When Alcatraz debuted, it looked like the show had a very good chance at being renewed for a second season. But how do things look now? Will the TV series be cancelled after all?
Alcatraz follows police detective Rebecca Madsen (Sarah Jones) and Dr. Diego Soto (Jorge Garcia) as they try to solve the mystery of how 340 prison inmates and guards disappeared in 1963 and are now reappearing in modern day. The cast also includes Jonny Coyne, Parminder Nagra, Jason Butler Harner, and Sam Neill.
The TV show debuted with a solid 3.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 10.05 million total viewers. In week two, the demo slipped 9% to a still respectable 3.0 rating with 9.03 million. New shows typically fall 15-20% in their second week so this was a good sign. Week three dropped another 7%. That wasn’t positive but not horrible either.
Unfortunately, the ratings have just kept falling. In February, NBC kicked off the second season of The Voice and Alcaraz took a big hit, dropping 18% on February 6th and then another 17% on the 13th. And the numbers just keep going down. Last week’s episode was a series low with a 2.1 in the demo.
For the first time in many years, the big networks all have really strong programming on Monday nights and FOX has ended up on the bottom. House, which is in its final season, keeps dropping and so does Alcatraz.
Alcatraz’s season average is currently a 2.3 in the demo with 7.1 million. On our FOX report card — which ranks the network’s shows based on demo averages — Alcatraz has a “C.” Terra Nova, which has already been cancelled, had a better demo average and has a “C+”. When a show that was performing better than yours has been cancelled, that’s not a good sign.
Alcatraz is definitely on the bubble but, in light of the downward ratings trend, I expect it to be cancelled by May. There’s just no reason to expect that the series will do any better if given a second season.
But, what do you think? Do you think Alcatraz will beat the odds and be renewed for a second season? Should it be cancelled?
Image courtesy FOX.
Please don’t cancel the show. It is a great show and keeps you on your toes. Hoping it returns next season
Love the show. Please keep it going for the people who do NOT watch ”reality” TV
Fire you schedulers for putting it in a stupid time slot.
Do not cancel Alcatraz!! I don’t know and don’t care about the ratings but this show already has an audience and personally it’s one of the few shows I love and watch…..btw reality TV sucks.
LOVE ALCATRAZ! I ditto what many have said here. I do not like reality shows and this is MUCH better than Simpsons and South Park. Put it in House’s old time slot or even a different night. Going up against Voice and Dancing/Stars was a definite dumb move.
My family LOVES the show! We love everything about it. Great story line and the people. We have watched a whole season, the season ends with Det. Madsen dead on a gurney, PLEASE let us find out what happens to her . PLEASE DO NOT CANCEL THIS SHOW!
What is wrong with networks nowadays. I’m not sure if they get money from my Hulu subscription, but Alcatraz is one of my must watch shows every week. Although so was Terra Nova and SGU. Dam you network TV.
Please don’t cancel Alcatraz. Not everyone is a fan of reality t v- some of us actually like a well written show with a plot and dialog. Why not try putting it in a time slot that is not opposite Idol and the Voice. Maybe people aren’t ignoring Alcatraz. Maybe they’re just putting it on dvr.
Seriously..there needs to be a 2nd season..can’t leave us hanging with so many questions, Please do not cancel we love, love, love this show.
It’s one of my favorite shows! I hope it don’t get cancelled!
I wish you move that show to another time and night ore you should just cancelle it so it won’t come on tv again.
My Mom and Dad watch Alcatraz every monday night. Whitch they realy seam to like that show. But me I don’t like that show at all I don’t have the time and sit and watch the show. So I will be happy if you cancelled that show or moved it to another day and time.
They should definitely renew it is the best show on television at this time !
It seems that if it was doing okay until the Voice started, maybe they need to evaluate where they have it in the schedule instead of just chunking it. It amazes me that garbage like South Park and the Simpsons can stay on for years and years, but when there is a good drama that hasn’t been given much of a chance, they are quick to cancel it. Alcatraz has a great plot, mysterious characters and a lot of opportunity to grow. I hope FOX will reconsider and give it another chance on a better night. There isn’t much else… Read more »
DON’T CANCEL THIS SHOW!!! You’re all idiots if you do! This same crap happened years ago when Fox cancelled “John Doe.” It was a real good show with a great, captivating plot. Then they ended it with the audience left hanging and never able to learn what was behind all the mystery. THAT JUST SUCKS, DAMMIT! If you cancel Alcatraz you can kiss my viewing arse goodbye, Fox!
Fox, with the finale you gave us you CAN NOT cancel the show! Yes, Alcatraz needs a little bit of tweaking. We need to flesh out Rebecca a little more, we need more Tommy time, and we need to make one of the returned inmates a main character who collaborate with the team to catch the rest of the 63s. I vote for Jack Sylvane, he’s humanized, I think his helping out would make sense for his character, and I could see him being a potential star-crossed love interest for Rebecca. Even without my suggested changes the show is interesting… Read more »