Despite a slew of negative reviews from critics last year, ABC’s midseason drama, October Road, attracted an average of 10.2 million viewers for its six episode season. The series typically lost a large percentage of viewers from its Grey’s Anatomy lead-in but it was enough to earn Road a second year. Now that the second season has finished airing, will there be a year three?
For whatever reason, October Road hit a slump in its sophomore year. Prior to this month, the series had been averaging fewer than five million viewers. ABC had ordered 13 episodes for year two with the option of expanding it to 22 episodes if needed. With the writers strike and the disappointing ratings, the network didn’t feel they needed any more.
Last month, ABC announced that several of its series had been renewed for the fall season and, not surprisingly, October Road was absent from the list. If network executives were waiting until March to see the performance of the final three episodes, the show’s cause wasn’t helped. March 3rd’s episode attracted only 5.3 million viewers and a 2/5 rating/share of the 18-49 demographic. This week’s two hours averaged a dismal 4.7 million viewers and a 1.8/5 rating/share. Compared to last season’s finale, that’s a loss of almost 50% in total viewers.
Since it looks pretty unlikely that Nick and the other residents of Knights Ridge will be back for a third season on ABC, will we ever learn the identity of Sam’s father? Maybe.
There is talk that the CW and Lifetime are interested in continuing the series should ABC let it go. CW could certainly use the ratings as none of their present programming comes close to attracting Road’s viewership. On the other hand, Road would fit well with Lifetime’s other programming.
We’ll know ABC’s decision by mid-May at the latest. If they don’t want to continue the drama, it will be interesting to see if some other network does. Stay tuned! 
Love October Road! A welcome change from reality and hospital and crime base shows. Love the music. And every one can see themselves in at least one of the characters. The show should go on. Please…………
This is by far the best show on tv and I hope abc picks it up, but if not I will follow it wherever it goes! Come on Roadies!!
I will follow this show where ever it goes. I love this show. Save October Road.
October Road is such a great show becuase it takes us back to our youth and reminds us of our childhood again. What it was like to struggle with friendships, relationships and other day to day life. It is very real and they don’t give you the outcomes you always want and that is refreshing. I am tired of predictable tv and reality shows. The only reason October Road hasn’t topped the charts is because abc never gave it the attention it really needed to make it big. They hardly advertided for it and put it in a bad time… Read more »
March 3rd’s episode attracted only 5.3 million viewers? So you’re tell me that some of the other crud ABC shows does better than this?
I know TiVo can be tracked in case people recorded this show, but what about all the Dish Network and Direct TV people who recorded it? What about the VCR’s? Do those show up?
Not every show has to be a off the charts hit, does it? Why can’t they just keep it on because 5.3 MILLION people LOVE it?
i loe October Road1 There is something for eeryone! Please sae this show!
I sure hope you are right that it will be picked up by lifetime if ABC does not pick it up.
I really like this show. The question I ask, with the popular growth of recording devices such as DVR and Tivo, are the numbers collected really accurate? I work nights, so I am never sitting in front of the TV the night shows air. It’s recorded and I watch them when I have time. I hope that this show is continued, on whatever channel will air it. I had a disappointing season last year, half the shows I watch ended.
October Road needs to stay on the air be it on ABC or CW or Lifetime. I will follow it where ever it goes!! TV needs more shows like this one and it has had the unfortunate fate of no advertising and bad time slot and pre-empts. Bring back the Road!!
I hope that ABC renews it also or another network. OR is great but didn’t get the promotion it deserved. CW or Lifetime should pick the show up if ABC doesn’t. The Roadies need some answers to the questions left unanswered by the Finale and are looking forward to season 3.
October Road is the best show to come along in such a long time! It is such a refreshing break from all of the violence, overdone profanity and way overdone reality shows on nowadays. I tuned in for the pilot episode and have totally been hooked ever since. I’ve never looked forward to a shows next episode the way that I do this one. ABC has a real winner on their hands here but for some reason they threw every roadblock in it’s way that they possibly could, such as partial seasons, haphazard scheduling, almost nonexistent promoting and then moving… Read more »
We have to have another season of this great show! There are too many unanswered questions. It’s such a great show. The best one on TV as a far as I’m concerned. I don’t think ABC gave it a fair chance. It was never promoted and when it was off for a few weeks at a time, there were never any announcements that it was returning. Many people just assumed that it was out of fresh scripts due to the writer’s strike.
I hope it is picked up somewhere if ABC decides to not bring it back. I would assume there would be huge pay cuts and may not fare well with the actors.. Fingers crossed for the most positive outcome for everyone!
I sure hope not. I loave this show and there are a lot of supporters that will fight to keep it on. Check ou the HeyNielsen site and you will see for yourself. If ABC doesn’t pick it up I hope that CW or Lifetime will..
I love this show. I hope ABC renews it or if they don’t it is picked up by another network! The show has such a wide area of characters.