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…
Please Please Please leave it on.! NBC you are the BEST!! You have shown courage in giving those of us a chance to show our Children and Grandchildren that there’s more to life than being exposed to negative examples of how to live ones life. It allows them to know that there is something better to look forward to after this life, which this series illustrates by exposing the PLAN and Mysteries of how to attain this most precious Gift!! Life in Paradise forever without any negative forces to battle! Who wouldn’t want that!! I also can’t wait to get… Read more »
YES ; VERY GOOD AND INTERESTING MATERIAL. NOTHING THAT HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE.
My family looked forward to and watched the show for each episode….we’re sorry it ended and hope it continues….we need this story told. Thank you to NBC…if you don’t pick it up for a second season, I will just watch the network or outlet that does…..
yes keep this show on. when I work on Sundays I look forward to coming home and watching it. it is very family oriented and even my 6 year old granddaughter enjoys watching it I have the first season recorded on my DVR so we can watch it when ever we want bring it back for a second season!!!
Yes, best series on TV. Well done and can’t wait to see future Seasons!
Yes, best series on TV. Well done and can’t wait to see future Seasons!
lOVED IT , WOULD WATCH IT ON NBC OR ANY OTHER STATION THAT PICKED IT UP
Please keep A.D. I enjoyed the show and will definitely watch season 2.
I enjoyed ever single show, please keep the show going. I recorded all the shows on my DVR and watched them when I had time. I’m not sure how doing this works with the rating on NBC but I know other people have done the same. I will not erase them until after I watch them all again with my family.
Yes! So happy to have found a show that is not smut, I will be very disappointed if there is not a second season, I hope this series picks up and stays on for some time, quite honestly, I have spoke with many people that did not even know about it and have 2 other families that had just started watching it, I think it needs to be better advertised and it would have higher ratings.
We love this show. Please keep it going.
YES! Have enjoyed and looked forward to this every week. And I know many others who feel the same. We need more quality programs like this! Please bring it back!!
yes keep it . families love it. hate to see it off. . best show of all. looking for video to watch again . with out comercials. counted comercials 10 each time and usually the same ones. really bad 12 min of show then comercials. enough. please let me know when its back on or on video.
Please keep this show going. NBC should keep it going. There are a lot more people watching it then they think. I was so upset that it ended the way it did. I want more more and more. PLEASE….. And actually I wish we didn’t have to wait til next Easter! It is so inspiring…. It really helps us to understand the Bible. Please don’t stop the show
Loved the show yes I will watch season 2 thankyou