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.
Awake is the only tv show that I watch (DVR) other than soap General Hospital. I love the actor Jason Issacs—for his fans: watch him as PI Jackson Brodie in 3 great mystery movies on Masterpiece Mystery (PBS). The character is featured in 3 novels by Kate Atkinson, which were made into 2 hour movies: (“Case Histories” “One Good Turn” and “When Will There Be Good News?”) You can google and watch them online. I totally agree with other viewers/fans: The show was way too intelligent for the “average” tv viewer. It made you think and pay attention and FEEL.… Read more »
I can’t believe NBC did it again with another thought provoking show. This was the only show that I regularly followed (other than Sunday Night Football) on the network. The premise is very unique and the cast was I believe was riveting in their performances. I was instantly hooked by the trailer for it then completely hooked when I started watching the show. I immediately connected with the main character as a father (who has lost a child) that if I only could be with my child just for one more second. Yes if anyone is wondering that last week’s… Read more »
Once again, we lose a well-scripted, complex drama full of mystery to the vagaries of weekly TV programming. Awake follows Firefly, Wonderfalls, Dollhouse, Jericho, Invasion, and many others into a sad archive of abandoned treasures.
This was a great show with a very fresh concept. I am more than a little disappointed it didn’t get picked up (10:00 on a Thursday can be a death-spot, though). At least NBC picked up “Parenthood” for a third season . . . Just keep pumping out that reality crap that seems to be so popular for some unfathomable reason and continue to appeal to the lowest common denominator. No wonder the quality programming is going to cable. Sigh.
Ths show is well acted, written, and very thought provoking. It’s a shame it has been cancelled.
honestly….
this is the only show I anticipate watching each week. And to hear that Happy Endings is renewed, over Awake~ really people????
I agree with the three comments above-I too loved Awake but it was probably too complex for the “average” viewer, those that like their shows predigested. Hopefully it will get picked up by another network but I wouldn’t hold my breath. NBC stop pandering to the masses and leave on a show once and a while that engenders some thought in viewers. Please!
The series was amazing, there aren’t many shows out there that make you think and pay attention. All the ones that are creative are shut down after one season. People dont want to think while watching tv. Everytime I get hooked on an NBC show it is cancelled. Oh, it was great while it lasted 🙂
It probably was to complex for the average viewer. Think about it, Teenage mom and other realty show “pap” stays. Why, because so many viewers don’t want shows which are intellectually challenged. Those who do, have to go to HBO — thankfully that exists.
Awake is a great show. What was not so great is putting a new series on at the same time and day as 2 other great series – Touch, Person of Interest – that are doing very well. If scheduled on another night, “Awake” might have done better.
The show was just TOO slow. Very morbid, and shot on film to always look incredibly dark. Even a bright and sunny day was washed out. And, bottom line, who wants to constantly watch a show where, either way, one of the cop’s family is dead. I stopped watching the fourth episode in. I’ve got the rest of them DVRd and just have no desire to watch them.
Wtf?!?
Journeyman
The event
Flashforward
Awake
Getting tired of watching these shows only to get disappointed
I love Awake! It’s complex and different and the cast is great! I can’t believe people are not watching it! Don’t cancel it! Mid -season starting shows are tough. give it a chance in the fall!
A classic NBC move. I highly dislike the network, and other than Awake, there isn’t much I watch on it. They cancelled Heroes mid-season, what does that tell you about them?
I am really, really hoping that it gets picked up by another network. I think it would do very well on FOX.
LOVED this show! One of the few bright spots on TV these days, so I should have figured that it would get cancelled.