Trauma: NBC Effectively Cancels TV Show, No Season Two

Last May, NBC announced that it would be adding two new medical shows. Trauma would begin airing in the Fall and Mercy would come in early 2010. That plan got messed up when production on Parenthood, another new show, was delayed, and Mercy was brought in early to take its place.

With two new medical dramas on the network, many suspected there was going to be one too many. A few months later, one is struggling to survive and the other has been effectively cancelled.

Trauma revolves around a group of first responder paramedics in San Francisco. The high-action series is populated by an ensemble cast that includes Derek Luke, Cliff Curtis, Anastasia Griffith, Kevin Rankin, Aimee Garcia, Billy Lush, Jamey Sheridan, and Taylor Kinney.

The drama has had problems attracting viewers from the beginning. Its premiere only attracted 6.68 million viewers and a 2.2/5 rating/share of the 18-49 demographic. The following week, the numbers sank to 5.36 million and a 1.7/4. The numbers have been rising slowly since then but not by much. Monday’s episode hit a post-premiere high of 5.77 million and a 1.9/5, putting the show in fourth place for the timeslot.

To no surprise, NBC has decided not to order additional episodes of Trauma. While all 13 episodes of the series will be aired, the network won’t be ordering any more. It’s unknown if the cast and crew will be able to give the show any closure by the last episode.

What do you think? Are you disappointed that Trauma is ending or should it have been cancelled awhile ago?

UPDATE: Trauma returning with new episodes.