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 the show. Great story and the character development was intriguing. Please renew…one of the most watched cable shows, Breaking Bad, did not catch on for a couple of seasons.
Best show on TV. Please renew. We miss it.
Please renew!! Best show on TV. Very disappointed and we miss it.
Please RENEW ” PURE GENIUS ” IT WAS THE ” BEST SHOW ON TV” I REALLY MISS IT !
I really enjoyed the show. I was amazed at the medical side of the show, never really thought in those terms.. learned a lot.
Would love to see another season.
It was a good show it gives people something to think about
I liked the show and watched it each week. I liked the story lines and the characters. Too bad it wasn’t given a chance.
Loved it and wish they would reconsider
I enjoyed the series tremendously and I am sorry the network never gave it much of a chance.
CBS, P L E A S E don’t cancel this show!! Like others have said, why are ratings always based on the 18-49 demographic? That’s not who’s watching and loving this show. The 18-49 demographic used to be accurate, but that’s no longer the case and hasn’t been for awhile. CBS, you may not want to admit that’s true, but a lot of those people don’t even watch the traditional network TV shows anymore. So why would ratings be based on them? Give this great show a chance. Run it another season and then check ratings using the 49-80 demographic.… Read more »
I agree. They should show it again.
I just cannot believe that CBS is not giving Pure Genius a chance to catch on. I rarely watched any shows on CBS until Pure Genius came along. I loved the show. I really believe that Grey’s Anatomy is running out of steam. Pure Genius needs to be renewed.
I loved the show. It gave hope to people with challenges with their health and the staff is so caring and determined to try to help. Hope they keep the show.
I enjoyed the show..give it a chance..
Really enjoyed this show
So sad to have a GREAT show canceled after just one season! I never missed it!! It had substance and meaning to it and wasn’t just a new typical medical show. Of course the NO BRAINERS get to stay on.