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.
THANK GOSH! I hope it doesn’t get picked up by another network!
It was an awesome show and I’m sad now
I watched the season of Terra Nova, but enjoyed it less and less as the season drew on. The older kids really irritated me and I was hoping one or both would be eaten by the dinos. Some of the other cast members too could have been chowed up as well and not missed. I don’t think it lived up to its premise.
Perhaps this is better news for Fringe and Alcatraz, both of which I enjoy more.
It’s a shame that when a good show comes on, it then gets cancelled just because….I never missed and episode and love the graphics. Hopefully it will be picked up by another channel. Good luck.
Better chances for ‘Fringe’ to be picked for season 5. The cancellation of Terra Nova is certainly a good news. I watched first seven episodes but I had to fast forward it. First time I layed my hands on Fringe season 1 and 2, I didn’t leave my house for 3 days straight. I never got so hooked up on a tv serie. Fringe is like crack, tho I’ve never tried the latter, but I assume 🙂 JJ Abrams said that he has a story plots to run Fringe even for 8 seasons. I certainly hope it would be so… Read more »
Mabey SYFY will pick it up like they did Merlin no one thought Merlin was going to make it and were on the 4th season now. come on SYFY pick up Terra Nova
I loved this show, and as for the budget most of the highly expensive costs were already out of the way, so I sincerely doubt it was a per episode cost but an amortized per episode cost (and lets face it they did allot more than they had to to try and get the wow factor going). Also people should realize something… these numbers blow the majority of Battlestar Galactiaca’s nubers out of the water (Just like Flash Forward did) and that a large number of the viewers ot these types of shows in the words of Jamie Bamber are… Read more »
I watched the show each week, and really liked it. I guess Fox is once again doing their usual thing – cancelling yet ANOTHER series. That seems to be their thing. Get people hooked on a series than WHAM! take it away. Thanks Fox!
Good job FOX on cancelling a show that was not the same old run of the mill show. It was getting kids interested in dinosaurs again. The show was best thing on TV for all ages, young and old. Bring it back!!!
I`m very disappointed by this decision and I hope that there is still a chance to sell the show and still be able to see season 2
Just like Firefly. Fox cancels by mid-season. Reality Shows, Singer and Dance parades, and crap like them continues.
sorry…could not get hooked…it was junky…
Well yes I’m disappointed, because this is what they canceled three great shows for. This was supposed to take off, but nope, it didn’t. Now they cancel? Wow, Fox You… suck.
I am saddened by this bad decision. I guess we can’t expect more from them. I showed the series all the love I could but no luck. I hope it finds some love elseware.
I Tivo’d the whole season and haven’t yet watched cuz it seemed like one that was likely to fail (at least on Fox). Now if it was on SyFy………