Tonight marks the season finale of NBC’s Parenthood. The ratings are down so will it end up being the series finale as well? Will the show be cancelled or return for a fourth season?
Parenthood debuted back in March of 2009 as a mid-season replacement series. The first season’s 13 episodes ended up averaging a 2.6 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 6.38 million total viewers. The show was on the bubble but ended up getting renewed.
NBC didnt wait until mid-season to bring it back and season two kicked off in September 2010. With a full 22 episode season, the show’s averages dropped to a 2.1 in the demo and 5.34 million. Parenthood was on the bubble once again but, once again, it ended up being renewed.
This season, the ratings have dropped once again. The third season of Parenthood (not including tonight’s numbers) have averaged a 1.9 in the demo with 5.13 million. Based on the lower numbers at the start of the season, NBC only ordered 18 installments this time around.
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Ordinarily, one would expect that Parenthood would be on the verge of cancellation once again. However, because the rest of NBC’s schedule is in such sorry shape, Parenthood’s ratings actually look pretty good by comparison.
Out of the 17 scripted programs that have aired on NBC this season, Parenthood has the sixth highest demo ratings, beating out shows like Community, Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, and Grimm. On our NBC ratings report card, Parenthood registers a firm “B.”
Based on the season numbers and the fact that Parenthood is co-produced by Universal Television, NBC’s own production company, it’s almost guaranteed to be back for a fourth season.
But, what do you think? Do you think Parenthood should be renewed or cancelled? How long should the series reasonably continue?
Image courtesy NBC.
Parenthood is a great show!! I DVR it each Tues. Just watched the season finale and loved it! I would be very disappointed if NBC did not renew for next season!
Please do not cancel this show! It is so well written and acted and i love each show. Really hope it comes back next season.
I can’t believe NBC would even think of canceling a show like Parenthood. With all the garbage on network and cable TV it is very rare to find a show with great characters, great story line and super acting. Not everything has to have blood, violence, gore, explosions etc. I will be one very very unhappy tv viewer if it is cancelled.
I work on the show Parenthood and watch it faithfully. Not only because I work on it, but because it is a great show !!! I am confident that it will be back for a couple more seasons, but only time will tell. I’m hoping that we can get back to full seasons (22 episodes). It would be crazy to think that NBC/Universal would not bring the show back for a full 22 episode season, being that 22 more episodes will get the show syndicated. It used to take 100 episodes, but in the recent years, they have dropped it… Read more »
I love this show–it’s the only one hour drama about family life that I know of right now. In my opinion there is an audience for these shows. They may not be the same audience that watches sports or reality TV, but most moms in their 30s and 40s are talking about this show everywhere they go!
I am 33 yrs. old and cannot stand all of this reality tv and crime and all that jazz.. This show is AWESOME!! i look forward to Parenthood just to see what the Braverman family is up to.. PLEAE DO NOT CANCEL!!!
LOVE, love, love this show!!! it is one of the best on tv right now. it shows family life in it’s truest form, without all of the added drama that all of the lame reality shows have. I am a devoted watcher along with my neighbors (we all watch together). Keep Parenthood on!!!
I love Parenthood!! Please renew for Season Four!!!
Agree with Julie….we also have to dvr Parenthood and Harry’s law. These two shows are about the best there is. There must be a way to trak the dvr people so that they would have a true picture of the viewership.
This is a great show that me & my husband look forward to every week. The season finale was beautiful. We just love it & hope it comes back for Season 4.
DO NOT CANCEL!!!
PLEASE DO NOT CANCEL THIS SHOW! I watch it faithfully every week and love the cast and the story lines. It portrays a REAL family and I look forward to spending my Tuesday nights with The Braverman Family. It is the best family drama on television and it would be a huge mistake to drop it!!!!!!!
Great show! Perfect for parents over 30. Perhaps too narrow of an audience though to survive.
Parenthood is an all round quality show. I beg NBC not to cancel. It reminds me a little of the old Family series with Sada Thompson.
We also like Harry’s Law and Prime Suspect, but Parenthood is at the top of our list for renewal.
Parenthood is the ONLY show my husband and I watch. We are so tired of the crime dramas and the reality tv shows. Parenthood actually has substance, depth, and resonates with the average person. Please don’t cancel it. There is so much of the same, boring, recycled stuff out there and Parenthood is fresh and unique.