Tonight marks the last episode of The Event for 2010. NBC plans to relaunch the series in three months, on February 28th, after letting their new series The Cape have the timeslot. Is it a risky move? Not really. Ultimately, they don’t have much choice.
The Event follows Sean Walker (Jason Ritter), a young man who’s investigating the mysterious disappearance of his girlfriend. He slowly begins to uncover the biggest cover-up in the history of the United States. Others in the cast include Sarah Roemer, Laura Innes, Ian Anthony Dale, Scott Patterson, Clifton Collins Jr., Taylor Cole, Lisa Vidal, Bill Smitrovich, Zeljko Ivanek, and Blair Underwood.
The series debuted in September to decent ratings with a 3.6 in the 18-49 demo and 10.88 million total viewers. That’s a healthy sampling but, considering all of the promotion that NBC put behind it, the programmers were likely disappointed by its third place rank in the timeslot.
While some viewers clearly love the show, more than half who watched the first episode have already lost interest. The Event has been losing viewers, sometimes as much as 15 or 20% in one week, and to date has never shown an increase week-to-week in the demo. The most recent installment garnered just a 1.7 rating in the demo and 5.19 million viewers.
You can blame the network for not doing a better job of promoting The Event but clearly there’s a problem with the series when people who already watch don’t feel compelled to return week after week.
Will this February “relaunch” help? Based on recent TV history, the answer is no. Just look at V and FlashForward. People who were interested in The Event have either already tried it and stuck around or given up on it. Those who haven’t watched previously are very unlikely to give a try because they assume that they’ve missed too much backstory already. On top of that, when the show returns, the ratings will likely be lower than what they are now. By the time The Event returns in February, many casual fans will have already gotten involved with other shows.
The one thing that The Event has going for it is the fact that it’s on NBC. The peacock network continues to struggle and The Event is currently the fifth most-watched scripted program on the network. If things go as expected, it will drop much lower on the list next year. Still, with the exception of The CW, NBC is the only network that would consider giving this series more time. They’ll surely let all 22 episodes air.
The Event returns on Monday, February 28th and will have 12 more original episodes to air at that point. Will there be a second season? We’ll have to wait and see but hopefully the producers will plan ahead and not end the show without any resolution.
What do you think? Does The Event have a chance for survival? What could NBC do to save this show? Anything?
Image courtesy NBC.
Its a good show…but I need them to focus more on the “The Event”, is.
I love this show. I hope you decide to do another season. I looked for a good show that I could get hooked on and then it disappears.
This is a great show (The Event). It is too bad most people who watch TV want to see silly shows or shows that are so simple most all the time. Some people even comment that they can’t understand complex drama, but this is an example of a good story where you can’t always predict what happens next. This just confirms what I suspected, most people who watch TV either knowingly or unknowingly decide which shows will survive by watching junk and avoiding shows where you have to think a little bit. There are several dumb or junk shows that… Read more »
I agree. The really well written scripted tv shows don’t get the air time and PR that reality tv shows get. Flash forward was a very well written show that just needed a chance to develop but they just didn’t give it a chance. Yet, we have had how many bloody seasons of the Bachelor? To add insult to injury that show is the same show over and over again with the same guy and the same desperate women. Have we been that dummied down in this country that we prefer crap over quality. I suppose so, just look how… Read more »
Where’s my show?? Just bring it back!!!!
After Flasforward was cancelled before any plot resolution – and now this possibly happening to The Event.
Can I ask why viewers should EVER get involved with the next “Latest and Greatest” production?
If you have to take note of ratings, then fine, but at least bring forward an ENDING to the series rather than pulling the plug halfway through.
It will soon pay to NOT watch NEW productions – but rather wait for the repeats – that way we’ll know whether or not the series was ever completed before we commit.
here we go again i mean here goes another great show like i said about Flashfoward the big wigs have small ball look out V your next.
I love “The Event”. It might help to start promoting its return now and not wait until it’s about to return. It may also help to rerun some of the episodes before then for those who feel like they may not have a clue what’s happening. Either way….I believe it can be a success!
I with a lot of the other viewers, tired of getting hooked on a series to have it get cancelled. I personally like “The Event”, it was a little slow starter but I am hooked now as the characters and the story is developing. I am waiting to see the next episode!
I also watched all 10 episodes in two days and loved it ! Please don’t cancel it and promote it.
I just watched All 10 episodes in two days from the web via my phone and it was great. It kept my interest. I do see the comparison to Lost, but who cares. I can’t wait to see the next episodes. Any everyone is right, it is best to see them every week without a break. I too am tired of so called reality shows which in no way are reality. Give this series a chance.
I watched the first Event episode. I thought they tried hard, but the show and the actors took themselves way too seriously… as though each second was the most important second in the history of the world. A false air of constant urgency. I never went back and haven’t missed it. For good sci-fi writing try the new Battlestar Galactica. All seasons are out on DVD.
How about running more than 3-4 episodes in a row without having a months long hiatus. THese are SERIES TV shows, and seeing them in order counts, as does seeing them BEFORE you forgot what the heck happened last time. I can’t fathom what possesses the powers that be to run a few weeks, then take months off, and act all surprised that no one cares any more. WE have no idea if this is just another long vacation, or if these shows have been canceled. No wonder reality shows thrive. I hate them, but at least you aren’t completely… Read more »
I was a little disappointed by the first episode because it reminded me too much of copying Lost, with way too many flashbacks. I disliked Lost because it flashed back and forth too often. I decided to try it a few times and by the third episode the script was better, lesss bouncing around, and I was hooked. I have been waiting and waiting for season two. I sometimes watch TV on ondemand later when I am too tired to watch shows that come on at 10pm or conflict with another time slot. I make up the next day watching… Read more »
Me and wife love the event. Why get rid of it. I hate that you get us hooked into really good shows then yank them off the air. I’m tired of the American Idle and all the other reality shows on T.V. Flash forward was great, why did you take that one. Bring it back, and by the way. What happened to Heros? You kept Chuck but not Heros…are you kidding me.
Absolutely, I am sick of my scifi type shows getting yanked to only see dozens of regurgitated reality crap get countless hours of airtime. To hell with reality tv.
I agree with Henry. I really like ‘The Event’. Watched it every week and will continue to do so. Great series, but then again all great series will eventually be cancelled in the 2nd or 3rd season. Look at Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles. Done after 2 seasons. Heroes was a great show. Loved it and now its done and they keep Chuck. Wtf? Flashforward was also an awesome show. I loved the concept of it. Never missed an episode. Then It was gone. Screw all these reality shows. I hate them. Give some of these shows a chance instead… Read more »