In July, production on NBC’s Parenthood was delayed due to Maura Tierney becoming ill. She eventually had to drop out of the project and Lauren Graham stepped in.
Because of the backstage issues, NBC delayed Parenthood’s Fall premiere and replaced it with a series that was scheduled for midseason, Mercy. Some wondered if having two new medical series might cause one to suffer. It turns out, Mercy and Trauma are both in critical condition.
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 series got off to a mediocre start on September 23, 2009. The premiere attracted a 2.3 rating in the all-important 18-49 demographic and 8.25 million total viewers. That put the debut in fourth place for the demo and in second place for total viewers.
The second episode fell to a 2.1 rating and 7.35 million. The third installment dropped again to a 1.8 rating in the demo and 7.29 million viewers. Not good.
Though the show’s ratings could hardly be called strong, NBC gave Mercy a full season order in October. The rest of the network’s schedule was performing poorly and the order likely had most to do with the fact that NBC just needed original programming. It didn’t hurt that the series is a co-production of NBC’s corporate sister, Universal Media Studios.
 Loading ... |
Meanwhile, Trauma struggled from the very beginning and NBC pulled the plug after 13 episodes. But then, based on the need for more programming, the network ordered seven more installments. That show returns on March 8th but is a big longshot for renewal.
While Mercy was initially the better performer, the show’s ratings have now reached Trauma-like levels. The most recent episode of Mercy hit a series low with a dismal 1.4 rating in the demo and just 5.86 million viewers.
NBC’s Primetime Entertainment President Angela Bromstad recently said that she still loves the drama creatively, but she also noted that the show’s ratings need to rise for it to survive. She made that statement before Mercy fell to its most recent low.
The network has commissioned 18 pilots for the 2010-11 season and Bromstad has acknowledged that they’ll have to essentially rebuild their schedule from scratch.
With the ratings as poor as they are, it’s highly likely that Mercy will be cancelled and won’t survive to see a second year.
What do you think? Would you be sorry to see Mercy cancelled? Is it worth watching? Is there a reason that more viewers aren’t tuning in?
Image courtesy NBC.
It seems that just about every show I really like gets canceled. Mercy is the only show I watch on NBC. I have really missed it the last few weeks, and really hope that it does not get canceled next season. I can’t believe that they showed Minute to Win It in it’s place. PLEASE keep Mercy around for at least one more season!!!!
So so glad to see Mercy back tonight. We love the show. I watch very few dramas but this one I don’t like to miss.
Mercy is one of the shows that I make a point of watching. It is authentic. My 85 year old Mom enjoys the show too. It seems to me that the time slot may be the issue and too early for the viewers you are trying to capture. Show some “Mercy” and let it continue to run.
Mercy is a dumb show. Trauma is much better. Those people are more real than the ones at Mercy.
Please don’t cancel Mercy…it is one of the best on TV!
I have been missing Mercy for past several weeks. My husband and I really enjoyed the show and wondered what happened to it. There is not a lot of TV that we enjoy now days but Mercy was one we both got into. Some shows, such as Two and A Half Men, seem to stay on and we don’t understand how. That show is too racy for Prime Time and they keep it on yet take off a much better show as Mercy is. Please give it another chance and leave it on long enough for people to realize it’s… Read more »
I LOVE MERCY!!!!!! Don’t CANCEL IT!!!!!!!
My Boyfriend and I love Mercy, it is one of 2 shows that we watch together and
would just be so upset it they take it off the air.
Let me guess, shows like two and a half men get season after season because of the sexualty it portrays? But good shows that actually have a story line and about people that close to what really goes on are cancled. Noone wonder the tv has so much sex and cussing on it nowadays because that is what the public wants. Ya, Mercy had it’s share of scenes but it wasn’t always just about the sex, It’s about real life experiences. Please don’t take it off the air.
Please don’t cancel “MERCY”. We are begging for “MERCY” for this show and its fabulous characters!!! There are so very few shows even worth watching these days! We look forward to coming home and watching this show as a couple and enjoying our dialogue about the characters. We see ourselves, our friends and family members in these wonderfully flawed people!!!! There is something for everyone with “MERCY”!!!! I really believe the Olympics caused a ratings issue for a while with Mercy. It happened just after the season got started and maybe this caused a lot of people not to find… Read more »
I am very disappointed that anyone would consider cancelling Mercy. I have been a fan from the 1st episode and have not missed even one. I love the dynamics of the characters and the stories surrounding them. I think that Mercy is an outstanding show and I to hope that if NBC continues to cancel this show and other shows like this one, the network will fail. Put Mercy back on the air and leave it where it is, quit moving it around and quit allowing other programs to interupt it, let it become the amazing show that it is,… Read more »
I love and miss Mercy. I find the 3 female characters very interesting and lovable.
Maybe Veronica’s back and forth romance with the two guys is getting a little old……………….
I am in the “all-important 18-49 demographic” but it seems to me that many of the shows I find interesting and enjoy quite a bit always get cancelled. NBC is one of the worst offenders in my opinion, but all the networks seem to put a show on, move its schedule around and after a few episodes say “Oh, it’s cancelled – the ratings are too low.” I think Mercy & Trauma are both great shows, shows that I look forward to watching. If NBC cancels them, then I hope that their network finally dies off – because, as I’ve… Read more »
I like Mercy too. It is well written & I like the characters. Taylor Schilling and James Tupper are super. Please do not cancel Mercy. Give it another season.
Mercy has a great ensemble cast; the characters are real and believable. Their problems can be identified with. I find it refreshing and intelligent, especially when compared with what else is available. The writers do a great job of developing characters that we care about. The story lines are different and really engage the viewer. I will be most disappointed if it is not renewed.
I am very disappointed to hear that Mercy may not return for the Fall 2010 line up. I am out most nights and there are only a handful of shows I watch, and Mercy was one I really enjoyed. The reality shows have filled prime time to a level of nausea. Mercy addressed real life issues that we all could relate too as does Parenthood. Let me guess that will be the next on the chopping block.