Sunday’s premiere of Kings was less than impressive in terms of ratings, especially considering the amount of promotion and money that NBC poured into it. Not even the prospect of seeing Deadwood’s Ian McShane in another series could draw in a big audience.
While things don’t look good for Kings’ future, NBC Entertainment’s co-chair Ben Silverman says he’s encouraged by the interest in the series and has faith that the show can pull through.
He tells the Hollywood Reporter’s James Hibberd, “I’m hoping because intent [to view] went up and awareness went up after it aired, clearly people responded to it, and it grew over its two hours. That gives me some hope. It’s just hard to launch things that are not obvious. We may get nailed for it, but I’m proud of the show, and we need to keep taking chances like that.”
Though his faith in the show is reassuring for the show’s fans, Silverman’s comment about the show’s audience growth over the two hour premiere is a bit misleading.
While the 18-49 demographic had slight increase in the show’s final half hour, the overall size of the audience dropped. Approximately 6.47 million started watching at 8pm and only 5.9 million stuck with it until the end. That’s not growth. Even if it was, the show was still in fourth place overall.
So, will Silverman and the network stick by Kings or abandon it? One thing is certain. The show certainly has an uphill battle for survival.
Image courtesy NBC.
this is one of the best shows that has been on television in quite some time. it would be a shame if nbc cancels it. i am also tired of all the reality stuff. time for some diversity on the tube. abc cancelled lost on mars and now this. bah humbug.
Please, please bring back “Kings’. It is one of the best shows I have seen in quite some time! Getting sick of “reality” shows and crimeTV. Please make sure there is plenty of advertising when it comes back. Would hate to miss any shows!
As Christianity has a Jewish basis as well, both statements would be valid.
This show would have a lot more viewers if it weren’t competing with Extreme Makover: Home Edition. Put it on another night, and later; it’s not family viewing (at least not for our family), but the adults and teens like it.
The show does not have a Christan basis. It has a JEWISH basis.
Great show. Move it but please don’t cancel the series!
I LOVE THIS SERIES!!!!! It is nice to see a show that has a Christian basis that is done so well. I can’t believe people continue to be so in love with reality shows. I hope that some cable network picks it up if NBC decides to drop it. This country could surely use a dose of Christian education that is entertaining. I always question who the networks poll that decides what the country really wants to watch. With the trash on TV these days they may want to re-evaluate that.
this is a story of king david that has been moderized. it’s not about sci-fi or rich kings.
I absolutely love this show. I don’t know why, but the collective chemistry of all the characters is riveting and I find myself holding my breath during some intense scenes.
LOVE IT and will watch it all season!
i think its a great show worthy of placement on cable if it gets dropped from network
cant wait to see where it goes, intresting twist on a modern monarchy
didnt watch the premiere but caught the second weeks episode, then caught a free download of the premiere of xbox live, im hooked now
I think this is a terrific show.
I actually missed it when it first aired on NBC, but caught a free Pilot episode on my Apple TV (thanks Apple!)
I was hooked and am now watching it – and will watch it – regularly.
The presentation, filiming and acting is great. Ian McShane is awesome.
[…] Finale, the drama drew but 5.9 million viewers, although the blog also reports that NBC execs still have some hope for the series. Our bet is that “Kings,” sadly, will be […]
I love this show….it has so much potential. The sci-fi twist makes it very interest, which means they have room to create very unusual storylines.
A part of me wants to support it because it has a bit of a sci-fi alternate history sorta feel to it and I like supporting those types of shows.
But I watch too much TV as it is, so I didn’t bother. Id rater see stories of average people again, not surgeons, kings or other privileged groups of our society.
It needs to grow into itself, but I liked it. I hope it lasts longer than the ABC shows do.