It turns out that FOX’s Kevin Bacon TV show didn’t have a big enough “following” to ensure a fourth season. The network has cancelled The Following after three seasons.
The current season of The Following picks up a year after former FBI agent Ryan Hardy (Bacon) and his team put serial killer and cult leader Joe Carroll (James Purefoy) back on death row. The rest of the cast includes Shawn Ashmore, Jessica Stroup, Michael Ealy, Sam Underwood, and Zuleikha Robinson.
Debuting in January 2013 to a very healthy 3.2 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 10.42 million total viewers. Unfortunately, over the course of the season, the numbers started dwindling downward. The season ended up averaging a 2.6 rating with 7.96 million.
The numbers continued to fall in season two — averaging a 1.8 rating with 5.19 million total viewers. The ratings have gotten even worse in season three. The 11 installments that have aired so far have averaged a 1.17 rating with 3.58 million — a decline of more than 30% in each category.
FOX has now cancelled The Following. There won’t be a fourth season but there are four installments remaining. They will air in two-hour blocks over the next two Monday nights; May 11th and May 18th.
Word is that the series is being shopped to other outlets like Hulu but production costs may make a deal difficult.
What do you think? Do you like The Following TV show? Do you think it should have been cancelled or renewed for a fourth season? Would you watch the series elsewhere?
I fell in love with this show the very first episode, and this is absolutely my favorite series. Can’t believe it’s going to be cancelled. Why do all the good shows get axed, but all the stupid, mind numbing reality shows keep on going!! I did hate to see Joe die. I really liked that evil man, and he and Ryan made such a great duo. Kevin and James are brilliant on this show. I look forward to Monday nights so much, and the minute my dvr finishes recording The Following, I start watching!!!! What a huge disappointment that next… Read more »
I couldn’t agree more. Seems like more and more of the actual good shows are quickly disappearing being replaced by terrible reality series. I loved this show. Joe and Ryan were great. I wish they didn’t kill him. I sure hope hulu continues the show. I for one will follow!!!
The only part I disagree with is that I don’t think Joe is really dead. I’m guessing he has followers working in the prison and they staged the whole execution. Maybe I’m just in denial that they killed a really great character. Sad this show was cancelled.
My favourite show!!! How can you cancel. The one good time my husband and I bond to watch.
Without the enigmatic JOE around…I dunno if the interest level would be so high; regardless ‘Kevin’ is after someone new and we can infer MANY Other followers of Joe and his mentor are ‘out there’. AS long as FOX gives us some closure…I am VERY disappointed that STALKER is cancelled; McDermott has bad luck with shows being canned. With Kevin (SCREAM) Williamson at the helm I am SURPRISED it got the boot’ HOWEVER if EITHER show shows up on an alternative feed I WILL WATCH
So Fox has cancelled The Following after 3 Seasons.Have to say i’m disappointed to hear this but not surprised. I loved this show but when they decided to kill Joe that was the end! The show is called The Following after joe’s followers, no joe no show! but for me Ryan and Joe made this show, I will miss this show and the excellent cast and the brilliant Kevin Bacon and James Purefoy. They always cancel good shows, and keep crap on. Fox have a reputation for killing shows early. I’m done and I officially have NO reason to watch… Read more »
ok i’m done with these networks! no stalker, no forever and now the following being canceled. but garbage shows like the kardashians and the real housewives of whatever have long used up their 15 minutes of fame. this is such bullcrap!
You tell ’em Lisa! I totally agree….. and who’s watching that show about the 19 kids? Or the little people, that boat family, among lots of other totally mind numbing junk!
Last season they got rid of 2 of the shows I always tuned in to… This season 5….. So now we have no FOREVER, STALKER, THE FOLLOWING, PARENTHOOD or REVENGE!
The networks expect us to buy the products that the sponsors buy time for… then zap the show anyway. It’s just amazing how the networks don’t care at all what we think.
I am in complete and utter shock that they would cancel this show. My favorite Monday night show! I can’t believe it! Obviously somethjng had to happen with Joe but something different and exciting happens every week to where I can’t wait for next Monday to see what happens! I just can’t believe it. I’m very disappointed. There is so many unanswered questions which makes me think season 4 would be phenomenal. Someone better pick up this show because I’m not ready to let it go!
FINALLY AGREAT SHOW PASE LOVE IT
I loved this show. It had a lot more potential in it. Great acting and writing. The network screwed up on this one. They should have kept it. No woder network tv sucks lately. Whenever you find a great show they cancel it.
All of the escapes from prison was “Jumping the Shark” for me. The whole program seemed to be running around in circles. They seemed to be inept in catching him and getting him executed. There are a lot of other of these types of shows that seem to be handing things better. It sure wasn’t as good as “The Walking Dead”. Also Blacklist was more interesting to watch. If it had been renewed, I likely wouldn’t have watched next season.
I would like to add,Bacon was going to
be a father,I would like to seen how that turned
out.
The Following was a huge disappointment since the very first season. Thank goodness Fox did the right thing to end the suspenseful series after three seasons.
Too Bad. I watched. RENEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I cant believe their going to cancel this show. Thats the best show ever. I watched it on hulu because I work second shift. So I had to watch it the next day. Just because they killed off Joe he still had followers out their. I like the new direction the show was headed. Just when you thought Joe was the worse killer there’s always someone better. Hope it gets picked up by Hulu fingers crossed. The best show I seen in a long time.
This one I agree with. I agree with the other comments about season 1 being the best, and things seeming to have gone a little sideways and become disjointed last season and into this one. And, really, it’s time. Joe’s dead, Strauss is dead, Ryan needs to end this thing with Mark and the new guy and retire and get his head on right. I will always love me some Bacon,though! 🙂
…BUT, if someone else picks it up, I will watch and see what they do with it. 😉
Hey let’s wait a minute,I think it could have
gotten even better,(Bacon)was headed down
a road we only heard about,he could have
recovered the show.Its Keven People!!!!!
The first year was the best but then got somewhat bizarre and gruesome. Now with Joe Carroll gone, the story is basically over. It was time to end it.
Hey, you can only chase after the bad guys so long, without having it turn ridiculous…it was an accident waiting to happen, sorry Kevin.