CBS has announced that they’re pulling Harper’s Island series from its high-profile, post-CSI timeslot and sending it to a primetime deathslot. However, the network contends that the move doesn’t diminish their faith in the series.
Harper’s Island revolves around a group of family and friends who come together for a wedding on a secluded island. Before the nuptials can commence the wedding guests are slain, one by one, by a mysterious killer. The show’s ensemble cast includes Elaine Cassidy, Christopher Gorham, Katie Cassidy, Cameron Richardson, Adam Campbell, Richard Burgi, Jim Beaver, C.J. Thomason, Victor Webster, Jay Brazeau, Dean Chekvala, Matt Barr, and Harry Hamlin.
The premiere of Harper’s aired on April 9th, opposite NBC’s new Southland series. The show won the timeslot in total viewership (10.49 million) but was second in the 18-49 demographic with a 2.7/8 rating/share. However, when you look a little closer, those numbers aren’t as positive as one might think. Harper’s lost over a third of its CSI lead-in audience and almost as much in the coveted demo. On top of that, about 10% of Harper’s audience tuned out midway through the premiere episode.
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The second week, Harper’s dropped to an average of 8.17 million viewers and a 2.2/6 rating/share. Last Thursday’s installment fell once again to an audience of 7.45 million and a 2.0/6 in the demo. With this steady decline and consistent loss of the CSI lead-in, it certainly didn’t look like Harper’s was long for this world.
It’s no shocker that CBS has sent the 13-episode series to Saturday nights at 9pm beginning this week. Repeats of Criminal Minds will fill the timeslot for the immediate future.
But CBS has put a positive spin on the decision, based on the DVR and online viewership numbers. Kelly Kahl, the network’s Senior Executive VP of Prime Time, says, “The preliminary DVR and online streaming data suggest a passionate audience for Harper’s outside its current Thursday time period borders. This move gives us an opportunity to improve the time period on Thursday while experimenting with more original programming on Saturday, and continuing to serve an audience that is clearly engaged in the ongoing Harper’s Island story.”
Though this season of 13 episodes was always intended to conclude the mystery, the network was hoping to bring the show back for a second season, with a different cast and mystery. Though this move doesn’t completely close the door on that possibility, it’s highly unlikely. After all, when was the last time a show that was exiled to Saturday nights ended up returning for another season?
Image courtesy CBS.
WHAT?!?! THAT IS THE WORST DISICION EVER MADE ON NATIONAL TELEVISiON! Harper’s Island is the best show ever….
yeah, i really hate that…I get into a show then it gets cancelled. It pisses me off. I was getting really into that and was trying to figure out who was the killer. They need to take in effect that there are people who wants to see the whole show just because their ratings went down, they leave people hanging…that is bullcrap and then don’t even say anything that is is on a different day for it
I agree with MD – networks never give anything a chance. Fox cancelled a similar show “Reunion” a few years ago, leaving us hanging as to who the killer was. Leave “Harper’s Island” alone – it’s a great show!
thank god global still kept the original timesolt in canada!! hopefully cbs will change it back too!!
Don’t cancel this show I love it!
Yes, PLEASE don’t cancel it! Let the season run so we can see who the killer is! It is a good show…it just didn’t get the views CBS wanted initially.
PLEASE don’t cancel the show! I was so bummed when it wasn’t on Thursday night .. and I missed Saturday nights episode because I never heard the night was being switched untill now! .. I love love love the show
I love this show. It is a bit gruesome for TV though. Hopefully they won’t cancel it, but if they do I would definately buy the show on DVD
PLEASE DON’T CANCEL THE SHOW! I really want to know how it ends. I love mysteries and I think that this is a good show, because it makes you think. So what if it doesn’t let you know all the information at first, that’s what keeps you guessing!
All I have to say is that I enjoy this show. I do not have time to sit and watch many shows at the exact time they are on so I DVR pretty much everything. I have become extremely disappointed with the TV Networks lately because it seems like they don’t give anything a chance anymore. Every time I begin watching a show I find out it is cancelled and I started getting into it for nothing. Networks need to stop waisting our time by pulling everything without giving it a real chance because soon NO ONE will be watching… Read more »
I love murder/mystery shows that span through out a season/series. I was sad to see it not playing yesterday but with my sched. I watch it the next day online. I hope they finish the season out so we aren’t left hanging.
I love the show but im in school and its on soo late. all my frinds want to read it but they cant stay up that late. if it was only 1 hour earlier it would get more people. all my friends like these kind of shoes. alot of people my age would watch this.
i like the damn show, let it play on for the ones who are really into it. everyone is not going to like everything, but it is enough of us that are loving this show and look forward to it every week. i am kind of angry right now because i didn’t know it had been pulled until a few moments ago when i was getting ready to so call watch it.
I was in the process of setting my TV for the show tonight and saw it wasn’t even listed. I am so disappointed. I have looked forward to seeing each new episode every Thursday evening. So instead of seeing a new show, I can watch reruns from now until next September??? You should have left a good thing alone…..
Finally a show we enjoyed and it’s going to be moved and dropped? Too bad!