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.
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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.
Mercy is one of my favorite shows. I’m really mad because dumb shows stay on but a good one got canceled. Hopefully they will realize their mistake and bring it back.
please bring back mercy this show is great I actually like better than greys!
They need to at least give us one last season that has a fair ending. a goodbye that wraps the show up. I think we at least deserve that! Put in a different time slot i dont care just fix this and bring back Mercy!!!!
Why is it there are sooo many ridiculous shows out there that nobody should have put on in the first place that last a ton of seasons? and then the good shows like mercy get canceled??? I m confused this has too be one of the most ridiculous things iv ever herd. I cant seem to find a damb show i like that the stupid networks don’t cancel. They need to put someone else in charge of these decisions, cuz this is pathetic!!!!!!! Mercy should have continued….its one of the best shows I’ve seen in a while. No lie.
I cannot believe this show is going to be canceled. It had one of the best season finales EVER! It mixes your medical show with a little Army stuff. I absolutely loved this show and I am heartbroken that it will no longer air. What about moving it to a summer series? When it has less competition with CSI, Grey’s Anatomy, and Private Practice. Don’t take it away all together!!!
i loved mercy, i am sad to see it has been cancelled. i thought it was a very good show.
I can’t believe they would cancel Mercy! My mom and I are both avid watchers and call each other right after to discuss. We love this show! Maybe a different time slot would help, because they are competing against some hit ABC programs! Please don’t cancel!
Mercy Is the absolute best show ever… I dearly love it, and have been waiting all summer for it to come back on. Very very upset that’s it’s being cancelled. I can’t believe it. THIS SUCK!!
I love Mercy!
WTF this was one of my shows if cancelled thats very lame
I am very upset to hear that Mercy has been cancelled…..The ending of the last episode was not a way to end a show that some people LOVE!!! I really really wish it would come back…you could do away with other shows, but not that one!!
PS I really really like Parenthood….so leave that alone!
I liked Mercy in the beginning. The second season with the new doctor, I liked it less because they got crude and dirty with that new doctor. Keep it clean and interesting. It started out good.
i luv mercy sooooo much. i would be really sad to see it go, i really hope it stays. and i think the show doesnt get viewers because not a lot of people really now about mercy.it is such a great show with all the drama and the action. me and my 13 year old daughter watch it every week. we always record it if were not home
I am very sad that Mercy is being canceled, I loved his show and was looking forward to a new season. 🙁
I can’t believe you’ve cancelled Mercy. There are so many lame shows on tv and Mercy was a great one. I’m not sure who is calling the shots there but you might want to put someone else in charge of the cancellations because cancelling Mercy was a very BIG mistake!!! It is a well loved show by many and many!