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?
https://www.change.org/p/john-rogers-and-john-fox-attention-nbc-please-renew-the-player
Here’s something that might make a difference, but only if all you lovers out there jump n and sign. Lets save this one, its a great show
Hey NBC, notice what we’re all saying…. Stick with your shows. If you have to end it please at least let him get his wife back before you end this show..
I like The Player. Good cast and lots of action.
Not a bad show. Give Snipes some grey hair please he looks plastic as if he’s trying to look like a younger man too hard.
All in all the action is very good and I knew his wife was still alive. HA.
Keep the show and do some revamping but please do NOT put on any reality shows.
Every time a show starts on NBC that good yal cancels it, I will stop watching this station all together, The Player is a very great show, yal just wasn’t put something lame on.
As a Strike Back fan I was excited to see Philip Winchester in a new show. Hopefully a grown up channel will take on this show and keep it on air.
NBC needs to stop ruining tv people get excited about the new shows that come out and they are actually really good and then next thing you know its canceled but a new one comes out and lets say you get hooked on that one too but don’t get your hopes up because NBC is on a role on canceling great shows. Fortunne100 is right about their comment constantine and now the player come on NBC get your act together and stop ruining the lives of others.
NBC will NEVER keep a good action show or Sci-Fi show because they are poorly runned Network. Its obvious that NO ONE in the Programming department knows what they are doing. Every time I get attached to a show on NBC they claimed the ratings are down or some other excuse. Its pathetic how management can never have a hit show at 10:00pm. Maybe they should change the time from 10:00 pm to 8:00 pm; but I doubt it.
Every time I invest in an NBC show it gets cancelled.
This show is a good, mindless action program; no need to cancel it, if anything move it to a new night and time.
The show has a ton of action and excellent production value and while the actors are ones that I normally like….the storyline is just so lame and ridiculous that it’s a really a tough watch. IMOP, it’s toast.
The Player is better than half the shows on NBC. It was just put in a bad time spot on Thursday competing against shows that already have an audience. I hope it’s picked up by another station.
This show definitely has a lot to offer, very action packed the main star has a like ability to him that keeps your interest. Show is predictable but that’s not what hold your interest.
First Constantine, now The Player. Great
This show has an edge, is fast-paced, and it is very entertaining. It should not be cancelled.
Fans can help get the ratings up for “The Player” by rewatching the episodes online on NBC website & TV (if you have a Nielsen box). Also, talk about the show to other people on social media to get them interested and hopefully they will watch.