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.
PLEASE!!!!!PLEASE!!!!! DO NOT CANCEL THE EVENT. BEST SERIES IN A LONG TIME!!!!!!!!
I am sooo upset ! Such an awesome show being cancelled ?? And leaving us hanging with no ending ? I am furious !!!!!
After watching the seasonal finale, I really want to know what happens next. Please put this show on another network like SYFY or TNT. And when you promote it, you only have to show the last scene with the president’s wife and the new planets to get people involved. This show has potential to be another Star Trek.
WHAT THE CRAP??!!
OMG
. DO NOT CANCEL THE EVENT!!!!!!!!!
BEST SHOW EVER!! :'((
Why are we getting interested in anything your network shows? Just as we get interested and our family sits down to enjoy a new episode after waiting a week to see what is next it is cancelled! We do have a life with our family and enjoying The Event was one of those things we looked forward to. To sit by the TV and relax and get our minds off the everyday stuff. The series had great writers and a great story. We truly hope the network considers putting it back on at least for the final episodes and to… Read more »
The Event is a great show. The networks say there not doing good so they can put on more reality garbage. It’s easier and cheaper to produce. TV will soon be all reality TV. It pretty much is already. So sad.
A great show,hopefully it will not be cancelled. If it is cancelled,may the producers at least have a few episodes more to wrap up the story. I really don’t like to be left hanging,and if I am,I probably will not see anymore NBC shows.
Love this show out of all being canceled this is the one that irritates I agree with all the above comments!
PLEASE DON’T CANCEL THIS SHOW!
A great show!!! Very different and the focus isn’t on sex, genders or constant high speed chases for adrenaline rushes….just an excellent story line! Why do you think American Idol, Dancing with the stars, America’s got talent, Do you think you can dance are doing so well? The public is sick of the same ole…same ole, we need a change of the usual mundane crap!..Who cares what the Neilson ratings say…how about listening to the majority of your viewers!
Nothing good on TV, except American Idol, and now the Event! Please keep the series on. It’s refreshing to see a program without sex. I love the program. I hope you don’t go wierd with it like Fringe did.
I love the story line, I love everything about it. I can hardly wait to see what you are going to do next, and how we will get out of this one.
why do all of the best shows have to get cancelled?
You clearly have no confidence in your viewing public. That’s why TNT and USA will win the battle. The Event was so heavily promoted and then you don’t stand behind the audience that responded. Harry’s Law is another chance you have to retain the intelligent viewer. We all have so many venues these days. Please find a way to finish what you (so dramatically) started. We appreciated the quality product. Sorry if it doesn’t show up on your (silly?) ratings. We will support the creative shows. Harry’s Law The Event Don’t make Ellen do all your heavy work. I hope… Read more »
The Event is my favorite show. I have never agreed with the Neilson ratings for example if I was on their board 2 in a half men would of been gone. Whoever is on that board its their likes and dislikes.
Love this show 🙂
I love the event, I watch it all the time. I think the writers are great. I hope it stays on the air.