NBC had high expectations for their new Thursday night action drama, The Player. Unfortunately, the ratings have not been good and the network has now cut the show’s episode order. Has the series already been cancelled or does it still have a shot at being renewed for a second season next year?
Set in Las Vegas, The Player follows a huge game in which world events are predicted, gambled upon and influenced by a shadowy elite. Controlling the game is the “The Pitt Boss,” a mysterious Mr. Johnson (Wesley Snipes). “The Dealer” is Cassandra (Charity Wakefield) and she recruits rogue FBI agent Alex Kane (Philip Winchester). As “The Player”, Alex is driven by the need to find out who killed his wife. Damon Gupton also stars.
Debuting on September 24th, The Player got off to a poor start in the ratings, averaging a 1.16 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 4.86 million viewers. The second episode’s numbers were even worse with the installment drawing a 0.95 in the demo and 4.58 million.
Week three’s numbers were worse and then the series hit new lows in week four with a 0.74 demo and 3.99 million. Last week’s episode did a little bit better but the numbers were frankly still terrible.
To be fair, The Player has had to contend with tough competition from NFL football games and ABC’s highly rated How to Get Away with Murder. Unfortunately, NBC doesn’t seem to be cutting this series any slack. While NBC’s Blindspot has received a full season order, the network has cut the The Player’s order down to nine episodes.
They’ve also already committed the show’s timeslot to other programming. In the new year, the Thursdays at 10pm timeslot will be taken over by new series Shades of Blue starring Jennifer Lopez and Ray Liotta.
Though NBC has not officially cancelled The Player yet, the ratings are so bad that it’s as good as cancelled. Barring a miracle and sudden upturn in the ratings, there’s just no way the network execs will want to order any more episodes.
But, what do you think? Have you been enjoying The Player TV series? Do you think it should be cancelled or saved and given more time to prove itself?
Don’t cancel this show. I look forward to it every Thursday evening.
NBC= No BuddyCares. The Player is a great shoe and of course you idiots cancel the show!
This is an excellent show!! Why do the cancel the good shows give this show a chance please don’t cancel The Player
I hadn’t watched NBC for a long time until the Blacklist started its run. I was getting bored with it until the Player was brought in. If they cancel, I’m just going to go back to watching HBO, Cinemax, or Stars. At least they will go a whole season before making the decision to cancel.
We’re done with NBC if they cancel “The Player”…. It’s a good action show that’s well written with a good future to develop if given had chance! NBC seems in they’re news to favor the DNC point of view and lack of aggressive good action. “If it has guns in it, it must be bad”… They put it up against NFL and that’s never good for a new show.. If they want to show that they’re open minded and care about “all their viewers interests” then I hope they’ll give this a second run, with more billing on a different… Read more »
Didn’t NBC learn anything from Star Trek?
The Player is action packed and interesting. NBC is wrong in its decision to take the show off. One of the top 3 shows on today; try moving to another timeslot first. Too good a series kill off so quickly.
Another fast paced, interesting show goes down the tubes, leaving the fans hanging. Perhaps the show had too many twists and turns for the average, moronic American TV viewer, who prefers inane sitcoms and police shows with absolutely no depth or intellectual stimulation. Typical.
Undoubtedly, NBC will replace it with an idiotc sitcom or some other formula show with zero originality. Frankly, I’m done with NBC….too many instances of leaving fans hanging.
NBC does not have the smartest executives making these decisions. Hey…NBC…remember STAR TREK? A two (2) billion dollar franchise later, it too, lives on without a penny going to NBC.
Or, more precisely… “Stupid is as stupid does.”
My fav show ever !! I love it
Love this show don’t cancel it. Only Good thing on Thursday nights. Better than blind spot. NBC must be trying to lose viewers
dont cancel this show it needs a new night. you have so many other shows worse but on better nights with no competition .but you keep them on.
this a great show dont leave it hanging like this so much more to be seen. change the time slot . give it a better chance.you have other shows that dont even match this standard but because they dont have any competition they doy well but are really crap shows and rank actors.
Luv the player, what are you guys thinking? goodbye NBC!
This is a good show, too bad most people don’t like shows that you have use your brain! Keep the show…it has a good plot!