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.
Don’t cancel The Event. I believe the reason for the low viewer ship is due to the DVR and illegal down loaders. My wife and I have to DVR the program due to the time schedule.
Anyway DO NOT CANCEL the show PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!
Shoulda known! The show was good, but needed better writing, and was almost killed off by that 13 week hiatus. Network television has to realize that we are living in the age of Rome, the Sopranos and Game of Thrones! Disappointed that I wasted my time playing along all season just to get to the point where the damn event is supposed to happen and it doesn’t!! I’m done with NBC and network television dramas. I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!
Why??? Please don’t cancel the Event. Are DVR recordings counted? I dvr all my shows and I eagerly look forward to watching each and every episode!! It started off slow but now it has definitely picked up and I’m so looking forward to Season Two. Please give it a chance and don’t cancel The Event!!
YES!!! It is the only show I watch and think it has eerie similarities to what is happening behind the scenes in Real Life. The Acting is fantastic, The direction is amazing and it is truly an action packed and exciting series.
I must pick them wrong all the time. I loved “Jericho” it got cancelled. I love Chuck and that almost got cancelled. I love The Event and now that’s being cancelled. And the same for No Ordinary Family. Maybe it’s time I don’t let the networks’ entice me with any new shows. The good ones always end up cancelled.
This is fricking unbelievable ! They consider “audience” to a minority of people in the US. We can’t start watching a show since most of them are going to be cancelled within weeks… ridiculous !!
The Event is the best show currently on TV . Everyone will be heartbroken if this show is totally cancelled.
I love The Event I watch it every week if I can’t my DVR is set to record.
I really enjoy the show, it has so much promise and is moving… it is suspenseful and intriguing.
One way of bring the show to audiences is by having FACEbook promotions and little sketches on facebook.. allow the facebook network breath life in the show… let it spread and marinate on the minds of audiences as the show is re-born…
I personally love the show as it touches on all aspects of humanity and morality
I hope that the show continues.
Please bring season 2. I love the show… The show is really awesome….
Please, please, please bring it back… I started watching it on hulu on my iPhone… I really like the show… I really want it be a season 2.
My husband and I love the show and can wait to watch it every monday please dont cancel give it a chance.
I think this show has improved greatly. I am eager for each new episode. Please don’t cancel it.
I adore this show!!!! I haven’t been hooked on a show in a while since I have a packed schedule (and no TV), but I make the time to watch this show. I’ll be so upset if another season doesn’t come out.
This Show Is AWESOME!!!! Its almost as good as 24!!! NBC Needs to keep The Event ON the Air!!!!!