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, keep the series…it has much to recommend it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can’t get enough of this show. I look forward every week to watching it. Great job!
Keep on. Very interesting. Would like it during the week though.
My husband and I watched all the episodes and really appreciated all the evidences pointing to Jesus Christ and believing in the Bible. We really liked how all the personality’s came to life!
Totally believe able and would love to see more! Sincerely
Tenna&Billy
Absolutely ! We need more good programming like this. Besides rewatching this series on demand, I shall also purchase the DVD. NBC is not a network I watch except when I saw they were running this series, I tuned in every week.
Every Sunday my husband and I looked forward to watching the show at the end of the day. It was the best thing on tv. Praying for more episodes. It was so well done , you made it exciting to watch.
Yes, please do continue with a sequel, Season 2. I enjoyed this mini-series very much! I thought the acting was excellent, and the story was very informative.
Please keep the series going we love it here in London and have lots of friends who enjoy watching every single episode and waiting for the next one in anticipation. Keep them coming please 🙂
YES! Definitely bring it back! Our family watched every episode and loved it. I was crushed to see it come to an end. I thought it was so interesting to see the Bible history we know mixed with more of the cultural history of the time we may not have known. The actors were superb! Congrats to Roma and Mark for another winner! Keep being faithful. If NBC doesn’t pick it up someone else will, and we will be there. Thank you for your fine work! We love it! And to NBC I would say, please do more of this… Read more »
yes definitely definitely!! And I know many many people that are waiting for it to come out on Netflix!! It will be a big disappointment if you stop now!
YES! Keep the show!!!!!
i enjoyed watching AD, The Bible continues very much i love to get to know the history of the bible instead of reading the bible watching in action how it really is like back in the bible days so much clear ya know, i go to church every wednesday and sunday morning and nite i couldnt wait for sunday to come after church get home change clothes fix me something to eat and then its time for the show to come on i watched all 12 episodes would watch it again online too i would definitely love to see season… Read more »
Yes.
please keep the show . It has gotten a lot of people I know reading the book of acts in the New Testament to see what’s going to happen. Anything we can do to get people to read the Bible is the will of God. I . It has gotten a lot of people I know reading the book of acts in the New Testament to see what’s going to happen. Anything we can do to get people to read the Bible is the will of God pray. Season 2 is in the works
The Bible AD is an excellent docudrama with pretty accurate Bible/historic events that should continue.
Thanks NBC and keep up the great work!
Please keep the series going, it was the only decent thing to watch on Sunday on any network. The series is well written and entertaining, the 18 to 35 crowed will not show much interest because there is not enough “action” in these stories, they do not have the background to appreciate the story. This is a good series, first thing I have watched on NBC on years, well America’s Got Talent I guess that still counts but nothing else.