Last season, Person of Interest moved to Tuesday nights and lost Taraji P. Henson. The show also lost a lot in the ratings. Will the numbers continue to fall or will they rise with a new lead-in? Is it essentially guaranteed to be renewed for a fifth season by CBS (because of syndication) or, could it be cancelled? Stay tuned.
On Person of Interest, a presumed dead former-CIA agent (Jim Caviezel) and a mysterious billionaire (Michael Emerson) work together to prevent violent crimes in New York City. The rest of the cast includes Kevin Chapman, Sarah Shahi, and Amy Acker.
The ratings are typically the best indication of a show’s likelihood of staying on the air. The higher the ratings (particularly the 18-49 demo), the better the chances for survival. This chart will be updated as new ratings data becomes available — usually the next day, around 11:30am EST/8:30am PST. Refresh to see the latest.
5/11 update: Person of Interest has been renewed for a fifth season on CBS. Will it be the end?
Final season averages: 1.53 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 9.42 million total viewers.
Note: If you’re not seeing the updated chart, please try reloading the page or view it here.
Due to a Nielsen glitch, some of the early ratings of the 2014-15 season were revised a few weeks later.
For comparisons: The third season of Person of Interest averaged a 2.0 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 11.83 million total viewers.
Note: Note: These are the Live + Same Day Ratings which include “live” viewing plus delayed DVR viewing, up until 3am local time that same night. Ratings marked with an “*” are the fast affiliate ratings and will be updated with the Live+SD numbers when they are made available. Typically, networks get paid for C+3 ratings which includes DVR viewing within three days of the original airing when commercials are watched. Those numbers are rarely released to the press.
What do you think? Do you still like the Person of Interest TV series? Do you think it should be cancelled or be renewed for a fifth season?
Returning Person of Interest would thrill me to pieces!
It would be thrilling if Person of Interest could return to its former glory with all the right pieces.
Unfortunately, the thrill is gone, as are the most integral pieces…..and the ratings left too.
Without Joss Carter and all of that Samaritan/Decima Nonsense Person of Interest simply has become boring, very boring (to me).
No i’m not too stupid to follow the plot (as those so-called “smart fans” of this show like to tell us), this plot simply just does not INTEREST me. And that’s all.
They ruined my show with that move. I really miss the old days. We had excellent writing, great characters and Joss Carter.
What do we have now………?
“What do we have now…….?” Memories, lament, red ink on a chart that should have green ink (see above), a failing television drama, fans and former fans who will never forget about or forgive being disrespected and taken for granted, questions about why certain actions were discharged and severe disappointment in a poorly written, sketchy, less than socially diverse undertaking that believes itself innovative and thought provoking. That’s basically what we have now, in addition to all the other personal opinions and bitterness. Instead of being remembered and discussed for positive reasons, the legacy of Person of Interest will never… Read more »
As far as I am concered, there are only two things worth watching on TV. Both are on CBS: Person of Interest and Elementary. Excellent acting, good writing, what more do we want?
With regard to “what more do we want?”, I can only speak for myself. There is nothing I want from or for Person of Interest. I believe there is no possibility it will recover the brilliance that made it a hit drama with excellent ratings and a hugely loyal following. There are many reasons millions of former fans no longer watch the show and never will again. If the acting was excellent and the writing was good, the numbers on the above chart would not be so dismal. What has happened to Person of Interest is most unfortunate, tragic and… Read more »
obviously television is subjective however there are rational reason for a declining a low or declining viewership that has nothing to do with quality of a show. i’m personally of the opinion that POI gets better with time. But the main reason why there is a declining viewership is because the format has changed. Most programs on network tv are episodic or procedural, whereby people can tune in at any point in the season and easily be entertained because there isn’t a needed backstory. POI used to be more like that but has changed into serialised television with backstory and… Read more »
Why did the Person of Interest format change and how do advertisers feel about losing money? Don’t shows lose revenue opportunities if viewership declines, especially in the desired demographic? Quality means little if no one appreciates it. People do not like to be mislead or duped.
