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.
I love this show, great actors! Please bring it back!
I really like Mercy. Please bring it back.
Love Mercy, one of my favorite shows, please bring it back.
I never watch tv, I dont really like any show on tv. Someone talked me into watching Mercy and I absolutely loved it! Mercy is the only reason I ever turned the tv on. To me it is the only show worth watching. Just the thought of it not coming back on makes me sick. Please put it back on.
I loved mercy one of my Faves please bring it back
I did not watch the series during the regular season but now watched it all online. I think this show is fantastic and would watch it every week if it were brought back for another season. The ending was so dramatic and left for a great story line for the next season. The creative writers have so many angles they can take with this season and the viewers wait in anticipation to see how the storyline will play out. Please bring back this show – it’s amazing!
Please bring Mercy back! I miss it.
the reason mercy had bad ratings was because people never gave it a chance… the show is really pure genious
I liked the show and sorry to see that it won’t be back! 🙁
Bring Mercy back. It is better than a lot of the crap that NBC has to offer like Law and Order, Minute to Win it, and that sort.
Loved the show. hope it comes back!
Bring it back. I miss my Wens. night show. I loved it. The way they ended it leaves it open for season two and I hope they bring it back. love it.
Bring mercy back it is one of the best shows out there
Bring Mercy Back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please bring Mercy back, I loved it! and I watched every single episode.