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?
It’s a great show we really like it
Very BORING.
The highlight of an episode are two guys in drag and the girls giggling? Or a real life Boomhauer? Or a controlling and manipulative preacher’s “touching” goodbye? Blah. Has Survivor started yet?
I really enjoy the show I hope they keep it going. and that bella needs to go.
I like the show a lot, More in likely they will can the show it would be nice if they kept it at least on line for us to watch. Now that I see this might happen I guess ill save my 5 bucks a month and not move the camera …
It isabunch of shallow people picked to fail, but picked to be entertaining while doing it. Not working for me. Makes the human race look stupid. Cancel.
I watch this one, too. I can’t say that I love it but it’s interesting. Glad they got rid of Dave. Too bad about the preacher. Oh, and the next to go should be that strange gardening blonde.
This show actually is pretty good..its one big orgy
I like the show. Agreed, the ex-con should have been voted back in. If the TV Execs decide to keep the series, I believe Utopia’s fund raising will draw 1,000’s to the gate, similar to Field of Dreams.
I like the show, a real reality show
WOW $50 million for this show? Someone needs to get fired….. biggest waste of money! 1/10 of what big brother is…. not worth watching! big waste of time!….
They should get crafty and churn butter make canned jelly
Cancel! Too much fighing.
Survivor was so much more real.
Sorry after finally seeing it! Now I say Cancel it ASAP!
I like this show. The dynamics change every week as they struggle to find their perfect society. I think it’s interesting that they brought many parts of their current society into the mix. The democratic voting on issues is a good example. I cant wait to see how this plays out. I watch this show through HULU.
Utopía is good show I really like. But can you please keep it real. Please just keep it real?
I like the show a lot. It will take sometime I think for it to attract numbers. Unless they get more controversy going. Can be a little slow. Should have kept the excon.