It’s the nightmare NBC’s Awake fans were dreading. NBC has cancelled the show after 13 episodes and one season.
Created by Kyle Killen (Lone Star), Awake revolves around a police detective (Jason Isaacs) who, after being in a horrific car accident, finds that he’s living in two realities. In one, his son perished — in the other, his wife did. The cast also includes Laura Allen, Steve Harris, Dylan Minnette, B. D. Wong, Michaela McManus, Wilmer Valderrama, and Cherry Jones.
The complex drama had an unimpressive debut back on March 1st, registering a 2.0 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 6.24 million viewers. NBC had released the pilot episode well in advance so some believed that hurt the premiere ratings.
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Theoretically the second episode should have shown signs of growth but it didn’t. Week two dropped 20%. Week three remained stable but subsequent weeks saw additional declines. Last week’s episode hit a new low with a dismal 0.7 rating and just 2.15 million viewers.
This season has averaged a 1.1 rating in the demographic with 3.5 million total viewers. Awake is the third-lowest rated drama on the network, beating only Harry’s Law and The Firm (both of which have been cancelled as well). On our NBC Ratings Report Card, which measures the relative demo performance of shows on the network, Awake has a “D+” grade.
NBC has now cancelled Awake and the series finale is on track to air Thursday, May 24th. While it wasn’t intended as a series finale, Killen has said that he believes the finale is very satisfying.
What do you think? Are you sorry to hear that Awake has been cancelled and won’t be back for a second season? Was the series too complicated for most TV viewers or did it have other problems?
Image courtesy NBC.
Do ratings/views take recording the show into consideration??? My tv is off when it is airing but I have recorded and watched every single episode with much anticipation for the next one to record. This is complete b.s. I literally thought this was the best show on tv right now, and actually one of the best in the past few years. These ratings have to be skewed in some way! But I also I agree that there was not enough advertising! Not a lot of people have heard of it, which is NBC’s own fault. They could have made this… Read more »
Awake has a unique story line that has a great deal of room for growth and twist and turns. It is not violent and gory or mindless as so many other series tend to be. There is so little on tv these days that don’t fall into these categories, along with reality tv. It is sad to see it go. Not everyone wants violence and reality tv.
We need people such as Larry David who have pull with NBC to give that network a punch to the face! Stop breeding bad television! Abort the crap and save such a well written, well acted series. Awake will be missed.
Is there someone I can call? Write to? Send an appeal to? Truly, is there anything we can do to change this decision? This is the BEST new show in years, BEST TV acting I’ve seen in a long time (taking the cast as a whole, not just primary players), incredibly good writing, and so on. I just can’t believe it’s been cancelled. I think the reason is not enough promotion – Touch has had TONS of advertising, and so it has done well. Everyone I ask about Awake, most have never heard of it. I would LOVE it if… Read more »
Disappointed big-time … loved every minute and never missed a show! Great acting … I will miss it in the lineup.
Awake was amazing!!! NBC has gotten it wrong, yet again. You would think that a network which gave birth to shows such as Seinfeld, Friends, Mad About You, Frasier, ect would have a clue. I guess unlike most Americans, I like to use my brain and think while watching TV. This was the only current show on network television that I could stand-and I have not watched TV in YEARS! I guess I will continue to keep bookstores and the library in business.
WHY?!!!!! This was one of my favorite shows!!!!!! The actors did a WONDERFUL job at portraying the characters that they played, and the plot was always exciting–never slow-moving. It’s probably gonna just be replaced with one those shallow excuses for “comedy”, where everyone jumps into bed with everyone.
You got this one wrong NBC. Now we got Nothing But Crap to watch. Thanks.
When I saw the first episode I was thrilled, so pleased that network tv came up with an original concept. After watching every episode diligently I’m connected to the plot and the characters. Dammit! This is SO disappointing. This show deserves a better shot than the network gave it.
wow this is crazy this show is great.hard to understand for a 3 year old.not a adult show makes total sense and the story is just getting good you TV company always do this. dead like me,huff,and now awake let the season finish before cutting it from the legs. i guess we live in a era where people enjoy watching rich folk dance and sing.
hate to see this show cancelled–thought-provoking and original concept too bad it didn’t build a following
I don’t watch much network TV at all and I don’t allow myself to become addicted to TV series. Saps too much time. This was the ONLY show I looked forward to each week. I found it to be fascinating. I wish it would move to another channel and keep going.
I never watch TV shows while they are on TV. To many reality shows and terrible stuff. I watched the first episode because of the advanced release and I was hooked! I have watched it faithfully every week and I am very upset to have to go back to not watching anything at all.
Very sorry to see it cancelled. The acting was great, and the theme is very though provoking and in keeping with some of the leading theories of quantum physics. Physicist Brain Greene’s book The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos. details the science behind the idea of parallel universes.
One of two new shows I was hooked on this year. Very disappointed! I was already looking forward to next season! Creativity and good writing is not rewarded enough in Hollywood. Booooooo!!!!!!!