@toomuchtele43 “obviously television is subjective however there are rational reason for a declining a low or declining viewership that has nothing to do with quality of a show” Why do you think the reasons given here are irrational? If we were talking about a show that does not have a history of being a top five show with desirable demographics ratings, I would agree. But in the case of “Person of Interest” — declining ratings has everything to do with quality. POI is not some obscure show that deserves better ratings if people would only watch or give it a… Read more »
+1 @Anon
Agreed! I would like to have seen the relationship between Reese & Carter develop. He seemed to be calm and personable around her, and she was a charismatic beauty. It would have been interesting. It’s too bad they destroyed that relationship before it got started. As for Reese and Finch, I don’t understand why their partnership or friendship is being side-lined or deferred either. A little levity between the characters would go a long way at this point. I guess they need robots in the midst of their little machine war.
@Anon As I understood toomuchtele43 wasn’t calling the reasons given on this thread irrational. I had the impression he views them as emotional and I agree. Some people are disappointed with the changes made and the direction the show has taken and the emotional response is to stomp on everything. As you can guess I have a different view in regards to the points 1-3 in your post. I agree with 4 because that refers to some people’s reactions not to the show itself. But of course the show took a gamble with those changes. It would have been safer… Read more »
@Eva He/she should see the responses here as emotional because they are. All responses here are emotional because we are all human. But he/she used the word “irrational” which may mean that he/she sees the reasons given here as illogical or unreasonable. If the reviews here were all positive and supported the show wholeheartedly; what would that make the reviews here then? Less emotional and “rational?” There is a passionate reaction in some of the responses surely, but we’ve all demonstrated that in our varied opinions as well. You are still enjoying the show, and see nothing wrong with its… Read more »
@Anon I looked at toomuchtele43’s post again (and used Crtl+F) and they don’t use the word “irrational”, nor did I get that general impression from the post. Offering “rational reasons” is not the same as condemning others opinions as irrational. As I understood it toomuchtele43 was offering some neutral explanations for the decline in ratings – the preference for procedurals among the original audience, the expectation of viewers regarding which type of shows are on which channel etc. Even if you yourself believe the main problem is how the serialization happened and not that it happened, I think you can… Read more »
@ Eva
Agree to disagree.
+1 @Anon
When the show gets cancelled, there will still be those saying it’s a great show and there’s nothing wrong with it. After all…all those millions of fans that POI lost just ran away disappointed for no good reason. I’m sure Nolan and Plageman thought there was nothing wrong with all those delusionally great “improvements” they thought they were making. Well, we all see how that turned out.
Agree to disagree indeed!
There are a lot of negative and positive comments about canceling POI. There are a lot of good suggestions for improving what some think is wrong. It seems like with all of the response this has created that the series must have a better following than the network gives it credit for, so WHY cancel it. My family loves it. We watch it faithfully and have missed it during the holidays. Who are the networks listening to or are they even listening? PLEASE DO NOT CANCEL IT!! POI has a strong following.
@Anon
Indeed
@Lakewood
Thank you for inadvertly proving my point about people taking the changes personally.
@Eva
Yeah. Don’t forget to include yourself in that taking it personally thing.
POI used to be more like that but has changed into serialised television with backstory and character development
in other words, POI was a quality procedural that people tuned in to watch live and now it is a listless, directionless soap opera, oh, excuse me, serialized drama that no person has an interest in except a few fanboys
“Before POI felt like a better than average procedural but now it has turned into a standout show.”
ratings and most comments say different
Must be they are usng writers from the cancelled Heros show. Both shows started out great and dropped into the toilet when they got stupid and too complex story lines. God this show is terrible now. Minus one more viewer now.
say what you want, but nolan was right when he said his changes would take POI to whole new level…… oh he meant up, sorry
Where are Jonah Nolan and Gregory Plageman? Last year, at this time, they were bragging about all the positive changes they were making to their hit show, including casting changes that would have fanboys salivating and ensuring heightened ratings. I remember episodes of the drama during which both men “tweeted” about the action.
What happened? Why are the creators and writers so quiet now? Person of Interest has lost its mojo and Nolan and Plageman seem to have lost their voices.
Terrible ratings and declining viewership can crush inflated egos and silence boisterousness.
Nolan is off developing a reboot of “Westworld” for HBO. He’s left Plageman pretty much holding the bag, as far as I can tell. But you’re right that they’ve both gone fascinatingly quiet this season. Nothing to brag about, I suppose — but that never stopped them before!
