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.
First of all I want to say that I am very, very, very disappointed. I first saw the show when they were advertising it on commercials. I fell in love with the show before Ive even seen an episode. I watched it grow from the first episode until the last. They had such a great idea for a show that could go in any direction that they wanted to. It’s not like all the crime shows like Castle, CSI New York, Supernatural, or Bones. Those are all shows that are very good, I even watch them every week. But Terra… Read more »
This is a really good family show but people want is sex and blood this will not make it. It really is ashame that it was canceled. I am a teacher and this is a good show for all ages.
would like to bring Terra Nova Back. It’s a great show maybe better time slot.
bring it back, this was a great show and i real miss it i think at least one more season , then finish if you have to with a ending to it, would like for you to put theme all dvd .
Bring it back pretty awesome show
Do not take away another show you guys and other networks don’t give things a chance, so take a chance!
PLEASE BRING TERRA NOVA BACK!!!
fox finally creates a show that fills in behind another good show like fallen skies and now the higher ups think they should can a show that had some excitement with established good characters
i like the show it good and interesting just think wath it would be like to live like that for real thinking that at any time you can be runing for your live form one of these monsters and shooting at them to save your self and others
I love this Show and seems like just when a show starts getting interesting you want to cancel it, you have to give it more than one season to see how it’s going to be. Your not giving it a chance . Well I hope you dont cancel the show instead you should get rid of WILFRED, LOUIE,and ANGER MANAGEMENT, who cares about a dog or a 40 yr virgin or even Martin Sheen those are shows I cant believe are even still playing on TV.
Please bring Terra Nova back. I’m sitcommed,Reality TV’d and Police Drama’d to death.
Please do not cancel Terra Nova, my family and I looked forward to seeing this show every week. The actors and story lines were very well done. It just needs more time.
Anyway, there is little on except those stupid reality shows and who is sleeping with who. That is why Terra Nova is so great, there is a great story and action to it.
Please bring Terra Nova back….our family has a schedule for the week of our “family Time” shows to watch and we were captivated by the show! It is a part of our family schedule and would be sadly missed!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE DON’T CANCEL THIS SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please don’t take Tera Nova away. My family really enjoys the show. Fringe is also a great show.
Please don’t cancel Terra Nova or Fringe. these shows are great and keep the mind thinking and the concepts are fantastic. Fringe reminds me of the Twilight zone in a way that I miss. Don’t take away something that is just beginning to take off….give it more seasons to develop the series….