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! 
Best show ever…….waiting for season 3!!!!
greetings from – Holland viewer-
How can abc cancel the best show on tv.. If abc takes october road , woman’s murder club and men in trees off the air that just makes me want to watch nbc all the more… that IS the best show on tv so far… It is much better then grey’s and dancing with the stars…
bring back october road.Quality shows are to hard to find anymore.Reality shows totally SUCK! ALL OF THEM! You need to bring back good shows like October Road.
I cant belive you took October Road off the air, this was a really great show, maybe if yall hadnt been so speratic with the second season people might have watched more. Those reality shows that your putting on really suck, I watched wipe out last night for the first time and it was awful. Bring back October Road.
October Road is an amazing show. It is about hope, love, family, forgiveness, finding yourself, it has so much character. I honestly can say I cried almost every single episode, because the characters in this show are so touching. The second season was amazing!!! And there are so many things left undone. Ronnie and Aubrey, Sam who is his father, Will Hannah marry ray, will she find out what a jerk he really is, Eddie and Janet, will Hannah and Eddie tell nick what happened with them, will nick hate Ronnie for falling for his girlfriend, will Phili face his… Read more »
I cannot believe that you have cancelled the three best new shows from last year….October Road, Men in Trees, and Women’s Murder Club!
I really enjoyed October Road. In fact I’ve lost interest in Grey’s Anatomy and would rather see OR.
There are several other cable channels that would benefit from adding OR to their lineup of it’s dropped.
The show was very well done, First time in a long time that a television show captured my attention like October Road did. We need a season three.
October Road is an honest and clever show and should be kept on the air! It’s charecters are well developed and very relatable which is unusual. I hope that they bring it back for a third season or that lifetime picks it up. It’s a great show!!
I fear this show is too expensive for Lifetime–too much of an ensemble. The CW makes more sense, and I hope it is true.
I hope you continue the show I watched season 1 and 2 and loved it I could’nt wait til the following thur. to watch it again. So I’m asking you please to start season 3 there are a lot of unanswered questions about the show and I’m very curious to know how everything will end up. It is a great show give it a chance please don’t cancel October Road.
I am so sick of getting interested in programs just to have them cancelled ..I absolutely love the show October Road…I do hope they will not leave us hanging on and wishing for more…I have gotton used to be let down with so many shows lately and it makes me not want to watch anything new..so i don’t get disappointed AGAIN,,,
Please don’t cancel. We need a season 3. My favorite show.
i have absolutly loved october road from day one so please continue to show it. i am in south africa and am only in the begining of season two and i think it is one of the best tv shows ive seen. bring on the third season please:)
When are these tv execs ever going to learn? These shows need some time to buld a loyal fan base look at Friends and Seinfield they took several seasons before the shows really took off. Give them a chance not everyone gets into a show after only 1 or 2 seasons. It would be a real shame to lose such a great show, not only is it really well written but the actors are just great together. I am so sick and tired of trying to find a good show to get into and having the network yank it off… Read more »