In a truly strange twist, NBC has ordered three additional episodes of their Monday night medical series, Trauma. The show was confirmed as essentially cancelled late last month when the network opted not to order any additional installments. What happened?
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.
Earlier today, Hollywood blogger Nikki Finke reported that NBC was considering ordering three additional installments and that news has now been confirmed.
What isn’t clear is the reason why. Finke and several other sources are claiming that the expensive show’s ratings have improved. One only needs to look at the numbers to see that’s not true.
Trauma debuted to lackluster ratings of a 2.2 in the 18-49 demo and 6.68 million total viewers. The second week, they dropped significantly to a 1.7 and 5.36 million. Trauma’s numbers have fluctuated a bit since then but haven’t broken past a 1.9 in the demo or 5.82 million viewers.
As far as a “recent ratings rise,” there hasn’t been one. This week’s episode attracted a 1.8 in the demo (just like last week) and the total viewers were down, from 5.35 million to 5.18 million. What’s more, Heroes beat Trauma in the demo by almost 20% and neither’s figures are impressive.
This decision to order a trio of additional episodes is likely more of an indication of NBC’s other ratings problems than new-found faith in Trauma. The execs may not feel like they have enough original programming to last them until the Winter Olympics or they might not be feeling very confident about their mid-season shows.
Whatever the reason, the Trauma’s ratings are still not good and need help. While three additional episodes are a nice little gift for fans, unless the show’s ratings start rising, it’s just delaying the inevitable.
What do you think? Why did NBC order three more episodes of Trauma? Do you think they’ve changed their minds about cancelling it or just delaying the inevitable?
Image courtesy NBC.
I just got hooked on Trauma via Netflix and I want more!!!! Bring the show back! I live in San Fran now and this show is great!!!!
Got hooked on third watch then you guys cancel it get hooked on trauma you guys cancel it. Seems like tv networks don’t know what good tv is
I remember flipping through the channels one night when I came across a Trauma preview and thought it would be a great show to watch. Unfortunately, I never knew when it aired because I watched all the CBS shows like: Criminal Minds, NCIS, and CSI and it probably conflicted with one of those. It wasn’t until I became a Netflix member and saw Trauma and remembered that preview so I watched it. After the first episode I was hooked to the point that it instantly became an addiction and I watched all of season one in 2 evenings! That show… Read more »
I loved this show!!it was and would still be the best show ever if you didnt get rid of it!! Me and my sister would get verything done like chores and homework just to watch an hour of Trauma. PLEASE BRING TRAUMA BACK!!!!:)
we need trauma back on t.v.
I hope they bring Trauma back. I really hate seeing blood and EMS things but I loved this show! It would be so awesome if you brought back the show!
please bring Trauma back. The series is exciting and always something new. The series has alot of passion in each episode. Just make the viewing times not so late. Its a good show. Please bring it back…….
PLEASE BRING TRAUMA BACKK !!!
PLEASE I LOVE ACTORS,STORY,PARAMEDIC ALLLL!!! I HAVE ONLY THE FRIST SEASON AND I WANNA KNOW WHATS GONNA HAPPEN TO RABBIT AND NANCY !! 😉 PLEASE !!!! LISTEN TO US
My husband & I liked ‘Trauma’ so much that we bought the entire season on DVD. Even though we can now enjoy the episodes again, the series finale was really disappointing. — As is so often the case with idiotic decisions made by the big networks, they totally left the fans hanging. If they ordered extra episodes, why couldn’t they write a decent “ending?” It was a real letdown.
You get a good show on the air, then you cancel it? I really enjoyed this show. If I missed an episode on tv, then I would watch it online. The least you could have done is switched it up in your lineup to see if the ratings would have increased before you cancelled it. It’s no wonder why people watch other networks!
Trauma was a great show but with nbc moving it around and putting other things in its place I ended up watching other chanals so when it was on I didnt See it if they would have left it alone I bet the raitings would be better that was a hot show
Bring it BACK
I have to say that Trauma was the first show in a long time that I could not wait to see. It had the right balance of action, medical drama and personal issues. I loved it all. I was so ticked when I found out it was cancelled. It is every bit as good as ER and Third Watch but it had more to offer in the sense that every episode was like an ER finale. Sure it was expensive to make, but It had to pass the budget test or it would not have been more than a pilot.… Read more »
I don’t normally keep track of what is or is not cancelled, but I just discovered Trauma was cancelled . I watch most of my shows on tv, that being said I used to look forward to Trauma. It was as far as I’m concerned every bit as good as ER or Third Watch. I enjoy as do many of my friends character driven dramas. Just when you don’t expect something crazy would pull me to the edge of my seat. I agree with every thing Kim said.
every bit as good as ER or Third Watch
Now listen people, you should find a way to rate the ratings of people watching Trauma on-line. Most of my shows are on CBS. But I watch alot of shows on-line. I thought Trauma was fresh & exciting. I liked all of the Characters like I do on NCIS. Now I do watch all the CSI shows also, but I don’t like ALL the characters. I bet if you put Trauma on during the Hiatus of the other shows on during the Fall, your ratings would shoot thru the Roof. Right now everything is a repeat, now Flashpoint came back… Read more »