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.
Image courtesy NBC.
I was shocked it was cancelled. I really like it and always watched it in real time……What were they thinking!
What a shame that NBC has decided to end this show! Although, I have now learned that NBC has reversed its decision on only ordering 13 episodes, and have ordered an additional 3!! Could this be a sign of things to come ?? Will NBC ultimately decide to give this action-packed fictional show another chance by extending a 2nd season? Let’s certainly hope so… If the only beef with this show is that EMT’s around the country are up in arms because of the portrayal of unrealistic actions/characters, maybe they should actually come to the realization that this is a… Read more »
Im so upset they are cancelling this tv show. its AMAZING! i think its good people see what EMS workers do….the prehospital care is not the most glorious but without it patients would never make it to the emergencey room, thus making shows like ER impossible to shoot for. NBC GIVE IT ANOTHER GO! TRAMA TRAMA TRAMA!!!
its got great stories! a really great cast that is a melting pot of american attitudes and hearts!
thank you from an ems worker for shedding light to our tier of the emergency services…..
I am so attached to this show, everyone is awesome. Please NBC give them another chance. Every episode is amazing the action and suspense truly blew me away.
I am so dissappointed to hear that Trauma had been cancelled. This is one of my new favourite shows. It is so action packed that it keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. I think if given a chance it would be a hit. No one that I mention this show to has even heard of it. Once they watched it the first time they were also hooked. PLEASE DON’T CANCEL TRAUMA
My wife and I were “shocked” to learn the show was cancelled. It had legs. Good stories and characters. Well , at least you cancelled it before we grew too attached. What a shame.
this is a excellent show and I think it could of been as good as ER if it was allowed to have a 2nd season, it was all action, i would love to see NBC give it another chance,
and it does not need to be to close to real life every day stuff if it was we wouldn’t need to watch it because we live it that’s just good TV and very good script writing!
Ok, so some of the action scenes are a bit hokey, and the “field medicine” is less than up to National certifying standards, but I still like the show. It provided several good training examples on what not to do – but hey, that doesn’t mean it’s not entertaining. EMS/SAR personnel often put their own lives at risk in order to provide patient care. While procedurally and technically not sound, it does highlight the heroism of EMS (this is no different then the Police/Fire/Military drama shows on TV). If NBC does decide to pursue a Season 2, one word of… Read more »
Trauma is a great show…shame on NBC!
I think it’s great that they cancelled this show. I’m a paramedic, and can’t stand watching this ridiculous show, and cringe every time I see a mistake. It makes paramedics look like troubled, stressed out, drunks, which majority of us aren’t. And explosions, and killings, and chaos everyday? Why not show the truth behind 911, and show all the ridiculous nonsense we have to go to 90% of the time. Being called out at 3am for a stubbed toe, or can’t used the bathroom. Thats the true “trauma” we have to deal with
another dumb move by nbc..and i agree w/peggy in her above comment…leno is a sinking ship and really sucks..and the conan show isn’t much better..they should get rid of mercy and keep trauma..all the actors are great in what they do..the show need’s to given a chance..but we all know what nbc will do…not listen to the viewers and cancell it anyway..
Trauma is great….wonderful pacing. Fun to watch. What the world needs is more drama-filled television and less pseudo-reality garbage on prime time. I can’t believe another really good show is being cancelled.
NBC needs to realize what they are cancelling her. Mercy mimicks other shows of the genre such as ER, Grey’s Anatomy and the like. However this show, Trauma, shows society a piece of the health care world that is largely forgotten. EMS is ignored until someone calls 911 and we show up. Yes, I am a paramedic and firefighter. Trauma, while filled with more action that we usually see, captures all aspects of our field very nicely. The show depicts our long shifts, stressful days, and what some would even call our own “Trauma.” We lose patients, bring some back,… Read more »
Are you kidding this is the best show on TV today.
I have already emailed NBC two times telling them that I think the cancellation of “Trauma” is one of the dumbest moves they’ve ever made. First they put it on opposite the second hour of ABC’s very popular “Dancing With The Stars”, second they don’t even wait until ”Dancing” is done for the season and let “Trauma” find it’s audience. I think “Trauma” is one of THE best shows on TV right now. I told myself at the beginning of the season that I was NOT going to watch new shows because they just get cancelled after a few episodes.… Read more »