Earlier this year, ABC introduced a thriller series called The River. It wasn’t a ratings success and will surely be cancelled later this month. Now, the network is trying an action show called Missing. Will this one fare any differently?
Missing follows Becca Winstone (Ashley Judd), a former CIA operative who’s made a new life for her herself as a single mother and a florist. She agrees to let her son Michael (Nick Eversman) study abroad but, a few weeks into his trip, he disappears and she suspects foul play. Becca arrives in Rome and begins piecing together the clues and it isn’t long before the kidnappers realize they’ve picked a fight with the wrong woman. The cast also includes Cliff Curtis, Tereza Voriskova, Adriano Giannini, and Sean Bean.
The series debuted on March 15th and attracted a 2.1 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 10.6 million total viewers. That wasn’t a bad performance considering that Missing was airing opposite American Idol and the hyped return on NBC’s Community. CBS was airing a low-rated NCAA Basketball game instead of their usual sitcoms.
In week two, Missing dropped a whopping 24% in the demo and dropped to fourth place in the timeslot (beaten by Idol, Community, and more basketball) with a 1.6 rating and 8.81 million. In week three, the demo dropped another 6% and the show remained in fourth place.
Over the course of this season, Missing’s ratings have slowly dwindled further downward. In fact, the show’s demo numbers have never risen.
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Last night’s installment of Missing dropped another 14%, to a new series low, with a 1.2 in the demo and 6.32 million total viewers. It’s demo rating was tied for fourth place in the timeslot — with The CW’s Vampire Diaries.
When a series on a major network ties (or is beaten) by something airing on The CW, you know there’s a major problem.
Missing is currently ranked 21st out of 22 scripted ABC shows this season. It currently has a “D” grade on our ABC Ratings Report Card and is only outperforming Charlie’s Angels average — that was the remake that occupied the same timeslot and was cancelled last November.
Though ABC hasn’t said as much, there’s no chance that Missing will be renewed for a second season. The ratings are just too low — and they keep going lower.
On the positive side, there are only two episodes left in the season so it seems very likely that the network will let them both air before cancelling the show.
But, what do you think? Are you enjoying Missing? Is it worth renewing or should it have been cancelled awhile ago?
Image courtesy ABC.
This is a ‘What would I do?’ story and it requires thinking to appreciate. There’s not very much of that happening on American TV during prime time on week nights these days. I wish they had cast the female lead differently. Judd is too stiff and mechanical for my taste. It is possible to play a ‘hardened’ character with vuneralabilty. That’s why I enjoy watching Sean Bean; he excels in portraying conflicted characters. I would watch another season of MISSING.
Missing is awesome, finally a show with real mystery, suspense, wonderful characters, that make you feel for them. Ashley Judd is a wonderful actress, one of the best, in my opinion. Everyone I know loves the show, most of my friends watch it on their pc, if they miss it on Thursday night, are you counting those people? I’d like to know how that is played out, the ratings I mean, I am beginning to doubt the intelligence of anyone that does not like this show. How can they not like it?
Are you kidding? This is a GREAT SHOW! They have got to keep it on. Think of all the wonderful plots you can write involving this family. Most of my friends watch this on their pc as they are working, etc. I love Ashley Judd and the other characters. The show has it all, suspense, mystery, I am sick of the teenager shows everyone has out, there is another demographic, ABC. Take off Missing and I will not watch your network again.
I am very disappointed, it just seems like every time a awesome show comes on, they cancel it. Sometimes it would seem that you should go with your gut feeling, instead of ratings. Ashley Judd is a wonderful actress, one of the best, in my opinion.
This show SHOULD NOT be cancelled. It is one of the best shows on Tv. If it conflicts with another show, then Dvd one or the other. I do. It is one I wait eagerly for each week. If they r so foolish as to cancel it, they ‘d better give me closure on the storyline.
The show is marginal, just barely interesting enough for me to watch it. (I have seen every episode). The performances and the scripts are just ok, but they really don’t ‘pop’. They should wrap up the plot line with the kid being found, rather than leave us hanging.
I like this show bout how are you going to keep everyone’s attention just looking for her son? It’s like the Fugitive. If it’s cancelled be give it a proper ending.
This is an excellent show. But there’s no accounting for taste. When rubbish like the remake of hawaii five O and the nikita remake can get renewed it makes one wonder what the general public want.
I really like Nikita and Hawaii five O.
I have enjoyed Missing very much and hate to see it canceled.
RENEW!!!!!!!! This show is awesome!!!!!
I started to watch it but got turned off by Ashley Judd’s political advert. She should keep to acting and not bite the hands that feed her.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT SHOW AND SHOULD NOT BE CANCELLED. IT IS A REFRESHING CHANGE FROM ALL THE PREDICTABLE REALITY SHOWS AND CSI CLONES THAT ARE AIRING CURRENTLY. ASHLEY JUDD IS A GREAT AND INTERESTING ACTRESS AND HAS ALOT TO OFFER IF GIVEN SOME TIME.
I watched the first few weeks and was planning on making it a weekly thing. Then I saw that just like every other Hollywood twit Ashley Judd thinks she needs to get into politics at my expense. Now I hope she never works again. And for sure I will never watch or listen to anything she has to say. She joins a long list.
I really like this show. It started slowly but has built to very interesting and exciting twists. I can’t wait form Thursday night. Its been a long time since I felt that way about a show. Please give it another season to let viewers catch on & a better timespot.
It’s an interesting show and I’m going to hate to see it go. I’ll admit though it probably started off a little bit on the slow side without the really big hook to keep viewers coming back (which seems to be reflected in the ratings). Too bad – because some of the recent episodes improved greatly and have some interesting twists (and one somewhat predictable one).
Plus I’m always happy to see more of Ashley Judd — probably one of the more under-appreciated actresses of recent times (notice I didn’t say UNappreciated).
🙁 Sadly this will be cancelled. As long as she finds her son, I’ll be okay if it doesn’t come back. 😉