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?
I think this show should be renewed. It’s excellent . I think other shows should go before this one.
I LOVE this show and the cast is amazing. I agree with previous comments that I’m going to stop watching shows on standard networks. If you’re not ER, Grey’s Anatomy or a CSI, Law & Order, or Chicago series, you have to figure the show will be cancelled just as you’re getting hooked. These days, few people watch shows until they have a season in because so many watch on Netflix, Amazon, AppleTV… The fact that I’m into this series in Season One should say something.
Love this show & the cast. It’s smart, action packed & intriguing which is a refreshing alternative to reality tv. Please dont cancel it. Try moving it so its not up against Shandona’s Thursday night chick soap operas.
The Player is great. Don’t know what’s wrong with the network!
Save the show by all means give it a chance !!!!!!!
Keep this show it has so many twists and turns. If not I need to know what happens to jenni and Cassandra
Really bummed they canceled the Player. We watched this show from day 1. Just as each episode got better than the next, there’s no more. I sure hope another network picks it up!
I really liked the show. I think I’m going to stop watching shows on network television.
They keep getting cancelled.
This show needs to be renewed. The ratings system is bogus and a thing of the past. I have to DVR this show because of my schedule but it was my new favorite show. I’m pretty mad they have done this already.
I hate it when a network ends a show on such a cliffhanger! If you are going to end a series, at least give the viewers some kind of satisfying ending. They have an all-star cast and it deserved more of a chance than it go, I hope that they move the show to another network or that it gets picked up by netflix/hulu.
I love this show. Please don’t give up on it so soon. It’s just starting to get good.
Bring the show back I loved the show it was absolutely amazing. It sucks that the ratings on it were down but still there are people out there that are watching it and frankly those are the people that are worth keeping this show. Plys side of it is you have it on Hulu and other programs like that also so it might be getting g watched more then you think. Please bring it back I was hooked in that show
They need to renew the player it’s the best show right now. I know that the first few episodes weren’t there best but the last few got me hooked. It’s the best show.
I like possibly many others am hesitant to get hooked on NBC shows because they have NO sense of loyalty to their audience! They player was one of their BEST new shows….if they would have just given it time! It feel on a busy night but would have pulled it’s audience. It was well written..which is rare these days. It was WELL acted with just enough sadism verses humanity. Thrown in with mystery and action and hit and miss love efforts.
Why? This series is JUST GETTING GOOD! Now they are taking it away? Not fair… The only reason this show is not doing well is due to the network not showing any love in the market. This show has a PHENOMENAL CAST picked out of the air.THEY SHOULD TOTALLY RETHINK canceling this show.