ABC’s mid-season medical drama, Off the Map, recently concluded its first season on the air. The alphabet network’s been looking for a new hit drama and this one was produced by veteran producers of Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice. How does Off the Map stack up? Will it be cancelled or renewed for season two?
Off the Map revolves around six doctors who have “lost their way” and travel to a remote South American jungle to help those in need and to try to rediscover the reasons why they wanted to become physicians. The series features the talents of Caroline Dhavernas, Jason George, Jonathan Castellanos, Mamie Gummer, Martin Henderson, Rachelle Lefevre, Valerie Cruz, and Zach Gilford.
The medical drama premiered with a mediocre 2.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 7.57 million viewers. The TV series won its timeslot but was disrupted in some parts of the country by coverage of the Tucson Memorial. ABC decided to give Off the Map another chance to attract viewers by rerunning the first episode the following night, in place of a Private Practice rerun, and it retained much of the Grey’s Anatomy lead-in audience.
Unfortunately, that’s still not a great start and subsequent episodes of Off the Map essentially drew fewer and fewer viewers each week. The final episode of the season hit a series low and attracted a very poor 1.3 rating in the demo with only 3.80 million viewers.
Off the Map is the second-lowest scripted series on ABC that hasn’t already been officially cancelled, averaging a 1.7 in the demo and 4.96 million viewers. It ranks below doomed No Ordinary Family and just above doomed Detroit 1-8-7. In short, unless ABC really needs to keep Shonda Rhimes happy, there is no reason why the network would bring Off the Map back next year for season two.
What do you think? Do you think there’s any hope for Off the Map? Do you think it will be cancelled or renewed? Are you okay with the way the TV series ended?
Image courtesy ABC.
Love this show and will be bitterly disappointed if there isn’t a season 2. I think it will pick up viewers in a season 2 and hopefully become another Gray’s Anatomy!
My husband and I LOVE this show…please keep off the map. Can’t wait to see what’s in store the next season.
LOVE the show and was disappointed to hear it may not return. I have my PVR set each week so I never miss an episode. My parents, siblings and inlaws watch as well and we enjoy discussing the episodes and making prediction for what will happen next. Please reconsider before cancelling. I just have to know if my predictions were right:)
Maybe abc just needs to follow what other networks have done and repeat the episodes during the summer time to give more people a chance to get attached to it. I’ve loved every episode so far but I’m disappointed in the finale…not really a finale type episode. I wonder if they decided after the fact just to take he show off the air. Not sure it was a good time slot for the show…opposite Justified. Love that show too so I’ve had to watch OTM the next day…but always watched it. I don’t know how they come up with ratings… Read more »
Why is it that when a show comes along that shows hope in a different form, the networks decide to cancel the show because the ratings aren’t high enough. Maybe if we get rid of the shows that are full of disrespectful comments, sexual content too early in the evening for younger viewers and put a show on earlier that shows the beauty of going somewhere different to try something different in your life. Let’s keep Off The Map and possibly move it to earlier in the evening so more people might watch it. It’s worth a try, isn’t it??
This is a fantastic show! the stories are great and the acting is even better! has me in tears week after week, no other show has done that to date. sure a couple of rough patches here and there, but all in all better than most of the other junk thats on tv at the moment. Off The Map doesn’t get the credit or publicity it deserves and needs. it should be brought back for another season to get that credit it definitely deserves.
I enjoyed watching this show and i hope they bring it back for season 2.
l have watched this from day one, and always look forward to the next one l think it is a amazing story, it out beats some of the trash thats on tv that not worth watching at least this has you on your toes excitment, please dont end it, it the second best thing since prison break
What!! Seriously! I’m shocked to see these ratings! I think ABC gave it a predisposition for failure at the beginning because they replaced private practice with a new show none of us had heard. I can’t speak for others but for me… SO UNCOOL!! I really look forward to grey’s anatomy/ private practice BUT the show was great!!
I agree with the other reply that it was not efficiently publicized. There were never any commercials! Also, how can these ratings even count when there were only like 5 episodes!! That’s rediculous!!
I want more…
I really loved the show. I never missed an episode and would love to see it continue. I actually have rushed home the last two Wed.s to see the show but it was not on. Please bring it back!
I NEVER leave comments, EVER. But it’s really starting to become an issue, I really enjoyed this show I thought it had a lot of substance. I really hope it comes back.
Please bring back Off The Map. I love it! I agree with all the previous comments. My daughter watches it in Co. and then we discuss each episode. It has a great setting and is different from anything else.
I started watching this show and feel it has not gotten enough publicity, because it is really very good, but most people I speak to say they have never heard of it. It would be worth another season , not just 5or 6 episodes, to see if it really can fly. As with a lot of shows that catch on they often need time!!
please don’t take away off the map l love this movie and can relate in a lot of ways others will fall in love to if u give it more time.
I really hope this show continues on for a second season. It had a rough first few episodes but I really think it upped it’s game as the season went on. I’ve watched the show week after week and I really want to see what’s coming next. Please bring Off The Map back!