After the show’s unsuccessful summer on NBC, fans of The Listener have been hoping that the drama would still return for a second season. Well, the show has been renewed but viewers here in the states may not be seeing the episodes.
The Listener follows a young paramedic named Toby Logan (Craig Olejnik) who has the mysterious ability to hear people’s thoughts. The series also features the talents of Lisa Marcos, Ennis Esmer, Mylene Robic, Arnold Pinnock, Anthony Lemke, Lara Jean Chorostecki, John Fleming, and Colm Feore.
The series is produced by Canada’s Shaftesbury Films, in conjunction with CTV, Space, and Fox Intl. Channels. In February 2008, during the 2007-08 writers strike, NBC decided to license the first season of 13 episodes.
The show began its run in the US some 16 month later, in early June 2009, but they were not a ratings success. The first two episodes attracted an average rating of 3.7 in the coveted 18-49 demographic but the numbers dropped to a low of 2.2 by week five.
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NBC decided to pull The Listener after eight episodes and released the remaining five installments for online viewing at Hulu.com.
The first season was a bigger success in Canada and other countries so a second season of 13 episodes has been commissioned. CTV and Space will air them in Canada and Fox Intl. Channels will continue to distribute the show to worldwide markets.
Christina Jennings, chairman of Shaftesbury Films, said, “The Listener is proof positive that Space and CTV are committed to creating and supporting successful and popular television. Their renewed commitment ensures the international partnership led by Fox International Channels for the next 13 episodes.”
The series is expected to go back into production sometime in 2010, some two years after the first season was made.
Unfortunately, The Listener’s fate is still up in the air here in the states. NBC has cancelled the series so you won’t see it returning to the peacock network. However, there’s still hope for US fans.
Jennings says that the lack of support from a US network wasn’t a factor in the renewal. “We don’t need a U.S. outlet right now… But once the story department starts up in the new years and we get some scripts under our belt, we’ll canvas the US outlets to see. Certainly The Listener had fans in the states.”
What do you think? Would you like to see The Listener come back to the US or should it stay in Canada? Where would you watch it — on cable, DVD, or does it not make a difference?
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Image courtesy CTV.
NBC is dumb 4 not bringing this show back but i hope they bring it back 2 the U.S
ISN’T THAT THE TRUTH
I couldn’t care less if it aired on NBC or sci-fi or any other channel for that matter i would just like to see it here again.
This show was one of my families favorites. It would be very sorrowful and disappointing if it was not aired again in the US.
If NBC can’t see that it has a good show then give it to TNT like so many shows that dont make it on network TV. TNT knows how to bring in an audience and turn a once thought flop into a wonderful long time series!
My family and I loved this show, and really hope it comes back. The networks aren’t giving new shows enough time to develop a fan base. They are cancelling them before we get a chance to see them!
My whole family loves this show and we couldn’t wait till the next week to watch another episode. Then it was canceled here in the US and we were so disappointed. I hope they bring it back here to the US as it was very entertaining, the actors were great and it was a great show that brought my family together for a night of entertainment.
I want it back on cable!!! i dont have the money to buy dvd’s why do all the good shows with originality get canceled? i hate american TV!!!
does anyone know if the Kings or the Listerner will be back on.
I love this show, Please bring it back. there are alot of people who loved it.
Bring it back to the U.S. I really enjoyed this show!
It doesn’t matter either way I’d watch it on TV maybe the USA network, A&E or one of the cable network would pick it up, I really hope so if not I’ll just buy it as a DVD that would be awesome
i think that it should stay on cable and that the us sould see it to. just cuz not many people liked it there still are many others who love it!!!! there has to be a channel that will let it show!
With 300 channels on my cable box, there must certainly be a place for this entertaining show on US TV. A creative solution could give it new life here! NBC didn’t give it a chance.
I thought this show was great! Please air it in the US!
I loved this show because it was different from the typical medical shows. I’m not a big fan of NBC shows, but this one spoke to me. I, too, hope for possibly more seasons (plural!).