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.
I would have chosen to save Flashforward. The script is more smart, the story line was tighter.
Ultimately, since this show was more scientifically sound, that may have turned off some viewers.
I can not, can NOT, believe “V” was saved. It’s a horrible show, with terrible acting. Flashforward was a new, fresh idea that hasn’t been seen yet and I am terribly curious to see where it could have gone. I am disappointed in ABC for I feel they choose to cancel shows that are promising, and hold on to shows that are not. Or shows that there are so many like it out there already. “V” has been done, we’ve seen it. It’s a remake. How about making room for a new idea and seeing, after more than one season,… Read more »
has ABC lost its mind…Lost has gone…Flash Forward has gone…in my home ABC is gone…
The problem in general is that the network executives really don’t give a crap about a show’s quality or energy that it might have. There’s no accounting for “I really love this show” vs “Yeah, it’s an ok show”. It’s simply counted as a single viewer. Think back 10-20 years or more about how many shows if premiering in the last say 5 years would have been canceled more or less immediately. I’ll cite a couple. The biggest in my mind, X-Files. That show would have been gone in 3 episodes. I’ll take a guess on Miami Vice as another.… Read more »
preach it
it is so disappointing that V was renewed and flashforward was not. i beleive FF would be a nicer and more attractive show than V.
I love flashforward, it’s smart – better than the average show on TV–that’s probably the problem — it develops slowly, but that’s what is so interesting about it.
Network television execs bemoan their poor ratings all the time, which of course, allows them to add more cheap and easy programming like reality shows and retreads such as V. FlashForward is a show that could have built into the next Lost very easily if it had continued to be promoted and put into a later time slot on its return. It’s not a show for kids, but for smart, sophisticated adults that have finally gotten a chance to sit down quietly, have a glass of wine and watch something that is engaging, well written, exciting, and entertaining. Execs, the… Read more »
the reason the viewership has dropped so much recently is it’s very difficult to watch a show that you know is primed to end with a cliffhanger that will never be answered. Why continue just to have no answers. Flashforward was against a tough line-up, not to mention taking it off for a while, flashforward was doomed from the beginning.
Look folks – if you’re going to put up a show that is smart and charachter based, you need to commit – you keep pulling shows off that have this mix, nobody will ever give new ones a try.
flash forward has been one of the only TV series that has actually got me “hooked.” I cancel everything on Thursday nights just so that i can watch FlashForward with my family who, as well as me, is “hooked.” i couldn’t imagine what would happen if i didn’t get to see the end of the series. so please don’t cancel the show
I agree with knitkate. I know two people who watch V, and they don’t even like the show. Stephen McPherson, you said its about taking chances. Well TAKE A CHANCE ON FLASHFORWARD! the ratings aren’t great but they’re on the rise. plus, thats why its called a chance. leap of faith. call it what you will. all this show needs is for someone to believe in it! ok that was really corny but its true. Flashforward deserves a second chance more so than any other show i’ve seen in my life. with LOST gone, Flashforward is the best show abc… Read more »
I can’t believe flash forward is being canceled. I don’t know anyone who watches V. Friday morning everyone is talking about the latest twists on Flash Forward. Please give it another chance.
Really enjoy both shows! I was a huge V fan in the 80’s even bought the series when it came out on DVD. I love the new one and got a couple other people hooked on it. Sorry to hear that FF has been cancelled, but glad V will be back!
What about us viewers in the u.k and Ireland are we takin into account in these ratings as everyone i know is hooked on FF I think the writers of this show would be smart enough to develop the plot in other ways and keep us hooked be really sad to see this go
I am really really really really pissed off V was renewed. One of the worst shows i have ever seen.
i love V, it’s so much better than the old one. i’ve watched the old one on sifi and i had to change it because it was so campy and cheesey..about flashforward>i tried to watch when it came on and i got confused after the first 30 min, it was like lost…i didn’t like it at all…