NBC recently debuted one of their new Summer shows, The Listener. With lots of negative reviews, how did the first episodes perform in the ratings? Is the show worth keeping or should the network listen to critics and cancel it?
The Listener is a Canadian drama that revolves around a young paramedic (Craig Olejnik) who has the ability to listen to people’s inner thoughts. He tries to help those in need while trying to figure out his own place in the world. Others in the cast include Ennis Esmer, Colm Feore, Lisa Marcos, Mylene Robic, Anthony Lemke, John Fleming, Lara jean Chorostecki, Arnold Pinnock, and Paulino Nunes.
The show has already run in several countries around the world and began airing in the US on June 4th. NBC aired the first episode at 9pm and it ranked in fourth place for the timeslot, attracting just 5.25 million viewers and a 1.5/4 rating/share in the 18-49 demographic. The 10pm episode garnered a few more viewers (5.34 million) but lost a bit in the demo (1.4/4).
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Many critics crucified the series and even fellow NBC employee Greg Grunberg may not be crazy about it either. The actor, who plays a mindreader on Heroes, tweeted, “New ‘original’ NBC show about a guy who can hear thoughts… called, uh…The Listener? Uh, no wait, I know this. BRAIN FART!! Genius!!” On Tuesday, he retweeted a fan’s note that said, “wht is ths ‘The Listener’ crap. thr’s alrdy a show abt a mindreader on tv, its called heroes, & @greggrunberg is all we need.”
The peacock network can’t be pleased with Listener’s lackluster performance, even for a Summer series. If NBC was footing the bill exclusively, the show would certainly not be back for another season. But, because the network is simply purchasing the broadcast rights from Canada’s CTV, the show’s much less expensive for them. If CTV decides to produce another season, it might make some sense for NBC to pick it up.
What do you think? Is the show work watching or should it be cancelled already?
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Image courtesy CTV.
The reason this show debuted poorly is because NBC didn’t advertise!! I accidentally caught the pilot episode while scanning my TV listings, and that was the first I had seen of it. I have seen tons of write-ups on upcoming shows for the fall, cable networks’ summer series, even FOX’s new Mental, but nothing about The Listener. I am really impressed with the show so far – good characters, sympathetic story lines, great cast. The good news is that since it has already aired elsewhere, all 13 episodes for the season already exist. From the Canadian reviews I have seen,… Read more »
I absolutly love this show! I’m a devoted Heroes watcher and that’s the only reason I decided to watch the show. Its really good and gives me something to watch when Heroes is off-air. I mainly watch NBC shows (I don’t like Fox or ABC) so I’m glad when they have a good new show (e.g. The Listener, Crusoe{which they killed on purpose} and others)
I agree with Carla. Sure this show is similar but I’ve never been into Heroes all that much but I can’t live without Medium. This show is definitely a keeper and I hope viewers who are into both Heroes and Medium tune in and realize that the show is pretty darn good!
The Listener is a really good show. I don’t think that it should be canceled. I’ve watched Heroes and I love that show as well but they are nothing a like. Please keep The Listener. =]
I really have been enjoying this show so far, only 2 episodes to go on but I’m liking it. I don’t think it competes or is like heroes ( a show I don’t like at all). And, if there is truth that NBC is losing Medium, it could be a nice way to keep some of the medium fans tuning into NBC.
@Patera: Thanks for your somewhat cryptic correction. It wasn’t clear that Grunberg was retweeting at the time but he has since clarified. The post has been updated.
@tvsquad Please post a correction that those were not MY WORDS on the Tweet about THE LISTENER. I RT’d that comment from @impsy BrainFart!!
FACT CHECKING IS A GOOD IDEA
– Patera
I’m from Portugal and The Listener have already ended.
The show is interesting. It seems like NBC doen’t like this show… It the first place they think on cancelation… Why?!
I think NBC should renewit.
I noted in the two episodes I watched, that there were gaping plot holes and odd editing discontinuities. I had to freeze frame and go back and forth, at times, because it just didn’t make sense. Perhaps it’s new show jitters, but something is not quite up to professional grade. I’ve spotted similar gaffs in other shows, as well. “Saving Grace” had a gun battle scene in slow motion, and it was obvious that Grace (Holly) had not really fired a gun, nor could have hit the broad side of a barn, from the way that the barrel oscillated in… Read more »
I liked it. Its better than Celebrity. It has potential. needs some better acting,
It’s a whole lot better than I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!, or wipeout, or some of the other crap out there.
This show looks like it should be at the very least interesting to watch. They don’t overuse Toby’s powers and the main character isn’t always right with his interpretation of what he gets. I say, let it run, and run, and run for as long as it goes!
I love this show, it’s story seems very intresting and the cahracters aren’t compleetly polar (absolute good/evil). It has no resemblance to Heroes, Toby already knows about hsi powers and it’s about his struggle with them, not how to use them. This show hust can’t get cancled already!
It was up against the NBA finals, so they should at least wait to see if it catches on.
It was a huge hit in Europe.
I watched the first 2 episodes and I like it so far.