Last night, ABC’s The Unusuals debuted in the post-Lost timeslot. The network’s had high hopes for the quirky crime drama but many critics have deemed it to be “usual” fare at best. What do viewers think?
The Unusuals revolves around a unique group NYPD detectives that all have secrets. They also have twisted senses of humor, which is helpful since every day could be their last. The series stars several TV show veterans like Amber Tamblyn (Joan of Arcadia), Adam Goldberg (Head Cases), Harold Perrineau (Oz), and Terry Kinney (thirtysomething), as well as Jeremy Renner, Kai Lennox, Josh Close, and Monique Gabriela Curnen.
Last night, the Unusuals premiere attracted 6.84 million viewers and a 2.2/6 rating/share in the 18-49 demographic. That’s better than last week’s Life on Mars finale in overall viewers (5.86 million) but it’s essentially the same rating/share in the demo. These aren’t the numbers that ABC was hoping for.
On top of that, there was a significant drop off midway through the episode. There were 7.44 million watching when the episode began and by 10:30, 1.19 million had dropped off. That’s not a good indication that those people will return next week.
Considering that a premiere typically represents a show’s best numbers, none of this is a very good sign for the show’s future.
Did you watch the show and if so, will you be back for more? Worth keeping or time to let it go already?
Image courtesy ABC.
I loved it…I want it to stay on. I am so tired of these shows getting cancelled after a few weeks…It takes time to build a fan base…you can’t expect everything to come with a fully devoted fan base, it’s just ridiculous.
Keep it. These guys could grow on you, given a chance. Hay, at least they’re not singing cops….
I enjoyed the show and so did my husband. Will look forward to next week. Also i liked Southland and Harper’s Island.
I thought this show was interesting. At first I wasn’t sure, but by the end I was into it. The secrets and quirks of the characters make this show different than all the other cop shows put there.
I really liked the quirky twist on a police drama. The last thing I think we need is some of the same shows repackaged. I see a lot of potential in the show and really hope it sticks around. However, the networks leave me little confidence that they would support any show that isn’t superstar ratings. So, the question is, should one invest the time and become involved with a story or save the hastle of dissapointment when the show becomes inevitably canceled? Just a thought.
I enjoyed this show – and can see a lot of potential. I hope they will allow this time to develop – the cast is great, I like the story line – and I am sick and tired of the networks not backing decent shows. I was really disappointed that they pulled Life on Mars. I was grateful that they were at least allowed to finish it properly.
Yes I’ll watch it again. Way better than Harper’s Island or Southlands which I tried to watch last night. Other right – a bit more music to make the drama happen vs relying on actor’s actresses. Could watch the male cop for hours. Having a diner is a kooky twist that can be played on. Having the aging cop with the keplar vest on all the time is quirky too vs his partner who faces a subway train. The shenanigans are great!
I thought it was a bit slow the first show. . . .I will give it a shot again, but seems like it was trying too hard to be mysterious off the bat. The whole photo in the pocket “What’s his Secret” thing cheesed it up a little.
bring back life on mars
Just the line about the easy bake oven was enough to make me come back for more.
Why not move lost up to 7 seems it is going down, this at 8 and bring back life on mars at 9… get your heads out of places they shouldn’t be…. I mean it is obvious you are trying to stick with the numbers er once had, but come on, try sticking to tv people like and maybe you will keep fans instead of turning them away.
I hadn’t even heard of it ’til the day before when I saw a commercial and thought “That looks pretty good.” I DVRd it and watched it the next night, so I don’t know if that even factored into the numbers or not.
I really enjoyed it. The cast is perfect for the roles and, if I may so say, I’d sit and watch Amber Tamblyn recite out of a phone book for an hour.
I hope it doesn’t get pulled. I’m looking forward to the rest of the show.
i waited all week for this premiere and i was not disappointed. i had to resort to watching it on the computer via imdb website(God bless imdb) and i loved every minute of it!! i thought Amber Tamblyn and Jeremy Renner had great chemistry and in my opinion, Jeremy Renner is the sexiest cop on tv. He’s my favorite actor, so needless to say, there was no way i was missing this! i am also a big fan of Adam Goldberg and he and the rest of the cast really made this a pleasure to watch. i hope this one… Read more »
definitely worth keeping. interesting take on cop shows. cant wait to see more
Oh come now, I sat through a show I didn’t like to watch this, and I enjoyed the Unusuals a great deal more.