NBC’s struggling serial drama, The Event, returns tonight after 13 weeks away. The network has been giving the series some nice promotion and is bringing it back with a two back-to-back episodes. Will that be enough?
The Event had a solid debut back in September with a 3.6 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 10.88 million viewers. Unfortunately, it fell nearly 20% in week two and another 17% in week three. The ratings kept falling until they seemed to even off at a 1.7 rating and about 5.5 million viewers. That’s a far cry from the promise that the series once held.
NBC put the ailing series on hiatus at the end of November, promising a big relaunch in late February. That return was later bumped to tonight to make room for The Cape, another casualty of the timeslot.
Networks have tried putting serial dramas on long hiatuses in the past and they just don’t work out. Many viewers assume that a series like The Event has already been cancelled, that they won’t remember what was going on, or have gotten into the habit of watching other shows. Whatever the reason, a show like The Event has to fight to get the viewers who were watching pre-hiatus to return, never mind attracting new ones.
Sadly, it seems that it will take a ratings miracle to save The Event at this point and NBC certainly hasn’t shown a lot of confidence in getting new people to give the show a try. More than half of the audience who were interested enough to watch the premiere, left over the course of the first 10 episodes. Of those who did stick around, it’s reasonable to expect that a sizable percentage have moved on after 13 weeks.
If you check our season rankings to date, you’ll see that The Event is currently in the middle of the pack with a 2.2 rating and 6.86 million. If the new episodes can attract the same number of pre-hiatus viewers, it will slowly sink lower down the list. If The Event starts doing Cape-like numbers (a 1.2 in the demo), it’ll fall much quicker.
Either way, unless the ratings turnaround or NBC has no faith in its new pilots, it’s very doubtful that The Event will be coming back for season two.
What do you think? Will you be watching The Event? What could NBC do to save this series or is it too late already? Is it worth saving?
Image courtesy NBC.
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159 Comments on "The Event: NBC Series Returns; Is It Worth Saving from Cancellation?"
I really like this new show and it has a lot of promise. It should get at least one more season to come into its own.
I really like the show and would love to see it to the end. It seems like now a days they bring on a show with a specific story and cancel it before you see the end like the series Flash forward, please give this one a chance. So many shows are broke up with short seasons that were not given a chance to really get interested in them.
I love this show; however, sometimes, I am unable to watch it on Monday nights, so I watch it on Hulu the next day. I wonder how many other people are doing the same thing? My question to NBC would be the following: does the ratings reflect those viewers (like me) who watch The Event via Hulu?
Finally, I think this show is absolutely wonderful and is worth saving!
Keep it…
The Event is a great concept and show very interesting potential. I found every episode interesting, but can understand why others may have tuned out. Several scenes were repeat several times, so it appeared the story did not progress quickly. I was pleased there new episode did not repeat the plane disappearing again. I liked how it progressed and believe The Event will gain viewers.
I personally love this show. I’ve been watching the show since Day 1, and although it may be slow at times, I’m hoping that later on in the long run the show will be interesting and worth it. So basically, I think the show is worth saving and I hope viewers give it a chance.
I absolutely love The Event. I couldn’t wait week to week for the next episode!! I think it is a great show and will be very disappointed if it’s canceled. Just like a network to get rid of a show I love. That’s why I hate trying to get into new shows. Won’t be an NBC fan if it doesn’t include The Event!!
I think that the show is worth saving. The first half of the season was extremely slow but these last two episodes showed up that maybe it will speed it up a bit. In the area of being a good show it is worth saving for a second season. I’m just worried about viewership. I think it would get a lot in the second season if it kept up the pace.
I love these types of shows. I loved Flash Forward too, and I enjoy watching V. The problem with these types of shows is that they can only be taken so far before the story stagnates. It’s really difficult to keep shows like this going without drawing the story to an end. I do hope that before The Event and V are cancelled, that they at least finish the story rather than leave us hanging like they did with Flash Forward.
I saw the return last night. I think NBC should give it a chance. Ilook forward to see how the story unfolds.
My wife and I both love this show and couldn’t wait for it to start again. Everything doesn’t have to be reality, and everything doesn’t have to be wrapped up and answered in60 minutes. Then again, I also loved Flashforward, The Good Guys, Terriers,…..
Cancel this show and bring back The Cape.
It’s over. Put The Event out of it’s misery. You’d think Hollywood is intellectually bankrupt… wait.. it is.
I is worth the return andI will watch it as long as it air’s. I like the type of
show that has a si fi era to it. It should be a little more moving.