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.
In addition, what really got me was the episode where they used coconut water for a blood transfusion. You know, stuff like that made me interested. Cheech Marins role and medicinal alternatives was fascinating and made it seem like McGyver cleaverness. Every guy tries to achieve the creative soluction.
Off the Map was just getting good and obviously had a slow start. I personally would give it another season, but for goodness sake…. BUILD THE CHARACTERS MORE instead of occasionally featuring them one at a time. Flash back to see who they are instead of trying to creatively stick in where they come from. I feel like I started to read a book halfway through and trying to figure out who these people really are. I hope it isn’t cancalled and draw me in to each character more. Having AH HA THAT”S WHY…. gets old and wears on peoples… Read more »
I really hope ABC doesn’t take Off The Map off the air too. It’s my favorite tv show next to Brothers and Sisters and now that’s gone too. ABC should start looking at Greys Anatomy and Private practice because those are beginning to get really tedious.
I am really sad that they are cancelling Off the Map. Me and my son 8 year old son would watch this show every week. This is one show that he enjoyed watching with me.
I loved Off the Map, it was a show not quite like all the rest. Please bring back the show!!! I was hooked from the very first episode, love all of the characters and I was impatiently waiting every week until it aired again. Please do not cancel this series.
Best show! Loved watching it! Gonna miss the jungle . Sure beats dancing , singing and weight loss shows!
Off the Map was one of the Best new shows to hit the airwaves in awhile! It has a different pretense and was sort of McGyver-ish. I say BRING IT BACK!
I love the show off the map, you can’t just show part of it, I’ve been waiting for weeks for the show to return, in it’s place is a stupid show called happy ending, what the hell is that! Don’t let mateo die!!!! I need the rest! The characters are hot, the show is a great way to end thursday! Bring it back!!!!
We could not wait for the next Wednesday night to get here. I am 51 and my son and son in law and daughter (all early 2os) would come home from church and get ready to watch it. I sure hope you will think about this some more. Get it one more shot!
Are you kidding me? That is the best medical show since ER! I love Grey’s, but OTM was true medical with some drama not all drama and some medical. Bring it back or at least let another station pick it up again!!!! Too much Reality shows on TV. Sick of them!!! We need and love good Medical shows and it seems all stations are too scared or leary to try any of them for too long! NBC has tried some and took them off! Seriously, we long for them. BRING IT BACK!!! Thank you.
We really liked the show and hope that it will continue. It was one of the better shows out there.
Bring it back!
I really enjoyed this show! Too much “reality” garbage on TV and I was glad to finally have something interesting to watch. I will miss it if it’s cancelled.
My husband and myself enjoy the show and would like to see it continued!
OFF THE MAP was one of the best shows this season! I don’t recall much hype when it started, so that may be the reason for the low numbers. There has been a lot of garbage on the air this year but OFF THE MAP came through with decent programming. I felt the writing was creative and I enjoyed every episode.
I agree hun, I’ve heard its been canceled already and I’m extremely upset 🙁