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.
I really hope that they decide to keep the show. The actors do an incredible job at showing just how tough it is in the medical field in combat. It reminds me a little bit of MASH but not to the point of trying to replace it. I really hope that they don’t cancel it. Even though I don’t have cable, I do try to watch it when I can on my Hulu account.
The show was a great hospital drama and war drama and it should of been kept. I liked the ER appeal to it and it got me to respect the troops more over there. Cancelling it was stupid and they need to redo their thinking.
Not by being a nurse i’m biased but really,combat hospital is really a good show. Worth watching…………. hope the management will not cancel it………….. please!!!
Yes please keep Combat hospital. We enjoyed watching it and then it was just gone – nothing said if he was coming back just kept us hanging.
It took a few episodes to get into it, but by the time it was over I was truly hooked.
I don’t care if ABC picks this show up, but the Canadian networks should as it is probably one of the best Canadian shows that have been produced in a very long time.
It amazes me how quickly networks will dub a show a failure.
I’ll be the first to admit, the beginning of the series was a bit chaotic, but by the conclusion I found myself really interested in the characters and their individual stories. I think Combat Hospital has done a fantastic job at character development for the show and really hope they give it a chance to succeed because I think it’s a unique and very “human” show.
Everytime a good military show is on its canceled. Over There was canceled, Now there thinking about cancelling Combat Hospital. These are good shows giving some insite to whats happening. Keep it. Its a great show. Let the minority have it….
I certainly enjoyed the series. I thought it was a timely with the war in Afghanistan still raging so sentiments are still fresh and people want to see what’s happening over there. I loved the characters and their stories. All the episodes I watched were poignanat and moved me.
It would be a great loss for the series to be cancelled. ABC should give it another go in the regular season so that more watchers will get on board.
Love this show. LOVE Simon. First Canadian show I have really gotten in to.
KEEP!!!!! Please 🙂
I like the show. Keep it!! Not as good as China Beach, but still a good show
I hope the show will continue. I think the story lines are interesting and captivating. They did a great job building up the characters especially Simon Hill.
I hop the show is renewed—I love it—reminds me of an updated version of
China Beach
I think this is a great show. It is a updated version of MASH. I am in the in medical field and it is nice to see a show that is doing it right.
I sure hope they keep the show. Just because younger viewers don’t care for it doesn’t mean that it should be dropped. What about the rest of the viewers?? I know viewership equals money but don’t the rest of the viewing audience mean anything? Maybe this should mean that anyone beyond the age group ABC is trying to keep should just forget about ALL SHOWS on ABC. Wonder what would happen then??? Umm, interesting.
keep it.it shows how good these people realy are at their jobs