The peacock network recently premiered a new mystery series for the summer called Persons Unknown. Will the series last? Will viewers get answers to their questions or be left hanging?
Persons Unknown revolves around a group of strangers who wake up in a strange hotel and find that they’re in a ghost town and unable to leave. They see security cameras observing them and their unknown captors create mistrust among the group by offering freedom if they hurt the others. The cast includes Chadwick Boseman, Lee Purcell, Jason Wiles, Andy Greenfield, Daisy Betts, Tina Holmes, Alan Ruck, Kate Lang Johnson, Sean O’Bryan, and Gerald Kyd.
The NBC mystery series debuted on June 7th to very disappointing ratings. The premiere attracted a poor 1.4 rating in the 18-49 demographic and just 4.38 million viewers. That represents a distant third place for the timeslot and is an even worse performance than last year’s I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.
In week two, the numbers dropped to a 1.2 rating and 3.52 total viewers. Episode three’s ratings dropped even further to a 1.0 in the demo and only 2.87 million viewers. How much lower can the numbers go?
The network is promoting Persons Unknown as a mini-series and say that all viewer questions will be answered by the end of the 13th episode. There have been talks that if the show is successful, it could return for a second season (like CBS’ Harper’s Island). The series was created with international buyers in mind so if it’s successful in other countries, year two could be forthcoming (ala The Listener). However, with ratings like these, NBC wouldn’t likely have an interest in buying it.
Actually, the peacock network could pull the show off the air before all of the current episodes have even aired. NBC has moved it up to 8pm for the next couple weeks, trying to attract a few more viewers. Hopefully, the network will let all 13 episodes air and allow faithful viewers to see the story reach its conclusion. At this point, a move to Saturday nights or forcing people to watch episodes online wouldn’t come as a surprise.
What do you think? Is Persons Unknown worth watching or would you just cancel it before all the episodes have aired?
Image courtesy NBC.
Persons Unknown kept getting better. I would like to see “Welcome to Level II.”
Typical of NBC and all networks:
John: Have you seen Persons Unknown? It is one of the best shows ever.
Sue: No. When is it on?
John: Um, well, Mondays sometimes on at 8:00, or 9:00, or 10:00 or something like that or Saturdays or is that gymnastics. I keep forgetting about the moves and miss shows. Plus one of the episodes might only be online so you will miss out on important story info.
Sue: Well, if no one can tell me when it’s on…..
please bring the show back for a 2nd season, i absolutely loved it.
the writing sucked – through all 12 episodes these people never had a serious discussion about who or what could do this? Maybe that got scratch in the writing room. It was slow start and got better but then I only found the programming of end by accident – no wonder there wasn’t enough of an audience they could follow the scheduling. I liked it because it was something different – can’t have too much of that around. NBC has really been unkind to viewer so of shows like Law & Order Criminal Intent where I thought it found a… Read more »
I wanted some answers. Didn’t get them.
My son and I got really hooked on this series, as we did Harpers Island. We enjoy trying to figure out who the bad guy is before it is revealed. I won Harpers Island! However, Persons Unknown’s ending was a big disappointment. I thought we were going to get all the answers, the bad guys found out, stopped, and Janet would be back with her daughter. But, I also did not realize it was a series. I thought it would be one season only like Harpers Island. So, if you can bring it back for a second season, I know… Read more »
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do another season!!! All was NOT revealed and I want more. This show was not promoted well, and I believe that if people had a chance to get hooked again, that the ratings would be much higher. You CAN’T leave us hanging!!!!!
Wow, people have been brain washed by network programing for so long that no longer know what a mystery is about. Persons Unknown was great! Lost ending sucked, and answered nothing. Every other show on network TV is some crime or hospital show, following the plan of S squared D squared. Because Persons unknown didn’t follow a simple plot line doesn’t make it a bad show. Persons unknown ended by showing us that the story goes deeper than originally thought. There could and I hope will be a 2nd season. But if not, it showed you how the foundation goes… Read more »
If I have my dates and episodes correctly,episodes 11 & 12 were shown on Saturday,August 28th.
Does this mean the finale (episode 13) will be shown next week on Saturday, September 4th ?
I have checked my TV schedule and DO NOT show it is listed.
Please ,can someone give me a correct analysis and schedule (with dates)?
Needless to say, I really cannot believe NBC would leave us hanging without a proper conclusion.
This series has been quite unique and exciting.
HELP !!!!
Art
@Art: Episode 11 was released as an “online exclusive.” If you search this site, you’ll be able to see it. Last night’s were episodes 12 and 13.
Like many others I loved the show, and it was the best way to get over that empty hole that Lost created when it ended. The final episode was a huge letdown however, they needed to answer way more questions, the show definitely needs and the story warrants one more series. But from what I have read it was not very popular. I cannot believe how that can be so, I think maybe people are annoyed by the shows trying to copy Lost’s formulae. If they do have one more series they need to kill of Erica; by far the… Read more »
After watching the final episode, I am still wondering why the announcer kept saying “by the end of the summer all will be revealed” (something like that). The only thing it revealed is why in the world did I waste my time watching this show. I want the 13 hours of my life back. I LOVED the joe charachter when he was in Third Watch- I suppose that’s why I kept tuning in. Thank God for Tivo, as I could get through the episodes a little quicker. But I just don’t get what happened, who was the director and why,… Read more »
I hope the show is canceled. It originally had an intriguing premise, but there is no way they can extend it now without the writing getting ridiculous. Too many show continue past the point where they make sense or are interesting. Remember how good “Heroes” was when it started? Remember how much the last season sucked? That would be the fate of “Persons Unknown” if they try to continue it. The right thing for the show would have had it be planned to be one season only all along. That way the writers could have written a cohesive, complete story,… Read more »
i love the show, its great. I think the problem is the fact that they didn’t promote the show much. IF ONLY PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT IT!!!
I HOPE IT DOES NOT CANCEL ESPECIALLY SINCE DUMB SHOWS LIKE THE GHOST WHISPERER RAN FOR MORE SEVERAL SEASONS, EWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love this show but I was hoping for some answears with tonights finale. I am so sick of these shows that end without telling you what is going on. If NBC dosn’t continue this show with a season two I will never what another show of theirs. They have done this before and I have had enough.
i saw all 13 ep its a waste of time jus ep 12 was the best ep 13 was the worse this could of been the best show ever i hateted it i was a sopranos fan its like the same thing u get into it so much an the writers jus give u black at the end it might as well been if u saw e 13 Cancel it cuz they will never get out all of the seasons r gonna end the same way jus like it started they dont answer any ?s they jus give more an… Read more »
Here is my big reveal : You suck!!!! I will no longer watch your stupid show. Just trying to drag people along for —– nothing. Well play your game without me and all my friends.
Losers