ABC has decided to run the season (likely series) finale of Detroit 1-8-7 this Sunday, March 20th, at 10pm. The freshman drama is airing on a special night because it was pre-empted by a 20/20 special featuring an interview with Charlie Sheen a couple weeks ago.
Detroit 1-8-7 is, of course, highly unlikely to return for season two. The TV series’ ratings have been terrible and just about anything else the network has put on in its place has performed better. It’s currently averaging a very disappointing 1.5 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 5.64 million viewers. That makes Detroit 1-8-7 the lowest-rated scripted series still on the network. Tuesday’s installment registered just a 1.2 in the demo.
Here’s the finale description from ABC:
SEASON FINALE
FITCH FACES OFF AGAINST HIS RUTHLESS NEW YORK ADVERSARY, ALBERT STRAM, WHILE HIS LIFE, THAT OF HIS SON AND THE REST OF THE SQUAD HANG IN THE BALANCE, ON THE SEASON FINALE OF ABC’S “DETROIT 1-8-7” Michael Imperioli’s Real Life Son, Vadim, Continues in His Guest Starring Role as Fitch’s Son, Bobby
“Blackout” – Fitch’s past comes back to haunt him when his old New York nemesis, Albert Stram, makes his presence known in Detroit just as the veteran detective is enjoying spending time with his son, Bobby. Stram’s not so subtle threats shake the usually unflappable Fitch. Meanwhile, the other detectives are called to the scene of a horrific homicide to find an entire family brutally murdered. Fitch tries to put the pieces of the puzzle together and it leads him to a devastating conclusion. With his back against the wall, Fitch asks Washington to protect Bobby, then leads Longford and Mahajan on an extremely dangerous mission to trap Stram; but which side of the law will he come down on in order to save his family and those in the squad? Meanwhile, Longford has second thoughts about his retirement; but is it too late? It’s a crucial turning point in the lives of all the detectives, on the Season Finale of “Detroit 1-8-7,” SUNDAY, MARCH 20 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.
Note: This program replaces “Brothers & Sisters: Call Mom” which moves to March 27.
“Detroit 1-8-7” stars Michael Imperioli as Detective Louis Fitch, James McDaniel as Sergeant Jesse Longford, Aisha Hinds as Lieutenant Maureen Mason, D.J. Cotrona as Detective John Stone, Jon Michael Hill as Detective Damon Washington, Shaun Majumder as Detective Vikram Mahajan, Natalie Martinez as Detective Ariana Sanchez and Erin Cummings as Dr. Abbey Ward.
Guest starring in “Blackout” are Vadim Imperioli as Bobby (“Oprah Winfrey Presents: Mitch Albom’s For One More Day”), Megan Dodds as Jess Harkins, Tommy Flanagan as Albert Stram, Carl Lumbly as Vincent Lawrence, Tessa Thompson as Lauren Washington, Troy Winbush as Deputy Chief Johnson, Clifford McGhee as Tyrell Hayes and Jason Wells as Wendell/personnel director.
“Blackout” was written by Jason Richman and directed by Kevin Hooks.
“Detroit 1-8-7” is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to airdate.
This episode of “Detroit 1-8-7” will be available on ABC.com the day after airing on the network for users to watch online. For more information on “Detroit 1-8-7” please visit ABC.com.
What do you think? Why do you think this TV series didn’t catch on? What worked? What didn’t?
Image courtesy ABC.
ABC has done the same thing to shows for years, put them on and then pre-empt them for other garbage like award shows. I tuned in every tuesday to watch this show, and more often than not it wasn’t on, so I went to watch CBS. They did it to Alias and lost their viewers until they wised up and ran the episodes continuously, but it never recovered. They did the same thing with Flashforward, which I really never committed to. After they cancelled Eli Stone, Pushing Daisies, and Life on Mars, who commits to something with a sci fi… Read more »
Its truly disgusting that a Good TV Drama like Detroit 187 cannot stay on Network TV . Instead someone somewhere thinks that everyone want reality TV Garbage ! Enough already…..KEEP THIS SHOW. Not to long ago….. the show “LIFE” wasn’t brought back. Another POOR decision ! I live in Austin Texas and love the Detroit 187 show. I refuse to watch reality garbage….and its garbage ! Give me something for an ADULT ! TV is geared towards kids and they don’t earn a dime or buy anything advertised. That would be me, the Parent. For God’s sake someone stick with… Read more »
Can’t believe it. Great show. My husband and I love it. Our kids in their early 20’s also watch and love it.
What a travesty! Detroit 187 was a compelling drama, with powerful performances by everyone in the cast, terrific story lines and tremendous character development. The show did nothing wrong and did not warrant the hook. Perhaps it did not have the glamorous background of LA or Las Vegas. Or maybe the fact that viewers nowadays frown on anything they may have to pay attention to for more than five minutes. The show deserved a better fate.
Detroit 187 ratings have more to do with network scheduling than show quality. Excellent casting and sound plots featured in a gritty crime drama the equal of any others (and superior to most) need only to be slotted in a less competitive time slot. Maybe ABC should ask CBS how to handle it.
Looked forward to it every week,actually realistic,good acting
This is an awesome show. I truly enjoy shows like this because they offer variety which is what good television is about. For ABC to not give this show a second season just goes to show how all they care about is ratings not the over 5 million viewers that tune in every week. I can see it now. They’re gonna replace this great show with some show about dancing and celebrities, or a show about a singing competition, or better yet a sappy show about a teenage kid raising a baby and he still lives with his parents. Such… Read more »
What a tremendous disappointment. Detroit 187 is one of the finest shows on ABC and I don’t watch ABC.
This show slipped off the radar early and viewers never found out how good it is. It would have done better with a little more network support, like trying different time slots and nights. It isn’t too late for ABC to reconsider this good show and invest a little more in its success.
This is (was) absolutely the finest police drama on television.
No other show had the character development and intelligent writing that went into this show. ABC put it against Parenthood and The Good Wife. What did they expect?
On any other night of the week, this show would have been winner in the ratings.
WTH why will there not be a second season???? This is a darn good show. Some people just dont know good tv when they see it. This is a good show and deserves a second season
I loved this show, and I am losing faith in network television if this show was so unpopular when the quality was so good. I can only believe that most people expect and seek out the lowest common denominator when they turn to network television, and that leaves any discriminating viewer adrift. This show was very high quality with great characters and stories. I loved every character and especially Michael Imperioli, who is the best. I guess people just want stick figures that don’t have personalities of their own and just follow the usual format for boring television character. This… Read more »
Please, please bring back Detriot 187! I loved the story lines, the characters and the music.
I looked forward to Tuesday evenings more than any evening of the week. Maybe the show should have been placed in the 9 p.m. slot. I’m a senior citizen and many of my friends also
were also glued to our chairs when Detroit 187 was aired. Hell, I even loved Happy Town and looked what happened to it.
I agree with nearly every comment posted. I consider Detroit 187 one of the finest shows on the air this season. I find it difficult to believe that so many American tv viewers would rather watch contrived reality shows or below average dramas. It will be truly disappointing if ABC does not give Detroit 187 a second season.
I am totally disgusted that the show is not getting a second season, the only one I looked forward to, most shows on TV are such trash. This show had good characters and great story lines.