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…
Shame on NBC for cancelling AD the Bible. It was great!
Please bring the show back. I love the show. It teaching a lot about jesus and history.
I love this tv series. My husband and i were anxiously waiting for the second part. Please dont cancel it. We ordered crave tv just so we can watch the 12 episodes over and over. We loved it.
Absolutely love this series. I’m looking forward to the second sequel. We need more shows like this on TV. I dvr’d this series and re watch them often!
i really loved watching AD the Bible continues. Am still trying to watch reruns. I do hope that there will be a second season. Because for one thing is, the book of Acts is not done yet. If anything maybe you all could work something out out with TBN Christian TV station to get it put back on. I know you all will do your best and good luck! Peace be with you all….
Why can’t they bring it to Netflix that would be a great move because most TV stations only care about money and views. Netflix doesn’t like that. I hope they bring season 1 and 2 to Netflix
Sorry I meant Netflix isn’t like that not doesn’t
PLEASE BRING BACK A. D. LOVE IT , WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SEASON 2…..
Never have I seen the day of Pentecost depicted like that on t.v. ever! I was floored and rejoiced the whole night. I hope that the series will come back but as it was so vivid I’m not surprised that NBC would cancel. In a society that glorifies Scandal more than God, it was bound to happen. I am glad that I got to see it as it inspired me to press to be more like Christ as I watched Paul and Peter. The show did what it needed to do fore those that “dared to believe…”
my husband and I dvr’ed the miniseries and enjoyed watching it at our leisure after we recorded all episodes. It was excellent, and we’re hoping for a season 2. We just finished watching them. We started watching them about 3 weeks ago and watched about 4 episodes a week. My husband was wrapped-up in the series just as much as i was.
I loved this miniseries. I would like to see it continued. I was so looking forward to the sequel.
My Wife – Ann Marie – & I thoroughly enjoyed the first season and will be praying that a second season is produced for our viewing pleasure on any channel.
I would love to see this series continue. I looked forward to it each week!
please, please bring this wonderful series back. Even tho I know the story it’s fascinating to see it played out on screen by some truly amazing actors! Obviously, I love it!
I loved this show, I would watch it on any channel it moved to.
I hope it comes back I Absolutely loved it!!!