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?
The player is a good show keep it
Have high hopes that it has not been cancelled. Please bring it back asap. It was so well done, just needs time to build an audience and maybe a different day.
I en joyed the player, I am a huge Wesley Snipes fan. How ever, I think that the show was given time to prove itself. Please bring it back
I love the TV show The Player. Very well written and love the cast. Wesley Smiles is amazing in the show. Please bring it back..
I like the show especially the a real cliffhanger how can you cancel a show with an ending like that I think you should give it another season.
Keep the show!
I don’t know why the ratings were so low, I love the show! It has action, drama, and mystery…what else do people want. Please bring this show back!
It’s a good show and I think it should be running on Thursday night because there’s nothing else to watch.
I love the show! I sure hope it will return, maybe against something less difficult in the lineup. And Shades of Blue? Better get a lot better to keep me watching. I HATE the theme of more dirty cops.
Yup…dirty cops sell, as bad as that sounds. But using JLO and calling what she does in this show “acting” is like the REAL dumb’ing down of AMERICAN TV!
I loved the show – it was a “definite” to watch in our household. There are enough “police” shows on both NBC and ABC that this one was different and I loved the characters. We always recorded it and sometimes watch it more than once. PLEASE bring it back.
This is a great show – BBC should give it another chance.
I was just introduced the “The Player” and fully enjoyed the entire series. We would hate to see the network cancel the series. It is very well done.
LOVE THIS SHOW!!!! THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY GOOD SHOWS ON AND NOW THEY WANT TO CANCEL THE ONE I DO LIKE. NOT FAIR. PLEASE KEEP IT!!!!!!
I am not able to watch it at it’s scheded time, but it is one of 3 shows I record and watch each week. It has a great cast, intriguing characters and a quick paced, adventurous plot.
I hope it returns.
I don’t know why they cancelled PLAYER? It’s better than other show they saved. I think before they a tv show they need to do like census about it.