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…
I would love to see another series, this is one of those mini series that i will differently purchase a DVD set, It was fascinating to consider what must have been going on as far as the politics surrounding the Crucifixion, Resurrection and expansion of the church. Enough biblical content to keep it reasonable as the producers and writers add in the rest. I would love to see Season 2. .
Please continue the series of The Bible A.D. I really enjoyed watching the series and would like to see it continue.
Great quality show! Needs to be renewed! Helps one understand so much better.
Loved it! I would watch it where ever it shows. The acting was superb and the story is…well, “the greatest story ever told”. So what is stopping it? My humble opinion; too much “other stuff” to distract us from the “best stuff”. Most of us lead busy and hectic lives; we forget from day to day, week to week. “Oh yeah, I wanted to see that”…..duh. Buy the DVD.
Well I plan to buy it cause I did miss one episode.
My husband and I love it, we never miss an episode and bought the dvd’s. Please yes continue to another season!
This is a great series. If NBC doesn’t pick it up, put it on another channel
I pray to God that they keep on tv. So people can see that Jesus chris is the answer. I really want to say I hope can open there mines and heart to try to know about jesus. So the show is a help for all. But for me I hope the producers keep making the series on tapes or cable I will still watch.
AD was the only show worth watching on network TV….needs Season 2!
I definitely want more. If NBC doesn’t pick it up I hope someone else does. We need more programs like this!
This show is a definite keep.
Most definitely! Looked forward to it each week and hoping to see it continue another season.
Please bring more episodes. This has been so amazing.
The recent work done by Burnett & Downy is inspiring in a world full of such horrible atrocities, from The Bible to Son of God to AD. Please make season 2.
It is seldom that I watch anything on TV. Right before Easter, while watching a movie about Jesus, I seen the commercial for the Bible A.D. I was interested from that moment on. I have watched every episode and didn’t miss a minute of any of them. I read the Bible but this show helped me to be able to bring it to life and have a better understanding. PLEASE DON’T cancel this show!!! I NEED to see what happens to Peter. You can’t leave us hanging and never have the show on again!! That just wouldn’t be right. I’ll… Read more »
I couldn’t have said it better! Watching this show helped me understand what I have read in the bible. I want to see more!
Definitely need a season 2. If NBC doesn’t want, someone else should pick it up. This finale left me wanting the next episode!
Yes!! I want t continue on – itwSex Solent and really fought the bible to life!