FOX kicked off the 2014-15 season with an ambitious plan — to air their new Utupia reality show for 52 straight weeks. Will it run for years or be cancelled quickly? A stroke of genius or a big ratings flop?
Utopia follows a group of regular people who are relocated to a remote area and given limited resources. They must figure out how to survive and create their own society. Those who are dispensable can be voted out and replaced with newcomers, as decided by the home viewers.
The series launched on September 7th with a two-hour installment. It drew a 2.0 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 4.63 million viewers. That was an okay start but FOX execs were surely expecting much better — especially considering it followed a highly-rated football game.
On Tuesday, the series plunged 55% in the demo and 46% in viewership to a 0.9 rating and 2.48 million. The Friday premiere drew just a 0.7 rating and 1.99 million. This past Tuesday’s episode did a bit better but the numbers were still very poor.
Utopia is already doing terribly in the ratings and the numbers are sure to get much worse with stiffer competition on the other networks.
Unless the ratings turn around, there’s no question that FOX will cancel Utopia — the only real question is “when?”. I suspect execs are hoping to keep the show going until their baseball coverage starts in October before they cancel it.
However, if the ratings keep going downward — and it looks like a sure bet that they will — they may have no choice but to pull it even sooner.
Fox Television Group co-CEO Dana Walden says that, despite the soft launch, network execs are “pretty happy and relaxed to embrace the risk.” They plan to be “patient” with the new show.
It will be interesting to see how long before their patience run out for Utopia.
But, what do you think? Are you enjoying Utopia? Do you think it should be cancelled? How much time should they give it? Do you think this could be the first cancellation of the new season?
Leave a Reply
120 Comments on "Utopia: New FOX TV Show; Cancel or Keep It?"
I really liked the show, there were people that I disliked and did not agree with but that is real life also. I already had it set up to record all episodes of Utopia in case I happened to not be available to watch when it came on.
KEEP THE SHOW ….Believe it or not there is a lesson to be learned. There might and will come a time that we will all be living like this. I hope FOX looks at these reviews. FOX is doing us justice by teaching us another way to live ,that we will be living in the near future . FOX is preparing us for the future.
Keep utopia on fox going it just getting started Rome wasn’t built in a day it takes time and a lot people did not know it was on channel 12 this is a learning process to see what they can do with a certain amount of money that they are earning I think by you cancel the show is way to early in time you will see the rates will go up .their real people and they would like to see utopia make it and so will the viewers as well .
DON’T CANCEL I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!!!!!
I wanted to like it. The idea is interesting but the casting and production have let it down. Bit disappointed in FOX, their shows are usually better than this.
Then channel your tv.
Kapow !!!!!!
That simple
Don’t cancel – I’m a fan!!
They should cancel. This show is fake and everyone is actors or actresses looking to up their careers. People do your research this show is so crap and there is NO REALITY!!!
I love it but, agree with Theresa Allison’s comment ; “First get rid of the boring announcer. .he adds.nothing to the show and his voice and cheesy mustache are cliche for a current show.”…Where on EARTH did they dig this guy up and WHY??!!
I do agree that it needs a bit of a work over but the concept for a reality tv show is inventive and original. Maybe some better promotion and advertisers will draw a better audience….
GIVE IT A CHANCE!!
Is it on Friday nights now on Fox? I always seem to miss it but find it on DEMAND.
🙂
I love this show, alot. Very interesting and intriguing topic idea for a reality show!!
However, I do have to agree, with the above comment made by Theresa Allison ;”First get rid of the boring announcer. .he adds.nothing to the show and his voice and cheesy mustache are cliche for a current show. “…. Where on EARTH did they did him up , and WHY??
I always seem to miss it but catch it on Rogers on Demand… Will it be on Friday nights now?
Give it a chance…rework it…promote it more….get some decent advertisers….
Love the show ….it took awhile but now I look forward to watching it please don’t cancel