Last night, NBC burned off the final two episodes of Prime Suspect. The TV series has been ratings-challenged right from the start and, in November, NBC acknowledged that they wouldn’t be ordering any installments beyond the initial 13 episode order. The official word was that they would re-evaluate once all of the episodes had aired but everyone knew that it was really being cancelled.
If there was even a glimmer of hope that Prime Suspect might see a second season, the ratings for the final episodes didn’t help. Prime Suspect’s numbers continued to dwindle in the latter part of 2011. Last night, following a month hiatus, the finale registered a new series low.
Prime Suspect has been all but officially cancelled by NBC and its replacement, The Firm, is doing even worse. Last Thursday’s episode registered a 0.9 rating for its fourth episode. It took Prime Suspect 10 weeks to drop that low. Fortunately for fans of The Firm, NBC purchased 22 episodes up front. It remains to be seen if they’ll all air.
At the recent TCA press tour, NBC execs noted that, had Prime Suspect been on a premium cable channel like Showtime, it would have been declared a hit and would have been quickly renewed. Maybe but we’ll never know.
What do you think? Are you sorry that this was the end of Prime Suspect? Why do you think it didn’t catch on? Would it have been a hit on HBO or Showtime or even on a basic cable station like TNT?
Image courtesy NBC.
It is too bad that all the good shows get cancelled and the crap stays on. Hopefully TNT or another cable network will pick it up like Southland got picked up to go on to more success than NBC could wait for.
Superior cop drama with a stellar cast. Love the actor’s chemistry. No wonder NBC is consistently in last place. There was a time NBC would have supported a critically acclaimed show with poor ratings that in time became hits, like Hill Street Blues and Seinfeld.
This show was real and smart…not some over-the-top, trying-to-be-hilarious show that NBC pushes on us (which actually falls flat on its face) like Up All Night or Whitney. Even The Office stinks now. Viewers really do have brains and like to be entertained by watching good acting and becoming involved in real stories, not contrived and ridiculous plots. Bring back Prime Suspect…only show on NBC that I like at this time!!!
Prime Suspect is a well thought out drama and arguably the best on NBC. The acting is superb. It needs more time and more promotion to build an audience base. Bring it back. It is currently our favorite drama on network TV.
How can you cancel such a great show. It’s the best new show of the season, and yet you keep lame shows like Whitney. Really? Come on, put it back on. Listen to the fans.
This was a really great show and the characters were outstanding. It had an NYPD Blue “feel” to it. People dont appreciate good acting and writing anymore. It’s been replaced with too many reality shows. The reality is I’m no longer watching NBC.
I’m really sad to see this great show go.
I’m disappointed the show has been cancelled. I was hoping the two episodes on Sunday signaled its return. This was one of the few shows I actually looked forward to watching each week. The writers and actors did a great job of developing the characters and their relatonships with one another each week. It was also a nice change of pace for a show to have a strong female lead that wasn’t botoxed, perfectly coifed, cleavage bearing and teetering on stilletos. I haven’t watched The Firm and do not intend to; however, it appears that show has worse ratings. NBC,… Read more »
loved the show and sorry to see it go. it’s amazing what stays and what goes. it just doesn’t make sense.
Prime Suspect was an EXCELLENT series!!! I think the marketing was unsupportive. This show had the potential of Law in Order….if Y’ALL GAVE IT A CHANCE.
Real world feel and can’t believe its being canceled!! BOOOOOOO!
Prime Suspect rocked! It was one of my all time favorite shows. I’m so disappointed it’s no longer on.
Bring back Prime Suspect!!!!!!
I am disappointed that Prime Suspect is being cancelled. I have looked forward to watching this show every week since it aired. NBC cancels so many shows they should not cancel and continues to air too many shows that should be cancelled. Maria Bello shines as Detective Timmony; the entire cast is so talented and work well together. Prime Suspect was the next NYPD…..what a shame.
Really sad to see you are killing off a great series. You (the powers that be!) keep teasing us with these really good shows and kick them off and put in the crude-rude &soft-porn reality(?) shows that make me lose my appetite and leave me feeling that I need to wash my hands. I don’t think I will be watching too many more new shows that will only leave me disappointed!
This can’t compete with the original. And it isnt good enough for Showtime.