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?
Great series got better every show NBC blew it on this one, hopefully some network will pick it up. We were left hanging in the wind with the plots getting juicier n juicier. It is my sincere wish that this show appears again somewhere and soon.
Amazing show. Philip Winchester was awesome on Strike Back and continues in the Player. Please renew. Great chemistry with Cassandra. Snipes is solid as well. Lots of support out there. Show is getting really interesting. Needs another season, PLEASE!
I really enjoyed this show and don’t want to see it cancelled! Each episode became more interesting!!
This show just got really interesting and you cancelled and without an ending. I think NBC you may have missed the mark on this one move the time slot a bit its hard to compete with the NFL.
I have really enjoyed this series. Alex and Cassandra made the show. Wesley snipes did not make the series. Sorry it has been cancelled. Execs really need to give this show a second chance. Story lines have improved tremendously.
Great show! NBC stinks….it was getting good. No real point in watching NBC anymore….can’t trust them. How do we get another channel to pick this up ?..or maybe Netflix?
I was really getting.into this show **** u NBC
This show got really interesting with the intrigues against the house.
Story has just gotten interesting. Hope they will at least tie up the loose end…..
Along w/everyone else, at least tie up loose ends.
I really hate that this show was cancelled!! My family and I watched it and recorded it too!! Please bring it back!!! The football games playing at the same time made many households without dvr capabilities choose!!
Another TV show that showed lots of promise and would no doubt have improved has been axed. Viewers get treated shabbily by greedy networks.
I would hope they would not leave us hanging with questions this can end up back firing on them were people will not watch their shows fearing they will get cancelled.
Worst new show ever. They got it right when they canceled this show that should have never been made. It had the worst script and worst acting of any show I’ve seen in a long time. I predicted it would be canceled after the first episode.
Posting comments never seems to do any good. However, I feel the need to comment on this one. The PTB (execs) obviously never watch their own shows. They’ve screwed up, and they know it. After enjoying the show until their “finale”, like everyone else I’m left with a bunch of unanswered issues. Not one of the higher ups gives a crap what WE want. Now we have another series that never finished. Thanks for nothing. You really should review your decision.