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’ve been waiting for Terra Nova season 2 and what do I get? Alcatraz!!!!! With all due respect to Sam Neill who is a wonderful actor, the first episode was boring, way too scary, violent and slowly going nowhere!
My husband and I have been looking for shows on t.v. that don’t have anything to do with “reality television” and Terra Nova fits the bill. It is a wonderful show that is intelligent, moving and captuvating. Most shows on t.v are about how shallow people are, and what they will do for money and fame. This show is so different, it gives hope and show that writers still have an imagination. Please don’t cancel this show, because the alternatives are awful.
why the **** would you even think of deleting this show. I mean, I like sci-fi a lot, and this is one of the best shows. I think I might like Terra Nova better than dr. Who I watched every episode on the internet, because it still is not available here in the Netherlands
sincerely,
some guy from Holland
Please bring Terra Nova back! It’s something that our whole family can watch together and enjoy. We love it!!
This show requires that those who watch it actually have imagination. Sorry folks but that requires a brain, which is something most people that watch this network don’t possess. RIP Terra Nova, Sarah Connor Chronicles, Firefly…you’ll be missed.
I realy think that Terra Nova is an amaizing serie. I realy want a second season.!!
Bring it back for another season!
Terra Nova made our family come together and spend time together. We all love the adventure and story line. Please bring it back.
Love this show. Don’t cancel
why do ppl brings shows out and say oops gotta take that show off and totaly put something stupied,boring on.i would love to watch terra nova season two and so on.the shows are comeing up on terra nova time slot on fox are going to be stupied,boring and not worth watching unlike terra nova that show has my vote.
My husband and I loved Terra Nova! It was our weekly show where we made sure we were both home to watch it together. It would be so sad to see it end! What was in the badlands?! So many unanswered questions! We certainly hope it isn’t over and can’t wait for more.
Please renew Terra Nova. My whole family loves it. Best new show!
There are precious few shows that I enjoy. Terra Nova is one of the best. I don’t want to miss seeing this wonderful series. It holds my attention as few can. It is far better than Lost, a series that had me very lost and bored, so I stopped watching it early on. Terra Nova, on the other hand is a drama with excellent points to make and is grounded in reality and hope. Please be smart and keep this intelligent program moving forward. I am waiting anxiously to see every episode. Don’t be an idiot like Brian Frons when… Read more »
I think that Terra Nova is one of the best TV shows out at the moment especially with the cancellation of Stargate Universe….and the fact that the producers for Jurassic Park cant pull it together long enough to come out with a 4th Jurassic Park.
Terra Nova is one of the best shows on tv — Don’t let it be cancelled, Please!