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.
Great show; keep it going.
We enjoy watching this show as a family. You can’t really expect something that is in the same time slot an the American Idol results show to do well until idol is over. Ratings will come back up then. Please give this show a chance to recover.
We love this show, my wife and i watch it every Thursday night. This is an excellent show. Please do not cancel it.
Missing is a great show! My family watches every week. Maybe the show could be moved to a different time/day? We would still watch. It’s frustrating to see it lose to an overblown talent show.
Please don’t cancel Missing! Best suspense, action show since 24! Give it another chance please!
Once again they ‘got it wrong.’ This is a great show! Time slot or day of the week shown has more to do with viewer numbers than content of the show. Canceling would be a mistake. I hope another network has the good sense to pick up this ball and run with it. I’ll follow – support that 100 percent. Some network guru’s feelings are hurt because he or she couldn’t beat long proven, already established shows on another network and they’re making the actors and the viewing public suffer for that. You have a money-maker here. STOP posturing and… Read more »
love it keep it on
Myself and a few friends look very forward to the show every Thursday.
It is a great show and I can’t wait to watch it the following week to see what happens.
It definately continues to arouse my interest, holds my interest & keeps me on the edge of my seat. A few too many commercials though.
I believe it would be a mistake to discontinue the show.
Ashley Judd plays a wonderful part; she, actually makes the show.
We love the show! It’s one of the few good shows on this year! Please DO NOT CANCEL!
I love missing! I am always on the edge of my seat and it has so many twists and turns. I am so sad it has been cancelled!!!
It needs another year.Our extended family enjoys it greatly.It has good acting,tight scripts, and a female lead. Is the lack of a strong sexual component killing it?
I loved the show but thought she should have evolved to finding others missing in this scenerio. Finding her son and then moving about to seek others. It was good just needed some writers help.
I think the show is awesome! My son and I watch it every week, it keeps us on the edge of our seats! I hope it returns!! The show would probably have better ratings if it didn’t air the same time as American Idol.
I think Missing should be on Sat or Sun. I rarely watch tv on those days for the fact that nothing good is on. Missing was completing with Idol which was their mistake. I would like to know what they where thinking! After taking off my soaps and now missing there’s no reason for me to watch ABC anymore…..sorry but they have crap on.
I think the show is great. My wife and I watch it every week. Give it more time as I think you are making a mistake.