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 don’t understand why they have to cut off something that has blessed many of people by watching the ad the Bible continues I think people should support this program because it helps to understand what the believers went through and how a lot of us believers we face many challenges everyday but yet we don’t give up and when we started watching this program it help us a whole lot to see that we should never give up I pray that whoever is stopping this program to be on TV should reconsider how important is the second serious for… Read more »
My family and I love this show! Waiting for season 2!
Please bring it back we love it with everything going on in this world me as a Christian wants to see and learn about the bible
I was really enjoying the series, It really saddens me season 2 won’t be given a chance, you just never know how it was touching lives that were needing it in that moment and see how stands needed to be made for us to be were we are today in our faith.
The miniseries is a blessing! Please bring back the series. I know that all this is going to work for good for those who love the Lord, Amen! You will go through rough roads before the blessing comes. However, always remember…God is in control and will always Glorify Himself!
bring it back
Yes I would love a second season. There is a real need for quality television to balance this mess that dominates prime time TV.
I would love to keep watching this show it has taught me a lot about Jesus and the past. It saddens me that everybody is wanting to take Jesus out of everyone’s life.
I loved it. Most people didn’t realize it was a series. They just thought it came on once or twice. I would continue to watch, at least it didn’t alter the bible.
Absolutely!!! Great show My wife and I and I
Plan our week around it LOVE THIS SHOW
Please bring it back.
Bring it back. I think it’s a wonderful way to talk about the time immediately following the crucifixion of Christ, and putting it into layman’s terms for understanding the New Testament
Pretty please bring back the mini series. It is such a great show of the bible coming to life. Ive never seen anything that talked about the new testament besides jesus christ story. Please bring it back. PLEASE!
My family and I would love to see the Bible a.d continued its the closest thing on TV that actually goes by the Bible and I love it. Please don’t second season I guarantee people watch !
Please bring back this series. Watched it every Sunday and it was very exciting. It needs full one hour episodes. At least complete the full DVD set for purchase. This is truly a great
series to watch over and over. It was just getting good