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.
Hi from the UK again. I’m looking at all the responses for this show (even from Sweden!) and I think the message couldn’t be more clearer or louder: FOR GOD’S SAKE DON’T PULL ALCATRAZ FROM THE NETWORKS!!!! Thank you 🙂
don’t cancel, it will come back strong. it needs to have a second chance. I think Tera Nova shouldn’t be cancelled either. I vote a second chance for that show too.
Alcatraz is such an original show and has lots of potential. Ignore the ratings and give it a chance. It just needs more time. The buzz in other circles was just beginning to grow. Please bring it back!
Don’t cancel this show please. It is a great show and will only get better.
pse send next season…..! we are waiting in sweden
I’m disappointed!!!
I feel so disappointed, I just learned Alcatraz has been cancelled. Finally, there were a of shows I really looked forward to watching and they both have been cancelled. Alcatraz was our new favourite show.
If there is anyway to reinstate it for the fall lineup, I would be a very happy viewer. It’s at the point where there is nothing I want to watch. Take away Alcatraz, I may just drop my cable.
Hi from the UK again. I’ll say this loud & clear: DON’T CANCEL ALCATRAZ!!! 🙁
Alcatraz became my favorite show on tv! I absolutely love how different it is than all the other detective shows because there is a mystery behind it with what happened to the inmates. It is very intriguing! I will be so upset if it doesn’t come back.
It’s a great show, suspenseful and thought provoking.
Maybe if they moved it to another night it would do
Ssooo much better if not pinned against these reality
Shows that a lot of people get hooked on. Please
Please keep it going.
It was the only show I truly enjoyed watching. I’d do anything just to be home in time every monday night and it makes me sad that it might not return. Even if ratings are going down you should keep playing it for that small percent that do watch it. I for one would love to keep it playing so… That would be nice.
i will really miss the show if it doesn’t return. it’s one of the few that actually has you think. please give us something to look forward too.
It took a couple of shows but I got into it and don’t want it cancelled!!! 🙁
I think thats what it got cancelled. I almost turned it off after watching just mintutes of first episode. i didnt… after watching the next two or three i felt it was just okay (just like you were saying it took a couple episodes). most people would have given up, but i kept watching and it got good… it should have a second season… but i believe its cancelled. a show needs a strong first episode. like burn noitice did…
Don’t cancel this show please. It is a great show and will only get better.
No! Please do not cancel this show. I have been a fan since the very first show. I agree with most, they should just move it to another night and I can only imagine that the ratings would go up.