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.
Please don’t cancel the show. Bring the shows back.
quit dragging out the series, there are better programs to watch
If you are going to cancel The Event…..please let the series come to a reasonable close at it’s finale. I hesitate to even get involved in watching and enjoying new shows because I feel like as soon as I do….BAM.you cancel it and leave us hanging….i.e. “V”, “Jericho” to name a couple. What is the deal ??????? The one thing I would change about The Event is to move the story line along more quickly. Please don’t just have a “one idea” wonder and drag it out forever…..THAT IS WHAT MAKES PEOPLE HESITATE TO EVEN START WATCHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I… Read more »
I’m living overseas in Italy, so just downloaded the first several episodes, and OMG, if the later episodes are anything like the first one, then this is up there with Jack Bauer (or Bower) in 24! I haven’t seen such a show since 24!!! DON’T CANCEL! GIVE IT TIME. When I started watching Boardwalk Empire and Deadwood, I just couldn’t stick with the first several episodes, but glad I did, because they were top shows!
DON’T CANCEL THE EVENT! GIVE IT A CHANCE!
The event is ridiculous. Over acted, drawn out with a plot that seems utterly ridiculous. I don’t find myself caring about anything on the show. Can you please stop making super hot women the bad people. It’s borderline retarded. Please make this show go away. NBC if this is the best you got, you’re in trouble. This is no Lost.
As for as the ratings, is recording it to the DVR, counted in the ratings? What about catching it “On Demand”? Does that get added into the ratings? Because I know a lot of people, including myselft, who records the shows to the DVR and watch it at a later time. I hope they take that into consideration.
Please don,t cancel The Event. I love it, more people will probably watch now, since two and a half men ic cancelled
the event was A good show, please let it continue showing!
Please do not cancel this series and stop putting shows on long breaks. I am ready to give up watching a series as are many of my friends. If you want to win over viewers keep a show on from beginning to end.,
Pls do not cancel this show! One of the best shows!
Please do not cancel this show.
It is one of the most unique and intriguing shows to come to television in a long, long time.
A show’s hiatus, despite pre-hype for its return, surely is a signature for its demise. Viewers become frustrated, disinterested, find replacements.
If given a chance and a solid slot week after week, viewers will return and new viewers will tune in.
Give it time….that is more valuable than short-term ratings for ultimate long-term success.
Just getting really interesting! Please keep it around!
Please give The Event a chance and stop putting shows on long breaks. That does not help viewership. Not smart!
Give the show – The Event – time to develop as ABC did for LOST. NBC needs to backup a quality show to get the ratings it’s looking for. There are fewer and fewer quality shows in this age of “reality” shows.