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.
Glenda, the good witch of the north was too trust worthy, she believe everyone who came to OZ filled the prophetcy (Zelena, Dorothy) she acted so quick, she never gave a thought, and she was casts out of OZ.
‘Once Upon a Time’: Zelena and Regina Face Off in ‘Old-School Showdown’
Why was Zelena power greater than Regina? Regina has been practicing her magic more both in fairyland and Storybrook, Zelena only practice in OZ spying on Regina as she was taught by Mr. Gold/Rumpelstiltskin
I would also like to know if Hulu viewers count? I don’t have cable, I specifically have Hulu just for Once Upon A Time. Please don’t cancel this show.
Once Upon a Time is such a good program that I gave it priority #1 on my DVR so it will record in preference over anything else in its time slot. Whenever a show is made with this much skill and charm of performance, naturally has to be cancelled by its network. That’s a conviction that comes from decades of experience watching TV.
What a great show!!! Why cancel a show that everyone can watch. It has action suspense great actors. Can not understand why good shows get cancelled and crap stays on the air.
PLEEEAASE give them a chance it’s the only show like this on tv and some of us doooo want to know the oother side of the fairy tale! I only missed one week and got rediculously excited when i realized i had two to watch. Do hulu viewers count?
I really hope they don’t cancel it, because I enjoy this show immensely. It’s one of the best shows I have seen in a while and canceling it would just be a disservice to those who do enjoy and watch it.
please, ABC, do not cancel this show! Everytime you guys put on a show I like and watch every week, you cancel it 🙁 Flashforward is a prime example. I LOVED that show! And yet, I and millions of others, were left to wonder what a second season might have brought. I don’t understand the ratings things…perhaps more people should be rated to determine these things. All these stupid reality shows seem to stay around forever, but true entertainment like Flashforward and Once Upon A Time are let go. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep it on! Give us a Season 2!
Once upon a time is a wonderful flashback to all of our childhood stories that draws me in every week to see how it works into our “everyday” world. This series needs at least another season to prove its popularity