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.
Please please please KEEP Terra Nova! This is one show that my husband and I can enjoy together! It gives us an hour to relax and enjoy eachother in our busy lives! Please renew Terra Nova it is a great show!
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE bring Terra Nova back – for even beyond season 2!!!! This show is very enjoyable in so many ways!!! Please!!!!
Please keep terra nova on for future seasons, i have fallen in love with the characters, and terra nova its self, i would be crashed if it didnt continue!!!
Love this show!!!
Hope terra nova is renewed! Me and my husband look forward to watching it together every week and are sad season one is already over! Come on FoX give us season two!!
This is also the most thought provoking program in a long time.
One more comment, if it does get picked up for a second season we’ll find out where they truly are. The season left off on such a cliff hanger that if it doesn’t return, I will be incredibly let down and loose faith in Fox as a network.
It is the greatest sci fi show on the air right now the implications of it all are astounding. If it gets cancelled like a lot of good shows are I don’t know what’s wrong with the world.
Keep Tera Nova. My 10yr old son loves it and I like it too. There are not many good shows on TV that the whole family can sit down and watch together, Tera Nova is one. Pls renew for season 2.
I think Terra Nova should get a second chance. I’m getting to like the show. I got very mad at fox for canceling Human Target. I think Terra Nova should get a renewal.
You have to keep terra nova!!!!!!! It’s my favorite show by FAR I love it so much!!! I want it renewed and so do a lot of Other people. The saddest Part was when Washington was shot though and the show will never be the same without her. I have to say though her execution was brillent with the hole Lucus thing. There are so many questions left over and I’m hoping so much that there will be a 2s
I love watching this show. My bride, who is not a sci fi fan has gotten into it as well because of the storyline that goes with it. I love being able to watch a show without worrying about what perversions my senses might be exposed to. I truly hope you keep the show on and keep it clean so I can remain a loyal fan.
Keep Terra Nova! It is a great show! I was happy to see Stephen Lang in the part of Taylor. He is a great actor. I was prepared to hate this show because the concept seemed to be something TV could not pull off. I am happy to say that they have done a good job.
Terra nova is a great show like stargate universe but stargate got shut down 2 lack of viewrs which i think isnt right if you tv people where really smart u would see the gold mine u really have here u just have 2 figure out how to get more viewers aka make a movie that everyone will like and it will have the people go back watch the frist season and then be excited for the seacond i swear fox if u stop terra nova i will stop watching u like i did syfy and i have watched that… Read more »
Terra nova is one of my FAVORITE shows!! I am definitely hoping for a second season