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.
Just finished watching episode 14. If the network does not take the simple step of wrapping up this cliff-hanger, then shame on them for taking any effort with this show at all. A clean mini-series ending is absolutely possible for The Event. I’m not going to say what I think a single two hour special final episode would be in case they already have one in their pocket. Suffice it to say that there are not many loose ends to tie up here. A satisfactory end is easily within grasp. Don’t pull out now … that would be really really… Read more »
Anonymous is right. If the networks want to compete with “Cable” [Although, the term “Cable” is rather out-dated] then they have to find ways to complete their projects. If they can’t be certain which shows to start and/or complete, then they should take a lesson from the “24” series. That show had the right idea; start with an end in mind.
I agree with EDGAR” above….ALSO< why is seemingly the norm for some shows to be on for 6 or 8 episodes then go off for 3-4 months? This lack of continuity is what propels viewers to other channels(mostly cable) and YOU LOSE viewers. USED TO BE a season was 24 episodes…its shrunk to 20 or 13 or even less b-4 going on hiatus.
Further into the series now, I have to say that this is truly worth keeping on the air; intriguing and well executed. Let’s hope that it does not become sullied by too many authors on the writing staff, adding creative, but loose, connections that have to be tied up later … any way they can [“Lost” as case in point]. Having worked on a few complicated writing projects I feel qualified to say that wrapping up loose ends (satisfactorily) is not accomplished well with too many ghost writers involved. Make sure the team is small and tight. My own writing… Read more »
We have watched every “The Event” show and just can’t “get in to it”. We keep waiting for it to become more interesting. It’s really slow at “grabbing” us. It’s well written, but just don’t like it as much as “V”, “LOST”, “The CAPE”, or any of the other Sci-Fi shows, past or present. SUPERNATURAL is the best one on to date. Plus, we have loved all the STARGATE shows. We are sorry STARGATE UNIVERSE is canceled, but it focused too much on the characters and that dark, dreary ship, than having action. If “The EVENT” is canceled, sorry, won’t… Read more »
Just finish the show and don’t take too long to wrap up a series project. Look, I can’t stand a series that seems like it’s going to go on forever with no real end in sight; case in point, “Lost.” Give people the impression that it is a mini-series; then do it that way. If you want to continue it, find a way to start a sequel and advertise it as such. Do as many sequels as you want. I just started watching The Event and like it. I also enjoy “V.” Alien invasion is a lot cooler than the… Read more »
Keep The Event!!! I love the plot and it keeps me coming back. I missed a few episodes, but thanks to the internet and Hulu, I’ve been able to catch up. More people should be watching this show!!!!
Cancel “The Event” already! It’s boring and the acting is subpar! “V” is much better than this crapfest!
Missed the first runs but caught up all 12 episodes on the net. Caught my interest because the drama is not dependent on ‘fantasy’ science. They (sometimes clumsily) sidestep the how and concentrate on the what. Now it’s a matter of finishing the plot line to resolution of whatever sort the writers produce. Networks do themselves a great disservice by creating a new show only to cancel it without an ending. It P.O.s the viewers and drives them to the many alternative entertainment which is already weakening their position. Word to the wise- don’t leave us hanging… you’ll soon find… Read more »
THE SHOW IS FANTASTIC, PLEASE BRING IT BACK. I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY MORE PEOPLE ARE NOT WATCHING.
I love THE EVENT, please do not cancel this great show. I think this show will go to places we have never seen before.
I am an avid viewer of SciFi and mindbending dramas. I welcomed The Event. After watching a few episodes I felt the switching between the plot with the president and aliens and the plot with missing pilot/daughter just too much. I felt if they phased out that side bar by folding it into the main plot with the President and Aliens the show might flow better. As is, it a sickening rollercoaster ride even for the strong hearted.
I didn’t watch the first ten episodes, but when I heard Chris Matthews had a cameo on tonight’s episode, I had to check it out. I liked it enough to want to continue watching, so they must be doing something right. I plan to watch the first ten on the NBC site.
I wish the show my very best. Enjoy the show, folks. I just hope that it doesn’t end like another LOST.
I love this show its so cool. I do hope they plan ahead because many of the great show i have watched they had to stop because they did not plan ahead. I also wish them well.
It re-premiers tonight. I love it. I hope it makes it!!!
i love the event i was a lost fan and now that lost is over i started to watch the event it and i find the event just as good or even better dont take it off the air
the Event Premiers tonight on NBC and was shown already in Canada the night before. I think the show has a slow moving plot, but interesting and suspenseful. But because a whole lot is not accomplished episode to episode, I can see why people lose interest.
I doubt it will last longer than one season. V is actually a similar show, that will have a hard time surviving season to season… But V has better looking actresses and actors.