FOX has thrown away the key on Alcatraz. The J.J. Abrams thriller has been cancelled after one season and 13 episodes.
Alcatraz follows the investigations of police detective Rebecca Madsen (Sarah Jones) and Doctor Diego Soto (Jorge Garcia). They work to uncover how 340 inmates and guards disappeared from the infamous prison in 1963 and why they’re now reappearing looking just the same. The show also features the talents of Jonny Coyne, Parminder Nagra, Jason Butler Harner, and Sam Neill.
Fueled by a lot of promotion, the TV series was launched in January and drew good reviews and strong numbers. The two-hour premiere attracted a 3.3 rating in the all-important 18-49 demographic with 10.05 million total viewers. Opposite some tough competition from CBS, Alcatraz was in second place in its timeslots.
In week two, the demo slipped 9% to a still respectable 3.0 rating with 9.03 million. Week three dropped another 7%. That wasn’t positive but not horrible either but the ratings just kept falling.
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In February, NBC launched season two of The Voice and Alcaraz’s ratings took a big dive. They ropped 18% on February 6th and then another 17% on the 13th. The numbers just kept falling after that.
The two-hour season (now series) finale was in fourth place in the timeslots and averaged a disappointing 1.6 demo rating with 4.76 million total viewers.
The first season of Alcatraz ended up averaging a 2.2 demo rating with 6.74 million viewers — and those numbers would have dropped lower had there been more episodes.
On our FOX report card — which ranks the network’s shows based on demo averages — Alcatraz has a “C” and that just wasn’t good enough to get a renewal.
FOX chose to keep Touch instead but the network stays in business with producer J.J. Abrams via the network’s Fringe renewal.
What happened? It would seem that Alcatraz just wasn’t compelling enough to keep viewers returning week after week. Plus, for the first time in quite awhile, all three of the major networks had really strong programming on Monday nights. Two of the competing shows — The Voice and Dancing with the Stars — are reality competitions and many viewers feel compelled to watch them “live” rather than catch them online or via DVR recordings.
All 13 episodes of Alcatraz have aired and the last episode left viewers wondering what would happen next. Unless the producers decide to share what they had in mind for season two, we’ll never know the answers to the show’s mysteries.
What do you think? Why do you think Alcatraz failed to hold onto a bigger audience? Did FOX make a mistake by cancelling the series? What will you miss about it?
Sad, and disappointed to find out that there is no season 2. I like this Show. Pls bring it back! I want to know what happen with Rebecca Madsen, Doctor Diego Soto and her Grandfather Tommy Madsen!!!
Fox just should hv rearranged their shows instead of cancelling the series Alcatraz…not all of us like reality shows
This show is great!!!! Bring it back!!!!!
I usually don’t enjoy crime shows but the science fiction element made it outstanding. This is not the first mystery plot show that was cut without closure in recent years and it shows little respect for the viewers. It wouldn’t hurt to air a single series finally episode in such cases as a courtesy to viewers and writers alike. I have since tried to avoid shows that have a mystery because no doubt some thoughtless bean counter will end up cancelling a good series prematurely again.
Obviously it wasn’t to do with the quality of the show but the placement against reality programmes, I think they should put it back on TV, at a more suitable time and judge the response, I’m sure they will then realise it was a big mistake to cancel the second series,
Come on guys put your head together and get season 2 on air please
Rewatching our season one dvd again. Please bring back another season. YEARS after last episode. Wanting more. So much potential. Looking forward to more. Please.
What a great show! Sad, and disappointed to find out that there is no season 2.
One of the best T.v. series ever. Is their a book available of the story who wrote it ? from across the pond. Roger
Maybe not giving a brand new show the same time slot as something already doing so well in ratings all over the world was the best thing to do, of course it wouldn’t get as many viewers as they got further down and closer to the voices final that they’d have to make it the last episode for Alcatraz. I really enjoyed the show for the few episodes we got but I wish they’d bring it back
This show was very well thourght out and imaginative, I can’t believe it was cancelled!! I think it sad that tv network’s keep stupid shows like pritty little bimbo’s and jane the vergin is it because you would rather rott peoples brains with seamless bull crap then excite and open up peoples imaginations? I know when I looking for a show I would rather it have a story line. Come on people we are rotting our brains with senseless realty shows and bum plot line shows, bring back Alcatraz
OMG, you hit the nail on the head here, great comment.
This show was brilliant, please bring it back x
Bring it back!
Husband and I love Alcatraz…bring it back!!!
does anyone know how to pronounce Joe Egenders last name? it’s been bothering me since I saw this show in 2012, I love the guy and just want to know how to say it! help me and please reply!
Love this show. I found it on Netflix! We just finished the last episode. I told my husband I wish we had 200 more to watch. I like it a lot better than Bones. Yes, more episodes would have been nice!
Great show need more seasons