ABC has sandwiched their new Speechless TV show between two well-established sitcoms, The Goldbergs and Modern Family, on the network’s strongest night of comedies. How’s it been performing in the ratings? Is this series worth watching? Cancel or keep it?
On Speechless, Maya DiMeo (Minnie Driver) is a no-nonsense mom who will do anything for her loved ones and fights injustices — both real and imagined. The family includes husband Jimmy (John Ross Bowie), brainy Ray (Mason Cook), athletic Dylan (Kyla Kennedy), and teenager JJ (Micah Fowler), who has cerebral palsy. Moving to an upscale school district, Maya’s searching for just the right person to give JJ his “voice.” Could the school’s groundskeeper, Kenneth (Cedric Yarbrough), be the person to do that?
The ABC series launched on September 21st and averaged a 2.03 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 7.38 million viewers. It was a positive start in the ratings for the family comedy. The second episode dropped about 11%, a reasonable amount.
The numbers have dwindled downward but the numbers have remained fairly healthy. To date, the first season of Speechless is averaging a 1.69 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 5.81 million viewers. It’s ABC’s highest-rated new series in the demo and currently ranks fourth out of 19 scripted series.
If the series can maintain numbers like these, Speechless will surely be renewed for a second season. In late September, ABC gave Speechless a full season order and this month, they ordered an additional installment. That brings the first season tally to 23 episodes.
But, what do you think? Do you like the Speechless TV show on ABC? Will you keep watching? Cancel or keep it?
If Speechless is going down in ratings, it’s probably because it’s placement is after The Goldbergs, which totally stinks. Put Speechless first, see what happens.
Speechless is the best sitcom in a really long time (Please keep it). LOVE the humor and transparent nature of each character! First show to help us ‘normals’ understand that people with disabilities and their families are ‘normal’ too, while being hilarious to boot. The positive spin the parents & JJ’s Aide put on is something we all need to be reminded of. They do such an excellent job demonstrating that.
Speechless is not only one of the best sitcoms in a really long time, it does a phenomenal job helping ‘normals’ perceive that people with disabilities & their families are normal too, just with extra challenges. I love how the parents in the show refuse to embrace failure and put a positive spin on everything, something everyone needs an example in, and is hilarious to boot!
Please keep speechless on. It is a great mid week breaker. It is funny and fun to watch. Please do not take it off, it makes me laugh when I think my week has gone wrong, then I watch speechless and I feel so much better. It is a real life series.
Speechless is a great show! Minnie Driver is hilarious and their zany family life is so entertaining to watch. Great show! Nice to see a person with a challenge on TV!
Please keep it! Come on – it’s really funny! Do we really need a laugh track to tell us to laugh? If that’s what will keep it on, throw in a stupid laugh track. That seems to be what keeps all the other junk on air. This is a good, smart show. KEEP IT!!