In the second season of The Americans, the ratings dropped 25-32%. Fortunately, FX renewed the series for a third year anyway. Will the ratings rise this time around or will they fall? Will the show be cancelled or renewed for a fourth season? We’ll have to wait and see.
Taking place in the 1980s, The Americans revolves around the lives and secret work of Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and Philip Jennings (Matthew Rhys) — two Soviet KGB officers who are posing as an American married couple in the suburbs of Washington, DC. Others in the cast include Noah Emmerich, Holly Taylor, Keidrich Sellati, Annet Mahendru, Susan Misner, Alison Wright, Richard Thomas, and Lev Gorn.
The ratings are typically the best indication of a show’s chances of staying on the air. The higher the ratings, the better the chances for survival. This chart will be updated as new ratings data becomes available.
3/31 update: FX has renewed The Americans for a fourth season for 2016.
Final season averages: 0.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 1.08 million total viewers.
Note: If you’re not seeing the updated chart, please try reloading the page or view it here.
For comparisons: The second season of The Americans averaged a 0.5 rating in the demo with 1.34 million viewers.
What do you think? Do you like The Americans TV series? Do you think it should be cancelled or renewed for a fourth season?
Great show. Keri and Matthew, as the stars, are terrific. Also, many others in it are just great. Very, very happy that this show got renewed for Season 3. One of our favorite shows along with HOC, Madmen, American Crime, Bates Motel, American Odessey and Dig.
Ehhh! I stopped watching it after the first season regularly. Caught it once in a while after. Doesn’t hold the viewer.
Hi Anononymous, The viewer? I find your “sweeping” dissmissive comment off the mark, since many of us on this message board alone find the program absolutely engrossing. Not to mention it also just won a Peabody Award this week. So I dare you to watch the first 4 episodes of season 3 and not have second thoughts. As an example, Hank Steuer of the Washington Post went from a tepid first season impression (per metacritic) to recently pronouncing it the best show on TV. So I am one viewer who feels in good company in my admiration.
I love The Americans, but understand why it might not “hold the viewer.” It is a slow burn like a 7os paranoia/political thriller. The methodical nature is what makes it so good, but can also drive away viewers wanting more typical generic beats like a procedural or faster paced serial. This isn’t to criticize these viewers, but to suggest that The Americans is an acquired taste. Fortunately, it is also the highest rated show on Metacritic at this moment, meaning plenty of critics are enjoying it.
Hey Josh. I think all tastes are “acquired”. But most popular TV imo is like a cheeseburger: Tasty, easy to access and over a billion served! But you make an interesting point about “The Americans” critical acclaim on metacritic vs. popularity determined through ratings. Critics (who enjoy deconstructing ideas) are clearly people who aren’t detered by its challenging themes. (Inverted social commentary being rough terrain.) Meanwhile, many people, even intelligent people, seem to prefer TV grounded in escapist entertainment, yes?
Absolutely, though other shows like The Sopranos and even the recent Justified have merged complex, deep themes with entertainment. While I find The Americans entertaining, it is far more elusive with its payoffs and is so heavily serialized. While, say, Justified you can check back in at the start of the season and be treated to new big bads to root against, The Americans (especially season 3) is all about the long story arc and often lacks a central bad guy. Maybe season 4 can add in someone new to hate that can get new viewers on board. Either way,… Read more »
My husband and I really enjoy watching the Americans. It is full of suspense and very entertaining. We hope that it gets renewed,for a new season.
Hey Brenda, if you’re talking about S4, it is renewed – a couple of weeks ago now 🙂
For anyone interested I have now blogged S3E12 ‘I Am Abassin Zadran’
As always, all comments are very welcome:
https://clevertelly.wordpress.com/2015/04/17/s3e12-i-am-abassin-zadran-or/
I am so grateful and excited that it has been renewed for a season 4! My husband and I LOVE the Americans! It is well written, suspenseful, and exciting. I look forward to seeing the show every week!
I have also read FX are very relaxed about the overnights or whatever and that the total audience climbs above 4 mill once time shifting/DVR is taken into account. Apparently it’s a very unsal show in that sense. Huge news about S4: huge relief about S4!
Fwiw, I again blogged this epi. Think there are some insights about the historic significance of Stingers and the hotel meeting P&E are attemting to blag. Cheers:
https://clevertelly.wordpress.com/2015/04/02/s3e10-stingers/
I find it unbelievable that The Americans has such low ratings in the US. We have been faithful viewers on Israeli Cable TV since the first series and have been enthralled with the superb story-line and the exceptional performances. It is intelligent and totally realist and so true to the period.
