Following up on their earlier announcement that The Event, Outsourced, and Law & Order: Los Angeles have been given full season orders, NBC has handed out some more. Chase has been given a full season order with nine more episodes and NBC has ordered 11 more installments of Chuck, bringing its the season total to 24. The trouble is that both shows are doing quite poorly in the ratings.
Chase debuted to a disappointing 2.3 rating in the all-important 18-49 demographic and has fallen each week since then. Last week’s episode fell to a new low with a 1.5 demo rating after just four weeks on the air. That’s roughly the same number as NBC’s disastrous Jay Leno Show was getting last year in the same timeslot.
Chuck kicked off this season with a 2.0 rating in the demo and seems to have settled in at a 1.9 rating. That represents a 14% drop from last season’s average and puts the show in fourth place for the timeslot.
With the exception of Undercovers and recently-dumped Outlaw, Chuck and Chase have the worst ratings of NBC’s non-scripted offerings. Why the network is ordering more episodes of either is anyone’s guess.
Likely the peacock network has little faith in their mid-season replacements or maybe, they’re just happy to be getting the ratings their getting. Either way though, the additional episode order buys both shows some time to get their numbers up. The cancellation axe isn’t far away for either show.
NBC Orders Full-Season Pickups for New Drama ‘Chase’ and For Returning ‘Chuck’
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – October 19, 2010 – NBC has given full-season pickups to the new high-octane drama “Chase” and the returning action-comedy “Chuck” for 2010-11. The announcement was made by Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios.
“‘Chase’ has introduced an appealing new star to television audiences in Kelli Giddish and we think it has potential to grow,” said Bromstad. “We also are glad that ‘Chuck’ will be with us for a full season delivering its loyal, passionate audience.”
“Chase” is averaging a 2.0 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 6.5 million viewers overall in “most current” averages through its first five telecasts this fall. “Chase” has captured an 18 percent improvement in the time period versus year-ago “most current” results for NBC in 18-49 rating (with a 2.0 rating vs. a 1.7) and a 23 percent gain in total viewers (6.5 million vs. 5.3 million). “Chase” is heavily time-shifted, adding 21 percent to its “live plus same day” 18-49 rating when Nielsen issued “live plus seven day” results for the opening two weeks of the season (to a 2.66 rating from a 2.19).
Through October 18, “Chuck” has averaged a 2.2 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 5.9 million viewers overall in “most current” averages from Nielsen Media Research. “Chuck” is heavily time-shifted, adding 29 percent to its “live plus same day” 18-49 rating when Nielsen issued “live plus seven day” results for the opening two weeks of the season (to a 2.56 rating from a 1.99).”
“Chase” (Mondays, 10-11 p.m. ET) — from Emmy Award-winning executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer (“CSI” franchise, “The Amazing Race,” “Pirates of the Caribbean”) and executive producer Jennifer Johnson (“Cold Case,” “Reunion,” “Lost”) — is a lightning-fast drama that showcases an elite team of U.S. Marshals that hunts down America’s most dangerous fugitives. Kelli Giddish (“Past Life”) stars as U.S. Marshal Annie Frost, a deputy whose sharp mind and unique Texas upbringing help her track down violent criminals on the run. Also starring are Cole Hauser (“K-Ville”), Amaury Nolasco (“Prison Break”) and Rose Rollins (“The L Word”). Jesse Metcalfe (“Desperate Housewives”) also stars.
“Chase” is produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Warner Bros. Television. Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman (“CSI” franchise, “The Amazing Race,” “Cold Case”) and Johnson are as executive producers, while KristieAnne Reed is the co-executive producer.
“Chuck” (Mondays, 8-9 p.m. ET) stars Zachary Levi (“Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel”) as Chuck Bartowksi, a regular guy who also happens to be the government’s most vital secret agent. The cast also includes Adam Baldwin (“My Bodyguard”) as Colonel John Casey and Yvonne Strahovski (the upcoming “The Killer Elite”) as partner Sarah Walker. Also starring are: Joshua Gomez (“Without a Trace”), Sarah Lancaster (“What About Brian?”), Ryan McPartlin (“Living with Fran”), Mark Christopher Lawrence (“The Pursuit of Happyness”), Vik Sahay (“Time Bomb”), Scott Krinsky (“The O.C.”) and Bonita Friedericy (“The West Wing”).
