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 am SOOO upset that Flashforward was canceled. WHY!?!?! It was one of the best shows out there on TV right now!!! Please bring it back!!!!!!!!!!!
FlashForward was getting steadily better, and the (then-)season finale was actually a brilliant watch… By comparison, V is somewhere inbetween painful and hilarious to watch. The 80’s original looked a bit camp, but it felt gritty and laden with menace. The V reboot is to the original miniseries like pro wrestling is to boxing… a tacky, braindead imitation that even the syfy network would reject as the retched runt it is… Congratulation to those bright TV moguls who keep pulling the rug from underneath our collective feet. I don’t know who’s the genius who picked V over FlashForward for renewal,… Read more »
Yet another example of ABC helping to dumb down society. Forget shows that make you think, like FlashForward. As long as we have our dancing celebrities, models that try to find their inner beauty, and other such mindless television, why do we need shows that make you think? I mean, what – because FlashForward contains phrases such as, “quantum entanglement device”, it might confuse the masses? Give us a little credit, ABC. Some of us LIKE having our brains teased by entertaining, original programming. Why not pull tired shows such as, “Extreme Makeover Home Edition” and give us more GOOD… Read more »
If ABC really does cancel Flash Forward they are making a mistake that may cause them to lose another hit drama. There are so many shows that barely made it through their first year and then went on to run at least 5 seasons. The premise of this show is so unique and they need to give it a 2nd season to see how far it can go. We lost so many good shows because of the Writer’s Strike that it would be a real shame for ABC to give this one up. Please Bring Flash Forward Back or Let… Read more »
FlashForwared was one of the best programs in a long time. All the actors were perfectly cast, the acting was superb, the plot was excellent. To take this program off the air and leave the viewers with total mediocrity is such a shame. ABC — you had a really good program and you are blowing it.
how the hell could you do this? I mean i hated thursdays, but then i saw a preveiw for flashfoward watched it loved it and liked it, my grades started getting better and i was able to enjoy something with my friends. Now I have to go to summer school, and was almost held back because of you jerks. Thanks a lot for ruining my life!!!!!!!!!
Cliff hanger shows are hard enough to deal with, but even more so when they are taking breaks for months at a time. I think that is one thing that hurt FF. It also has to fight the other really good Thursday night shows. Like many others I don’t watch shows when they air. I wait till a time that is more in line with my schedule. I tried to get into V, but found it irritating.
I LOVE Los, but I think that FlashForward is the TRUE son of Lost.
I think that FlashForward is one of the best and most creative TV shows on the air. The premise was very interesting and different – standard, predictible script, the characters intriguing and likeable, and it keeps me watching and thinking about the plot all the time. Please keep the show in production. One suggestion is to move it to Wednesday nights – Wednesday is a total vapid wasteland of airwaves. Thursday, on the other hand, has too many good, competing shows on the air at the same time. As for V – well I like science fiction – even BAD… Read more »
I’m very disappointed Flash Forward will not come back for a second season. I stopped watching V after the second or third episode since its return after the long hiatus, it just didn’t appeal to me like Flash Forward. FF got better as V got worse. Please do not cancel this show — it is the only thing worth watching on ABC!
It pisses me off that they ended the 4400, then LOST now flashforward. So angry, we need more shows like these on TV for good entertainment. I watch both flahforward and V However if I had to choose the better one would definately be FLASHFORWARD! Sick of all the bland shows that are not original.
ABC killed this show first, by failing to recognize the drop off in quality after episode one and again when they put it on hiatus. The writing has been exponentially better since its’ return, but the audience was gone.
Flash Forward was my favorite show this season. I am LOST fan and was planning on replacing it with FF. Totally shocked that you would cancel it! Does ABC take into account the people who watch FF on abc.com and hulu.com the next day? I am never home on a thursday night, but haven’t missed an episode of Flash Forward all season. This is really sad.
FlashForward was one of the BEST most ORIGINAL shows I had ever seen. It doesn’t follow the already-done before so many times pattern of regular mystery shows, and it is interesting and innovative. I’m 13 years old, and I have never seen a better TV show. In fact, it’s the only one I watch anymore. Good job ABC. Thanks for turning me away from TV forever.
Flash Forward was the only show that my wife and I watched together! This was one of the best shows anyone has put out in a looong time, and you cancel it. Thanks a lot, ABC. I won’t be watching anything on ABC for a long time now. I will even stop watching Scrubs now (which was the only other ABC show I watched).