Last year, ABC had some success with Rookie Blue, a cop drama that’s produced north of the border, in Canada. It’s already been renewed for a third season. This summer, the network began airing another Canadian show, Combat Hospital. Will it find the same success as Rookie Blue or be cancelled after one season like their last medical series, Off the Map?
Combat Hospital (formerly known as The Hot Zone) revolves around the life and work of a group of doctors and nurses from various countries at a military hospital in Southern Afghanistan. The cast includes Deborah Kara Unger, Michelle Borth, Elias Koteas, Terry Chen, Arnold Pinnock, and Luke Mably.
The TV series debuted on June 21st to a less-than-impressive 1.2 rating in the coveted 18-49 demographic and 5.32 million viewers. It was in second place in the timeslot, being handily beaten by The Voice on NBC. The second episode of Combat Hospital dropped 8% in the demo and the following week fell another 9%. Week four then dropped 20% to a 0.8 demo rating.
The ratings have gone up and down a bit since then but the show is only averaging a 0.9 in the demographic and 4.0 million total viewers. While viewership is typically lower in the summer months, this performance is not good at all. ABC has several new shows running and Combat Hospital is currently tied with Friday’s Karaoke Battle USA for last place.
Based on the ratings, there’s simply no reason for ABC to want to renew Combat Hospital for a second season. The 13th and final episode of the season (and likely the series) is set to air on September 13th.
But, what do you think? Do you like Combat Hospital? Should it be cancelled or renewed? Is it worth watching? Cancel or keep it?
Image courtesy ABC.
It was a slow start and the two least interesting characters are the ones at the center (Rebecca and the English doc) but I think the show is picking up and it deserves to be renewed.
It seems like everythingn on TV is a cop/legal show these days and I’m tired of them. Unless you count Grey’s Anatomy/Private Practice, which are soap operas, and House which is part soap, part detective show, there are no medical shows on TV any more.
Nothing is going to beat America’s Got Talent but Combat Hospital is decent enough to stick around.
It would be better if they SOME hunour. It is almost too intense for me.
ABC doesn’t give shows enough chance anymore. some shows need a season to find they way, build up a story and all that but no they put shows on tv now and if they dont rate number one by episode 2 then they get axed
Keep it is a good show
i hope they keep it, being an ex army medic myself and husband a current army nurse we love this show. so im sure it will get canceled. i was scared to get attached to it anyway abc cancels everything i like :p
unless you have some relationship to the military i guess you cant get attached to the show
Cancel it! I just can’t stomach ABC evening soap operas.
Is there anybody out there who can make an original show instead of rehashings of the same ones? I haven’t seen this show but I don’t want to because I’m tired of medical shows.
What medical shows? Everything out there is a cop show, including Hawaii 5-0. There are three medical soap operas, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice and House, but no true medical shows any more.
It’s ER in the desert. An interesting idea, but not the best. Right now, I’m about 40/60. So I’m not loving it and it’s just not the best. Michelle is excellent in anything, but this isn’t the best show. ABC were morons and axed The Forgotten. That was the show they really should have renewed.
In the beginning it was slow and out of sink , but the 2 last episodes were really good ! Every new show needs to find it’s way . And now I think that “combat hospital ” has found it’s way to succeed ! If the viewers and ABC give another chance . Peace..
They should keep it, perhaps they should try changing the time slot so it doesn’t conflict with other shows that viewers are choosing to watch instead, at least until the show gets off the ground. Thanx
I agree with all of the statements above. They are the people that represent the viewers.
Regarding Combat Hospital, I believe it had a slow start but the acting and the writing is improving with every show. If given half a chance with some promoting I believe a second year would prove to be beneficial and prove the show worth renewing for a third year.
KEEP IT!!!!! I am really getting tired of this stupid ratings crap!!!! It doesnt truely represent the viewers
Well, there’s the two key words “medical drama.” I know that I’m not the only one sick and tired of “medical dramas.” I would say cancel it. You would think ABC would cancel it. But I bet, they keep it. Why? It’s a low rated series that no one likes. If it’s a “low rated” series that was GOOD, and had VIEWERS, THEN they would RUSH to cancel it. (Examples: Life On Mars, V, Flash Forward, Detroit 1-8-7, etc etc etc.
That’s the networks for you
I like the show. Therefore I’m sure ABC will cancel it, as they typically do.
i need a like button lol
It’s decent enough, but much like similar series Off The Map, I don’t think even the doctors on the show can save this one!