This season alone, two of NBC’s most anticipated new Thursday night TV series — Prime Suspect and The Firm — have flopped. Is Awake different? Will it be cancelled or survive to see a second season?
Awake revolves around police detective Michael Britten (Jason Isaacs) following a horrific car accident with his wife (Laura Allen) and son (Dylan Minnette). Britten discovers that he’s living two parallel realities. In one, his wife died in the accident. In the other, his son did. As he tries to discover what’s going on, he finds that details from both realities seem to bleed into the other. The cast also includes B.D. Wong, Cherry Jones, Michaela McManus, Steve Harris, and Wilmer Valderrama.
The show debuted on March 1st with lots of positive reviews, a mediocre 2.0 rating in the all-important 18-49 demographic, and 6.24 million total viewers. It was first in its timeslot, opposite repeats on ABC and CBS. While the premiere of Awake didn’t generate great numbers, it did better than Prime Suspect and The Firm. It was also the best performance that NBC’s had in that timeslot since last May.
Many contended that the premiere’s ratings were undercut because NBC released the pilot online well in advance — a strategy that seemed to help generate some buzz. If that gamble paid off, theoretically the numbers for the second episode would be better than the first. They weren’t.
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The ratings for episode two fell 20%, to a 1.6 demo rating and 4.33 million. It was easily beaten by an original edition of The Mentalist on CBS but topped a rerun of the GCB pilot on ABC. Week three of Awake held steady. If the show could maintain those numbers for the rest of the season, it would be safe. Unfortunately, it couldn’t.
Episode four’s numbers dropped a whopping 25%. Weeks five and six then dropped another 17% and 10% respectively. After just a half dozen episodes, Awake is basically matching the Thursday night ratings of NBC’s other cancelled dramas.
Based on the ratings, Awake is sure to be cancelled by May. They’re just too low for the peacock network to be able to justify a second season on the network.
Given the state of NBC’s current schedule, it seems likely that the network will let the remaining seven episodes air on Thursday nights. If the ratings continue to drop, they may pull it or ship it off to the Saturday night graveyard with The Firm.
Most importantly, it looks unlikely that viewers will have their questions answered by the last episode of Awake.
But, what do you think? Are you still watching Awake? Have you lost interest? Do you think it should be cancelled or renewed for a second season?
Image courtesy NBC.
Please do not cancel Awake! I don’t understand WHY when we finally get good shows they get cancelled and we get flooded with all these dumb a** reallity shows that shouldn’t even be allowed on TV!
What the hell is wrong with the networks.They get decent shows like Awake, Missing and the Firm, and now the networks are dropping them. What for all those reality shows, and other pieces of crap that the networks try to get the younger audience. Wake up, when you have decent shows, with good actors and story lines, dont mess with it.Otherwise people will stay away from Television, and starting watching Netflix, which by the way, in some cases has a lot more to choose from
I am really pissed too…Please keep this show on the air..It is excellent!!! Love it
Awake has gotten better every week! I only watch one other drama on NBC, and that’s Law & Order SVU. Please keep Awake on the air! If not on NBC then move it to Hulu, or USA, or somewhere.
this movie should continue; it is very good!!!
NBC is making a mistake cancelling Awake, It is getting better each week. I now like it better that PERSON OF INTEREST or ONCE UPON A TIME. This action by NBC blows!!!!! Perhaps Kyle can move it to another network like TNT, A&E, or USA. Keep up the good work Kyle. I also liked Lone Star (would love to get DVD of episodes) and the Beaver(Movie).
I like this show and watched all its series
Awake is one of the best dramas on network television that my family of 5 (ages 18-45) has enjoyed in a long time. This show has a great premise and storyline in addition to exceptional acting by the cast. I haven’t loved (or watched) an NBC drama this much since, ironically, ER (which also starred Laura Innes for many years)! Reconsider!
HOW CAN YOU CANCEL THIS GREAT SHOW!!!!!!! You finally create something interesting and exciting and you cancel it. I am shocked – I love watching this show on HULU.
I cannot fuc&*”n believe this sh&t! This show is so good that my husband & I never miss an episode. It has such a unique & interesting story line. I never would’ve thought the show was even in trouble let alone getting the ax. This is such crap!
I’m pissed too. I love this show awake and a gifted man. What’s going on?
Save this show!! It’s different and interesting and is leaving me wanting more!!!