Rainn Wilson had a long run on NBC’s The Office but his own TV series Backstrom has been cut short. FOX has cancelled the series after one season of 13 episodes.
On Backstrom, an offensive, irascible yet brilliant detective (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.
The show debuted in late January to a decent 1.95 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 7.98 million viewers. Unfortunately, the numbers took a big dive in episode two with the ratings falling more that 30%. They fell almost as much again in week three. After a brief rebound, the numbers kept sinking lower and lower.
The 13th and (now) final episode drew a 0.7 in the demo with 2.8 million viewers. The ratings were just too low to justify a second season.
What do you think? Did you like the Backstrom TV show on FOX? Why do you think it didn’t catch on? Do you think it should have been cancelled or renewed for a second season?
I really liked Backstrom. I wasn’t sure about it at first, but really got to enjoy it. Nice to see fresh writing.
Loved it, bring it back!
I really ended up liking this show and now I am disappointed that it has been cancelled. I think fox should have renewed it for one more year to see if the ratings would have improved or this would have been a great summer time series
Bring Backstrom back!!! My husband and I loved that show!!! It was funny!! Why put all these good shows on then turn around an cancel them??!!
Backstrom was a great show but the time spot was bad going up against The Blacklist. Give it a new time slot and it will succeed.
What the heck. Rainn Wilson is a great actor, and Backstrom was a great show. I was really looking fwd to a season 2. Did Fox air it on a day and time that maybe other well RECEIVED shows aired? AND Backstrom didn’t get a fair shot. I find it hard to believe ratings dropped after the 2nd ep. Reminds me of the Fx show Terriers. THAT was also a great show, but the cancellation reason because of the name, they said people thought it was about dogs, ok, private detective dogs, really people, but i will blame the creators,… Read more »
SO BUMMED. Didn’t find this show until after it aired, watched all the episodes on-demand. LOVED IT. Only to find out there will be no season 2. that SUCKS!!
It’s really great to see that some people are still interested in real stories and true character development. Unfortunately in our modern world, networks (Fox more than any other) mostly don’t care about real writing because it costs them so much more money than the reality fluff we’re force fed 24/7. Who wants to pay writers, after all? Fox in particular has a history of cancelling it’s most well written shows with its most original characters. Anybody remember The Finder?…That was one of the most fascinating and quirky tv characters of the last two decades. But Fox just isn’t interested… Read more »
I admit the show has to grow on you as do the characters. But I thought by the 5th episode it was brilliant. It was not given a long enough run to show it has fans and can get more as time continues with new episodes. Star Trek was thought to be a bomb, too. Look at its following today. Bad move cancelling this show. Wish it could continue so I could continue watching fox. Fox’s programing is slipping and maybe this is why?
I am VERY disappointed that Fox let The Following for 3 seasons, but they cancel Backstrom. I think a campaign voicing our displeasure with this decision needs to be ramped up.
Agreed.
I am heartbroken that FOX has cancelled the ONE show I actually made a point of recording to watch later. I do not watch much TV – but “Backstroke” was one that I made a point to watch. I considered a modern day equivalent to “Columbo” and believed it would get better and better.
FOX – you screwed this one up! Get rid of all the stupid “reality shows” and bring back “Backstrom!”
This was a great series and I was looking forward to many more episode. Was shocked when I heard it got cancelled. The main characters are original and interesting and I loved there boat house.
What a waste of a good show. Quality writing, dynamic characters and story lines. Take the reality CRAP off the tube and get back to genuine story tellers.
I will miss his rotten self and all his hangups. He was a character worth developing and the last episode was really moving as Backstrom saw himself for probably the first time.
it is a pity they cancelled backstrom. It is a tv series that I really enjoyed. I loved
all the characters in the series exspecially Rainn and his gay brother in the show.
I also loved the ‘foul’ language and the plot of the shows. Pls bring in season two, get
rid of all the CSI .