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 The freshman drama has been replaced by an ABC special with a similar name — Revenge for Real.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.
I have been waiting, and waiting to see when Revenge was coming back, (or if it was). This show has been something that i looked forward to watching weekly, (and there are not a lot of shows that i do look forward to weekly!) I hope that the length of time they have taken off does not hurt the ratings more. I wish the networks would understand, when you start a show/series like this one, to keep the viewers watching, the story line needs to keep moving forward on a regular basis. Its like reading a murder mystery book, put… Read more »
The major networks don’t have a clue about viewer loyalty. Two things that will cause serious damage to a show are: 1) Disappearing for several weeks, and 2) Not being available On Demand. Except for the pilot, which I watched when it was broadcast, I’ve watched all of the other Revenge episodes on xfinity. Having violated rule #1, a catchup episode is needed. I MIGHT watch it and the finale. CBS violated Rule #2 for A Person of Interest, so I stopped watching that. Their broadcast schedule and my schedule conflicted. The networks need to get their act together or… Read more »
I dont understand what is going on with this tv station!!!! I have been watching Revenge from the very first episode, I looked forward to watching every wednesday… when abc messed up and took off our daytime soaps ( that we all have been watching for years!) I made a vow to not watch this station, then a family member told me that revenge was coming on and thought I would enjoy the program, and they were right! Now they take away another program that people enjoy… they keep feeding us these stupid reality shows that are so sickening, but… Read more »
I so agree! I looked forward to Wed night’s Revenge and I keep checking for it every week. Lately when I see some of the other crap they put I it’s place I change the station with in 60 seconds.
I love Revenge!!!! I’m becoming very frustrated with ABC. They have too many talk shows during the daytime and the evening shows they’re trying out are terrible. My husband and I do not care about watching tv for anything but the morning and evening news and dramas – we do NOT need any more food shows, talk shows, reality shows, etc. Please keep Revenge – it’s great!
Revenge is a good show though if I had to choose Body Of Proof is better. ABC is a mess between killing their daytime schedule cancelling 2 forty year running soaps for 2 talk shows that are going down faster than a $10 hooker in ratings with many calling them “unwatchable”. What ABC and the morons in charge don’t understand is people are leery of investing in a new show when it could get the axe in a season or less. Idiot shows like “Ugly Betty” gets 4 seasons by playing the ethnic and gay cards while shows with substance… Read more »
I LOVE THIS SHOW! It has action it has suspense it has empathetic figures! This is the Knots Landing/Dallas of the 2000’s! I LOVE EMILY ….DALLAS as a whole was UPSET when Brothers & Sisters was canceled…. Everyone on town watches this show because everyone secretly wants to get REVENGE !! for something even as low as some drunken brawl in college…I LIVE MY LIFE WITH EMILY!!!!
Micheal Pearrow,M.Ed.
This show is great and we will stick around!!!!!
Don’t screw this up.
Love this show. I would love to see a season 2 just wish abc would not spread the episodes out, if they were concerned about ratings then be constant with the show and new episodes instead of three weeks off two repeats then a new episode. Just saying
This is not the way to treat the loyal viewers of the Revenge. Saving this one for ABC’s bloopers of the year. Another question of, what the heck were they thinking? Perhaps I will go back to watching it, perhaps my own revenge will be just to dump the effort for the way they treat loyal viewers- and I am not kidding.
We look forward to the return of “Revenge”! It is a great show and if it continues with new episodes there will be a consistent loyal following!!
I absoultely postively, LOVE THIS SHOW. It gets more and more intersting every episode.Like Katie I don’t really care for real revenge either. Can’t wait for the new episode. This show rocks.
That show is awesome. How you they even think about taking it off. ABC what are you doing?? Do we matter who loves that show??
I have watched it every episode, so has a lot of others. Why even bother any more if all your going to do is keep cancelling shows we love.
i love this show, cant wait for it to come back on
My favorite new show this year. But sorry, if the network wants to fool around and take it off the air for four or five weeks, I won’t be back. What makes these TV people think the way they do.
I love REvenge! I am on this site because I was looking to see when it returns. Why do networks screw around with people like this? when we finally find a show we enjoy–then they take it away for 4 weeks to see if we stick around. Well guess what? We are still here and we are ready for the next episode. So BRING IT ON!!!!