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, we do believe that it should continue. We have learned so much from the series. We all enjoy discussing it and could’nt wait for the next one to come. Roma and Mark Burnett have outdone themselves. We hope they will continue the mini-series. It is a blessing to be able to see the Bible come to life. God Bless….
I loved it. Please make the second available somewhere.
Please renew
YES !!!!! YES !!!!!!! to a second season GREAT T.V watching a last !!!!!!!!!! We look
forward to seeing MORE
Please renew this series!!!! It was amazing!!!!!!!
Honestly, this show has encouraged me to enrich my trust in the Lord, what more reason is there to renew a show if it can do that for just one person? And there are thousands of viewers, imagine the change that those people who watch are making in theirs as well as influencing others lives. In today’s society we like visuals, and this show was a very well done show with good fidgerino and sound effects that you could tell want a low budget film that kept me interested. Please find a way to keep it coming back!
Good sound effects* not fidgerino. Don’t know where that came from, auto correct.
This is a great, and much needed, series! Please renew for next season but multiple seasons!
Yes, we have enjoyed the series and would definitely watch! Please renew itn
Yes I absolutely need a second season. I am so disappointed its over. I have not missed an episode and this is a great show for my kids. The love the show it has been so inspirational to to our family. Please keep this show on,
Please continue with this series. It is the only show on TV that my husband and I made time to watch together and watched every episode. It can’t end there. There is so much still to be told. NBC please let them continue the story….
We think this is a winner,beautifully written and excellent acting….bringing the story that we’ve only read in the Bible to life. Please renew this as we watch it each week.
We would also watch it on whatever network or channel decides to show it.
Yes, we need a second season!
Please add another series this is an awesome show
This was one of the most Biblically accurate and vital productions on television that I have watched. The drama that was extra-biblical in nature did nothing to harm the visual explanation of the times and conflicts, even among the disciples. Good job. I would like to see more.
I have thoroughly enjoyed AD The Bible. Please bring back Season 2, 3, 4 etc. I love to watch bible stories. Each week I could hardly wait until the next week for the new show and it ended so quickly. Our families need more shows like this to watch. Thank you for AD The Bible.