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 think Backstrom should be renewed. I make sure it is on season pass and also added to my watch list on Hulu. I am certainly no expert on how shows are rated, yet I think the ones in charge of ratings are out of touch with how most people watch tv. For example, I myself very rarely watch anything live and most times prefer to watch tv through a streaming device such as Roku even though I do subscribe to Satellite dish. Please keep the show, it’s a good show! Thank you.
I may just give up on Network TV if they don’t give this fun, quirky, offbeat show with a great cast a chance to find its audience. It gets better every week. Not many shows you can say that about. As the Beatles say, “Give police a chance.”
You know this show deserves a chance. It’s still new and under a horrible time spot but it still has viewers. It’s not just the fans but the amazing cast that deserve this. Keep backstrom going!
Backstrom is a great character the stories are great and I really enjoy it. Because I was watching it some other family members started watching it and they love it as well. I just get tired of getting watching shows that I really like and then I’m like where did they go. Sleepy hollow is great I wait from season to season there are so many shows I look forward to and yet they are just jerks right off I don’t understand that
Cancel it. Even his appearance for someone in law enforcement is disturbing.
I think , will be a good show , just give a second shot
They seriously needs to give this show a chance. I really like it so far. It’s not perfect, but I believe that with a little time, it could become a pretty successful show. I am so tired of these networks canceling shows just because the ratings aren’t ‘quite high enough’ after like 4 episodes.. It has become only about the quick and easy payout for most of these greedy jerks. There are still over 3 MILLION PEOPLE watching it.. 3 million people that want to know what’s going to happen, 3 million people that can get their family and friends… Read more »
Backstrom is an excellent show, and it deserves a second season. This show deserves to be discovered. My theory is that the name is not “sexy” enough or “catchy” enough. But the show is a typical Hart Hanson top quality show. We love it. People need to hear how good it is. People, if you watch one episode you will be hooked!!!
This is one of the best shows on TV. I love it. Backstrom is a brilliant Detective with more demons than the people he arrests. But you can’t help liking him. The cast is awesome and the writing excellent. I sincerely hope Fox renews it. You have a winner Fox!
We love Backstrom, not the cop, but the show!
Please KEEP BACKSTROM! This show is amazing and you need to let people see just how good it is before you cancel it. KEEP BACKSTROM!!!
I love Rainn Wilson and Backstrom is a good show.
keep it!
Keep it. It is a great show.
I really like Backstrom. It brings a new perspective to the usual cop shows. It’s a very funny show. It actually has adult humor that’s not sophmoric . PLEASE KEEP THIS SHOW. Fox has already cancelled two other of my favorite shows. RB society and Rake.