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 The freshman drama has been replaced by an ABC special with a similar name — Revenge for Real.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’m with you! The “Revenge for Real” show was awful and reminds me – yet again – why ABC has become my least favorite channel on TV! Just when I find a show to look forward to during an otherwise dismal ABC TV season and an extremely boring Wednesday night on all channels, they start messing with it! I LOVE REVENGE – please bring it back soon and renew it for another season!
I have never been one to watch a weekly series until Revenge was introduced on ABC. It is one of the best shows ABC has ever come out with. After the first episode I told all my friends and relatives how great this show was, filled with romance, suspense and pay back, and they too became hooked on it. The decision by ABC to take a 4 week hiatus is not a good one, but nevertheless I will be tuning in on April 4th. In the meantime, ABC is off my viewing list.
Why is the network doing this?? I’m so confused. What a great show, and believe me, I hate almost everything on TV (thank goodness for Netflix). Is it because they have “writer’s block?” I can always appreciate it when they have a writer’s strike, but this doesn’t seem to be the case. I hate when this happens. How come it doesn’t happen with those boring shows?
The networks don’t get it. They are out of touch with who watches what, when. They are out of touch with real people.
Rather than cancel a good show… Put it on a better night. For example tues night tv stinx. Nothing is on until 10pm. Monday night again nothing in the 9-10 time slot. Wednesday has too many good shows competing with eachother, as does the 10pm mon night slot.
Let me take over…I will improve your ratings!!
I love this show and very disappointed to be put on hold.
I love this show and very disappointed to be put on hold.
NO! NO! NO! there are few shows I watch, and revenge is one of them. I schedule
that time every Wednesday nite as top priority. Its a shame that it has been
interrupted. I will be doing something else for the next four weeks, however I have marked
my calendar for April 4.
I loved the show and so did my friends and family..We talked about it weekly..when you work hard all day you love to watch a really good show. Suspense!…I loved the characters and the plot..So what is ABC thinking..
Not a good idea to have Revenge off for 4 weeks. My loyalty to ABC has decreased. Great way to kill an excellent series. Think I’ll spend my time reading instead. At least I know my book will always be there! When there is NO Commitment to your viewers there is no commitment of your viewers. So Long ABC
This is one of the best shows on TV. ABC can’t cancel mid-season. I think you will have a lot of ticked off viewers
LOVE THIS SHOW. I have all my coworkers watching this show. It is better than reality TV. It is a series that everyday people can relate too. PLEASE DO NOT CANCEL .
It would have a better rating if there was not a 2wk break. This is the bonding time for my daughter and I. It is also the talk at my job on Thursdays, which we call Revenge Thursday and co-worker take the names of the characters.
ABC- Geez, stop messing with the good shows. Revenge is one of the best things you have going for you. Its frustrating to look forward to a show only to find out you are trying to manipulate your viewers with something else!
ABC is foolish to make the schedule as interrupted for the program as they have. That is how viewers are lost. The series is great, the scheduling is crappy and whoever is behind the scheduling should be fired.
Quite an impressive outpouring of love here for Revenge. I know that ABC wants to push their new show Missing, but I won’t watch Ashley Judds new show to show my support of Revenge. If Ashley’s show’s repeats tank on Wednesday, maybe ABC will learn a lesson.
The show is basically a soap. What idiots stop and start a soap. I really enjoy the show, but the big gaps between shows does not make it enjoyable to watch. Again, what idiot is running this network!!