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?
This show is AWESOMETASTIC! It would be insane to cancel it when it was placed in the wrong time slot on the wrong day. Did NBC even want the show to succeed? BRING IT BACK!
Why is it that any show that isn’t a by-the-numbers crime procedural or sit-com doesn’t get a chance to develop a following? There are people out there who appreciate unique story development and characters. The Player was a really great premise and was building a very intriguing mystery. They should have put it on the same night as Blindspot and tried to build the audience off Strike Back fans. Very disappointed.
I think this show was one of the best new shows to come along in a long time. The network should save it, move it to a new time slot and see if the ratings improve.
Don’t cancel the show. Give more time!
DON’T CANCEL IT! Move the show to a better night. It’s a great show. It didn’t make sense to air it on the busiest night of the week currently anyway. Already a ton of shows on and the addition of Thursday Night Football doesn’t help. Change days and watch the ratings improve. The show is good.
On another note please have the sense to at the very least take a proposal to Netflix for take over the show
I love the show, it’s a hard thing to take and perfectly balance both action and drama. Yet keeping the mystery fresh with every answer more questions arise. Not too mention the cast of fantastic acters. I also understand why #NBC might not see it a gleeming gems as I do, and frankly doing well in ratings considering what #NBC had the nerve to put a new TV show in that time slot on that day of the week during football season are you kidding me… If you want an unestablished TV show to fail go ahead and put it… Read more »
Nbc must be crazy to cancel the series. Maybe the writers can take the series in a different direction. The Player is an awesome series. Thoroughly enjoy it.
It’s a great show find another TV network
I also thought the player was great and improving…what is with NBC not to give it more time grow wings…the acting was worth another shot….hope it gets picked up
Great action, good plot & intrigue. My vote is that it’s worth saving. At least for another season try
If NBC cancels The Player it will be renamed No Brain Cells!!!!!
Don’t cancel. We love it
Keep it..we love the show
I love this show, I have faithfully watched it since it started I really hope that it does not get cancelled, I want to know what has happened to his wife and if it is cancelled I will never know!!!! This is a great show it just needs a chance!