“quiet” show runners who are moving on to other projects….. sounds like POI is on the express train to cancelville
People……….former fans……….new fans…………significant numbers of Nielsen box representatives…………….not enough personages care enough about Person of Interest or like the show enough to watch it and make it a viable television offering. The ratings for the drama are mediocre, at best, and this is deeply troubling for a program that once was a “monster hit.” The party is over. Like it or not, the truth will not go away, rather reinforcing its bitter relevance with each weeks decline in significant viewership. Someone saw fit to alter a perfect recipe and add ingredients which did nothing to complement the base. The result… Read more »
Geez get over Carter dying it been over a year do people still whine about Kate dying in season 2 of ncis? How many regulars did 24 kill off over the seasons? This show is great you gotta look at the bigger picture if only CBS wouldn’t have messed with it’s timeslot things would be fine look at last years number 2 highest scripted show Ncis La move to a 10 oclock time slot and its viewers and demo have nose dived! With Netflix starting POI next year CBS should look at giving it it’s old timeslot back and bringing… Read more »
Subjects of discussion doesn’t have a limitation on it; so people can talk about Carter as much as they want. Whine, criticize, complain, or whatever, as much as they want. That falls into the freedom of speech category; and you’re not liking it falls into the too bad one. The show is great to you so enjoy it. It’s not so great to the 6 to 7 million viewers that left. Blame Nolan for the way things have turned out. He’s the one that decided to take the show into stupid. See above ratings.
What is it with you people and Carter? Why is it only Carter fans who are fed up with this show? So, it’s just the Carter fans who have stopped watching and sent POI’S numbers plummeting? Seems to me, if the Carter fans have this much power and influence, somebody in the know at CBS/WB should be trying to harness that or something. I’m just saying.
Someone has harnessed the “Joss Carter” brilliance and ability to attract television viewers. Be sure to see Taraji P. Henson, starring in EMPIRE, on Fox TV debuting on January 7, 2015. Nolan’s loss!!!!
+1
no one brought up carter except for you. which is proof even you fanboys know that carter’s death was the point when POI went from hit to SH&T
Person on Interest is one of my favorite series. I would hate for it to be canceled. They have an excellent cast of characters, good writers, and an original story premise. Please keep it going for the 2015-2016 season
I was a great fan of this show, but the audio is so bad I cannot understand what is being said. Why would I watch a show when I can’t hear the dialog? Your audio SUCKS.
How low can you go at this point I guess. When I first heard they had hired a two time Emmy nominee (Emerson), a man that is the star of one of the highest grossing movies (Caviezel), and an Academy award nominated actress (Henson) I knew they would have a hit on their hands because they are all great actors. They were lucky to have gotten all three of them really. But there are no guarantees when you have people who are not the best at making decisions for their own show. Good for the people that are still enjoying… Read more »
I love Root & Shaw. I like the current story line too. Yes…the ratings are down…but…so are the majority of shows that have been on 3 seasons or more. I’m confident POI will get another…probably last…renewal. The writers will be able to script a conclusion over a full season. Hopefully, it will have a satisfactory ending. I do feel bad for all the people who hate the program. I suggest you endlessly complain about State of Affairs. A truly bad series.
No, thank you. I’ll complain endlessly about this show until it is no longer on the air. It’s the least I can do.
I echo your sentiments, TXGeek, and will join you in lamenting the unending destruction of a drama that once held great promise. Unfortunately, Person of Interest twists slowly in its own hot wind, basted by the excuses of hangers on, continuous rationalization and endless explanation of why things are the way they are, in spite of terrible ratings, and what a fabulous show is offered. Cancellation would be merciful, but for those unable to accept reality, let them languish in further ratings free fall. A year ago, I felt bad about the death of the Joss Carter character. Today, I… Read more »
I love both Root and Shaw, but, do agree it was a mistake to get rid of Henson. She was amazing.
Was “The Cold War” episode heavily focused on Root or Shaw (or both)? The episodes that highly focus on those two seem to pull the lowest ratings. My question is why are they gung-ho on keeping two people around that have tanked the ratings from the moment of their appearance (Acker, Shahi); but got rid of the one the was popular and helped raise the ratings (Henson). The show was too young to even think about doing a complete change on story-lines and killing a very popular character. You know something is wrong when Bear the dog is getting better… Read more »
I don’t know what to say about this show anymore. Seriously, what the heck was that last night? ….and why can’t they see that some of these lines and acting is cringe-worthy? In my opinion…”Cold War” is ridiculous and banal. The writing talent has run its course evidently. The irony is in their quest to be original; they’ve turned the show into something quite unoriginal and silly. The show-runners and writers (and some of the actors) do not have the depth to bring an AI storyline to any kind of believability. What a disappointment. The show is unrecoverable at this… Read more »