After Monday’s disastrous debut of Lone Star, there has been talk that FOX might scrap the series after just one episode. Now, it looks like that won’t happen.
In Lone Star, Robert Allen (James Wolk), is leading a double life so that he and his father can pull off cons both big and small. Things get especially complicated when Robert feels personally connected to his marks and starts to regret what he’s doing. Others in the series are Jon Voight, Adrianne Palicki, Bryce Johnson, David Keith, Eloise Mumford, and Mark Deklin.
The show premiered to a terrible 1.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic and just 4.1 million viewers. It ranked a distant fourth in both categories and lost 69% of House’s lead-in audience in the demo.
Network execs are understandably confused by the series’ lack of viewers. After all, they gave the show a great lead-in, lots of promotion, and have a handsome and likable lead actor. FOX execs and many critics really like it too. The Washington Post called Lone Star “better than almost anything new this season,” while the New York Times said the show is “clever” and “endearing.”
According to NYMag, FOX isn’t throwing in the towel just yet. Lone Star is still in production, with the cast and crew working on episode six. FOX will keep the show on the air at least until this Monday. Their hope is that it will make some connection with viewers now that they’ve had a chance to sample the shows on the other networks.
At this point, any positive growth might be enough reason for them to keep it on the air another week. Unfortunately, they won’t see the DVR ratings for a couple weeks. Given the tough competition of the night, many people very likely recorded Lone Star to watch later.
Any way you look at it, the Lone Star’s ratings would have to come up a lot for it to be considered a moderate success. Even those that tuned in for the premiere may not bother to return, having already heard that the show is cancelled.
What do you think? Is Lone Star worth saving? Will you tune in, even though there’s a good chance it’ll be cancelled?
Image courtesy FOX.
I really like it. Hope to see more!!
Oh please do not send a FANTASTIC show like LONE STAR to the film farm. It was
just SUPER…..Pick another time slot – just do whatever it takes – absolutely work it
out……..I am retired and my lady friends all loved the show and were just sick when
I told them about this sad tale…….WE LOVED IT – FIX THE SCHEDULE – it is worth saving…….
Network execs are killing off their own product. How could anyone ever expect to find an audience after one viewing. Most of the shows that have become classics started out with low ratings, i.e. Seinfeld. Especially given that all the networks decided to pack their best stuff on Monday, FOX needs to understand you have to give any show at least 6 or 7 episodes before even considering pulling the plug. It seems like a waste of time and money to let a show die because of one viewing. Plus, sometimes you just have to go with your gut and… Read more »
I saw the pilot and was bored out of my head. Yeah, he is a good looking guy with a cute smile, but that isn’t enough to keep people intrigued for an hour.
I LOVED THIS SHOW it was well written acted and the soundtrack was sublime. I feel it was one of the best shows to premiere in years. I recorded it on my DVR and have since made almost all of my friends and family watch it and encourged them all to tune in next week. FOX do not pull another dumb move and cancel this show before it gets a chance
Geez, give the show a chance. Also, consider another slot….between that funky Dancing with The Stars, Football and that weird Event, the numbers are spread too thin. Remember how bad Friday Night Lights started out?? Now it is in it’s fifth season AND in syndication on ABC Family.
This is one of the best written, best filmed and best directed shows to come on TV in the last 10 years!!
!!!! PLEASE– PLEASE — PLEASE !!!!
FOX Execs: DON’T CANCEL A GREAT SHOW!!!!!
Give It A Chance: Put it on Friday or Sunday Night…when more folks would watch it live vs. DVR’ing.
This show is TV and EMMY Gold…you won’t regret a decision to save it. Give some plugs on Fox News and on Friday Night Lights.
Later, EC
nooooooo pleaasseee dont cancel GREATEST show on tv on of the greatest I have seen in a long while this would be extremely dissapointing
This is a great show, I don’t know why the Powers that be would want to cancel it. If it is not doing well in the time slot they put it in, then change it. I am getting tired of watching really good shows and then having them cancelled. What is wrong with these people? It has a great cast and a great story line.
FOX, if you’re reading this, PLEASE don’t cancel this unique character driven show. Promote it, move it to a different time slot if you must, just give it a chance! There IS an audience out there who are tired of shows trying to fill voids such as Lost and 24!
This show was up against The Event which I opted to watch like so many others but after 15 minutes of basically 24 (which I did not like) I switched to Lone Star. And I am glad I did! I thought the show was great, it’s just in the wrong time slot.
It was a terrible episode and this is going to be a terrible show. CANCEL IT FOX!!
This show can’t be cancelled. It is probably one of the most clever, unique shows on television right now. It is refreshing that it isn’t the same old plot that keeps generating on television. WATCH THE NEXT EPISODE. Hopefully the viewing rates will go up, because I would hate for such a great show to be cancelled just because not that many people were able to watch the first episode! Fox, give it a chance. Once more people see how great it is, the ratings will be phenomenal. Just wait.
I LOVE Lone Star! I admit, I’m one of the ones that taped the premier, but I loved watching it and REALLY hope it doesn’t get canceled!!!
The show is great! The viewing audience is very busy and it is important to realize that all potential viewers are not always and actually seldom available for preview week. Office talk, coffee talk, tailgate talk and continued press breed audiences – not the first and potentially one and only show. No one has ever called me to ask my opinion – so here it is – please keep the show. It is fresh and a great option if you are bored with yet one more reality show, cop and/or medical drama. It took me years before I tuned into… Read more »