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 watched the first 2 seasons, got like 4 or 5 episodes in to the third and lost interest. I can’t say I’m surprised it got the axe. It was boring. I’Il stick with Criminal Minds for my “weekly sicko” fix.
It’s really sad that networks seemed to lose their backbone with tv shows. This is why so many people have lost their love for network television because they just hack shows left and right. This was the first show in a long time that I decided to watch and keep up with. I had been waiting to see if a show was going to last before I vested my time. If I saw it made it 3 years I would seek it out on netflix or amazon, then I would catch up with it and get current. It’s truly ashamed… Read more »
The Following should be renewed for one final season to see it end properly
Agreed.
If another network or Pay TV outlet pick up the following I would watch it
Season three was off the chain. I put the show in the same category as 24 for its excellent writing and cutting edge story line and character development. I put it in my top 3 shows along with The Blacklist and Hannibal. Sick and tired of inane comedy and same old reality shows. There are folks out here in TV land who enjoy something bold and different that makes a person think versus being spoon fed boring nonsense. You left the story open with who was it that wanted Ryan? How do you leave us hanging? If I had my… Read more »
Please bring The Following back. This was one of the few shows that Fox had that made TV watching entertaining. I don’t find many interesting shows to watch. I am so sick of these stupid reality shows.
best show I have seen in a long time…. should not be canceled to many people have questions to be answered
I really liked the show. I do not understand why it was canceled. It was edgy and different. It sucked me in and this was the first season I watched it. So tired of reality singing shows.
Save this show. Compelling characters. Great twists. Amazing show. Love it!
Do not cancel the following!!!!!!! It his the best show I have seen in year!!!! Nothing out there like this show!!!!!!!
This series MUST go on!!!!
The Following has great acting and outstanding entertainment value. Loved the investment into each character’s development, weekly cliffhangers and unexpected turns throughout the series. Extremely smart story lines and well written/performed scripts. Just another example of how complex storytelling is under-appreciated in the majority of today’s brain dead, cookie-cutter consumer base. I can name quite a few good TV shows falling captive to the same prey. The real crime is that we let another good one get away.
Please don’t cancel The Following!!!!
Don’t cancel The following!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love the show soo much
The way they ended the season how could they cancel. I love Kevin Bacon and the show. Reminds of 24 only with serial killers.
I agree I watched 24 as well. So tired of reality bs all the time. This show sucked me in and was awesome. Great acting and story line. I was shocked it was cancelled.