Tonight, FOX is airing the season finale of Terra Nova, the network’s latest foray into science fiction. Does the TV series have a chance at returning for a second season or will it be cancelled instead?
On Terra Nova, our planet has been over-developed and is overcrowded. Mankind’s only chance for survival is to make use of a newly discovered fracture in time and try to colonize pre-historic Earth. The Shannon family is chosen to participate but they find their new home is far from paradise. The cast includes Jason O’Mara, Shelley Conn, Landon Liboiron, Allison Miller, Naomi Scott, Alana Mansour, Stephen Lang, and Christine Adams.
The TV show debuted on September 26th with a pair of installments. They attracted an average of a 3.1 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 9.22 million total viewers. It was third in its timeslots and held viewers through the two hours, a good indication that they’d be back the following week. And, they did return. The third episode drew about the same as the first two episodes.
Unfortunately, that didn’t last. Week three fell by 19% in the demo. Over the course of the season, the numbers have fluctuated quite a bit week to week, hitting a low of a 2.1 in the demo three times. Terra Nova currently averages a 2.5 in the all-important demo and 7.6 million viewers. It’s the seventh most-watched scripted series on the network, out of 14, and currently has a “C” on our season ratings report card. That’s not bad but certainly not a shoe-in for renewal either. It doesn’t help that the show is very expensive to produce.
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In September, FOX head Kevin Reilly said that, because of the additional production time needed, a decision would have to be made, “Before the first of the year, at the latest. We couldn’t wait until the spring and see how everything else plays out; otherwise, we would never be able to deliver the following year.”
That decision has now been delayed until sometime in 2012. O’Mara recently tweeted, “Decision to pick up #TerraNova for S2 deferred to New Year by @FOXBroadcasting. Everyone involved remains confident and optimistic.”
While this delay doesn’t mean that the show is history, the network isn’t in any hurry to give it a renewal. The network is most likely waiting to see how well new shows Alcatraz and Touch perform before making a commitment to a second season of Terra Nova. If it does gets renewed, depending on how long they wait to make a decision, the episodes may not be ready until mid-season. Given the budget and the ratings, it seems unlikely to get more than a 13 episode order, if it returns at all.
What do you think? Do you hope that Terra Nova gets renewed for a sophomore season or should it be cancelled to make way for something else?
Image courtesy FOX.
I’m sick of all these networks canceling good shows to keep the reality ones. If the ratings aren’t keeping up with the jones’ they get rid of it! It’s to the point I don’t even want to get involved in a show because it will most likely get canceled within the first season. Terra Nova is a great show! It ended so wide open it would be a shame for the network to cancel it and leave their fans hanging yet again!!!!
Please DO NOT cancel this show I love it and so do many I know!!!!!
Fox should leave Terra Nova continue on. The series is very good and enjoyable. Unlike some of the dumbest shows they have on the air. Terra Nova is more real than these other shows. At least you have some history in there. I watch it loyally every Monday night. It’s my favorite show on Fox. I can’t wait to see what happens in season 2 and how the colony moves forward from the ending point of the finale. So, FOX, PLEASE KEEP TERRA NOVA!!!
don’t cancel get smart for once
To be honest I love the idea of the show. However, I feel the acting and plots have all come up short for this to be a good tv series. If the series comes back for another season (I really do hope it does), then it must have better sub-plots, better acting, and even more “realisitc” and gripping events. Personally I struggle to stay entertained during even the suspenseful scenes. If they have much better writing that might even make up for the sub-par acting. As far as the “realisitc” events, I am not refering to the sci-fi portions, but… Read more »
Please don’t cancel Terra Nova. It’s a very interesting show. My husband and I love it and look forwardto wathcih it each week.
My Husband and I look forward every Monday night to watch Terra Nova I think they need to give the show a little more time to get more viewers it’s a lot better than some of the reality shows that are out there.
Renew Terra Nova. The lead commander is awesome! He did awesome in Avatar and brings that same effect to Terra Nova. DO NOT CANCEL!!
The character development is fine but the premise is stupid. How do these humans plan to survive the astroids that killed the dinasaurs and eventual ice age? They seem to be oblivious to the upcoming event. They escaped the world that is poisioned but are tied to the equipment from that poisioned world. Stupid.
Terra Nova did start slow but picked up quality as the season went on. It now has an exciting “Lost” feel about it, with many plot twists and questions. I think if given time to attract more audience it could become a solid performer for Fox for a long time to come. It would be helpful for Fox to rerun season one in the summer, just prior to showing season two.
Absolutely agree, Shaw! And great idea to rerun during the summer. I’d definitely watch it again. And again.
I think Terra Nova is a good show. Its different. Really enjoy watching it. Yes want to see what happens in the next season. PLEASE BRING BACK!!
Please don’t cancel Terra Nova! My husband and I love this show and can’t wait to see what happens next.
I love Terra Nova. Awesome Show. I don’t get why there are so many piss poor shows out there that go on and on, and seem to draw the incredibly stupid! This show offers so much more and is very well done. I really hope to be watching this show in years to come. Please don’t cancel Terra Nova its freaking awesome in what we are stuck watching now a days. 😛
I totally Agree, Kenny!!!!
I really hope Terra Nova doesn’t get cancelled. It is the best new show of the season! My son, who is 18, can hardly wait for Monday nights to watch it together. I’m already in withdrawel!!
It’s our favorite show…don’t cancel it PLEASE.