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.
Meh I’m not bothered if they do cancel it tbh! It started out alright but now it just feels like and adverage bad guy of the week style cop show like Criminal Minds or NCIS
For all that is good an glorious in this world, please DO NOT cancel Alcatraz! In the show itself, I find very few flaws in its design. The acting is incredibly flabbergasting at the very least, the storyline is grandly unique and just as cemented onto my heart much like the love I feel with my fiance, and the suspense is overwhelming to the body and soul! Nowadays, the only shows and movies that seem to prevail are ones that have flashy special effects and mindlessly empty storylines. Alcatraz has a perfect balance of both, which is why its show… Read more »
PLEASE KEEP SHOW!!!
This has been the most thought provoking show I have watched in a while.
This show is actually DIFFERENT than most out there, and it keeps you wanting more without feeling like you are lost if you miss a week. Great cast and plot! Maybe a different time slot would work,since I DVR it I can watch it on a night I choose!
I think alcatraz is a good series it has all the elaments to become a great story line given the chance it will do very well with vewers as it goes on atracting more people wanting something diffrent this delivers not only sifi but intrigue as well as mystery well thought out and well acted dont cancel give it a chance to flourish.
Alcatraz…the exact opposite of the crappy reality shows. It makes you use your mind! Keep it on!
This is an awesome show!! I love the idea behind it and I can’t wait to watch it every week. I think that there should be some way to add people who watch it on hulu or DVR to the ratings because for myself, I have so many tv shows that I like to watch, but I also have a 3 year old son so I can’t watch them when they come on the tv. I either DVR my shows or watch them on hulu. But I am fanatic about keeping up with them when I have the time to… Read more »
I love this show! Suspensful! I love
the cast too. This show needs to be renewed!
Its got that “Lost” element but with time travel.
I got my daughter hooked on it too. I’m 53 and
She is 25. Renew it!
Heads up advertisers – this show provides you with instant access to a subset of the television viewing population that demands intelligent and engaging programming. It’s not always how many viewers you reach, but the demographics of those you reach.
I like this show very much and look forward to it. I never liked Lost because it never really made any sense and jumped around. On the other hand you can see where this show is headed and it is very entertaining. Also it is well acted.
If you paid attention to LOST it would have made perfect sense, it did to me. The show never “jumped around” either, it had one long story and was executed well. You just have to pay attention!
I will cast my vote for Alcatraz not getting cancelled. The admin pointed out the drop in ratings that occurred when The Voice started. So I can see putting Alcatraz on a different night to avoid major competition. I think Terra Nova was cancelled because of its huge cost. I am guessing that Alcatraz is made for much less, so the ratings don’t have to be as strong.
It is too bad that all the Bad Robot shows are doing so poorly. They are fun.
I really like Alcatraz! It is a good show. This is a show that leaves me thinking about it until it is on again the following week! It is a very intriging show! It leaves me thinking just like “LOST” did ! Please Fox don’t cancel this show! Its good and has potential! I don’t like alot of si-fi stuff , but this one is good! Thanks, Dale
I really like the show, Alcatraz, I am hoping for a season 2. I watch the show every week and look forward to the next episode. Please don’t cancel Alcatraz.
It is a REally Good Show, all they need to do is put it in a better time slot… Put it on Saturdays, NBC and CBS don’t have any heavy hitters on Saturdays…
I hate how they base whether a show continues to be produced or not, purely on its ‘home’ ratings. I live in Australia and Alcatraz is doing quite well here even despite the popular show Revenge on at the same time. I hope this show continues, its different and thats why I like it. This sort of crime/scifi/drama is better than Fringe or CSI or any of that.
I hope they don’t cancel Alcatraz its one of the best shows on TV. Too many of type of shows and its not like the other shows on TV.