Late in the 2013-14 season, NBC and ABC launched three new Sunday night dramas — all with single word titles. NBC cancelled Crisis and Believe while ABC renewed Resurrection for a second season. In retrospect, was that a good decision for the alphabet network? Should Resurrection have been cancelled as well?
On Resurrection, a small town in Missouri is turned upside down when long-dead loved ones return after 30 years. The cast includes Omar Epps, Frances Fisher, Matt Craven, Devin Kelley, Mark Hildreth, Samaire Armstrong, Sam Hazeldine, Landon Gimenez, and Kurtwood Smith.
Debuting on March 9th, Resurrection had a great launch with a 3.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 13.9 million total viewers. (Those numbers are about the same as this season’s How to Get Away with Murder’s debut.)
Unfortunately, Resurrection’s ratings dropped about 19% in week two and they kept falling nearly every week of the eight episode season. The seventh installment hit a low of a 1.9 rating with 7.85 million — half of the premiere’s demo rating.
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Considering the poor luck that the alphabet network had last year launching new dramas, it wasn’t much of a surprise that ABC renewed Resurrection. They didn’t have much choice. However, the ratings slide was a terrible sign for the future.
Now, the show has been really struggling in season two. After a positive second season debut, the ratings quickly dropped, falling to new series lows week after week. The October 26th installment registered a mere 1.2 rating with 4.36 million.
ABC recently ordered full seasons and additional episodes of many of their new and older shows. It was a telling sign that the network is only producing 14 episodes of Resurrection this season.
Unless the ratings improve, it looks very likely that Resurrection will be cancelled by May. Hopefully, the writers will give viewers some degree of closure before the end.
What do you think? Did you stop watching Resurrection? Should it have been a mini-series? Is competition from The Walking Dead and football the cause of the low ratings? Do you think Resurrection should be cancelled or renewed for a third season?
Wow, the Resurrection facebook page is going crazy. People do not want to see this show canceled. I know the ratings have gone down, but let’s see how it does this Sunday while the Walking Dead is on hiatus. There is also a Renew Resurrection for a Final Season facebook page which has a link where you can write ABC and let your voice be heard. I am really hoping that the fans can save this show. I know I a very optomistic, but it seems to have a big following that watch it the next day because they are… Read more »
Please do not cancel Resurrection. I look forward to every episode and was happy to watch the latest episode this past Sunday. If ratings are falling as mentioned, then maybe the time slot needs to be changed as others commented. There aren’t many shows on TV that are not trashy or violent, or with no worthwhile substance (reality TV shows). Resurrection is unique. In addition, the storyline is captivating. Who wouldn’t want to see a loved once again who had been lost in death?
Please do not cancel Resurrection. I love this show. That’s my TV night for ABC.
Don’t canceled show. This is one of the best shows ABC has come up with, better than walking dead, or Once Upon a Time or others. Just need to advertise better when seasons begin. I found it last Sunday by coincidence. I love this show, and set reminder to watch in the beginning of the week.
Please dont cancel resurrection. I find this a fascinating show and watch it every week.
Resurrection is a way better show than Walking Dead. While Walking Dead has been running circles around itself since the beginnimg of the series (seriously, all I have seen in that show is oh look zombies lets have sex, oh no we have to find the cure nevermind we don’t know what the cure is. Oh look cannibals we must destroy them in the most gruesome way possible). Can you tell I hate that show? Resurrection on the other hand keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. That show demands your complete attention and hooks you… Read more »
It’s such a great show, but in a horrible time slot. Who on earth thought it was a good idea to run it against “The Walking Dead.” I hope they give it a chance somewhere else.
Love the show!!!! Hopefully ABC doesn’t cancel Resurrection!!
Resurrection is a great great show, it is true that there is competition with walking dead,
but I watch resurrection then the encore of walking dead which maybe too late in the evening for some, resurrection is a fantastic show but putting it back an hour is the solution, the great shows like resurrection are being cancelled and the junk shows get good ratings, I don’t get it
I’m with you, Ann! Too many junk reality shows with ridiculously high ratings. The dumbing down effect, I guess. I really hope they don’t cancel it. They should at least try to give it a different time slot.
I am with both of you! This show is too good. The Walking Dead had a big show last night, but so did Resurrection. The ratings are bad which breaks my heart because it is too good of a show and cast to be canceled. There is a facebook page if you have that you can go to called Renew Resurrection for a Final Season. You can send ABC feedback about not cancelling the show, but maybe move it to a different time because The Walking Dead is hurting it. So many people like both shows. Resurrection is my favorite… Read more »
I agree Ann and Tina. Resurrection is a fantastic show with a wonderful cast. It does seem like people enjoy mindless, dumb TV over intriguing, gets you thinking, make your own theories TV. I really, really really hope it’s not canceled. It’s too good of a show. I have written to ABC about it. You can go to the Renew Resurrection for a Final Season facebook page and there you can contact ABC and like the page to show your support. The Walking Dead does hurt this show. Ann you watch both, isn’t The Walking Dead now on a hiatus?… Read more »
I have already liked the Renew page and I sent 3 feedback messages to ABC. I also go to TV.com and rate every episode. I don’t know if anyone looks at that, but it couldn’t hurt. Omar Epps has been a favorite of mine since his days on House. The entire cast is exceptional. I do not watch Walking Dead, but I really think that they need to move Resurrection to a different time slot; it can’t compete with WD.
I didn’t know about TV.com. Like you said it couldn’t hurt, so I will start doing that as well. I love Omar Epps too going back to House and I am also like you. I just can’t get into zombies, but people seem to love them. Hurts our favorite show.
Keep it,we love it !
I’m absolutely flabbergasted that Resurrection is up on the chopping block because the continuing narrative and story-line is much more original and unique than any of the other sci-fi genre shows on TV now. Then there’s the excellent caliber of acting talent on that show which made it all the more worth watching and entertaining too. Keep this show going and please, oh please, do not cancel it!
I think it should be renewed. It’s plot has a very intriguing twist in the second season
Drop it back an hour i love the show and the walking dead but it cannot compete.
Please don’t cancel resurrection it is a good show .The walking dead is so stupid walking Zombies killing all the time .dumbest show ever
If you do not liked The Walking Dead then it’s not for you. It is not for me either but I respect my sister for liking it so much. I enjoyed the Resurrection but I do not think it’s a good show either. I will continue to watch it until it’s cancel or I lost the interest in it one day. Have a respect!
I love the show,if the ratings are down due to the ABC Executives putting it up against the Walking Dead on AMC,then wise up and put Resurrection on Friday night when nothing much is on.