Created by Robert and Michelle King, The Good Wife ran for seven seasons on CBS. The series was never a hit in the ratings but it was a source of pride for the network and kept being renewed. How has the Kings’ new summer series, BrainDead, been performing? Should it be cancelled or renewed for a second season?
On BrainDead, Laurel Healy (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) has returned home to Washington, DC to work for her brother, Senator Luke Healy (Danny Pino) on Capitol Hill. She is caught in the midst of two huge problems: the government has stopped working due to budgetary disagreements, and mysterious bugs are eating the brains of a growing number of members of Congress and Hill staffers. The rest of the cast includes Aaron Tveit, Tony Shalhoub, Nikki M. James, Johnny Ray Gill, Charlie Semine, and Jan Maxwell.
Debuting in June, the first episode of BrainDead drew a 0.7 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 4.59 million viewers. It was an unimpressive start to be sure and the numbers have fallen much lower as the weeks have progressed. The seventh episode’s ratings represented a new low, drawing a 0.3 demo rating with 1.75 million viewers.
Despite the talent behind the program, it is highly unlikely that CBS will want to invest in a second season of BrainDead. Hopefully the last installments will provide enough closure to satisfy the show’s audience. Episode 11 is scheduled for next week and the last two of the season are set for September 11th.
But, what do you think? Do you like the BrainDead TV show? Should it be cancelled? Would you watch a second season?
10/18 update: CBS has cancelled BrainDead after one season. Details here.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead has more charisma in her little finger than 99% of Hollywood ladies have in their whole bodies. Keep the show. If not, at least put her in something!
guilty of insects!
I think it’s great. Please keep it going…
I love BRAINDEAD PLEASE DONT CANCEL
My husband and I love BrainDead! We think it should be renewed. The show is a tongue in cheek farce that highlights our disfunctional
federal govt. in a comedic way. It is a high quality show and deserves more time for more people to find it.
I agree that this is one of the best shows on TV just now but I don’t see how the premise could continue for a second season. If they could come up with a convincing follow on plot then great but I’d be scared that it wouldn’t flow.
These things are always a slow burn. This has all the attributes of a real cult classic. Unfortunately for Braindead however, ratings rule. Pick it up Amazon and play the long game.
Brilliant show
Love the show!!!!! Please renew it
I love the show and would like to see it renewed. Love the cast and creativity.
This satire is spot on with the shenanigans we are seeing in the current campaign. I can’t imagine, however, why, how or where the premise would go after the election. Let alone for 3 or 4 years.
I enjoy the cast as much as the show itself. I would definitely watch a second season but feel the creative team would be hard pressed to build on the original concept. If the series gets cancelled, I hope the finale episode wraps things up rather than leave viewers wondering what would have happened.
I haven’t been this enchanted with a cast and story since the TV show, You, Me and the Apocalypse. I really hope there’s a second season, if not on CBS then on another network/streaming video service. It’s a smart, thought provoking, entertaining show . . . things that are lacking from the typical ‘reality’ shows!!
I have been watching this show from day 1. It’s funny clever and original. It quickly became my favorite show this year and I’m craving more! I really hope there’s a second season renewal! It’s so great and I’m loving the Broadway stars casted! The whole cast is fantastic and the writing is amazing. Only one more episode this season so I hope there will be a season 2!!!
I say set a target season to end like LOST tv series and end appropriately Star Trek ended after three seasons and spun fifty years of material includes the cell phone and tablets end in three seasons