To no surprise, FOX has cancelled its sci-fi series after two seasons. With a new Terminator movie about to be released, one would think the show’s future would be secure. What’s the deal?
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles debuted in January of 2008 to a whopping 18.3 million viewers and a 7.6 rating/18 share in the 18-49 demographic. Unfortunately, much of the strength of that debut could be credited to having an NFL playoff game as a lead-in. The next night, only 10.07 million returned to see episode two and the ratings for subsequent installments declined from there. Despite falling to a low of 7.12 million and a 2.7 rating, FOX opted to order a second season.
The sophomore year of the series got off to a slow start in September of 2008. The season two premiere attracted just 6.33 million viewers and a 2.4/7 rating/share in the demo. On Monday nights, airing opposite Chuck, the viewership declined even further.
FOX ordered a full season but in 2009 shifted the series to Friday nights, paired with compatible Dollhouse. It was hoped that, together, they would draw a substantial audience. It didn’t happen and Sarah Connor was commonly seen as a poor lead-in for the new Joss Whedon series. Sarah Connor’s Friday night numbers hit a low of 2.9 million viewers and a 1.0/4 in the 18-49 demographic.
Though the show’s core fans have been very supportive of the series, the efforts ultimately weren’t enough to save it. At today’s upfronts, FOX president Kevin Reilly confirmed that there wouldn’t be a third season of Sarah Connor. The studio had apparently been trying to shop the series to other outlets but those efforts were fruitless.
Will we ever get answers to the series’ open-ended questions? Doubtful. Though the Terminator saga will continue for a long time to come, it looks like this chapter is closed.
Image courtesy FOX.
I think there needs to be a petition to bring this back. I thought that the switch to Ffriday Night was idiotic. People Party on that night, and i was just lucky enough to have DVR to watch it. It was an EXTREMELY good version of the Terminator and i started out as a skeptic who tuned in just for the heck of it. WOW. I seriously can’t believe it. This was an idiotic move and someone needs to go back to the drwing board. They could have capitalized on it with the movie out. Some of the stuff in… Read more »
what a bunch of clowns at fox lets put Terminator on a night when people are not home and then say the ratings are to low to keep it on WTF
I have to say I am very very disappointed to see that Fox cancelled a great television series. I really enjoyed it. Hopefully enough people will complain and they will put it back on because we were definitely left hanging. The series was better ( obviously than T3) but also held my attention better than T4. Please Fox you did the right thing with Family Guy by putting that back on the air after making a huge mistake and cancelling that show. Do the right thing with Sarah Connor Chronicles…….
this is so unfair!!! i LOVED terminator…i am so upset, it was SUCH a great show and i am sad to see it go! 🙁 now what will i watch??!
This had become one of the best shows on TV and was sure to attract a solid audience with the film coming out. I can tell you that it certainly worked the other way around for me, getting me excited for the film. I don’t see the logic in cancelling it. It’s a real shame. Dolls House is okay, but it wasn’t as good as Terminator and for me was always the one I looked forward to less of the two.
Was really surprised by this and really dissapointed, great show, one of my favorites they were really getting back to the quality of the first season after a slight drop off and was really looking forward to season 3. sad, sad day
FOX must have something against excellence. I went out of my way to watch Terminator & followed it to Friday night. I can’t believe they cancelled this great show & renewed Dollhouse, which I found unwatchable. If they cancel Fringe during it’s second season there won’t be anything left worth watching.
I just found out that there won’t be a season 3!!! How in the hell can they leave you on an ending like that. I’m guessing they don’t watch the show because if they did it would still be going.
The only other show I watch on FOX outside of Terminator is Fringe….I guest it will be cancelled next year…but of course the insipid reality shows lives on…wow….very disappointing.
that sucks!! They cancel all the great scifi shows. booo 🙁
those fox idots that was a good show they should have moved it on wed. where there is no good shows instead moved on friday where kids and teenagers are at the movies.
and adults go out to drink and unwind. get it together fox think before you do something
I can’t believe it. I really don’t have a reason to live any more.
It’s moves like this and Prison Break that make me hate Fox. Now they’ve made my list of Networks I no longer watch. It’s too bad FX is associated with them. They make some great shows over there and know how to keep a series going.
I don’t watch much TV. This was the ONLY show that I looked forward to watching, every week. 🙁
WTF FOX!!! This was one of my 2 favorite shows. Now what???