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 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… Read more »
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
I hope they don’t jump the gun and cancel this show before they get their footing and have a true chance to make things work out. I also think like big brother that a person or persons should be voted out regularly and replaced with new “blood,” someone with new ideas. There are some individuals who are “not all there” and they can be harmful to any society. Now whether or not the collective votes out the “dead wood” or the American public do, I am not as sure about. We all know that we the viewer do not see… Read more »
I think they should vote people off every 2 weeks….makes it more interesting.
The show is worth saving …get rid of Aaron, Mike, Bri and change to decent people it – has a better chance. I like it.
I think they need to rework the show. 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. Secondly, the right people were not selected to start Utopia. I like that people can now get voted out..but I think America should do it and not give them a choice. They should get to choose the new person. This way American can try and help fix Utopia when the Utopians are acting irrational. No pleaing, no crying, no whining..we vote they go, we move on. They live… Read more »
Purty Please don’t cancel this show…my fiancé and I really enjoy this show!!!! RENEW!!!!!!!!
Keep it airing…. We really enjoy this show….please!!!!!!!
I don’t want it to be cancelled but they do need to start watching the Utopian’s closer… It’s ok to keep production out of their business when its something that won’t harm people, but when you have a cook that is very unsanitary thats not good. He lies to the vegans and says he didn’t put eggs in meals, he drops spoons on the floor & without washing it, he continues to use it. Wipes his nose with his hand and continues cooking… The list goes on & on… Aaron & Kristen are shady in other ways too, like deleting… Read more »
I came to this site specifically because this show makes me so angry. This is a reality show gone all wrong. You just can’t put a bunch of angry, immature morons together & expect it to be compelling.
That’s exactly what does make it compelling. Lol
Utopia is being yanked from Tuesdays effective immediately and will only air on Fridays.
http://deadline.com/2014/10/utopia-pulled-tuesday-masterchef-junior-replacement-844423/
Cancel it. These people won’t last the winter. It’s already become people squabbling over money and buying Doritos and ramen noodles for ” survival” and selling themselves off through their reality tv fame. I thought it would be something more than this.
Amen and Thank You Erin Slankard I fully agree with you here!…More “Dumbing Down of America!”….The writers for “Utopia” over at FOX TV need to be FIRED
Forthwith!…Maybe FOX could go 24/7 as a “All News -All The Time!” and ONLY show all the Cute Little Foxy Foxes 24 hours a day!…Oh well at least all the FOX News Foxy Anchor Women are more interesting to look at then these idiotic TV shows has too many of this season like “Utopia” right? …Your thoughts please folks?
I agree….This show should be canceled…the people that are in this show are morons.
Don’t cancel. It took me watching a few times to start geting into it. Others are coming around too. Let america have plenty of interaction and say so and it will be as big as CBS’ s Big Brother! Patience.
I agree it took me a couple of watches to get into the show but now I love it!! give it some time it will catch on.
Don’t cancel!
I record and watch it eagerly and I am really enjoying the show. I love each of the characters for who they are and the bagging they bring to utopia. The group dynamics is always interesting and any group or organization. I look forward to the transformation of each individual as leaders, organizers and followers in utopia in the coming episodes.