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.
I just cannot believe it. It was a really good series….. This is one of the best show in TV. I have recommend it to people, and no one has told me, they got disappointed with my comments about this show. What it would take to get it back????
I watch this show every week, it’s my favorite tv show and one of the best shows in my opinion of the last few years. I can’t believe it’s been written off this quickly. Granted, the material probably couldn’t have lasted more than 2-3 seasons anyway, but to leave it after one with presumably no conclusion is really sad. I hope it gets picked up, but I doubt it will. Why are great shows like this cancelled & terrible ones are still on the air. Ratings…then give it a better time slot. I like Touch too (loved watching them back… Read more »
Loved the show!! Very disappointed that it is cancelled. I have been enjoying keeping track of the twists. Very entertaining show. Something to make u think. Not mindless reality or a bunch of housewives… I hope a cable network picks it up and gives it another chance.
Finally, a well written, well-acted and intriguing show comes on TV but because it is not the same old detective show format it’s gone. Come on, you know the formula; Detectives come across a dead body, and then staring off deliver one of those classic corny lines. Now cue the show music theme. And in case you need an example, here is one from a detective that has been on for several years; “Detective: The probable cause is that she’s a stripper, she’s a junkie, and she’s a *****. Lieutenant: She’s also a human being. Detective: And now she’s a… Read more »
i liked the show, they should have given it a chance. I am very upset
On network TV there’s very few programs that successfully manage to weave reality and fiction so well – Awake had it. Just as Lost had it, problem is never had a shot in it’s time slot. Hopefully it will get picked up on USA or another affiliated cable network.
So sad to hear this was cancelled. I loved it!
This is exactly why I CUT MY Cable ! I refuse to reward the cable companies who charge big $$$ to produce CRAP reality TV which requires no writers … and then go and cancel great shows like this – that takes talent to write and a brain to watch !!! Reality TV is killing American creative entertainment !
I’m not surprised by this; I saw this coming. Just as NBC cancelled Outsourced, they cancel another great show this year. Yes, it was dumb to put it on Thursday night, but I can’t entirely blame them with ratings dwindling. The real beef is with the American public. When Avengers breaks all box office records, are we surprised? I watched that movie a couple days ago, and it was terrible. Terrible script and plot line and horribly predictable; garbage as far as I’m concerned. This is the trend now, so get used to it. Just have to accept it and… Read more »
this is f##king bulls##t. its a great show. too many morons out there are watching pathetic shows and not giving actual good shows a chance
This is such a well written amazing show and I would be so abundantly pissed if NBC cancels another Amazing show, I’m beginning to believe NBC does not know what good tv is, because this keeps happening. Out of all the junk on TV finally something worthwhile comes along, with genius writers and an Amazing and thought provoking story line and I read that NBC is pulliNg the plug…How is this even possible????
This show was just starting to grow on me. It’s more intelligent than most network shows (though still not up to Showtime standards). I am dying for more good drama. Why do you people always do this?
What a shame! This is easily the best show I’ve seen on network TV. It’s a sad commentary on the taste of the TV audiences of network TV that this can’t succeed.
I’m super upset that NBC has cancelled Awake! I really loved the show !!! It’s suspenseful and the characters a(especially lead character Michael Britton!) are well developed and intriguing!. Too bad NBC can’t wait it out until more people find this great series.
The only drama on NBC worth watching…idiots!