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.
This is great show and so different than anything else on Television. It takes you away from you every day thoughts and is so much better than all of the new shows out there. It would be a complete shame to cancel this show.
Love Terra Nova . Bring it back.
They don’t give a new series a chance any more to iron out the wrinkles. Instead they knee jerk react but are they factoring in those of us who TiVo the show and watch it when we want.
Terra nova is a great show. I really look forward to another season. I love the whole story line, what happens in each episode, and all the actors and their characters.
I at least watch terra nova twice a week once 5 times in a week:-) please renew:-)
Terra nova should definetley be brought back but should include more outside the gates and dinosaurs
Bring it back! Just sharpen up the plot/writing. Viewers aren’t stupid and can follow a “smart” script. Pander to us and we’re gone. Sci Fi doesn’t have to be simplified to be understood. This series has great cinematic and visual appeal, just give us strong story around that!
Bring it back. It’s one of the good shows on television. My family looks forward to watching it on Monday night. There’s not that many good shows on.
i like and wait for season 2 🙂
I recorded every show and watched them when I got home later in the evening. This is one of the best shows FOX has done in years. Please renew for season 2. I am a faithful watcher and follower of this show …. how about a spoiler can you throw us a bone … what is in the badlands
that the bad guys left in a hurry for? You cant leave us hanging with no clue as to what is up…..
RENEW RENEW RENEW
BRING IT BACK, JUST BEEF UP THE WRITING SOME AND DWELL LESS ON DOMESTIC LIFE IN TERRA NOVA. THEN MORE PEOPLE WILL WATCH IT. ALSO, RERUN IT SUMMER WHEN NOTHING GOOD IS ON.
BRING IT BACK, JUST BEEF UP THE WRITING SOME AND DWELL LESS ON DOMESTIC LIFE IN TERRA NOVA.
Terra Nova is very exciting . It’s a good family show. I am big beliver of new technology you never know what the future holds . Lol
I give 8.5 out of 10.
Let’s go to “Bad Land” and find the remaining of the ships . Interesting ending .
This is typical Fox. Get you excited about a show, then cancel it. Why even bother getting invested in a show. I decided when the season started I wasn’t going to get attached just in case they did this. I watch the show faithfully, but as expected they play games with the commitment of their audience. If they don’t deliver I’ll go on strike for Alcatrez and Touch. Just like I boycotted NBC after they cancelled Event, and ABC after cancelling “V”. My boycott will stand until they are willing to commit to a show for at least two seasons… Read more »
i rarely watch night time shows. but this show caught my eye and i watch it, im so not a big dino fan, but this is quite interesting..first they cancel HEROES…when i just get into it…:( please bring it back 🙂 you see there is those of us that like it, i do also DVR and watch it later …but i always watch it!!!!