The network had high hopes for Kings, a series based on the Biblical tale of King David. With a large cast of actors like Ian McShane, Christopher Egan, Allison Miller, Susanna Thompson, Sebastian Stan, Eamonn Walker, and Dylan Baker, NBC reportedly spent $10 million on the two-hour debut and $4 million on subsequent episodes.
Unfortunately, Kings failed to attract many viewers for its debut on Sunday, March 15th. The premiere attracted an average of just 6.08 million viewers and a 1.6/4 rating/share of the 18-49 demographic.
After two more weeks of dismal and declining ratings on Sundays, NBC shuffled the series off to Saturday nights. Understandably, viewership continued to fall and the airings averaged well under two million viewers.
While the series found a devoted group of viewers, the numbers certainly weren’t enough to warrant a sophomore season. Sadly, the series finale only leaves loyal watchers wanting more. For those that missed it, it’s been posted below. It’s called “The New King, Part Two.”
Do you have any thoughts as to why Kings wasn’t a big success? Is it purely the network’s fault or did audiences tune out for another reason? In the end, do you think the Biblical relation helped or hurt the show?
Image courtesy NBC.
I will admit that the permier episode wasn’t all that exciting but I understood it was laying the ground work for something exciting. The last few episodes were so amazing. It just kept getting better and better. I had to tune in to see what new hoops Silas would put David through and whether or not David would realize what the king was doing.
I will miss this show. NBC is seriously lacking on decent programming. I rarely watch that network.
This show ROCKS. Finally something interesting and different then all the other shows out there these days. NBC- please bring this show back!!
No one knew about the series. i do not think NBC promoted the program enough or supported it. This show was great and Ian McShane was magnificent. Bring it back!
I loved KINGS, the reason shows like this fail is because the networks show no faith, they are unwilling to wait for the show to mature, the audience grows with the show, have they not heard of “word of mouth”? I told everyone I knew about this GREAT show and no I don’t think the Biblical relation hurt at all, looks at shows like Touched by an Angel..no failure there. Oh and by the way I DVR’d most episodes of KINGS just so I could show my sisters what they were missing and they became fans also! Hope to see… Read more »
I am so frustrated about this. NBC canceled two great shows. Kings and The Listener. I agree with Di I didn’t hear about Kings until I found it on HULU and then there was the premier, and then we were told it was canceled,and then several weeks later we get the rest of the shows and figure ok it must have been a mistake and not canceled, and then they cancel it again…. NBC has no loyalty to their viewers anymore. They are like children and they want instant gratification. Sometime hits take more than a season to catch on.… Read more »
Why are good shows like Kings not given a second chance to improve on its audience? Many people taped the show and watched it later. I know I did. My husband and I loved it.
this show is very good. They shouldnt of put the show on the weekends. This is the best tv series i saw in a while that makes since. Please make a second season or finish it up. Or someone else take over it,
As is typical in today’s American Society, true creativity is never rewarded unless there is an immediate payback $$’$. What a shame NBC through in the towel on this series because viewers did not tune in to the first few episodes of this masterpiece of a story line, eloquently acted and presented. A true original series which could have had a story line that went on for a decade or more. NBC could have had in their possession the next West Wing, but they chose to cancel. Please … somebody, anybody. pick up this wonderful show and bring it back… Read more »
wow what a great series.. i just found it.. and watched it on hulu.com.. all 12 episodes.. .. wow . i tried to give it a 11 but 10 was as high as the ratings went.. .. then to my shock and horror.. i found out there are no more episodes.. it’s canceled.. wow.. unbelievable..
i think i’ll go back and watch it again.
I don’t feel the network advertised this series enough at all, let alone in the beginning. The way I found about the series was when it was available as a free download on iTunes.
I thoroughly enjoyed the series and wish it could make a comeback, even on another network.
The show was well acted, superbly written, and will be deeply missed.
Kings is an awesome show with fantastic acting, writing, set design, etc. The network has no idea what it’s doing… They never promoted it properly or gave it a good time slot.
For me, “Kings” would have done better as a mini series. The complex plot, well defined characters, and spectacular settings were too badly broken up by the 17+ minutes of commercials jammed into each 60 minute episode. Like several of the commentators above I mostly watched it on hulu. When I fanally figured out that the story line was of biblical origin (dumb de dumb dumb) I went and reread portions of 1&2 Samuel. Too bad! A second and third season would have been even better.
I too blame the network. I loved Kings. I first encountered it on Hulu and then set my DVR. After the 4 Sunday Eps, I was content to wait for the rest of the season, which I never saw. Finally the last 2 eps showed up on my DVR and I was shocked to learn that several eps had played out between. I’ve now watched them all and I’m pissed that the show is getting canned. When will the Networks figure out that for the last 2 years, it does not matter when a show id aired, since almost everyone… Read more »
Kings was such a “pretty” show, an excellent setting and fantastic dialogue. The show was more about an entire country and not just people.
I’m blaming Kings’ lack of success of the network. They had a great show and released in the summer, not smart. If they had something good they should have waited till the fall when everyone watches tv.
They should just try again with show
I am SOOOOO sick of the slavish devotion to the 18-45 demo even though I’m a part of it. Do they not realize that a show like Kings might actually appeal far more to the 30-70 demo…and oh yeah, but the way, wanna know who still has money in this economy NBC (hint: it’s not the younger set!) Sadly Kings was also too literate, too well-acted and too “deep” for the lower end of the desired demo. It forced viewers to think and challenged us by presenting characters who were not stereotypes. Hm. Kinda like Seinfeld did with the Sit… Read more »