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?
One of the “smartest” shows on t.v. Please don’t cancel it!
Love the show Backstrom!! Please bring it back!
I love this show, it is my new favorite! I would hate to see it get cancelled as it is getting harder and harder to find good shows.
Keep it! It’s interesting. And while dealing with heavy subjects also manages to be comedic.
I love Backstrom!!! It would be hugely disappointing if it were to be cancelled.
Wife and I love this show and would like to see how a second season would go.
I love backstrom it is a nice change from all the other detective/crime shows that are all pretty much the same. Its actually funny in parts, instead of some lame drama all the way through the show. Would really like to see a second season the finally was great.
Love this show. It needs a different night/time slot though. Really hope Fox for once does the right thing and renews it and reschedules it
Great show, keep it please!
Fox must have gotten their signals crossed. This is not Thursday night fare. It was never going to be a blockbuster, which you need to go toe to toe on Thursdays. Backstrom was always going to be a quirky show, which may end up with a small, but loyal, fan base. It needs to be in a time slot more suited to its character…and characters. Everything about the show is well done…the actors, (and they characters they play), the sets, the dialogue…it all works…BUT…it’s not, nor will it ever be, Survivor, Empire, or The Voice. It won’t even be the… Read more »
Backstrom is a GREAT show, hope it comes back next season.
I loooooove this show. I do think the network needs to keep its time slot consistent as it can be confusing to find. The characters are enjoyable and it’s the first police show outside of NCIS that I have consistently watched or DVR. Fox please give it one more season to prove itself.
I love this show! I really hope it doesnt get cancelled, all the main characters are so good and they blend together so well, Backstrom is different from the normal police shows as it has alot of humour but still retains the drama, please do some more of this fabulous show!!!
I love the show, Backstrom, and will be seriously disappointed if it is not renewed. I also watch Blacklist, which airs at the same time on another channel. However I make sure to record both so that I can watch them at my leisure. Do the ratings take into acocount how many people are doing the same? It really sucks that some of the best shows get canceled.
I absolutely loooooove love love Backstrom! I know it will get renewed!