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.
What is Fox? Oh, that’s the network with Terra Nova! Next to AMC’s The Walking Dead, Terra Nova was the one series I looked forward to watching each week. I found it to be a solid mixture of science fiction and drama, and it left me on the edge of my seat every single week! BRING TERRA NOVA BACK FOR SEASON 2!
Renew the show. Good science fiction is never easy or cheap, but it always gathers a loyal fan base. Both Star Trek and Mission Impossible were expensive shows for Desilu in the 1960s, and both shows continue to inspire successful motion pictures today.
I cannot wait until Monday nights. I tell my husband I will not be going anywhere because Terra Nova is on. I love to watch Stephen Lang, I think that he is a great actor.
I enjoy watching the show and hope that you do not cancel the show.
I think terra nova will not survive
not very catchy show
no really major difficulties
this show is more drama than sci-fi
even dinosaurs are too shy to show up often
and that british accent in most script is so annoying
bring back “the event”
Love Terra Nova, I hope it comes back for season 2…and longer.
Actually wow-wow, the accents are real. Actually several of the actors ARE British and don’t use the accent. Read the bio’s.
Ah, yes….the Event, good show as well. Who in the world decides these shows should go away after such a short time?
Hello 🙂 i know about their british accent(joking) i know most terra nova’s actors are british but i like more american accent (im not british or american by the way) lol i like terra nova and i didnt miss any episode but i was expecting more than a drama maybe season 2 will bring some catchy action and more suspense i hate superficial shows which never end although they are boring the event and heroes and more excellent shows were really catchy but i guess big bosses who decides wich show lives or dies are blind and think only about… Read more »
Keep it. Love it!
I only have one show and it is Terra Nova. Please continue it.
I look forward to Monday nights because of terra nova. I don’t tend to watch much television, but I love to watch this with my 8 yr. old son….entertaining w/o overboard violence. Great story idea. Interesting characters learning hard life lessons. I really hope it gets renewed. Touch and Alcatraz story lines don’t appeal to me at all!
While this delay doesn’t mean that the show is history, the network isn’t in any hurry to give it a renewal.
LOL. I see what you did there.
I NEVER watched FOX until Terra Nova… Please don’t cancel this show I love it and am now more interested in what your network is airing.
I love this show, seems every show I start they cancel! I think this has a lot of potential for several seasons of they stick with it! I vote it renews!
Another season of Terra Nova would be awesome. This show is one my whole family enjoyed and is counting on returning to FOX.
I really hope the bring back with a second season. I don’t really care for any of fox shows besides for this one.. I enjoyed it and it left off with many things unanswered..
PLEASE BRING TERRA NOVA BACK!!
The show got great st the end. So many possibilities, I hope it gets renewed, look forward to watch
Terra Nova should be given another season. sci-fi shows are slow to catch on. Firefly was another great show that was never given a chance to catch on. Terra Nova is a show that my whole family can watch together with out having to record an edit for my kids. Reality shows are the rage probally because the new generation cann’t follow a plot an have no imagination. I can only beg you not to cancell this show.
P.S.
It would be great to bring back Human Target
Terra Nova is one of the few shows I can watch with my father. Little to no cussing, other than a few kisses or a married couple in bed there isn’t any sexual scenes. It is an awesome show. I sincerely hope that if it does not get pick up for another season that it.is due to money problems and not from lack of fans/supporters. I truly look forward to every Monday night JUST so I can watch this show. Also, having Jason O’Mara helps tremendously, he’s incredibly handsome. I would suggest that if FOX doesn’t want to continue, try… Read more »