show all week. My daughter is the one that told me about it. She is not exactly religious at this point but does call her step dad when she has questions about some of the things being in the bible.
I feel this show might give some of our lost children a taste of the oldest story.
Please keep this show and kill some of the gruesome shows.
Yes. Please continue a second season, but not on NBC, on cable. Can’t take those commercial interruptions.
Loved the show and would love to see another season.
I would love to see the series continue it would not matter to me whether it would be on NBC however I would personally rather see it on a pay tv channel or netflix or even TBN so that it not be tainted by commercials. However, I understand that network television might allow a wider audience of many not familiar with the story of the church’s beginnings, as not everyone can afford cable or netflix .
Please continue AD the Bible it is a wonderful series. I look forward to watching it every Sunday.