What happened to Pure Genius? Recently, star Augustus Prew spoke with TVLine about the CBS series and why it’s likely to be cancelled.
The drama follows top medical professionals as they team up with cutting-edge tech experts and try to push the boundaries of modern medicine to save lives. The cast includes Prew, Dermot Mulroney, Odette Annable, Reshma Shetty, Aaron Jennings, Ward Horton, and Brenda Song.
Season one of Pure Genius finished in January after CBS decided not to order more episodes—a bad sign for any chance of a renewal. Additionally, ratings for the medical drama were not good. Over the course of 13 episodes, the series averaged a .86 rating in the 18-49 demo and 5.342 million viewers, making it one of the network’s lowest-rated and least-watched new series for the 2016-2017 season. It’s unlikely the show will be renewed for a second season.
Speaking to TVLine, Prew said he thinks Pure Genius had an identity crisis:
But if I’m being honest, I think we got caught between two different shows. I think CBS wanted something a little more procedural, and [executive producer] Jason [Katims, of Friday Night Lights/Parenthood fame] wanted something a little more character-driven.
Prew later added that the show’s lack of direction was what brought it down:
CBS and Jason had slightly different visions of what they wanted the show to be, and as a consequence we weren’t enough of either, if that make sense. If it’s going to be a procedural, we should have done a procedural and taken out of the character development. And if it was going to be about these characters and their lives and coming to terms with their own mortality — which is what I wanted the show to be about — we should have pushed that further. … It lost its reason to be. I think that’s where we fell down, if I’m looking at it under a new light.”
What do you think? Did you see Pure Genius? Do you think CBS should renew the show?
I loved Pure Genius and never.missed am episode! Yes, bring it back, Please
I absolutely love the show. I don’t appreciate them killing all the shows that I love. they get you hooked and then they yank it. I say please leave it on whatever it is you think that’s wrong with it, fix it
We like the show…it should be given another chance…should be more character driven…
Please renew Pure Genius! I love this show & was excited to see the development of the story line with trying to develop a cure for James & his patient. I have a close friend with a similar illness, so personal for me! Love the stories & the Characters! Please give this show another chance! I too am over 50!
I watched every episode, and I loved the show! It was creative and intelligent. One of the biggest contributors to its small following was it was shown on Thurs evenings against the Shondra Rhimes “TGIT” trilogy from 8-11 pm. Those shows were entrenched over 3 years! How about giving Pure Genius a fair chance on, say, one of the comedy nights?
I loved this show, and hubby liked it too. We are far from the 18-49 year old group but we spend money too! Would love to have it return.
I live in Scotland and we loved the show. I say give it another shot. The cast were all brilliant and some of the storylines warrant finishing off.
Please renew
great show, give it another season and see what happens…..
I think cbs should renew pure genius. My whole family watches this show. This is one of the best shows cbs. I ll be so disappointed if they don’t renew. I’m 58 yrs old wife I’d 62 my son is 28 yrs Ilan my daughter 27 yrs old.
I watched every episode and really enjoyed it. I am not in the 18 – 49 age group, so, of course I don’t count for anything! There must not have been enough cursing, violence or sex so it had to go. What a shame. It was an excellent show.
Don’t cancel the show, it was an awesome medical show. It showed what future medicine looks like and how we deal with harder medical problems.
I love this show. Please keep it on somewhere. I think it has a great cast and great story lines. Great actors. You manage to get rid of the good shows and keep the crappy shows on. Keep it up, we may all go to Netflix and movies.
Judy–well said. I joined Netflix for the first time and for exactly the reason you stated.
No! Please don’t cancel Pure Genius. That is such a good show. Life is precious and they work so hard to save lives. It’s just so up building
Shows don’t have to have dying. Can’t we focus on good things happening?
I’ve written before to continue this show. There may be a split in the aims of executives for its direction, but for me they both work together. Both character development and medical procedure worked well in each episode. Plot diversity due to the diverse characters and speculation about medical innovation was refreshing compared to say Chicago Med and Code Black, both of which I followed. Pure Genius had more depth of character than the former and less frenetic medical procedure than the latter, a plus for Pure Genius. I’d like to see the show continue at a more favorable time… Read more »