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 am hoping this network will cancel or move the Jay Leno show which is killing any success that a drama could have. That 10 pm spot for this show would be killer! Also it’s hard to find the show when it’s on. Thank God for tivo because it finds it for me. It’s like they don’t want it to succeed. Yes, I know it might be more expensive to produce than Leno (and I have nothing against Jay) but I’m sick to death of cheap reality shows and late night shows. PLEASE KEEP RABBIT ON TV!
plz dont cancel TRAUMA one of the best shows in a long time
This show is one of the better shows ontv worth watching so please do not cancel it. my husband and I both like the show.
dont get rid of Trauma get rid of the boring show Mercy . Trauma has action and keeps you guessing to where Mercy is a ER knock off. If I need to sleep I watch mercy and wake up after it is over. Keep trauma and Keep Rabbitt
LOVE that RABBIT!! There was a show years ago called Emergency! centered around emergency calls which, I believe, was a spin-off of Adam-12 (a police show). It wasn’t as good as Trauma, however. Of course, TNT seems to have some brains and might pick up Trauma if NBC drops it. After all, they had enough sense to grab Southland. Poor little NBC has NO IDEA what America wants to see anymore, and their viewers are leaving in droves!!
Please do not cancel Trama! It is one of the best shows I have seen on TV in a long time. Whoever came up with the idea to make a TV show out of emergency calls? Think about it networks, you will never run out of storyline….it should be easier to write than COPS! ……and whatever you do…..DON’T GET RID OF RABBIT!
Go figure that something I really like to watch they want to cancel. Why don’t the exectives put it on a Saturday evening when there is nothing to watch instead of having to competing with other higher rate shows.
i beleive you should put it back on it was so GOOD i loved it . PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put it back on air . who ever reads this should agree with me it kinda makes you think of ER i loved that show to . but it was taken of air too so please don’t take the only show i like off …..
Please, Please, Please bring Trauma back NBC!! You are making a big mistake canceling such a great show!! The characters and the stories on the job and off the job bring excitement to the show. It depicts real life emergency situations and it was the only show worth watching on Monday nights! My family really misses Trauma! It was up against Dancing with the Stars and I think thats why it lost some ratings. Put in in another time slot and I bet more people will watch. We miss the characters and cant wait to see what happens next. Please… Read more »
I have a an argument! You state in this article that the rating are not high enough well here are some reasons why they probably are suffering: 1) its’ airing is never consistent, they air it on monday then they may switch it to another day or on a week then off for two weeks. 2) you say you ran Trauma’s ratings up against Heroes, that will not be credible numbers, Heroes has other seasons under it whereas Trauma is on it’s first season. People say they want shows that are closest to real life experiences and situations, well this… Read more »
I miss Trauma! This show has become a TV favorite for my family. We love the unexpected excitement, the love, pain and romance the show gives us. Please bring TRAUMA back!
I Love this show!! I am very busy but I look forward to my hour of Trauma every week. PLEASE dont cancel this show!
DONT CANCEL TRAUMA!! ITS THE BEST SHOW ON TV RIGHT NOW!! I LOVE IT!!
I love this show! It is the only series I watch on Network TV. I was looking forward to Monday nights just so I could watch it! I watched ER until it was canceled. This show was even better than ER. I have seen the competition! Absolutely no comparison. This show out-does all the rest!
Trauma is a great show. Ratings maybe low because it was competing against Monday Night Football and Dancing With Stars. I really love this show and hope that it is not cancelled. It reminds me of the NBC show Third Watch.