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.
Narrativity. That’s the problem. Numbers are consequences of the narrativity quality. J.J. Abrams is a master of telling stories but this time it seems that something went wrong. Maybe too much questions and so few answers. Narrativity is like asking the audience to hold his breath and then let them breath again. But if you keep them too much holding the breath, they get sick and wanna play no more. It’s like roller coaster, rhythm of the emotions is important. I think Alcatraz it’s a great show with a bad rhythm. Maybe Abramas setted the rhythm for a 10 seasons… Read more »
I hope they keep Alcatraz as I want to know more…. but I think that they are unfolding the story too slowly and that is why viewers are dropping like flies. It is too much like a crime serial and not enough sci-fi. Unfold the story a little faster and you will gain more viewers.
By canceling this show, people who can’t stand reality shows will not be watching any Prime Time channels because we only did while watching great shows that now are very few in existences.
Give Alcatraz a chance we’re just uncovering the grit.
Keep the freaking show! What’s wrong with you? Maybe at least second season!!!
i just watch the end of alcatraz and i see there not coming back well it does not look good i shock great show best i see in years . come on bring it back lol
This is a very good show. It reminds me of the movie with Clint Eastwood with the spoon. Please keep it going.
We love the show. It’s intellectual and makes you actually when one watches it! Please return it!!
Please don’t cancel alcatraz!! At least try one more season!
I can’t believe they would keep bones and cancel Alcatraz . Maybe Fox was number 4 for a reason with thinking of dumping Alcatraz is a big mistake. I love this show and I hope to see more of it.
Please don’t cancel Alcatraz!! It’s a great show, it deserves more seasons!
Oh here we go with those nielsen families. Please, all the good shows get cancelled and those reallity shows keep growing. I guess in the middle of America they are tring to capture what they think reallity is. LEAVE ALCATRAZ ON THE AIR.
Keep Keep Keep! This show rocks!
Alcatraz keeps my mind engaged and coming back for more. We are finally starting to explore the core of the secrets i.e. what happened in 1963 , what was then planned for 2012, and how some things did not go as planned. How foolish it would be to cancel the show now, when it can really take off. The only problem I have with the show is how all the regular characters have been neutered, and that important human dimension is not being explored. (That was not lost on the creators of” Lost”.)
This one deserves a second season. It takes time to develop a great show and some of the very best got of on a slow start. I’ve faithfully bought each episode in the belief that I’d have a great series to enjoy for years to come. If this one get cancelled, I’m going to rethink buying shows before their third season. I’m tired of wasting my money…Anyone remember Jerico?
Please keep Alcatraz, it’s awesome! My entire family loves it. It seems that really good show are cancelled and stupid reality tv crap stays on.
I hope they don’t cancel Alcatraz, I thought it was great show!