ABC gave sophomore series Castle an order for nine additional episodes yesterday, bringing the season order to 22 installments. With decent ratings, can fans of the show relax? Is it safe from cancellation?
Castle revolves around an egotistical novelist (Nathan Fillion) who teams up with a police detective (Stana Katic) to solve crimes in the Big Apple. The drama also features Susan Sullivan, Molly Quinn, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Tamala Jones, Jon Huertas and Seamus Dever.
Last season, Castle averaged 10.32 million viewers and a 3.6 rating in the 18-49 demographic. This season, Castle has been averaging a bit more than 10 million viewers and is down to a 2.5 rating. The numbers have bumped up a bit in the past couple of weeks and it’s been suggested that that news was encouraging enough for ABC to give it a full season order.
Still, the news isn’t all positive. Aside from the large year-to-year dip in the all-important demo, Castle consistently loses a significant amount of viewers from its lead-in, Dancing with the Stars. This week’s installment lost almost 45%. ABC is surely not pleased with these losses.
On top of that, Castle is expected to have its biggest challenge in the next several weeks. Throughout its first season and thus far into its second, Castle has always been blessed with the hugely popular Dancing to help attract viewers. That’s going to change in November. When Dancing goes on hiatus, Castle’s not going to have that big lead-in any longer and will have to stand on its own.
If you remember back to the 2008-09 season, Samantha Who? always did quite well with a Dancing lead-in. When it was left to fend for itself last season, the ratings fell apart and it was cancelled.
Dancing with the Stars is set to end its season in November. Will Castle be able to survive or will ABC decide it can do better? What do you think?
I don’t even watch that dancing show… I just watch the channel for this show!
Did they count the ones of us that “joined” the network to see Castle, that wouldn’t watch Dancing with the Stars? That is not a “lead in” for me. Getting the new shows going will raise the ratings. I love the show, but even I was tired of the “oil bath”.
Nathan Fillion has has such a bad run of luck with his television series but I have loved everything I have ever seen him in and I am huge fan of Castle. I’ve gotten a large group of people completely hooked on it. I hope this show stays around for a long time. Most of the stuff on TV is crap these days. I hate the not so real realitly crap that is everywhere but I will tune in to Castle as long as it runs.
I Love this show!! I don’t think it should be cancelled at all. I’ve been watching it from the start and have purchased the seasons on dvd, I enjoy watching it every Monday.
my wife and I love this show. all of the characters are awesome. Heck we don’t even watch dancing with the stars so the drop in lead in didn’t make a difference to us at all. keep’em coming abc
Please keep Castle on, it is one of the few shows that is truly enjoyable to watch with a great cast. There is true chemistry between Castle and Det. Beckett.
I just found castle and love it please don’t cancel the series
Castle is a KEEPER! With all the c–p on TV, why would network brainoids cancel CASTLE? With their track records what makes them think they can come up with a better show? Maybe something original like Dancing with LOST APPRENTICE Smarter than 5th grader SURVIVORS?
CASTLE is smart and clever. Give US–the viewers a break and keep CASTLE!
Castle is one show that you can laugh and cry all inside an hour’s time. It has a real feeling and the messages really help people. Sometimes people don’t realize how much a TV program can help someone with what they are dealing with in real life.
i hope that castle will survive its really good show with the drama and comedy put together. I hope castle will continue!
Castle reminds me alot of the Moonlighting series which was great.Castle needs to be renewed. There’s a good chemistry with Kate and Castle and funny to boot.
Castle is a great show. Funny yet serious at times, good plots every episode.
Do NOT cancel CASTLE! I’d love it to be at 9 though. Ten is too late so I end up watching it online later in the weekend right after work.
My husband and I love this show!! Love the different relationships…mother/son, dad and daughter, castle and Beckett! This is a great show and I would hate to see it go. We look forward to it every Monday Night!!!!
I recently started watching Castle, I don’t usually like crime dramas, but I can stop watching Castle. I love it. I can’t wait to buy the seasons. it’s a good show. Give it a good run.