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.
Gina, yes a show can get cancelled and renewed. Ghost Whisperer got cancelled by CBS. It recently got picked up… by ABC. Actually my girlfriend told me she read that, I have no proof here in front of me. Jericho got picked up again after cancellation (of course during the writers strike that helped everyone but the viewer, so it came back different and bad). Family Guy got cancelled twice and that seems to be a phenomenon. I have just been praying since i heard Flashforward was getting cancelled that some company would see the potential and take a chance.… Read more »
I am extremely upset that Flashforward has been cancelled and so are some of my friends. I can’t believe that you are getting rid of a show. I don’t believe that there are not many followers. PLEASE BRING FLASHFORWARD BACK. If you don’t bring it back are we going to be left with a cliffhanger where we have no idea what is going to happen? Are they at least going to air the shows that have already taped? Please let me know any information. Can a show get cancelled and then renewed again at a later time? I am so… Read more »
PLEASE RECONSIDER FLASH FORWARD . . . it is a fantastic show and really will take the place of LOST!
Please don’t cancel FlashForward! Hope FOX can pick it up after lost 24!
DON’T CANCEL FLASH FORWARD YOU ARE SOOOOOOOO STUPID TO DO THAT V IS OK BUT A REMAKE OF A RETARDED 1980’S SHOW I USED TO WATCH WHEN I WAS LITTLE,IM SOOOOOOOOOOOOO MAD,THIS SUCKS I LOOKED FORWARD TO WATCHING FLASH FORWARD NOW THIS CRAP,THIS IS BS,ALL OF YOU WHO AGREE COPY AND PAST THIS EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!! BOYCOTT ABC !!!!!! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~~~~~~~~~~~~!!!!!!!!
Oh man…. I’m from Colombia, where flashforward has a lot of followers, i can not believe tha ABC is doing this, come on, this is one of the best shows ever, what are we gonna watch now that Lost, 24 and Heroes are over… Come On, you are making a Huge mistake and losing the big picture here… Fans love that show and TV is dying, almost everyone watches this shows online…. come on!!!
I can’t believe how ABC is acting right now first they canceled EAST WICK which i loved!!! and now FLASH FORWARD. What are they thinking? This show, flash forward is they only show right now that both my husband and i can watch together and we both love it very much! Its an amazing show, we love just guessing what will happen next and can’t wait for every Thursday night so we can watch it! why is ABC messing up right now they need to save this show!!!
I cannot believe you people are killing ANOTHER show!!! I mean come one…..4400, LOST, The SHIELD….etc….names just keep going no matter who broadcasts them. I am very very disappointed that you can pick “V”? Are you serious? Why don’t you save both shows for a change and see who wins next season then make your decision? Seriously….I’m glad you don’t write my paychecks….this is pathetic! The one show that exciting to watch and keeps you on your toes thinking your actually going to end it. WOW! And seriously…..people on here have made a great point….We as normal people can’t or… Read more »
Flashforward was one of ABCs best TV series. I can’t believe youd cancel it, especially now that LOST has ended. V is terrible. ABC– take a look at the ratings! Drop crappy shows like V, not Flashforward. give it another season.
Well I guess I won’t be watching any tv in the Fall looked at the fall schedule and it sucks. Lost is over :-(!!! The people at ABC lost their minds by canceling Flashforward. And U am with Criston I was watching both but I have all the episodes of V on my DVR since the hiatus to watch but have been watching Flashforward when it is on wouldn’t miss an episode. This show was awesome.
Heroes has also been cancelled by NBC that sucks as well. Well I guess I will be going to bed real early this fall.
FlashForward is not even in the same league as V. Its about 3 leagues higher!!! My only hope is that a network like FOX will pick it up for season 2. How great would a Tuesday or Wednesday night be with Fringe followed by FlashForward. I say put Flashforward in the same timeslot as V and see which one comes out on top. V is a reboot of an old TV show that had tons of fans following it years ago. FlashForward was a brand new show and it put up strong numbers. Plus, lets not forget that ratings do… Read more »
You need your mind checked…V is so old school…apparently you are too, its already been done…do you want to know what happens? Been there done that!!!
Seriously! No one has time to schedule their lives around television shows anymore, we all schedule the shows around us these days but we still love them!
I love Flashforward as well. ABC is making a HUGE mistake. I agree that it should be brought back for a second season. I was watching both Flashforward and V until the hiatus, but Flashforward won my vote and it is the only one of the two that I still watch.
You should never have cancelled ‘Flashforward’. It took the place of ‘Lost’. Hopefully, another network will pick it up.
dont cancel flashfoward its a great show it makes you think get rid of all the other stupid shows you are getting rid of lost so just bring back flashfoward you nim rods dont know a good show if it bite you in the butttttttt cancl V stupid show
ABC, you SUCK. I LOVE Flashfoward. I need it as a replacement for Lost. It’s a thinkers show. I hate that you pedal mindless television in order to ***** yourself out for ratings. Flashforward needs a chance not to perform in Lost’s shadow. Bring it back for another season and see what happens. UGH!