At the start of the season, we wondered which new NBC medical drama had the best chance at survival — Mercy or Trauma. It was hard to decide but now, they’ve both been cancelled anyway.
Mercy follows the lives of three very different nurses at Mercy Hospital in Jersey City. The cast includes Taylor Schilling, Jaime Lee Kirchner, Michelle Trachtenberg, James Tupper, Diego Klattenhoff, Guillermo Diaz, James LeGros, James Van Der Beek, and Delroy Lindo.
The medical drama got off to a pretty poor start last September, attracting a 2.3 rating in the all-important 18-49 demographic and 8.25 million total viewers. Unfortunately, viewership fell even lower from there.
Despite the ratings, NBC ordered a full season of episodes, likely because the network needed the original programming. Though NBC’s Primetime Entertainment President Angela Bromstad said she liked the show creatively, she noted that the show’s ratings had to improve for it to survive.
The ratings didn’t improve. The most recent episode attracted only a 1.1 rating in the demo and 4.01 million viewers.
To no surprise, the Mercy TV show’s now been cancelled. The 22nd and final episode aired last Wednesday, May 12th. Unfortunately, it wasn’t intended to be a series finale and didn’t wrap up the show.
What do you think? Are you sorry to hear that Mercy won’t be back for season two? What would you have liked to have seen happen?
Image courtesy NBC.
I thought Mercy by far came closest to capturing the magic that was ER in its early years. Well written, with characters you cared about, and with a fantastic mix of humor and serious subject matter. With a little more advertising it could have been a huge hit (remember the deluge of posterboards for Trauma, versus almost nothing for Mercy?) If only TNT would pick it up as they did Southland (another stupid NBC loss) and use it to replace HawthoRNe!
Just when you think NBC can not screw up any worse after the Conan screwup…..Now they cancel Mercy. Mercy should have been placed in the former ER timeslot at 10pm on Thursdays. Instead we get the stupid Marriage Ref?!? Mercy had great characters and storylines you could care about. Trauma did not and should have been canceled. And they cancel Heroes before giving it at least a proper farewell……NBC sucks.
I really liked mercy i watched ever Weds. I just do not know why they do not really give the shows a chance. Try moving it into a different time slot or move it to a different night.
This is why I do not watch NBC. When I finally gave in and decided to watch one of their new shows they go and cancel it. I will stick to CBS and FOX. Oh NBC, you think SNL and the Law and Order’s will carry you…. poor ********.
I think canceling Mercy show was ridiculous and NBC should have allowed it to run at least two seasons to give it a chance. It was is one of the few shows that I watch religiously each week. It is a shame that such original programming and great character chemistry has to end in this way – without even having a finale!!! I’m thinking it has M*A*S*H like chemistry. The more I think about it the more depressed I get. Right now I don’t watch much NBC and now I won’t watch any!!!
My favorite show. What is the problem? Every new good show NBC does, they end up cancelling. This show was funny, loveable, fun and serious too. I am so disappointed. I may stop watching network tv….this happens every season.
I’m so upset about them cancelling Mercy!!!!! It was a great show! NBC you suck! I hate that I will never know what happened to Chris or Mike! I will never watch a first season show again! You have to allow time for people to get into a show and it’s characters. I really hope another network picks this show up!
I’m going to miss “Mercy”. It was just one of the few shows that I actually watch on NBC. I really wish that they would at least finish up some of the story arcs.
I want a Series finale at the very least. I loved this show. The finale had such a huge cliff hanger it sucks 🙁
I am so not happy that this show was cancelled. It was one that I watched faithfully every week because I enjoyed it so much. That it wasn’t inteded to be the final episode and left so much up in the air makes it even worse. 🙁
It is time all people boycot NBC
Given their overall ratings, people have been boycotting for some time, apparently. Remember, they’re the braintrust that cancelled JAG after one season. CBS picked it up and ran with it to high ratings for 9 more years and then spun off NCIS.
Loved mercy. Big mistake nbc
My family loved this show. We liked the fact that the show put more emphasis on the characters lives. Once again, we really like a new show and can’t wait to see the next episode and it gets canceled. I guess people in the demographic the networks like to have only watch the ridiculous reality shows.
I loved “Mercy”!!
One of a few shows I looked forward to seeing, I loved the setting and the
friendships of the 3 nurses.
Their compassion and kindness led them to higher ground.
In complex and confusing situations, they acted with conscience:
a short commodity in our world.
I will miss Dr. Chris Sands (James Tupper) SO MUCH!!!
I will MISS these characters SO MUCH !!!!
Is there ANY doubt in anyone’s minds why NBC is the #4 (or #5) network?!?! GOD FORBID they should show any faith in series such as “Mercy” and “Trauma” and bring them back for a second season, allowing them to find an audience (provided, of course, that the “brain trust” at NBC didn’t keep shuffling BOTH series on the schedule so that people can’t FIND them!!), as ANY well-written, well-acted series such as these WILL, given sufficient time! Of course, I am not in the 18-to-49 demographic that the networks cherish, so apparently, I have no brain, no taste, and… Read more »