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.
Damn! I love this show. It is the only drama I watch right now.
and this is the kind of world we are living in, i am very disappointed to put it politely. Drama with a psyc thriller aspect border-lining paranormal at times, this show was too good for the people it was in front of, in my personal opinion, this show was not complicated, it was interesting, it was extremely well scripted, but sadly, i suppose people no longer care about how to tell a story, instead society wants to see strangers being humiliated for the chance to win some money. NBC SHAME ON YOU FOR ENCOURAGING THE DECLINE IN SOCIETY! THIS IS… Read more »
NOOOOO!!! I am so sad to hear this! This is SUCH a good show and I watch it every week! I was so excited to see where this was going :((( How can people not like this show??? I guess America just isn’t mentally ready for such an intelligent show.
If the TV companies continue to cancel TV shows after first season I am going to cancel to watch TV. So simple!
No!!!!!! I look forward to Awake every week! Please don’t cancel it!
Thought provoking, well scripted and very well acted. It was I suppose therefore doomed as it’s not lowest common denominator TV for the masses. That of itself though doesn’t mean that it’s not worth making. I for one will not watch the dross provided for the hoi polloi and will certainly buy Awake on Blu ray when it’s out. To add to my collection of decent series – for the day that will come when all that is left on TV are the “reality” shows, fly on the wall documentaries abd whatever else big brother would like us to watch.… Read more »
Flashforward, The Event, Alcatraz, now Awake…shows that make you think only get one season.
Guess I will join all the other millions of mindless zombies and start watching….So you think you can dance, dancing with the stars, the bachelor etc
This is turning out to be a very disappointing year for Television Viewing. So many GREAT shows are being cancelled, only to be replaced by more schlocky reality shows…give me a break, like those ‘reality’ shows are not scripted??? please…stop insulting the fans intelligence and get with the 21 century. DVR’s are here to stay…people have a choice now of when THEY want to watch a show and not when the networks decide to run them. Shame on you all. Awake was one of the best new shows of the season… intelligent writing, directing and acting…it will be missed by… Read more »
This is turning out to be a very disappointing year for Television Viewing. So many GREAT shows are being cancelled, only to be replaced by more schlocky reality shows…give me a break, like those ‘reality’ shows are not scripted??? please…stop insulting the fans intelligence and get with the 21 century. DVR’s are here to stay…people have a choice now of when THEY want to watch a show and not when the networks decide to run them. Shame on you all. Awake was one of the best new shows of the season… intelligent writing, directing and acting…it will be missed by… Read more »
Im an 18 year old male. This is the only NBC show I watch! And the ONLY NBC show my family watches!!! We used to watch The Office religiously but it’s losing its appeal….sometimes we watch sometimes we do NOT. This show can compete with the best shows on cable and network. What is NBC thinking????!!!! Where was the advertising???!!!
No wonder they are falling behind the other networks.
I cannot believe they have cancelled AWAKE!!! I have enjoyed this show from the start……… great acting and very well written. I looked forward to this on Thursday nights. 🙁
Can’t believe they are cancelling. Best show on tv right now without dexter in season. Plot twists are incredible and it is very unique, making it much better than other dramas. Very disappointed.
I will not watch any new show unless the network PROMISES to at least wrap up any show they cancel with a couple of extra episodes or a one shot movie. I’m sick of everything just dangling.
Another amazing show gone. So dumb!!
finally NBC has a great show with great acting and something with intrigue and depth and they cancel it!!! So I guess the reality idiots win. Why put this show on Thursday schedule – the most competitive night in television. I have never seen 1 commercial to promote this show vs other lame to medicore shows that have promos running constantly. NBC get on the ball……put it on another night and do some promo work. thank goodness we have several TVS and DVRs in our home otherwise we would not be able to see all the great shows that air… Read more »