“Chuck” is co-created by Josh Schwartz (“The O.C.,” “Gossip Girl”) and Chris Fedak, and is executive-produced by Schwartz, McG (“Charlie’s Angels,” “Terminator Salvation”), Fedak, Robert Duncan McNeill, and Nicholas Wootton. “Chuck” is produced by Fake Empire, Wonderland Sound and Vision, in association with Warner Bros. Television.
What do you think? Will either or both shows survive to see another season or will they be cancelled? What could be done to attract more viewers?
Image courtesy NBC.
If “low ratings” are saving Chuck from cancellation, then fine. It’s one of the sweetest shows on TV right now – fun, funny, action-packed. Stop cancelling everything for more reality crap and maybe people would stick around.
I have 2 boys ages 14 and 9 who LOVE Chuck. We plan our Monday’s around watching it together. Everything on major networks seems to be too violent, sexual or dark. there is enough of that in real life. Chuck is light and just plain fun. Yes, its silly, but thats what makes it fun to watch, especially with kids. The violence is mild enough for my 9 year old and its funny enough to have my husband and I laughing. There are so few shows today that are kid friendly and that everyone in the family enjoys. It would… Read more »
i like chuck and hope they keep it but if its a frikin ratings game why the heck didnt they give knight rider more chances and keep it goin i mean come on if chuck and chase are doing bad and they renewed then the what was the deal with cutting knight rider i want knight rider back
I just love Chuck. I hope it is renewed for the next 20 years. It is so enjoyable and the actors are really great, as well as the story line.
My thoughts on why Chuck has been picked up for 11 more episodes. One, it gives the writers a chance to plan a series finale in May. Second, it will have enough episodes or close enough for weekday syndication. And third, producer Warner Bros. must have lower some of the licensing fees to squeeze out a few more episodes. Chuck is a fun show, but these are good reasons.
What a disaster. They should have cancelled them all and brought back Law & Order. Between now and the end of the year they could build the station set again and be filming episodes. Instead, they renew not one, not two, not three, but four disasterous shows which no one is watching.
if it wasnt for chuck i wouldnt be watching nbc they dont know how to find a good show an the good shows they had nbc screwed them
I like Chase but hate the 10pm timeslot because I work at 6am and can’t stay up that late.
but I can usually catch the reruns on Sat’s.
I love watching Chuck, overall all the episodes are very enjoyable and the actor’s in it are likeable.. I usually watch on TV though occasionally watch on Hulu if the football game is good.
Havent seen Chase, looks decent but just havent bothered with it since I watch Castle.
Chase is in bad time slot, against already-established Castle, and newbie hit Hawaii 5-0. I’ve watched all three, and am now watching Chase, so that could spell doom for the show, as I swear if I like a show, the networks kill it and keep the crap on instead.
Castle I’ll catch in repeats. Hawaii Five-O is, well, it’s okay but I find the characters more fascinating on Chase.
Having 3 action type shows against each other makes no sense. Move NBC’s Parenthood into the MOnday slot, give Chase the Tuesday slot.
Yeah I’m confused. I completely don’t get it. They didn’t renew Trauma or Mercy, so is it likely if Mercy and Trauma just waited a year, then they would have been successful? Who know’s right, water under the bridge right? That’s done. But still you have to wonder. Or did NBC simply not want to repeat last season? You just gotta wonder.
@Jeremy Rynek: Trauma and Mercy both got additional episode orders last season so actually, this is like a repeat of last season.
“chuck” tv show is a joke..please cancel that damn show ..what a waste of time for everyone else ………………..:-(
how is it a waste of time for everyone?
if you don’t like it, don’t watch it.
I do the opposite. I watch Chase and DVR Castle and watch it when I can.
if they end up canceling chuck, they need to finish out the story. although i dont really want them to cancel it.
I watch Castle during the time slot that Chase is on. Then I watch Chase the next day online. Too bad they have no way of measuring that unless they measure the hits on the episode web page. I am watching House during the Chuck time slot and do the same with it although not as steady. I have lost interest in that story line.