ABC recently cancelled several shows (Mixology, Suburgatory, Betrayal, etc.) and renewed many others (Resurrection, Revenge, The Goldbergs, etc.). What about the new Black Box series that airs on Thursday nights?
The show revolves around a beautiful and brilliant neuroscientist (Kelly Reilly) who’s hiding the fact that she’s bipolar. The rest of the cast includes Ditch Davey, David Ajala, Terry Kinney, Ali Wong, David Chisum, Laura Fraser, Siobhan Williams, and Vanessa Redgrave.
The show debuted on April 24th to a poor 1.5 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 6.87 million viewers. The ratings have gotten even worse as the weeks have progressed. This week’s installment hit a new low with a 1.1 rating and 4.31 million.
While ABC hasn’t cancelled Black Box, they surely will. The ratings have just been too low to be renewed for a second season.
The question now is, “Will all of the episodes air?” There are nine episodes remaining. If the ratings keep going down, the network could easily pull the show and replace it with reruns. Hopefully they’ll either air or release them so the show’s small audience can see them.
What do you think? Do you think that Black Box should be cancelled or renewed for a second season? Do you think ABC should air all of the episodes they have?
Black Box is one of the few shows I REALLY like. I would hate to see it canceled, and I definitely want ABC to air the remaining 9 episodes!
love this show!! don’t cancel
I totally agree. The show has a hypnotic effect on me. Sometimes I watch it twice, I enjoy it so much. The stories are almost like science fiction. If you take it off the air part of me will go with it. DO NOT CANCEL!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cancel it. I’ve tried, mainly because there is so little to watch during the summer but it’s comically bad. Bickman being allowed to perform surgery shortly after being shot and nearly passing out right after saving the day was pretty laugh out loud ridiculous. The idea that Vanessa Redgrave’s psychiatrist would be upset with her bipolar patient for revealing that her niece is really her daughter to her long suffering fiance but not with the whole idea of everyone involved living a lie and putting the poor kid in a position where she’s bound to have her world explode some… Read more »
Well, too bad for you, as you are in the minority. Being Bipolar II myself, and a professional, I can attest to sometimes going on and off meds. I am well aware of my symptoms and for Bipolar II, I can sometimes get away with a break from certain meds. I have done my job responsibly for 27 years! One cannot take meds. when one has to work all night. He or she might go to sleep. You talk about Bickman performing surgery after he was shot. He had recovered somewhat. Most people thrive on getting back to work. The… Read more »
I’m only in the minority at this site. Obviously most people who gave it a try stopped. That’s why the ratings suck. I just stumbled on this site out of idle curiosity as to whether it was going to be canceled as I had predicted after the third epi. And sorry, the Bickman story line ( it wasn’t even days after being shot ) the idea of an entire highly educated family conspiring to keep that kind of secret in this day and age, the crazy other woman, her prospective mother-in-law who seems to have arrived via time machine from… Read more »
My husband was bipolar, the nasty kind, lots of manic episodes. It was refreshing to see a show that discussed this mental illness. It is very accurate and off beat enough to be absolutely delicious. The one where the shooter had a brain tumor really made you think. No other show does that. I look forward to it every week. I am an educated woman (Master’s degree) with two grown sons. They like Game of Thrones, a show that I could not get into no matter how hard I tried. There is a softness about Black Box which I like,… Read more »
I am bipolar II, and this show depicts boiler I behavior accurately. TWEET ABC TO KEEP BLACK BOX
Black box does display bipolar accurately. Silver Linings Playbook does NOT. That movie angered me because LOVE does not solve everything, certainly not bipolar. Don’t cancel a good, educational and exciting show.
Well….that’s one thing we all have in common-Opinions.
And wide selections of other programming.
There are moments when I just want to escape reality, watch silly mindless shows, with happy endings. And that’s ok.
It’s entertainment, not the MD channel !
Honestly, I absolutely love this show. The ratings are down because of the summer, people are busier. I have to watch it later to catch up, but the show is amazing. I hope they give it a chance.
Please air all the episodes.
Best TV drama I have ever seen. Please don’t cancel.
I LOVE Black Box! I am quite surprised the ratings are low. Kelly Reilly plays the part very well, keeps her interesting, and makes her intense and real. I hope the show will continue as it is my favorite drama.
Love her, love the show!!
Please don’t cancel!!
It is a great show and should be saved. The acting and the writing are both superb. It would do better at a 9pm time slot.
I watch barely any television. My daughter and I have been watching episodes on demand. I love it, and it has so much potential! I hope it isn’t canceled.
All I can say is I like this show a lot and hope it’s not canceled.
We love the show. It’s very educational.
I love this show for so many reasons, which have been mentioned in all the other comments. The biggest draw is the fantastical, powerful, complex, and scary workings of the brain. Of course with a hollywood delivery. But that’s ok-it is entertainment, not a documentary. Dr. Black is still evolving with her illness(bipolar), she hasn’t quite faced the reality of it’s dark side. Another interesting aspect of this show, and the illness. LOVE Kelly Reilly & Vanessa Redgrave and their characters. Perhaps ABC can tweak it a bit, put it in another time slot, and give it another season. I… Read more »
The Black Box is one of the most thought provoking, wonderful shows I have ever seen. It is a medical show like Gray’s Anatomy, but so much more. The main character is mysterious and likable, I love her. The cases presented are unusual, you won’t see these strange types of cases anywhere else. My husband was bipolar so that this show has a special meaning for me. When I look at other shows that have high ratings I wonder if I am out of tune with the taste of the general public or if the public is just not getting… Read more »
Rona, You are so right! Much of the general public cannot appreciate the different levels of manic depression. The character suffers from BiPolar I disorder. There is BiPolar II. I would like to see the writers explore more of the character’s issues with BiPolar I. The dialogue between Katie Reilly and Vanessa Redgrave is very real and thought-provoking. This is not an unusual occurrence. It may cause sexual cycling, etc. As we know, there are doctors, teachers, judges, etc. who cope with this mental illness on a daily basis and are very high functioning. ABC has dumbed down so many… Read more »
I loved your comments, Lynn. Glenn Close is starting to bring mental illness out of the closet and be considered an illness like any other. This show deals with it head on. Can I really tweet ABC? Thanks
You can tweet ABC to keep Black Box going!
Agree! It seems dreams that make you compassionate are too hard to give a break. Now a days ever George C. ER. would be cut!
I have watched since first episode. I am hooked every time she’s on
Thought provocative like Kelly since MARY RILEY. SINCERLY, hope season two is around.
I hope it is not canceled. I thought it got off to a rough start but now I love it.