Next week, TNT’s Dallas will complete its third season — the first full one without JR Ewing. How’s the TV show done in the ratings? Will it be renewed for a fourth season or will it be cancelled instead?
Airing on Monday nights, Dallas continues to follow the machinations of the dysfunctional and powerful Ewing clan. The cast includes Josh Henderson, Jesse Metcalfe, Jordana Brewster, Julie Gonzalo, Brenda Strong, Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray, Mitch Pileggi, Emma Bell, Kuno Becker, and Juan Pablo Di Pace.
The third season began airing in late February and the first episode was down by 11% when compared to the second season opener. That was a reasonable decline but then the second installment dropped by 27%. The numbers dropped even lower as the season progressed.
Year-to-year, Dallas is down by 26% in viewership and down by 38% in the 18-49 demographic. It’s one of TNT’s lowest-rated scripted series and that’s not a good sign for the show’s future prospects. It also has a large cast so that means it’s not a cheap series either.
On the positive side, there’s some financial incentive to keep the show going. Dallas is produced by Warner Horizon Television which, like TNT, is part of the Time Warner corporation. Also, at the end of season three, there will only be 40 episodes. That’s not enough for a syndication package so if the execs are on the fence about whether to renew or cancel, that could work in the show’s favor.
I suspect that TNT will renew Dallas for a fourth season but, with ratings like these, the show could certainly be cancelled.
But, what do you think? Have you grown tired of the new Dallas TV series? Should it be cancelled or renewed for a fourth season?
Update: TNT has cancelled Dallas after three seasons. Details here.
The show must go on!
Please don’t cancel!!! Love this series I look forward to this every week!. Might help if you move it to a different night.
dont cancel dallas. it takes time to build a fanbase. i think it has an amazing cast and amazing twisting storylines
Keep It!! The script has definitely gotten better. I have to watch it with On Demand, but I love it!!
Amazing twists and turns. Just wish TNT would promote the series more. They used to show the week prior before the new show and had a lot of reruns during the week. They also have not promoted it as much with advertising this season. The writers have an action packed series and it should continue with another season, it can be as successful as the network will allow it to be.
keep it going. there are lots of twists and turn
Please do not let this series die. The series is awesome. The storyline is far from boring with twists and turns with every show. Change the night if need be. What’s wrong with Friday? That’s when it used to be on.
They damned well better. TNT also needs to do its part and stop shortchanging themselves with the lousy timeslot. Monday nights at 9 is blahhh (for me at least). Move it to another night and get your PR team to work and it will catch on again. Still, we shouldn’t be looking at it as though the ratings are somehow “down the tubes”. They’re not! Its viewership trumps the vast majority of other programs on Monday nights, minus sports/WWE and some Disney shows for kids. It’s still getting close to 2 million on Monday nights, which is not bad! (I… Read more »
don’t cancel Dallas PLEASE
Dallas is GREAT. Plz don’t cancel!!!!!
Keep the episodes coming!!
Please renew. Run the show full season instead of splitting it.
We just get into the storyline and it ends and takes forever to resume.
The young cast is getting much stronger. Of course the originals were ALWAYS strong. Judith Light is an awesome addition! Don’t give up on Dallas just when it is getting reestablished.
Please renew Dallas AND please don’t split it…no one else does that to there shows don’t know why Dallas has to have it done like that…people lose interest that way
I think it’s really picking up steam at this point. The ratings seem to have stabilized in the last several weeks. The writing this half of the season has been top notch. There are stuff a ton of things left to explore. I think another season is certainly indicated. Word of mouth indicates that the show has been catching on with new people. I think there is a reasonable chance that ratings could actually go on the rise if it is renewed.
I love it, please keep it going!
Please bring back Dallas. I love the show keeps you on your toes & waiting for the next episode.
Renew, this is a classic American drama series. It moves along so quickly, how could it not be renewed?