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 LOVE THE SHOW TRAUMA-ACTING IS GREAT! CHARACTERS ARE WHAT MAKES THIS SHOW! PLEASE DON’T CANCEL!!!!!
This is hopefully good news but I sincerely hope they change the music because it is putting the wrong wash on this show and blurring the special qualities this show has to offer. Otherwise this show has the makings of a major hit and would benefit from a little developing.
Trauma needs to continue for many seasons, it’s the BEST show on TV. If Trauma is cancelled, I might as well throw out my TV……there is NOTHING else to watch.
I love TRAUMA AND MERCY and really do not want to see either of them cancelled, but TRAUMA is one of the best shows on the air right now.
Laurie, they do have consultants who are real emts/paramedics etc. working on the show as consultants and extras. i love the show and since i’m a sf native living in southern california, it does make me miss home.
I am happy to hear that NBC has decided not to pull the plug (yet) on Trauma. I have faithfully watched every episode so far and have not been disappointed. I was an ER fan and have found Trauma (and Mercy) to have filled that void for me. The storylines are interesting and entertaining and the cast has great chemistry. For whatever reason it seems NBC, more so than the other networks, is too quick to pull shows off the air before they can really find an audience. I think if they stick with it a bit longer they will… Read more »
Love this show but feel the time slot is not great. Any other night would be better!!!
Trauma is super. We love Nancy. Having been both a medic and an ER doctor, I agree that some of the medicine practiced is not technically accurate. But I do like the depiction of the difficult scenarios that our paramedics face. Please do continue it. The story is well-written and well-developed.
VERY VERY GOOD SHOW!!!!!!! Why do they always want to cancel good shows? They should switch to a different night and maybe the shows would do better in the ratings rather than put them up to established good shows that people are already set on viewing.
Very good show….. It seems when the shows are so good that they always want to cancel
I wont go as far to say that I have inside info on the show but……. I do know that the real paramedics that have been consulting to bring authenticity to the show are not being listened to by the writers and directors. They all get so frustrated and quit. and being a medic myself knowing that I take pride in what I do, in a way the writers are spitting in their face. Now they have a doctor (same guy that consulted for ER) but if you know anything about how eye to eye medics and docs see as… Read more »
I love this show! And I’m f((*( pickey. This is a wonderful show, with real, compassionate BELIEVABLE characters that show us a major part of life that is not seen! No, I’m not a paramed, I just love the whole ethos (The disposition, character, or fundamental values peculiar to a specific person, people, culture) in this particular showing. Cliff Curtis (major! unknown heartthrob) and Aimee Garcia, and Anastasia Griffith and Especially DEREK LUKE are wonderful!!!!!! Stop your itching you’re collective egos and (stupid numbers – I was a Neilson home until 4 months ago) and KEEP a damn good show… Read more »
I am a 67 year old man that is very critical of the shows he watches on TV. I have watched “Trauma” since it’s inception on NBC, and have found it to be one of the most exciting, informative, and complete shows that exist. It is filled with drama, humor, intrigue, romance – to describe a few of it’s attributes – while also expressing relational (family, etc.), political, and societal issues. It seems to get better every week, and I would be very disappointed if it is cancelled.
I love Trauma, but I have to DVR it because Monday is not a good night for me to watch TV.
Maybe the network should try a different night instead of just cancelling the program altogether.
TRAUMA IS AN AWESOME SHOW! ITS BETTER THAN MERCY AND I LIKE MERCY! TRAUMA NEEDS TO BE GIVEN ANOTHER SEASON! ALL SHOWS DO NOT TAKE OFF THE IST SEASON. NCIS WAS ONE OF THOSE AND CBS WAS SMART NOT TO CANCEL IT!