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.
Of course it will be cancelled. It follows the trend of Flashforward, The Event, Terra Nova even Stargate Universe, all cancelled without any explanation as to what they were all about. After LOST insulted our intelligence for 5 years ending as just Purgatory, we the viewer deserve better treatment; but we are just not getting it.
I absolutely love this show. I will be very disappointed to see it go. After the end of lost, I have been very disappointed with ABC and the shows they continue to keep. As the article asks, “Remember Flashforward?”. Why yes! I do! Another great show that got cancelled, along with many other shows like, Traveler, The nine and a few others I enjoyed but got cancelled and replace by some reality crap. It makes me wonder what are world has come to. For once, I would love to see a good show get kept, otherwise I may just stop… Read more »
I absolutely love once upon a time, I would be upset if they cancelled it. The show reminds me of my child hood and my favorite stories. It brings everything to the show-action, romance, mystery. I look forward to Sunday’s just to watch this show. It deserves a second season.
I love once upon a time. It is my favorite show since Heroes was canceled
I think Once Upon a Time should defiantly get a second season, my whole family actually sits down together and watches it, and we are a very active family to be able to do that, i think it deserves a second season.
I love the show but wish they would quit skipping a week or more at a time to show it. That is one thing that could be hurting its rating is that people tune in to watch, it isn’t on so they don’t watch that week and don’t come back the next week. I have it set to record every episode but some don’t or can’t do that.
Once Upon a Time is wat to great to be canceled. I most deffenitly think that Once Upon a Time shoul d get a seccond season !!
When Once Upon A Time first came on the air, I was hooked. Growing up as a kid my brothers watched the cartoons of Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, Red Riding Hood, Pinochio & Cinderella & read the books. After watching Once Upon A Time it brought back childhood memories for me as well as all children of all ages. If the ratings are at risk, it deserves a second chance to redeem itself. Keep Once Upon A Time on for a second season & see what happens. Think of the children who are watching this show.
We watch two shows on ABC, Dancing with the Stars and Once Upon A Time. We’d hate to see it cancelled. The writing and directing are “spotty” at, but the really good scripts more than compensate for the few that are below par. I’m really hoping to hear the series gets a second year for it’s “happily ever after”.
I love the show, but it often gets off track or either looks like its about to end. If Emma realizes the truth where is the story to go. They need to slow down and stay on track.
I love One Upon a Time I think It´d be a mistake to cancel OUAT
I hope to watch it for many years
I love this show and look forward to every episode. I hope that it will be renewed!
Great Family show, my husband even makes me DVR it when he isn’t home to watch. Would be a shame for it to be canceled. Not to many shows where the parents and the kids can sit and enjoy.
I think once upon a time is a spectacular show. I don’t know if the ratings consist strictly of viewership when it is on air at 8 p.m. on Sundays. I for instance cannot watch on Sunday nights because of work, in addition I’ve chosen to use Roku Internet TV instead of your basic cable. However I’ve been following the show religiously on Roku. The show is one of a kind creative and I “used” to look forward to watching it every Monday on Hulu plus. I also assume you cannot be sure the ratings will plummet when you haven’t… Read more »
My whole family sits down to watch this show. There aren’t many shows that I can say that about. We love it!