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 LOVED it!!! I missed the last several epiodes BUT NOT BECAUSE I WASN’T INTERESTED. I had things I had to do and wasn’t able to watch it at the time it aired. I thought I would be able to catch up AND WATCH AGAIN WHEN THE NEW SEASON STARTED 🙁
I loved it. I would REALLY like to see it on one of the major networks because I don’t have cable or satellite. I missed some of the last episodes BUT NOT BECAUSE I WASN’T INTERESTED. I just had things I had to do and wasn’t in a place where I could watch it when it was on. I thought I would be able to catch up on them AND THEN WATCH THE NEW SEASON WHEN IT STARTED. 🙁
…it hurts that almost everything depends just on money, rating….
God be with us!
Please bring it back – I loved it.
I want the Series Back..i watched it every Sunday…and can wait to watch more…please bring it back….
We loved it , bring it back Thanks 🙂
Loved A.D. The Bible Continues! I will watch Season 2 on whatever channel or Internet broadcast it lands on. Keep making it please.
We loved it …..I could actually see what I couldn’t understand by reading ! Well done ,
I as a Christian loved the show and I want it to continue.
It’s only an hour long so I don’t think it would cost them much.
Please I pray to God for a second season !!!!
Please bring AD back.
Please back the program … I have watched the segments over and over
Please keep a family show on Sunday of all days, yes I am a believer and to see the scripture on full screen is amazing I will donate or do whatever is needed to keep something so cool on TV. Our nation needs this! Please email me and tell what is needed.
Thank you,
Geary Franklyn,
Going against game of thrones is a killer.
I really enjoyed the series as did my family. I would love for it to return to network tv but if it has to move to cane to continue in fine with that too. I think the ratings were low due to the time of season it aired. Competing with award shows and Sunday night sports. We dvr’d the series and watched it later must times to avoid the commercials so cable network commercial free would be just fine with me.
I loved the series and want to see it renewed!
Please come back with continuation , it is a real worth of doing and you shall receive the fruit