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.
Alcatraz is my family’s favorite show. I am so sick of networks canceling good shows and putting on mind numbing reality shows. I believe this is a sign of our society and how they are incapable of followwing good plot lines and ANYTHING that encouraging thought processes. We are becoming a nation of idiots….
You can’t leave it like this, Fox cancells every show I like and keeps stupid mindless reality programs, Every time I start to enjoy a Fox show they cancel it. Human Target was great but Fox cancelled it. Now Alcatraz and possibly the Finder I am going to have to stop watching Fox all together tired of dissapointment
It’s one of those shows that make you think. Recent history shows, the more you have to use your brain, the worse it does. I’m sickened how so many people prefer no-brainer shows (ie. reality TV) over shows that have an on-going plot – especially one where there is a level of thinking involved. I hope they keep the show. Other than Fringe, Alcatraz is one of the best things FOX has going for them.
I almost hate TV now. I pay cable..but I’m seriously thinking of cutting it off. Every show on TV now seems to be a damn reality show. Every time they bring on a show like Alcatraz, they cut it. Last year my husband and I liked “Off the Map”…cut. Then we got into “Terra Nova”…cut. Now Alcatraz. Not everyone likes to watch the same show over and over again. The only think tv has now a days is people dancing, singing, showing their “talent”, surviving (if that’s what you want to call it), stunts, or thinking about a new product… Read more »
I’m so addicted to this show. It’s the best thing since Law and Order.
Don’t cancel it don’t don’t oh please don’t.
and when I miss it I on Demand it.
Im hooked. I love the show and really want it to stay.
Please keep the show going.
Please don’t stop the show!! It is a really good show, it just needs to be on a different night!!
One of the best shows on TV. It should not be cancelled. Pick another night and watch it grow.
Please don’t take this off … it has the potential to be such a great series. if you absolutely have to cancel it- let them have a parting second season. I mean it’s not necessarily the writer’s faults. Fox makes them sign contracts on how many “stand-alone” episodes there should be in a season and what do to when. So it’s frustrating and stressful on the show. They are making progress – just a little too postponed for everyones a.d.d attention spans. The possibility of a supernatural curve is keeping me waiting on the edge of my seat. Please let… Read more »
I hope they give it a chance, it does have potential… maybe on a different night
love the show hope they keep it.
Please do not cancel this show!! It is so interesting and getting better every week!!
I love this show!!! make more shows DON’T CANCEL!!! THIS AWESOME SHOW!!!