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?
Image courtesy CTV.
I’m thoroughly enjoying it. And I’m Canadian, so maybe that’s the trick. It’s a Canadian show, shot in Canada, making no bones about the fact that the locale is TORONTO, not Chicago or LA or some other big US metropolis.
Glad to know that CTV is considering picking it up for another season. Please do, CTV, and please DON’T try to slant it for a US audience. Let’s keep this one at home.
Wow, Mychoice. I think your comment is longer than the article. I think you missed the point. It really doesn’t seem to be about Heroes vs Listener. It’s about how Listener did in the US ratings and what do we think about the show. You go from disagreeing with the writer to being insulting. Nice!
After reading the article, all I can say is how RIDICULOUS. So we have 2 shows about 2 guys with completely different story lines who can read minds. There are absolutely NO similarities between Heroes and The Listener in the types of scripts/stories they generate. The 2 characters are absolutely nothing alike. The shows are nothing alike. I’ve seen the entire first season already. So I can say for a fact that the ONLY similarity is that you have 2 guys who can read minds. They don’t have any identical or even nearly close story lines. “The Listener” isn’t a… Read more »
I LOVE the show. But, even I have to admit that it’s basically “Heroes of 1” 🙂
I feel that this is a good show. I do not feel that there is anything boring about the show. I hope NBC does decide to keep it because that is one of the shows I look forward to watching everynight; along with other members of my family.
Honestly I wasn’t sure how I felt about the show until the fourth episode and then after that I love the characters, the plot is really interesting and we find that he’s not the only person that is able to do these things. When I got to the 13th episode and it was all over I was so anxious to know what would happen next. I love the characters and the plot gets more and more exciting as you go. I really hope they keep it.
I am so glad it’s a CTV show. Everytime I like an American network show, ie, Life on Mars, Journeyman, The Unusuals, Men in Trees, it gets canceled in the blink of an eye. At least when the fools at NBC (the brainiacs that canceled Star Trek) cancel this great show, I can continue watching it on CTV. And while I’m at it, thank you CTV, for The Listener AND for Flashpoint!
This show is horrible. I watched the first two episodes and tried watching the third, but I couldn’t finish it. The writing sucks. The plots are predictable. The characters are not believable. I’m pretty sure female cops don’t trounce around in tight jeans, a tank top and high heels. The lead is a looker, but it isn’t worth suffering through such a horrible show just to look at him. The only show I’ve ever tried watching that was worse than this was CBS’s Harper’s Island.
It initially looked like it would be a good show from the promos. But from the opening scene, EVERY character and EVERY back plot was cliché. The main character, Toby, the straight laced goody too shoes. His partner and best friend the comic relief, goofy and annoying. The ex-girlfriend who can’t make up her mind. And OMG the most cliché of all the beautiful female detective, who he now keeps running into with every case he helps with (are there no other cops in this town? I see them in the station, but she is the only one working cases.)… Read more »
I love everything about the Listener. Please don’t cancel it!
Relax people. It’s just a summer fling for NBC and if you’re Canadian then you know CTV will keep showing it. So just chill.
The CBC made this show years ago. It was called Seeing Things, with Louis del Grande as a newspaper reporter who, after coming into contact with someone, sees visions of a crime that involves them. The show was well written, wonderfully performed, and very funny.
Everything the Listener is not, in other words.
Well holy **** it has been 3 episodes and NBC hasn’t axed it yet. Why don’t you fuckers give it a few more episodes to catch on. Anyone remember how Seinfeld and Cheers first started out, crappy but finished and arguably the two biggest shows in television history!!!
it’s a GREAT show! give it a chance!
please keep this show i love it very entertaining