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…
KEEP IT GOING
Overall we have enjoyed the series. The drama and depictions are about as good as could be expected from Hollywood. Some inaccuracies or unexpected depictions that didn’t stay true to the bible may be why this series hasn’t been as popular as The Bible was. It seems like the writers worked harder to stay true to the bible in the earlier series. I predict if they work a little harder to stay true to the bible (Like not inventing things like the improbable tent city outside of Jerusalem, or having Saul’s companions so far in the distance rather than close… Read more »
I would love to see the series continue, especially because tonight’s episode (June 21) was left with a rather confusing ending. There are always previews of the next episode, or at least something that denotes the episode has ended. In this case, it ended with Peter being threatened, and immediately went into the next program that comes on. Like, what??? What happened? Is it over? Is it a cliff hanger? Is the finale next week? What?
This is the greatest show on television of all time. I love this show and so do millions more
My family loves the show. We have watched every week, and we hope to continue watching in the next season!
Loved, loved, loved this series. So well done. Please continue making these either for network or cable, we will be faithful watchers! It’s so great to see something so quality and so accurate being produced. I loved getting show this to my teenage kids as well. We are sad it’s over.
If it is God’s will, The series will be back. Unfortunately, NBC sees only dollar signs and ratings. But nothing is impossible with God!
I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A SHOW OR MOVIE THAT WENT BEYOND THE RESURRECTION AND TOLD THE STORY AS DEPICTED IN THE BOOK OF ACTS, IT HAS BEEN WONDERFUL AND I AM SAD TO SEE IT END. I WOULD DEFINATELY LIKE TO SEE MORE SINCE THE LAST EPISODE ENDED ABRUPTLY. MY HUSBAND AND I LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND SAID “IA THAT IT?” AFTER WATCHING IT SINCE THE BEGINNING, WE EXPECTED MORE FROM THE LAST EPISODE.
My family and I love this show! It’s so uplifting and its message has been life changing! It has been a source of enormous blessing for many others, please Please ! Renew the bible ad for another season. We have never missed an episode. We look forward to having it return to television! We need more shoes like this!
Please continue this series!! My husband & I have eagerly anticipated each episode every week & have dreaded it coming to an end. It really has brought the Bible to life.
AD was an awesome series. My husband and I watched every week and was sad that it was only an hour show, 2 hoirs long would be better. The acting and characters were all so incredibly good. This series we felt was much better and better quality acting then The Bible miniseries. We would watch it on any network. I agree with some viewers that a cable network might be better so you can catch episodes that were missed, but felt this series was an excellent witness on the major networks. Please keep it goonggoing, even if it means a… Read more »
Please continue the series if not in NBC , in cable.. This is very informative and inspiring. I always looked forward to watching it every Sunday.
Keep it! We looked forward to it every Sunday evening .
Definetely should be renewed. I love to see what is to happen next. So, yea, needs a renewal.
Please keep this series going. My family and friends are dedicated to watching it. The actors are fabulous. I’ve not seen so much talent in years. I, so, along with my family look forward to viewing it. Please continue…..