After low ratings, the peacock network has pulled the plug on the series about a telepathic paramedic.
The Listener debuted on June 4th on NBC. Initially produced for Canadian networks, the drama revolves around a young paramedic (Craig Olejnik) who has the ability to hear other people’s thoughts. Through his job and abilities, he seeks to help those in need in any way he can.
Others in the cast include Lisa Marcos, Ennis Esmer, Mylene Robic, Arnold Pinnock, Anthony Lemke, Lara Jean Chorostecki, John Fleming, and Colm Feore.
On NBC, the show got off to a rocky start in the ratings. The two-hour premiere brought in 5.32 million viewers and just a 1.4/4 rating/share of the 18-49 demographic. Summer viewing expectations aren’t very high but it didn’t bode well that the program landed in third place in total viewers and the demo.
Things didn’t get any better for the later episodes. Last week, Listener’s numbers hit a series low with 3.3 million viewers and a tiny 0.7/2 rating in the demo. Even for Summer viewership, those numbers are quite poor for a major network.
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As a result, NBC has decided to end The Listener’s run prematurely. Next week’s episode will be the last to air on the peacock network and repeats of Law & Order will fill the timeslot after that.
The remaining five episodes of Listener are expected to be streamed online in August. The 13 episodes have already aired in many countries across the world and will continue to run in Canada.
Word is that the first season ends with plenty of unresolved mysteries. There’s been no news about the possibility of a second season for The Listener as yet but, if there is, you certainly won’t be seeing it on NBC.
What do you think? A good call by NBC or were you looking forward to seeing more?
Image courtesy NBC.
I really liked this show. I agree that NBC is only interested in mindless reality shows or stupid no moral sitcoms. I have watched it from the beginning. I would really like to see NBC give this show a chance. I will surely miss it…VERY UNHAPPY VIEWER
I’m disappointed they didn’t give this show more of a chance. It was just starting to get good and last week, they finally seemed to tone the background music down somewhat. My only problem with the show from the beginning was that it was hard to hear what anyone was saying, due to the extremely loud background music….or should I say foreground music? That was ridiculous! No matter how loud we turned it up, we had trouble hearing the cast speak. What’s with that, anyway? It wasn’t just me either. My teenage kids couldn’t make out what they were saying… Read more »
I just had a feeling NBC was going to cancel this show after only giving it a mere moment of a chance. Why? Because its not a stupid reality show. Lately, if NBC does come up with a quality show, they cancel it and keep the ridiculous crap going. With their ratings problems, I have no idea why they are letting their best shows go like “Medium,” “Life,” and “My Name is Earl.” And now they have cancelled “The Listener.” Next they’ll be cancelling “The Philanthropist” if they continue their track record. It makes me want to scream and also… Read more »
Hands down, it is the ONLY new show that caught my attention. And yes, it started off slow but it has been progressively getting better. To cancel after only 10 episodes is downright ridiculous.
You know, over the past few years I’ve been drawn to USA and TNT way more than the big 3 (nbc cbs and abc) Bout the only thing I watch on abc is dancing and fox would be idol and dancing.
Cant tolerate CSI Law and Order and the med dramas. SO over-done.
There were five episodes left! Why did they advertise it as “new” next week when they already inteded not to show it. Maybe ABC will pick it up. NBC is turning into mindless TV, or dry and stale TV.
I should have known you would cancel this show. After all it’s not a reality show! I agree with all the comments above! Oh please lets watch more re-runs of Law and Order! Maybe you should be working more on your 2 second blackouts that happen quite often. That doesn’t happen on any other channel in our area and all around St. Louis it is a problem. Hope you are reading all these comments. Ya might learn something. Very un – happy viewer.
I can’t believe this show was cancelled. I was surprised to find out it wasn’t on my list for dvr recordings tonight or next week. Maybe the ratings are so low because it didn’t get enough publicity. People I have talked to never heard of it but once they watched they thought it was great. Bring it back, promote the show.
I voted to keep the show – maybe if all of us who like the show were to show more interest via e-mail it would bring some attention to keeping it. Unfortunately, I don’t know know how to do that on Twitter or Facebook, but surely someone who likes the show has that ability.
I watch this show ever chance I got. I can’t believe that they cancelled this show. I never really had a chance to watch the show on tv much because of my work. After the show played it was put on hulu.com where I could watch it so I never missed an episode. I am very dissapointed in NBC for cancelling The Listener, it was by far one of my top favorite shows. The way it ended kinda ticked me off episode 13 left so many opening with Toby’s mother and the detective plus Toby’s girl just finding out about… Read more »
I watch this show online because I work nights, and don’t have the means to record it to view later. I really liked this show and you guys go ahead and yank it. Maybe you should yank something else!
I’m so mad – this show has been the only one I’ve looked forward to watching this summer. Craig is an awesome actor and it’s too bad that they didn’t even give it the full season to see how it all plays out. Also, LAW and ORDER is just about the worst thing they could replace the show with — who wants to see another L&O episode?!?!?! What a COMPLETE DISAPPOINTMENT!!!!!
Yes i remember when shows were not only more than a season but when they were ended well and not just dropped like they are today. If the networks are not going to give viewer loyalty like they used to then maybe the places we watch online should start producing these shows themselves. HULU? Surf the channel? Mega Video? ANYONE? I and so many like me hate reality tv and all the back stabbing, hate mongering, trash they promote. Seriously what happened to REAL actors with REAL skills on REAL shows being on television….?
Sheesh
I am so disappointed, I just saw the show for the very first time the other night, loved it and now it is cancelled. I just found out about the show and then tuned in. At least give it a chance for word to srpead about it. Along with Medium and Criminal Minds this was one of the best shows out there. Poor decision making.
All the networks, NBC well included, need to stop cancelling all the amazing new shows that have started in the last year and never made it past a few episodes and leaving all the reality crap on. I can name a half a dozen shows that I fell in love with this past year that are just gone, no chance. I don’t know about everyone else but i religiously watch almost all tv on the web after they’ve aired so i really hope they take those viewers into account. I don’t know who’s making these decisions lately and maybe I’m… Read more »
How can you start a show on June 4th and cancel it in July without even finishing the season. I get so tired of starting a new show only to see it canceled abruptly without even giving it a chance. People will quit watching any new shows or give them a try since they will only be cancelled anyway. In a world of Tivo you would be suprised what people tape and watch later. Very disappointed in TV.