For the most part, FOX has really been struggling this season. When it comes to new shows, Empire is a hit and Gotham’s doing okay but Utopia, Mulaney, Gracepoint, and Red Band Society were dismal failures in the ratings and have already been cancelled. How’s Backstrom doing? Will it survive to see a second season?
On Backstrom, an offensive, irascible yet brilliant detective (Rainn Wilson) is brought back from exile to run Portland Police Bureau’s Special Crimes Unit. The rest of the cast includes Genevieve Angelson, Dennis Haysbert, Kristoffer Polaha, Page Kennedy, Beatrice Rosen, and Thomas Dekker.
With American Idol as a lead-in, the series debuted on January 22nd with a 1.9 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 7.98 million viewers. That was an okay start but there wasn’t much serious competition on the other networks.
In week two, Backstrom had to start competing with Scandal on ABC and the ratings dropped more than 30%. In week three, NBC’s The Blacklist moved to Thursdays at 9pm and Backstrom dropped another 30% or so once again, falling to a 1.0 in the demo and 3.64 million.
In week four, the FOX series bounced back to a 1.2 in the demo and 4.39 million. Last week’s installment took another big tumble and Backstrom landed at a 0.9 in the demo and 3.54 million.
It’s pretty clear that, while Backstrom may have some devoted viewers, it’s not priority viewing for most people on Thursday nights. It’s pretty consistently in fourth place in its 9pm timeslot and is now FOX’s lowest-rated drama.
With numbers like these, it’s hard to imagine that FOX will renew Backstrom for a second season. FOX has some serious schedule problems but this show doesn’t seem to be a solution. There are eight episodes left in the season (only five are scheduled) so Backstrom has some time to prove itself with better ratings. This seems unlikely but sometimes miracles do happen. Backstrom could certainly use one.
But, what do you think? Do you like Backstrom? If you ran the network, would you cancel or renew this series for a second season? Would you change anything to attract more viewers?
I can say this is the only thing good on fox. Empires a joke! And fox is a joke in itself. So I was surprised, I got hooked. Only reason i watched it was Rain Wilson and there thinking about canceling it. My point why fox sucks Fox News is a joke!!!!!
I had been curious about the show so I finally started watchin it online yesterday. I am hooked! I really hope it doesn’t get cancelled. Maybe just have an “off” sense of what good drama is, but Scandal and Elementary, didn’t blow my skirt up. I much prefer Backstrom.
Please keep Backstrom. I came late to the show–meaning I just watched the 6 episodes this weekend. Come on…. give it a chance. Nothing would do well on Thursday against Scandal and Elementary. Let Backstrom fly.
Please don’t cancel Backstrom!
Both generations in my house love it.
I love Backstrom. The writing and characters and actors are brilliant. It has the WOW factor. Please do not cancel this most entertaining show. It grabs and holds on….this is a great show.
Backstrom is a great show. FOX must keep it!
I’m glad to see so many other viewers want to keep Backstrom! I really hope the producers of the show are seeing these comments.
I have not been a heavy television viewer over the years due to the shows I enjoy usually ending early. And the commercials. Interruption of story flow is really unforgiveable. Backstrom is well-written with believable characters (thank you for a realisitc gay character, btw), humorous, human, and filmed with high quality production values. The cinematography is classic film quality with a fresh eye for sets and colors. I hope we are finally putting the last couple decades of shaky, “reality” camera work to rest. Backstrom should stay on the air and could if crap like American Idol didn’t infringe on… Read more »
Last Man on Earth. Last show I watch in the queue, mostly out of morbid curiosity; kind of like how The Office had you coming back each week to see how painfully embarassed for Michael each new episode could make you, only with more discomfort, and no sympathy for the main character.
Give it time, show gets better and better each episode, love these characters.
Keep keep keep! Just found it on demand and cannot imagine it going away! The best new cop show around!!!
Love the show! Need to keep it going.
Dont cancel this show!!! Its better than all the trash that is on tv right now.
I really enjoy this show. The main character is entertaining and annoying, much like Columbo was. His unconventional methods for solving a crime and avoidance of his own needs fit his somewhat disheveled look. KEEP IT!!
KEEP this show! It has a lot more substance than many other shows that are now on the networks.
Love this show! Please don’t cancel! Let it catch on.