FOX’s new action series, Human Target debuted this week with two episodes in three timeslots. The network is making a big push to make sure it’s a hit. Did they succeed?
Human Target follows Christopher Chance (Mark Valley), a handsome personal bodyguard with a talent for charming the ladies and protecting his clients at the same time. Winston (Chi McBride) is his partner and Guerrero (Jackie Earle Haley) is their tech-talented hired gun.
The show is based on a DC Comics character who assumes the identities of the client he’s protecting. Rick Springfield starred in a 1992 version but it only lasted seven episodes on ABC.
FOX is hoping this new version will last a lot longer. While the network has ordered 12 episodes for season one, based on the early ratings, it’s hard to say if the series will last any longer than that.
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On Sunday night, airing before the season eight premiere of 24, Human Target attracted an average of 10.19 million viewers with a 2.9/7 rating/share in the 18-49 demographic. That puts it in third place in both the total audience and in the all-important demo. It was a positive sign however that the audience for the second half-hour grew from the first.
On Tuesday night, FOX replayed the first episode, leading out of American Idol. The repeat drew 8.83 million viewers and a 3.3/9 rating/share in the demo. While that’s a good showing for a rerun, Human Target lost more than two-thirds of its lead-in audience. That’s not good.
Then, on Wednesday night, episode two attracted 10.46 million viewers and a 3.4/9 in the demo. That’s a 60% loss from its lead-in and Human Target also lost about two million viewers in the second half hour. That’s particularly worrisome because the show’s permanent timeslot will be 8pm on Wednesday nights and won’t have the American Idol lead-in to help draw in viewers. (Next week, it’ll be airing on Tuesday at 9pm because of the President’s address.)
While Human Target isn’t in immediate danger of cancellation, the show could easily be dropped after one season if the numbers erode. Right now, things could go either way and well have to see what happens in the next few weeks.
What do you think? Is Human Target worth watching or should the show be “snuffed out?” Cancel or keep it?
Image courtesy FOX.
What’s the matter with you people that make all the decisions on what to keep & what to get id of????????? First you cut “The Unit” and now “Human Target” . It makes me want to quit watching TV & going back to good books. You so-called know it alls who think you know what you’re doing. Now Corner Gas people are back! What a waste of my time!
Do something right & put “The Unit” & “Human Target back on”.
I love the show. It has drama, mystery, a bit of flirtation & best of all a bit of comedy. The cast fit well together.
Also each episode comes to a conclusion which is refreshing. I look forward to seeing it again soon.
Any schedule?
I love this show and watch it regularly … although the network has shuffled it around allot. I like the “action” and the Jame Bondishness of the story line. I hope the network keep it!
Human Target Should stay
It’s a hit! Keep it. I enjoy the characters. They all have something to give. Of course the main character is awesome and “Jamesbondish.”
Great show!! Great action!! A fun romp and the unfolding character development is engaging. When will these networks ever learn, that good shows take time to develop, and loyal viewers are more valuable than hitting the high ratings they seem to care more about than their audience.
I loved the first episode and watch the rest and went to watch it after American Idol tonight (2/2/10) and was disappointed my wife and I’s favorite show was not coming on. I then got on the net to see if the showing time has been moved and learned that it was under possible cancellation. My wife and I are really hoping that the one show that we can sit and watch will not be canceled. It is the only show where I actually sit on the edge of my couch the whole time the show is on. I will… Read more »
I’d like to see it stay on. The first two episodes were very entertaining and I love the character. I think it is a shame that they have switched its time slots so that we don’t know exactly when it is being aired. I also wish the show could be put in a better time slot.
I find the show alittle boring. I mean, it has some good parts but it’s not my favorite show. The main problem I have is….you keep changing the time slot. How the hell can I put it in my weekly schedule (yes I have one) if you keep changing the days and times? Get it together. It’s just a mater of time before it’s on Fridays and then canceled like everything else.
It’s only not a good sign because when it was re-aired, half the people already saw the first episode didn’t feel they needed to see it again. Trust me, it’s a keeper
I have the show taped from the pilot… However, it is going to have a tough road to climb; because of the time slot it comes on when it airs on Wednesday nights. It has to deal with Criminal Minds on the network side as well as Law and Order: SVU(not as good as it once was but a lot of people are watching it for nostalgia if nothing).. And cable shows like Dog The Bounty Hunter. Fox has a rough time in putting the show on in a good spot, but hopefully they get it running well enough. Id… Read more »
I really like the show but so far it looks like they just bought the name for the name. Christopher Chance is a cross between someone like James Bond or Bruce Lee with a Master of Disguise and Impersonation. I can understand not doing the Master of Disguise thing possibly getting old fast so they use it only sparingly when they absolutely have to or as a surprise twist now and then, but to remove it entirely IMHO shows little respect for the original work. Its like they bought the name just to not get sued. This does not fill… Read more »
I really like the show. I’ve already watched it again on Hulu. Mark Valley seems to be having a blast with his role.
If a viewer didn’t watch the pilot to learn how the key players worked together then the second episode would have been a little difficult to follow. It was shown with flashbacks within the episode that weren’t clear to be flashbacks initially. Fortunantly I watched the pilot and am also familiar with the comic character. Also the Chance character hasn’t taken on the persona of the person he is protecting in the first two episodes ( he has taken on a false identity) and that was the plot of the comic and also how it has been promoted for the… Read more »
@CJ WEST: I think they’re smart in that you don’t need a lot of setup to enjoy the show. Even if you didn’t see the pilot, you can still tell who these guys are and what each brings to the table.
Valley has said that they decided not to go the route of Chance assuming identities because they found it confusing in the previous version. I like the comic character too but I’m okay with this difference.
I’m liking it so far. Looking forward to more episodes.