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?
I loved the show..but putting it on Friday night does not help much, since usually I am meeting friends. The other days were perfect and look forward to seeing what time it will find its perfect time. Monday is a good time and Tuesday. I think the timing of the day is wrong for FRIDAY.
Loretta
I enjoy this show! Please don’t remove it- it is different and interesting to watch- all the other tv shows seem to be about the same things anymore, but this is different in an intriguing way. In my opinion it shows too many arguments… but I will continue to watch it!
It is entertaining for live feeders especially the chats off site. Whoever is picking the footage for episodes and the way they present it makes it look bad. Fox runs cam 1 and 2 on site free. Google a little for free offsite feed and you will find all 4 cams free. These sites set it up quad cam and the chats can be fantastic. There are also fansites with footage that really improves your experience if you choose to stick to the rules and stay on fox viewing site. Dont write it off. I paid on fox 5 bucks… Read more »
The narrator for the show sucks!
Totally agree. Very interesting as they learn how to survive and try different forms of govt. I love the live feeds but don’t care as much for the tvversion
I enjoy it, sometimes watch it on Infinity. I have a passport. It is interesting in a strange way. Definitely as good as Big Brother was this summer.
My husband & I just started watching, spent the day doing catch up yesterday.. Problem is it is on Tuesdays, a very busy night for tv
Please keep the show! I love it! It’s real people, it’s raw, and authentic. I’m addicted.
Keep it! Very interesting…it’s just getting started.
I believe that it’s great view of the human condition to see if we are still capable of compassion kindness and understanding and if we’re deserving of the possibility of surviving as a species, good luck to us all
Give it a chance to catch on. I thought the first one was stupid (I am a 58 year young woman) but made myself watch the next one then the next one and now I think it will prove to be interesting as time goes on. It really is a test of humanity. Utopia On!!
I like it. I want to see what happens
My buyfriend and have been following the show.Its the first reality show we liked for years .
I am very disappointed with the show so far, but I hope they keep it. I actually applied to be a participant in the project and was contacted for an interview. I fell ill though and was unable to provide a required video. I was seriously hoping it would be an honest social experiment and not just another reality show. However, it seems either scripted, or at least misdirected by their choice of participants. I think it could be saved if only the participants were serious about the subject. I’m hopeful for a second season and perhaps a reality check… Read more »
Keep it! It will catch on.
Keep it, its better then some the other reality shows. At least here maybe we can learn from starting a new culture.
I like it my wife and i both enjoy it