ABC has tried numerous times to find a new hit drama to help replace some of their aging ones. Pan Am has been a disappointment and Revenge hasn’t been a big success but Once Upon a Time looked like a winner right out of the gate. But, how do things look now? Is the show on track to land a season two renewal or could it end up cancelled?
On Once Upon a Time, the daughter (Jennifer Morrison) of Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Prince Charming (Joshua Dallas) tries to help fairy-tale characters who’ve been cursed by the Evil Queen (Lana Parrilla) and ended up living in a small town in Maine. The series also features the talents of Robert Carlyle, Jared Gilmore, Raphael Sbarge, Meghan Ory, Jamie Dornan, Beverley Elliott, Lee Arenberg, David Paul Grove, and Gabe Khouth.
The new drama started off with a bang and a solid 4.0 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 12.93 million viewers. It was second in it’s timeslot which was impressive considering that Once Upon a Time’s debut had to compete with the World Series and popular shows on cable.
New series often fall 10-20% in their second week on the air but Once Upon a Time bucked the trend and dropped a mere 3% to a 3.9 rating in the all-important demo. In week three, the numbers fell just a bit more — to a 3.8 rating — and the series got a full season pick-up.
Unfortunately, the numbers keep dropping. With the exception of the fourth week (which didn’t drop or gain), Once Upon a Time has dropped in the demo and in total viewership each week. The last episode of 2011 drew a 2.9 rating and 8.92 million viewers, a new series low. That’s a far cry from the debut and the holiday hiatus surely hasn’t helped things.
While Once Upon a Time isn’t in trouble yet, its no longer looking like a big hit and could easily be in trouble. Remember FlashForward?
That ABC series debuted with nearly the exact same ratings two years earlier. It also looked like the big hit of the season but the numbers kept eroding each week. After seven episodes, FlashForward had dropped 35% in the demo. It kept falling until it was cancelled. After seven episodes, Once Upon a Time has fallen 28%. Hopefully, it’ll have a happier ending.
What do you think? Do you think Once Upon a Time will keep falling? Will it survive and see a second season or do you think it’ll end up being cancelled?
Image courtesy ABC.
I think the show is original and very entertaining to watch. I hope they do not cancel the show.
Please don’t cancel Once Upon a Time. It’s one of the shows we watch online. I look forward to it every week to see what’s new and if Snow’s relationship will get to another level with Charming. That’s the only annoying part. Wish they would just put them together and focus on the other characters.
A very intriguing show. I love the back stories of all the characters and the ensemble is terrific. The only weak link I see is the current time story, but then that just may reflect that the characters don’t even know who they really are. Maybe there is a way to tweak this so it works on just as well on both levels. The acting, directing, costuming is great. Over all very well done and somewhat different.
Once Upon a Time is a series you cannot begin watching mid-season. One needs to watch it from the beginningto understand the show. This show is very original and captivating. I highly suggest renewing it for at least another seasonor more. I wouldn’t be surprised if it won an award(s) for costume design.
I love the show, you can’t cancel it!!!!
Love the show!!! Might cry if it is cancelled. It’s the only show that gets me excited to watch every week
Please don’t cancel Once Upon a Time
It’s a GREAT show
Who cares if the world is too dense to enjoy it there are a number of us who know it’s value, I hope ABC does too
I love this show so please I am begging you ABC, think about the millions of Americans who watch this every Sunday night. Think about them, because I really love it…it is very different in everyway, and so not like other ordinary shows. But my point is, let this show stay, and DO NOT cancel it, do not think about it. It will be a success..
I love this show and I hope they keep it around. This show can go far if they just keep it going. I wish they would stop cancelling all the great shows. I love how nothing is what it seems. I do not watch much TV but I do watch this show all the time.
I absolutely love this show. As stated in previous comments, there is something new to look forward to every week. The underlining stories of the characters that we THOUGHT we knew are being shown in a way we could never imagine. I can only watch the series online as I am a college student without a television, but I really hope the series pulls through.
I think Once Upon A Time is a very unique and interesting show. The entire troupe
of actors are superb! Robert Carlyle is phenomenal!
Please don’t cancel the show ABC!
I really hope that Once Upon a Time stays on the air. It’s really the only tv show I watch, I believe that it’s truly one of the best shows on tv today. 🙂
The show enfolds something new every week and in my opinion that is great because you keep looking forward to the next week. I know I do
the show sucks, seriously
They better not cancel Once Upon A Time! I mean personally I dont help with the ratings because wuoting my father “Sunday is football. Nobody changes the channel in the middle of a football gme” so I watch it online but I really REALLY hope it doesn’t get cancelled!