This evening, fans of ABC’s Revenge may be in for a surprise. The freshman drama has been replaced by an ABC special with a similar name — Revenge for Real. That’s no doubt the network’s attempt to attract regular viewers to watch a news special. So, has the real Revenge been cancelled? When will it be back?
For those who aren’t familiar with the TV series, Revenge revolves around Emily Thorne (Emily Van Camp), a young woman who comes to the Hamptons with a secret agenda; to exact vengeance on the wealthy people who ruined her family’s life and reputation. The drama also features the talents of Ashley Madekwe, Christa B. Allen, Connor Paolo, Gabriel Mann, Henry Czerny, Joshua Bowman, Madeleine Stowe, and Nick Wechsler.
Revenge debuted to a healthy 3.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 10.0 million total viewers. Week two saw the all-important demo fall 18% and week three dropped another 11%. Over the next several weeks, the ratings rose and fell, dropping as low as a 2.1 demo rating.
The way things were going, it looked like Revenge might be heading for the cancellation pile — like so many failed ABC dramas that had come before it — but the numbers evened off and the show’s been averaging a healthy 2.5 in the demo in 2012. While the show isn’t a big ratings hit, it certainly isn’t a flop either. Revenge’s demo average is actually stronger than that of aging shows like Castle and Private Practice.
Unfortunately, ABC has now put the series on hiatus for four weeks — a bit of a scheduling gamble that could seriously hurt viewership.
ABC News’ Revenge for Real will take over for two weeks and then repeats of a new Thursday night drama, Missing, will fill the slot for two weeks after that. Revenge isn’t slated to return until April 4th. It’s unclear if that night will feature a repeat or one of the six remaining originals.
The way things stand right now, it looks like a sure bet that Revenge will be renewed for a second season. Hopefully, enough viewers will return to watch the show after the hiatus so the ratings don’t drop and put the series’ future in jeopardy.
UPDATE: Revenge will now return on April 11th with a recap show. An original regular episode will air on April 18th and the finale will run on May 23rd.
What do you think? Will this hiatus cause the ratings to drop or do you think Revenge is assured of a season two renewal?
Image courtesy ABC.
This has been the best show on in a long times. I couldn’t wait for Wednesday night. Please bring it back
This is one of the best shows in a long time. Please don’t cancel
All of my friends love this show!
I love Revenge! What’s up with replacing it with another reality show. Come on ABC, which is my favorite network, please bring Revenge back. A better earlier time slot would help in Calif.
I can not believe any considereation for cancellation of this show is being undertaken. The show and entire cast is phenomenal. So well written, keeps you on your seat week to week waiting to see what and who it happens to next. You complain about numbers then set it up for potentially further negative numbers by the hiatus. All I can say is that it would be a personal shame to me and also to so many that I have seen comment on facebook positively regarding the show. In other words “DO NOT CANCEL / POSTPONE THIS SHOW !
If abc takes this show off the air ill never ever get myself into any other show o. That channel. No lie. I love revenge and im waiting for an entire month to return again.
With all the terrible reality shows being renewed for umpteen seasons it’s getting so that there is nothing worthwhile on TV. Go figure that a show that has grabbed the attention of so many is in danger of being forgotten due to the lunatics in charge of programming. Why all the changes? And why hasn’t there been more promoting this show? Goodness knows The Bachelor and Survivor #Who Cares? are being flogged incessantly. Get some sense people before you lose all credibility!
Great show – glad friend had taped the first 9 episodes. We had a marathon of Revenge on my way back home from Phillie and loved it. If any one saw Harper’s Island it is as good. Harper’s Island had a killing each week and the ending was surprising (unfortunately we knew it would not be back). Revenge keeps you guessing and if you are a true fan you won’t miss the next episode, but ABC or Revenge has kept us hanging on for way tooo long!
Unbelievable, this is not a top ranking TV show! It is one of the most intriguing, real life like shows being aired. PLEASE get it back on the air and don’t cancel.
R U SERIOUS!!!!!! soo many people watch this show,,and abc cancel it? wot a friggen joke!!!!!!!!! its getting the viewers so what is the problem?
I love this show. I can’t wait to see each week how it develops. Was very disappointed to see Revenge for real. Everything is hanging in the balance and we have to wait, and you may not renew it? Some kind of warning would have been nice.
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Revenge is one of the best t.v series that has ever been on television. Each and every week you think what are they gonna come up with next, they’ve covered everything. Next week they throw in a whole new turn to the story. It has you on the edge of your seats each and every week. Then all of a sudden it’s not on the t.v anywhere. I was searching every time and all channels for weeks. My sisters and my children have even been searching for The Best Series Ever”Revenge” Please keep the stories coming we love it! Can’t… Read more »
I was really enjoying this show…but like many others it seems this one too will sort
of come and go without explanation. Really sucks! Difficult to keep track of the
plot with this new and crappy TV way of doing business. Think it would be great
to boycott advertisers until we get some quality predictably shown TV shows.
This is my favorite show this year and it upsets me to even hear about the possibility of it’s being cancelled. It’s frustrating enough not to know for certain if it’s going to be on, if it’s a repeat, etc. so if it’s to be gone for 4 weeks they need to advertise on TV in advance exactly when it will return and air or many will miss it.
This is one of the best shows to come on in a while. ABC has done it a terrible dis-service in not playing episodes straight through, not getting the stars out there promoting it, and having so many breaks in between. If they had gone straight through, I think it would have a huge viewership. My friends all love it, but it is frustrating the way it has been handled. They need to finish up this season and then show all the previous episodes over the summer so people who haven’t seen it can catch up and be ready for… Read more »
I LOVE THIS SHOW!! But of course it will continue to lose viewers if it doesn’t stay on weekly. No one ever knows when it’s really on, it comes on then goes away for two or three weeks, people will lose interest that way. This is a really good show, better than some that ABC even shows all the time. I really hope they continue it and really do some good advertising weeks before it comes on again to get the viewers to come back.