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…
All for season 3…I think you should stop adding incidents that are not in the Bible. There are plenty of incidents in the Bible to flesh out season 3.
Please, please, please bring it back. It the best thing on tv.
Yes! Please bring it back!!!!
PLEASE BRING IT BACK!! It was the only show I looked forward to EVERY week.
Yes! I know some dramatization/condensing is necessary to fill in the gaps, but the series does stay close to the real story and basically gets the true message across. If the series continues, they should refer to historians such as Josephus, Eusebius, Early Church Fathers, etc. to help them stay closer to the facts. (timeline, people involved, events). If anything, the series has demonstrated what early Christians went through to practice their faith, and how difficult it was for them to remain true to the faith, with the all the dangers and temptations they faced on a daily basis. The… Read more »
Please bring it back, however I think they will do much better on a cable network. Its too much competition out here and it will get lost in the trenches. Cable networks will allow people to watch it anytime just as they do with other cable shows.
They better produce another season of the Bible AD continues! Such joy and pleasure it brings me to watch a Christian show on cable TV! I love following the story and disciples journey!! Please please please renew and continue producing the bible series! I’m a loyal fan!!!
Yes, more please!
I love this show. Please bring it back! Hopefully we can watch it somewhere. This is the only show we watched live because we so looked forward to each new episode. We want more!!!
Yes, I love it!! I gave recorded on my dvr so I don’t miss any part of it! God bless!!
I “have” it recorded
Would love to see this go all the way to the end of the bible …. Best thing on tv… I set my dvr just incase we are not home when it starts… We seat as a family and watch and it helps teach my boys what is being said in the bible..
I would love to see it again. I would go to bible to read it and now It brings the bible more to life. When I read it I see Peter and Paul and everyone else come alive. I record it on my DVR every Sunday because I have church service in afternoon. I usually saw it during the week. It was a blessing!!!! Thank you!!!
Yes please please bring season 2 will spread the word. Love the series
Bring it back and have it track closer to the bible. It wondered a lot. I know theres artistic license. But Bible fans would like more in step with scripture than plots not mentioned in bible or historians of that day. Thank you
I totally agree!
Absolutely! Look forward to a second season!