As you may have heard, Undercovers has been cancelled by NBC due to low ratings. The original 13 episode order will be produced but, as of now, only 10 installments have been scheduled.
Why didn’t Undercovers catch on? Deadline quotes someone associated with the show that has some ideas.
Mostly, what was meant to be a throwback lark of a show felt trivial to people. It felt flimsy and not compelling, partially because it was designed as a stand alone, non serialized show.
Perhaps the stories lacked deeper interest and urgency. We tried to embrace a familiarity of form, but the public obviously didn’t want something so familiar.
Unfortunately we never got an audience from the get-go; our abysmal recent rating wasn’t even one point lower than our premiere number. We just should have done better. It is a bummer to be sure.
NBC did the best they know how. We feel responsible for the failure, though. But damn, it sure would be easier to blame the network!
What do you think? Do you agree with this assessment? What did Undercovers do right?
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Image courtesy NBC.
I loved the show and always hoped each week it would improve. I think the show was a bit to glossy and sleek for its own good. It needed more depth and grit to make it relevant to today’s viewers. I think the casting was inspired but the writing was a bit weak and cliche. The humor was cheesy and the show quickly became predictable and this commentary from someone who really liked the show. I would like to see some improvements and a move to the USA cable channel.
As a general rule anymore it seems I’m afraid to get into a show, as it seems that a good 75% or more network shows I enjoy these days get cancelled. So far this season that hasn’t happened yet with anything new… I really tried to get into this show, but always found my attention drifting off to something else when I tried to watch it. I’ve always enjoyed spy shows, so figured this one may be pretty good as well. I could never figure out what it was about it that didn’t work for me, but I think OleVizer… Read more »
Don’t rewrite history, Joe. NBC is known for a very serious drama HOMICIDE: Life on the Street for SEVEN years with a number of black actors in lead roles. UNDERCOVERS just wasn’t that good, and it’s interesting to see the creators understood why. These days serialized television is the way to go; people want to see a continuing storyline.
Well I am one of the “people” that liked the show very much. I don’t need a continuing storyline. None of the popular CSI, NCIS, or Law and Order franchise shows have continuing story lines; so your point is a bad one. This country and the Motion Picture Industry has a serious problem with race. If it’s white it’s right, and ethnic minorities in general are unfairly and harshly judged.
I actually liked the show very much but doubted that it would last on network television. I think it would be perfect for USA along with shows like Covert Affairs and White Collar. Network television executives seem to be impatient and neurotic.
The female character lacked sufficient facial expressions to carry the emotions of the scene. The male character was the same rubber stamp image that has pleagued actors with African ancestry since the start of the nineties; bald head, goatee, stearn expression, and “whip ass” attitude. The writers never gave any cleverness, intelligence, quick thinking or mental agility to either character. The characters were for show but not for real.
I strongly disagree with every word you have expressed. “Lacked sufficient facial expression?” The show is not a comedy requiring animated expressions. Film and television requires that actors internalize their emotions and transfer them out through their eyes. What’s this mindless banter about African ancestry? Get out of here! The shaved head and goatee look is a universal one. The male character had a classy James Bond-like air about him. There was nothing “whip ass” about him at all. Both characters were highly intelligent and fit enough to do their own stunts if necessary. You must have been watching a… Read more »
I wanted this show to succeed and I am disappointed that this show was cancelled, but more disappointed that the show wasnt better. I liked the cast, but I prefer more action packed action scenes, funnier comedy attempts, and more interesting and unpredictable plots. Also, a few more hot chicks would help as well. If you enjoyed this show I will suggest my top five similar shows which I feel succeeded in getting the vibe that Undercovers aimed at.
1. The Good Guys (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1567254/)
2. The Human Target (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1439741/)
3. Psych (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491738/)
4. Chuck (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0934814/)
5. Burn Notice (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0810788/)
The execs at the network could have moved it to a different time or perhaps to Friday, because the friday night viewing is the pits.
What went wrong- who cares it was terrible.NBC,thank you for getting rid of this garbage!!
I LOVED THE SHOW, “UNDERCOVERS”, IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE SHOW WILL GO INTO SYNICATION AS AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION, FREE OF THE DEMANDS OF NETWORK TELEVISION SUCH AS ABC, CBS, NBC, TODAY, IF A SHOW DON’T GET RATINGS THROUGH THE ROOF, IT’S CANCELLED, “CAGNEY & LACY” ALMOST WAS CANCELLED FOR THE SAME REASON, BUT A STRONG WRITE IN CAMPAIGN STOPPED IT, LET’S HOPE WHO LOVED THE SHOW WILL SEE IT IN SYNICATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WHERE MORE CONTROL WILL BE GIVEN TO BORIS AS FAR AS SCRIPT APPROVAL
too black for higher ratings. black cast shows need humor to make it.
You are absolutely right – unfortunately.
It was boring. Just plain boring. Marketed as a Mr & Mrs Smith type of deal, the show had little to no dramatic tension, no suspense, and no real sense of danger. I watched the premiere and thought Spy Lite. I really see no point in trying to save the show. It would need such a dramatic makeover that it would probably lose the few fans that stuck with the show.
I liked the show, except for the idiotic subplot about her ex-boyfriend who was also an agent. It was funny once, then they kept beating us over the head with it.
I think they did everything right! I was thinking about the show while watching and I thought maybe some of the comedy could have been taken out (just a tad). i also would have used different music (more moody tone, like the La Femme Nikita series). Slight tweaks like that might have just sharpened it up.
It is isn’t too late, I hope! I’ve signed the petition and contacted NBC. I am going to write a letter next … and hope for the best.
I think the problem with this show was that they were too sexy and beautiful to ever be undercover spies. If these characters walked into the room, how could they ever be incognito? Is anyone else getting tired of bald African-American men with and without goatee yet?
I think the quotes from the person associated with the show reflect my sentiments. Between their two interesting careers the starring couple should have been much more interesting to watch, but they were dull. The writers managed to make two attractive spies boring. Quite a feat.