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! 
I really hope October Road, Men in Trees and Eli Stone return. Three GREAT shows.
October Road is a great show. I really hope that there will be a season three on abc and if not….(if abc isnt cool enough) then the CW will air the show until it finishes. I hate it when shows end abruptly because no matter what, someone somewhere is into that show and the tv guys are just hurting those people.
Don’t take this show away from me. I already lost my favorite, Everwood.
What’s to say October Road isnt my favorite now?
i think its best show on tv i just bought the first season and i love it also i havent even seen one episode or heard about until watch the first season after that i decided i wanna start watching it and then i found the second season online and started to watch them then i really loved it.then i tried to find the third season but there wasnt. so i asking please give me or us a third season please because there are a lot of answer that i want to found out who will nick stay with aubrey… Read more »
best show on tv please give us season 3
October Road is wonderful because we all want to watch real life stories like
this show. Idiot parent shows and canned laughter are for 12 year olds . October
Road is for all the rest of us. I hope it goes on for 10 captivating years !
ABC–PLEASE BRING BACK OCTOBER ROAD–LOVE THE SHOW–GIVE IT A CHANCE–THE WRITER’S STRIKE KILLED A LOT OF SHOWS–EVEN THOUGH OCTOBER ROAD WAS ON AT 10PM I STILL WATCHED IT–IT’S BETTER THAN A LOT OF SHOWS THAT ARE OUT THERE ON TV..AMERICA NEEDS SHOWS LIKE OCTOBER ROAD…MAYBE IF YOU PUT IT ON A LITTLE EARLIER, THE RATINGS WOULD BE BETTER. IT’S A GREAT STORY LINE AND LOVE THE CAST. IT WILL BE A SHAME NOT FOR YOU TO BRING IT BACK TO ABC. PLEASE SAVE THE SHOW…!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
people can relate to this show, the story line is simple and complex at the same time, kind of like life… and this is why it’s so good.
cancelling it would be a shame… plus I have to add Laura Prepon is a great actress and it feels awesome to have her back on tv.
go OR!
ABC please bring back our show.. LONG LIVE OCTOBER ROAD
Come on ABC , give it a chance , the writers strike , how about a little advertising. THe cast is great and the story line is great, don’t blow it give it another year. It will catch on.
Please don’t cancel October Road…..I would like to see it continue on. With the finale…it left the door wide open. I look forward to watching every episode. PLEASE bring it back!!!!!!!!!!
SAVE KNIGHT’S RIDGE!
I’m from Australia and purchased the season one dvd from Amazon.com and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE OCTOBER ROAD. It’s a breath of fresh air from all other us shows I love. The characters are so warm and believable, the setting is gorgeous and the story line is gripping and evolving.
Please Save OCTOBER ROAD. It would be a shame if you cancel it.
I will be extremely disappointed if ABC takes this show off the air. It has been such a breath of fresh air. It is different then anything else on t.v. I really look forward to seeing it weekly. Too many good shows get canceled. Some shows take longer to find an audience but have become very successful. You have a great show; promote it the right way and you may see the results you’re looking for. Please renew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
love the show Please! Please dont cancel I’m am hooked would be greatly be dissappointed at least get another network to pick it up hell i even rewatch the show online save this show. A devoted fan
For all that don’t know already, October Road may possibly not come back. If you enjoy the show please let ABC know via an email, letter or phone call because they are making their keep or cancel decisions at this time for announcing next month. And also, please consider joining in the PAY OCTOBER ROAD FORWARD campaign that we have going on over at the abc.com OR message boards. We all purchase the OR Season One DVD to then give to our local library or the anysoldier.com campaign. This is being done to circulate OR to those who have not… Read more »
please everyone who loves october road , drop a line in on abc to let them know you love the show. I am dying to see what happens with eddie and janet. Don’t let this show die!