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.
NBC cancelled the wrong shows, there is not a show on NBC that I will watch thec same for ABC – watch cable channels!!!!!!
I love “The Event”! I think NBC should re-run the first 22 episodes through the summer time and On Demand on the Cable Channels so those who did not have a chance to watch it due to other “CONFLICTS” will get a chance to watch it and develop the liking for it that I did. That’s how I was able to develop my affinity for it Due to its availability on “ON DEMAND” channels so I could play catch up with the first three episodes. I AM IN HOPES THAT NBC WILL SEE FIT TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM!!! James Holland… Read more »
THE IDIOT WHO SAID THE F WORD, IS AN IDIOT, HE DO NOT LIKE NBC BECAUSE OF MSNBC. DO NOT TAKE THIS TO HEART, THE IDIOT IS TRYING TO BE POLITICAL, YOU SEE HE DID NOT GIVE HIS NAME. FOR EVERY IDIOT LIKE THIS ONE, THERE ARE 1,000 WHO LOVE THE SHOW.
The event is action packed, it has everything a good movie should have. I think you are not advertising it enough, people need to know it is here. I talk to people and they do not know it is on, they want to see it, You need to put it out there, it is a great show, you should not cancel it, it is a great show.
SAVE THIS SHOW! The event is amazing and it has kept me and millions of other viewers gripped and entertained throughout the series. It has not been util the last episode that we have found out what ‘The Event’ actually is ‘the Re-birth of the sleeper species where they and evolve into something greater!’ How can they tell us that and have such an amazing season finale and not let us find out more by creating a second series. Us current viewers need a second series and will continue to watch this show that we love so please don’t make… Read more »
**** NBC
hear hear ,im gutted
I Love the Event, I watch it online every week. I will say that there are some things that don’t really make sense, like an alien with russian accent. And I think when you deal with Sci-fi you tend to get away from sensical things, which is kind of a downer. But all and all The Event is an awesome show and I’d hate to see it go. There is some good acting, good plot, lots of simultaneous thins happening and it seems a pretty well thought out story. I need to see what happens!
With respect to viewers, I really do not wish to offend anyone and nor do I want to sound elitist, but programmes like “The Event”, “V”, “Flash Forward” and even “Lost” require a lot of skills that many viewers simply do not possess. These shows all have complex plotlines that span long time periods AND continuously require both the introduction of new characters and several interweaving storylines, some of which occur randomly. This requires good memory skills, an ability to understand multifaceted issues and a good working knowledge of current affairs and key international agencies or concepts. Viewers lose interest… Read more »
the best comment yet… i absolutely agree to picksy.. i do not consider myself genius or intelectual person but i love the series. the production, the plot, the drama and suspence. even the love triangle of the protagonists..
i think the show is really good & its the first series that has a series finalie like that…..cant wait to see what happens in series 2, i know for a fact the ratiings will rise due to the origional finalie, NBC pls dont get rid of the show i have to see what happens next, why do all the best programs get the boot now adays people watch the show via the internet thats how i watched the series so that could be the reason why the ratings are down doesnt mean the shows no good
nbc would be stupid to drop this brillient show its amazing
The event is the best series ever it’s interesting an has alot of fans in Kenya I really wish n hope it does nt get cancelled n listen to the guy who talked about neighbours
Please save THE EVENT. Don’t leave us hanging without answers!
Love The Event .. please please don’t cancel! Gripping, exciting and awesome!
This show is also a big hit in Britain, it is a big mistake to axe The Event – we are gutted over this decision. I really hope that another network continues series 2, it takes time to get these things going – I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see The Event achieve cult status as time goes on, building up a huge fanbase worldwide. In the mid 1980’s an Australian Network began a soap called ‘Neighbours’ – they axed it after a year. After a public outcry another network bought the rights to the show and continued it… Read more »
I simply love wating the event , there is not that much i really watch on tv but this wow has me very very good acting and story lines . why don’t we put it up on facebook and twitter a get it saved… I have just created a group called ,Save the series called THE EVENT. on facebook please join and spread the word.
We have watched The Event from the start and have enjoyed it, we hope it will come back for a 2nd season. It would be ashame to put time into this program and be left hanging just when things are getting so interesting. We need closuer and who are these Neilsons??? they don’t speak for me, more times then not we don’t agree with there program ratings..you need to ask me.!