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.
 Loading ... |
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.
I Loved this Show…..But at Least I feel as though, I just watched 13 hour awesome movie!
Awake was the most clever show I have seen for a long time. Very original. I can’t believe it’s being cancelled
I also think Awake is one of the best and most intriguing shows of 2012. It is regrettable that there will only be one season. My guess is that quality will win out and in time this show will draw many viewers who will wish it was given another season.
All of the “smart” shows get canceled. Anything that makes you think is doomed. I’m really sick of getting invested in a show and anticipating enjoying watching it unravel only to have a dissatisfying ending.
Shows like this need to be done as mini-series. Limited 13 episode runs with a definite end in mind. That way we could watch them, enjoy them and know we’re going to get a real ending.
A totally thought-provoking show…as someone said, if it’s not a “reality” show (which are pretty much staged, anyhow), America — in its dummied down minset — won’t watch. It seems I always pick the quirky shows, and they get cancelled…like Jericho and also Kings. There is sooo much potential with this show, especially with Michael waking up to find his family alive…is it a third reality, or is has he gone back to BEFORE the accident and will be able to prevent it. I guess we won’t KNOW unless NBC changes its mind or another network picks it up…PLEASE!
I am very disappointed that this show is canceled . . . It was one of the few shows I’ve watched that kept my attention.
One of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time – it was so good I was thinking ‘I can’t believe this is even on Television! (other than HBO)’ — And now I learn they’ve cancelled it. Idiots! I’ll never watch NBC again. Very disappointed. This show is BRILLIANT! I feel confident another network will take it up… then it will become very successful!
Absolutely unbelievable such a smart and well written show would be cancelled after one season. Please TNT pick up this show!!!
This masterpiece they have (NBC) have canceled????
The show should have been on Monday or Friday nights!
I will bet that another network picks up this show..www.sohojay.com
I’m not disappointed the series was cancelled. I am disappointed in such a horrible ending. After masterfully weaving a complicated engaging story, it is ended with a lame formulaic ‘twist’. My guess is that Killen was PO’ed at being cancelled and gave NBC nothing in the end.
Awake series should definitely be renewed for a second season. Really disappointing that NBC did not give it a better chance.
First time in years that I watched anything on NBC. Because of Awake I also started watching Grimm, Smash, and The Voice. It was one intelligent show with a great cast. You
should rethink your decision and give it a chance.
I swear!!!! These television networks do this on purpose, either way they make money off of what they put out. What creator in their right mind would want their show to start at 10pm at night? That was a dumb move, then they are always putting two new shows on at the same damn time!!! What kind of since does that make? Even people with common sense ( not a degree) could have told you the show was not going to last. IDOITS!!!!!!!
I really loved Awake and The Firm. I wish I had a Nielsen box because all the shows i love get cancelled. This is a disappointment.
I loved the series. It was complicated and hard to follow at times but, it was so much better than a lot of reality shows like the bachelor. I’m bummed.
This was my favorite show of the season. I don’t normally watch this type of show but it held my interest from the first episode. I am really bummed to see it cancelled. Boo NBC.