I am glad hearing this show is popular in Israel. Also I think it would get strong viewing in Norway and Denmark for example. I actually watch every episode 2 or 3 times. But then again my English listening can be waning at times. Bravo fx
show gets renewed and the ratings drop. not a good sign going forward
I believe their is no logical connection to the 2 facts. I am personally a fan of DVR. (I can therefor watch it with a friend Friday evening.) I think that this is a case with others, as it is apparently shown by ratings to improve fourfold by DVR. Additionally, I am not a believer in harbinger effect in any case. However, I have found that many americans are a believer in such signs, which is not falling within a sound concept of logic.
By fx account total viewers are over 4 million after other modes of watching are counted. I think that many people who watch this show are not participating in these typical household surveys. Myself, I watch The Americans by computer each week.
Very good acting, solid directing but all in all this show is basic story of two classic psychopaths which are showed as human beings what they are not. Writers seems are very plain and shallow. Actually, I dont understand people who like murders and sexual predators.
The spy couple are not sexual predators. They use sexual seduction as spies, for obtaining information. There is a very big difference. Obviously English is not your first language, but “sexual predator”, implies hunting and attack with a sexual release motivation.
Also, imo, you don’t have to like what the Jennings do, or even the Jennings themselves, in order to enjoy “The Americans” immensely.
All nations have spies to a greater or lesser degree, and your complaints about them as psychopaths is not really accurate. I could see you calling them sociopaths, but even that is a stretch because they seem to be carrying around some guilt (brought out especially by their relationship with Paige). Psychopaths, on the other hand, would be people running around murdering gleefully and then getting caught. The Jennings are not the Manson family, but patriots to their cause. If you don’t like the Jennings, then you probably aren’t a fan of spycraft in general, because it is pushing for… Read more »
What Kip and Josh said.
Television doesn’t get any better. Just when you can’t see it equalling what’s done the week before, it continues on its consistent road to excellence. Certainly not worthy of comments calling it a stupid show, if I may understate. How could anyone watch this show and call it “stupid?” Do these people give up on it in the midst of its 3rd season? Thanks AMC for The Americans, quality programming whose shows leave me speechless. Love Mad Men, but not in this show’s league. Echoing others, I hope it airs for many years to come. PS, Better Call Saul gets… Read more »
I’m so worried this show won’t be renewed for a 4th season.. The critics love it, it’s built a bit of a following, but sadly not big enough to get the ratings up… I’m just praying this doesn’t get cancelled, it’s brilliant.
more people live in my hometown than watch this show
I’m guessing you were a big fan of Ronald Reagan?
Live + 3 adjusted ratings are significantly higher for The Americans. Live + 7 probably doubles the figure. So give me a break please, and pick on another show. btw, Because it celebrates cerebral sophistication, it’s become quite popular with my MENSA chapter. One needs to approach this series with intellect and an open mind: Flag wavers who need to believe that the USA is, and always has been, the veritable instrument of God will not be fans.
Hey, totally! best show on tv and with more subtext than an underwater kindle.
Fwiw, I still banging out recaps on my blog – one lady said today “you’re better than the Vanity Fair recaps”. Please take a look …
https://clevertelly.wordpress.com/2015/03/
Love this show!
Terrific show. It’s dramatic, well written, exciting, sexy, action packed, tense, nuanced, subtle and nostalgic (as an kid/teen in the 80’s) which I love. I sincerely hope it sticks around for another few seasons.
I always wonder who the people are who post remarks about The Americans being a stupid show (or some such description). Are these people who only watch network shows because they don’t want to follow intelligent, complicated plot lines? As a whole, network television has become easy, non-taxing brain food for a mass audience. For the most part, it exists to entertain….not to educate….and certainly not to encourage viewers to exercise their minds during their programming. In other words, network television is pablum. And, there are also the viewers who think it is somehow un-American to watch a show like… Read more »
Please cancel this stupid show.
The show is intelligent and complex. Maybe you feel that it’s unpatriotic? It does seems that a lot of self-proclaimed patriots are on a mission to bash the show lately.
Absolutely, the show is intelligent, complex … and challenging. Especially if you lived through the 80s and were only exposed to the one-dimensional representation of foreign policy portrayed by media.
What’s equally smart is the discourse on family, and marriage in particular; contrast Philip and Elizabeth with Stan and Sandra (a marriage which survived the hard times), with Clark and Martha (built on different lie to P&E).
For me though, at the heart of the show is the two family-centric, cold-blooded killers loyally serving a dying cause.
It’s all so beautifully crafted.
The Americans is a very challenging TV drama. Taking the point of view of a “bad guy”, whether it’s the Jennings, Walter White or Dexter is not easy for some viewers. Rather than state their case, they simplistically proclaim a show stupid. Like the state of Florida banning the term “Global Warming”. It’s the old “Off with their heads” approach of the despot. It does seems that a lot of self-proclaimed patriots are on a mission to bash the show lately. Do they lack the ability to engage in meaningful discourse? Just calling something “stupid” is at best condescending, and… Read more »
Have you even watched the show? It’s a terrific show. It’s dramatic, well written, exciting, sexy, action packed….