We’ve received quite a few comments and emails from readers who can’t believe that FlashForward was cancelled when another ABC show, V, was renewed?
On Tuesday, ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson explained the difficult decision this way, “It was a ‘Sophie’s Choice.’ In the end, FlashForward didn’t engage audiences like we hoped. For V, I get more anecdotal calls and emails than any other show on the schedule. A huge part of rebuilding the network is about taking chances. Some shows just don’t work out.”
While that sounds very nice, ultimately the decision to renew or cancel any TV show comes down to ratings.
FlashForward premiered with a strong 4.0 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 12.47 million viewers. Viewership quickly declined though and has been steadily falling. The two most recent episodes have fallen to a 1.3 rating and about 4.8 million viewers. That’s terrible for a network show.
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Meanwhile, V debuted with a 5.2 rating in the demo and 14.3 million viewers. V’s numbers have fallen quite a bit as well but not nearly as low as FlashForward’s. After dropping to a low of a 1.9 rating in the demo and 4.87 million viewers, the last two episodes’ ratings have risen a bit — reaching a 2.3 rating and 5.69 million.
So, while both shows have indeed been struggling, V is still doing quite a bit better than FlashForward (though certainly not great). ABC tends to save one or two struggling shows each season and V was their choice this time around. FlashForward’s ratings were just too low.
V is set to return in early 2011, or possibly as early as November 2010. The four month hiatus really hurt V’s ratings this season. You have to wonder if a six or eight month hiatus will kill it altogether this time?
What do you think? Which show did you prefer? Why do you think that FlashForward’s viewership has dropped so low? Will the long break between seasons kill V?
Images courtesy ABC.
Well One Reason The Viewers Dropped Was You Through In A 3 Month Or So Gap Between Shows So A Lot Of People Lost Track And Interest You Did NOT Run The Show Continuesly Through The First Season, Do It For Season 2 And See A Difference
I am really going to miss Flash Foward. I looked foward to it evey week! Finally there was a show with some intense drama, and they just take it away. So Sad.
I agree with Neil; viewers can’t seem to spend the time dealing with the complexities of a good series. I will miss my evenings of watching Flash Forward.
Both V and Flash Forward are very good shows. V i sa somewhat more complicated show than V due to the flash forward and backwards, etc. Howeve, both were very enjoyable and I looked forward to them each week. In recent years, the networks have come up with some great shows and then cancelled them after a year; Surface, 9, the time shifting one starring Taye Diggs and that excellent cop show that came out last year, I think it was called Southlands or some such are excellent examples. It seems most viewers can’t spend the time dealing with the… Read more »
I can’t imagine why Flash Forward’s ratings dropped. It was a great show! The only reason I can think of is the hiatus it was on in the middle of the season. It was so long I almost forgot about the show. I used to check back to the abc site each week and there was never anything new. I finally gave up. Then one day I decided to try again, and there were 3 new episodes I had missed! It would be difficult to expect people to be that patient, IMO. I think whoever caused the hiatus is to… Read more »
…besides I think hard enough and use my brains with my job during the day – I enjoy a non-thinking programme at night to relax the brain cells
Flashforward got too messy and unless you watched every episode its impossible to keep track and ultimitly you lose interest. V on the other hand had a slow start before it became interesting. Watched the original and loved it and was dissappointed with the new series initially – however now that its picked up momentum its now my guilty pleasure
I find it amazing that they could cancel a show with a new concept, yet renew a show that was made on a mini-series before and even then it sucked. Maybe “FlashForward” can go down the path that “Baywatch” did; when NBC cancelled them and they continued on for like 10 successful seasons.
Nothing surprises me anymore. I like V, but Flashforward is a far superior show with great actors and a neat premise. It seems people do not want to think and use their brains a little. V is for the non-thinking people, whereas Flashforward is for the thinking Joe.
What a disappointment! I hope SyFy picks it up, but I doubt it. Let’s just hope some station adds it. The network should have had at least an episode or two to finalize not leave people hanging.
Wow, ABC shows are dropping like flies! V I’m sure is next. I’m not really into it, but I know that with almost every show, A 9 month hiatus is gonna kill it! That’s how pushing daisies got axed! After the writer’s strike the show didn’t come back for another 9 months, and when it did, the ratings immediately dropped, and it got cancelled in early 2009 Why? it had a great cast, great writing, and even musical numbers! the followers found new stuff to follow during the winter spring summer months! TV viewers are fickle, and going on a… Read more »
I feel that if it weren’t for the world series, Flashforwards rating would not have gone down.
I think that it deserves another chance. The ending of the first season let us to believe that there would be a 2nd season. It did not finalize the show. We must know what happens next. Just like with LOST.
Like “Lost”, you really had to watch each episode of “Flash Forward” to keep up, so I can see how some people might not have tried to watch again if they missed a couple of weeks. However, “Flash Forward” was hugely better than “V”, and I CAN NOT BELIEVE that no one else picked it up. Where is ScyFy to rescue this show and bring it back?
Iam so disappointed flash forward will not be return , I am so bored with these reruns this summer and it’s June. Anyway I am not lookiking forward to V it really got on my nerves and I stopped watching it. I still want to find out whathappened on flash forward, I think they owe us one more season just to tie up loose ends I’ll always be wondering about. They can keep V. Give me back flash forward!
Be sure to check out the Save Flash Forward article on this site: http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/save-flashforward-campaign-15922/
I agree and I think that everyone should contact them at the following and tell them how you feel. I did.
http://site.abc.go.com/site/contactus.html?lid=ABCCOMGlobalFooter&lpos=CONTACT
Thanks for the link….I wrote and will write again and again and again!