The Terra Nova TV show has been officially cancelled by the FOX network. However, though you won’t see dinosaurs back on the FOX schedule next season, there’s still hope for a second season.
For those who came in late, Terra Nova’s produced by Steven Spielberg and revolves around a time when our planet has become over-developed and 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 cast includes Jason O’Mara, Shelley Conn, Landon Liboiron, Allison Miller, Naomi Scott, Alana Mansour, Stephen Lang, Rod Hallett, and Christine Adams.
Terra Nova premiered last September with a pair of installments which 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 but held viewers through the two hours. The third episode drew about the same as the first two episodes. Episode four fell by 19% in the demo and later episodes hit a low of a 2.1 rating in the demo three times.
The season averaged a 2.5 rating in the demo and 7.52 million viewers. Those aren’t bad numbers but also aren’t good enough to ensure a pick up — especially considering that Terra Nova is expensive to produce. FOX entertainment president Kevin Reilly once noted that the network was committed to purchasing 22 installments if the show was renewed.
FOX initially had a December 31st deadline to make a decision on renewing Terra Nova but bought themselves some extra time by picking up the options on many of the actors’ contracts.
Reilly had concerns about the creative direction of the show so Terra Nova producers and 20th Century Fox Television began approaching showrunners and senior writers about possibly joining the series for next season. Reilly was reportedly pitched several potential scenarios and writers but he didn’t take to any of them. A last ditch meeting on Friday supposedly went well but Reilly ultimately decided late yesterday to cancel the show.
The decision comes as somewhat of a surprise since the network and studio both made money on the show and has Spielberg’s name attached. Word is that studio 20th Century TV will now shop the series to other potential outlets. The mediocre ratings and hefty price tag — reportedly about $4 million per episode — won’t make it an easy sell. The talent options supposedly expire at the end of June, keeping those castmembers from being in contention for potential new series.
What do you think? Are you disappointed that FOX has cancelled Terra Nova? Are you surprised?
Image courtesy FOX.
So, let me make sure I understand. NINE MILLION VIEWERS ON A MONDAY NIGHT is not “quite good enough” a rating. What are the LOOKING for, 30? On a Monday? When people have access to USA, TNT, A&E, DVRs…oh never mind. Network morons.
I’ve never seen this show but I am really surprised that it’s been cancelled. Highly unfortunate.
Darwinian Evolution at work-a lesson on not trying for the widest possible audience in one show.
We watched it the first five episodes, but nothing ever happened. No excitement, no drama, no characters we cared about… it was a total non-event. Not surprised it didn’t make it, considering how it failed to live up to its premise.
I enjoyed the show!!!! I love scify type shows but have gotten used to those type of shows being canceled. It seams to me if its not StarTrek, nobody wants to keep it around.
The most promising sci-fi show to come along on broadcast TV in years bites the dust. Anyone who saw the season finale can tell you that season two was shaping up to be even better than the first, so it really stinks how some FOX executive not liking the creative direction of the show led to its cancellation — here’s a hint for you, FOX: stay out of the writers’ room! I wanted to see what happened next. Great cast in a good show that was looking to be even better next season. Though considering they initially should’ve come to… Read more »
A lot of these shows say there might be another season on a different network but realistically it only happens to very few shows.
That being said this show stunk and deserved the fate it got.
It’s not just Fox. Other networks have cancelled shows for no reason. They always state low ratings as the issue. The problem is…there are too many TV networks with too many TV shows. It’s nearly impossible for any one show to garner huge ratings, no matter how good it is. It’s part of the new reality of having lots of choices, too many if you ask me. We need fewer shows with better writing and resources. The start-up costs for any new series has to be huge so I don’t see how ending a series after one season can be… Read more »
So the network’s always put forth that they cancelled something because it doesn’t make money for them or the producing studio. Yet here is a show that, albeit expensive, still made $$ for both.
They won;t take chances and stick with something on artistic merits, and they won’t stay with something because it makes money. Sooo…it’s just random? Good way to run a network. You can SEE when FOX (especially) has their own agenda. Touch is their new baby, and that’s what they will INSIST is working out.
Way to manipulate the game.
Disappointed in the show and completely understand why it was cancelled. What a waste of talent but what else can you expect from Fox?
Good show…but I’m crossing my fingers that this is good news for Fringe…..with House ending…..and The Finder possiblt not getting picked up….what other Dramas do they have? There’s Bones….and they are seeming to bet the farm on Touch….looking for some of that 24 magic I guess….I’d just like to see Fringe get a season 5 so it can reach that magical 100 episodes for syndication
They’re probably going to focus more on new dramas next season and still cancel Fringe… as much as I want ten more years of that show, I kind of doubt it’s even going to make it one more year. Maaaaybe one more short season to finish up plot lines, but even that is putting a LOT of faith in FOX, the canceller of shows like Firefly, Dollhouse, Terra Nova, etc…
VERY DISAPPOINTED!!! I really liked this show….SO tired of all the reality and contest type shows, this one actually had a plot!
surprised Fox didn’t keep it for themselves at least through another season
it had promise even if the show hadn’t quite pulled it off yet
Dang it. I really liked this show. I guess at 4mil/episode it just can’t compete with the $2.00 an episode some junky “Jersey Shore” style show would cost.
I think its a 1.50 now because they reuse tapes… to be you know ‘green’ 😉
well, you guys are really dumb !!!!!!!!!!!! cancelling a good show !!!! figures. now put on something stupid…………that way, i for one will turn the tv off !!!!!!!!!!!!!!