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.
You have to bring this series back. I felt that “Mercy” was a different type of hospital show that I had not seen before. Most of your hospital shows depict the lives of doctors. It was nice to see the choices nurses had to make appose to the doctors. Please bring this show back. I have been waiting for months to see when the premiere was coming on, to find out that it may be canceled. This would be a huge mistake. Please oh please bring it back.
i love mercy
I love this show no
This is the one show I was so looking forward to see
i really wish they would bring it back.
I love this show!!!!Please bring it back!!!!!
Please do not cancel Mercy or Trauma. I love the shows and have watched every episode. The last episode of Mercy was so exciting. We want to know what happens to Chris. Please NBC bring them back.
They ended the last series with a cliff hanger of a show, and now they are cancelling it!!!!
I loved Mercy, it was my # 2 show after House.
Please bring it back.
They would be crazy to end this show. There are alot of people that watch this. This is the one of the best shows this network has. Need to save it or you will have less viewers.
NO! This is the one show I was so looking forward to returning. Especially after that amazing finale…ahhh I’ve been left hanging all summer and the thought of never seeing a new episode is disgusting to me. Please NBC reconsider!
i really wish they would bring it back. it was a very good show to watch. my sister and i really enjoyedit. just found out that it was canceled. we are really upset with this news.
My husband and I love the show. We also love Trauma! Who the heck decides these things? It seems whenever I get really interested in a show it gets cancelled. I hate these TV executives!
It will be very sad to see Mercy go! I watched every episode and looked forward to the next week when it was going to be on. My husband even enjoyed watching it with me and to get your husband ( that is always busy) to sit down and watch a show with you says alot. Please don’t cancel! 🙂
I loved “Mercy”. It is one of my medical favs next to “Grey’s Anatomy”. To me “Trauma” was more of a joke. I work in the EMS field, and Trauma was VERY unrealistic and I’m not the only one in my field to think that. Many of my co-workers thought the same. We all, however, really enjoyed “Mercy.” If I wasnt able to watch it that night it was on, I’d have it recorded on my DVR. The season finale, to me, was awesome and the ending really kept me on my toes for Season 2’s premiere. So canceling it… Read more »
I would really like to see the shoe come back. It is one of the few that I actually enjoy watching. Yes, it is all over the place, but that is what makes it good. PLEASE bring it back.
I cant believe they are cancelling this show! It was the best one, NBC had. Thats very sad and horrid they are doing this.