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.
Loved the Show! It is the only one out of the 6 new PVR’d shows I’m looking forward to this week. Dallas’ish for this Century! And thank gawd not a reality show.
I like this show. It’s fresh and the guy is a bad ass.
Bad show. Go ahead and cancel it.
I hated the name of the show. It is the reason I think people did not watch. I just wasn’t up for some Texas soap opera. However, the show was so much better than its name. Easily the best new show, though Hawii 5-0 was pretty fun.
I thought this was an excellent show with a great cast. Storyline is something different and has you rooting for the supposedly bad guy. With some many crime story shows on these days this was show was a refreshing outlook on the criminal minds. Please don’t cancel — give this show time to grow. Maybe a better time slot would help. Please, don’t cancel! Of the new shows this season, this is our number one favorite.
They seriously want to know why it isn’t doing well? Monday Night Football. Lots of people dvr’ed this show due to MNF which had huge ratings. Sorry but Monday nights are for football.
Great show- This might be a sleeper being
pitted against the event- a confusing “Lost” wannabe- show- that was the downside- Event pales vs. Lonestar–
This is a sophisticated yet memorable character study with enough emoting to warrant a big screen event. John Voight no less as a backup—–
Hey Fox- grow a pair–
Of all the new shows last week, I liked this one best. Really hope that it stays on.
I looked for it, couldn’t find it, and wound up watching another fav on another channel. If it’s on opposite an already established show, good luck. Of course that’s in Fox’s genetic makeup, cancelling a promising new show without giving anyone a chance o find it. So many programmers schedule good shows at the same time slot on different channels. It may sound weird, but giving the viewing public a chance to actually FIND all the new shows, gee, what a wild idea.
Jeanne W., I agree with you… Good shows are cancelled many times far too fast because of “networks numbers games” & they get too quick to pull the plug on some really good shows to fast… Like in your case, you couldn’t find the channel/the show, so you just watched something familiar, last week was a huge premiere week, so people had many new choices along with Lonestar, along with shows already established… So, it takes a few weeks to figure it out, find channels, try new shows that you’re interested in etc… It is annoying when they do these… Read more »
Finally a show with a clever script, great actors and impressive locales. If Fox allows another show like this to go so soon, then they’re going to lead the way for the demise of the big four’s broadcast landscape to dry up and become run over with false-reality trash.
I just watched the first episode. I really enjoyed it. The lead male actor has a certain charm and pinache. The storey line is different and interesting. I look forward to the next episode. This is not what I expected as the plot when I watched the first episode. I didn’t think the two lives were as a result of his being a con man. Hope the show survives.
Great show!!! Very clever!
This was the best TV show I have seen in a long time. I hope viewers start watching it so it stays on the air.
Love Love Love the show. We need to get the word out so people will watch. Tell everyone!
Loved Lonestar!!! There is a lot of new series out but Lonestar is definitely one of the Best new series… It would be ridiculous for it to be canceled & some of the other old and new ones to stay on!
LOVED IT!!! I was blown away by the first episode! It’s complicated, dramatic, realistic, compelling, heartbreaking and relatable. He’s so charming and likable that you’re rooting for him even though you know he’s not ‘the good guy’! There’s nothing like it on TV! It’ll be a travesty if this show does not get a chance because everyone else is on the reality show bandwagon.