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.
Typical ABC… put something good out there, get you hooked and then cancel. Just like One Life to Live…
Oh yeah, and ManUp…. I really liked this show too. My husband really liked Missing too. They really just don’t have a clue…. they invest all that money and all that time on shows, but don’t give it time to create a following, or give creditibility to the fact that probably 1 out of 3 households have a DVR & watch a show when they want to.
This is a great show! I rarely recommend tv shows to friends, but this show is the exception. Everyone I tell to watch it has become hooked. Awesome locations, twists, and the combination of Taken, 24, and Borne Identity make it edge of your seat viewing. I’m sick of Idol and all the other shows like it. We finally get a great drama like Missing and they want to cancel.
Everyone I know watches and LOVES this show! All different ages! The ratings aren’t ACCURATE so this is nonsense that ABC won’t give it a shot. I DVR both missing and vampire diaries and watch them the next day!
Smarten up abc people are tired of this!
Love this show. It’s one of the best shows on tv. The mistake is its on the same time as Idol…. Change the time and the ratings would go up
This has been a great show – especially the locations, but I think shows like this need to have an ending and not drag on like Lost. I quit watching Lost after a few seasons because it just got crazier and crazier. When Muder One was on, it was promised to be a one season show and it was great. I think a lot of us are reluctant to commit to a show when the premise requires the show to go on past credibility
Love this show and Ashley Judd is awesome in it…..keep it, keep it going!!!
Good show, needs time to find an audience. Better than a lot of the garbage out there. As usual, the primary concern is financial. Sad.
I love Missing and it would certainly be shame to cancel this show. The people that I know are getting very bored with the reality shows. This show is a breath of fresh air. I watch it every Thursday night.
I love Missing! Look forward to seeing it each week. Get rid of these reality shows and bring us real drama. Stop cancelling all the good shows and giving us more trash. This show is interesting and keeps the viewers on edge. Network broadcasting just goes downhill more and more each year.
I love the show . I dvr it and amercian idol..I know people without a dvr may have a problem because so many people love amercian idol but I would love for this sereis to continue.
We love that show! It is seriously one of the best shows on right now!
No way you can cancel MISSING. What a great show should be on Friday nite! I lost track of when it aired; but caught up on my friends Tivo. Don’t know how long they can stretch the story line, but it’s working for me . . . and it’s all the buzz at work!
I love “Missing”!!!!! I was hooked from the 1st show and it’s only gotten better and look forward to it every week. Hopefully they’ll give it one more try.
Save Missing! One of the few shows I watch, and we need more shows with kick-ass women…
DO NO CANCEL MISSING!!!!! It is amazing! Best show ever! I wish it would have more episodes in one season though to give people a chance to watch it.