Apocalyptic news came to NBC’s post-apocalypse series Revolution as that one received its cancellation notice today. The news does not come as a big surprise as I have had the show tracking as likely to be cancelled for most of the season. Revolution debuted back in Fall of 2012 to high ratings, but then went on a steady decline throughout its first season to end at only marginal status. It still received a second year renewal, but NBC moved it from the cushy Monday post-The Voice timeslot to Wednesdays at 8 PM EST. That family friendly hour did not suit the show’s move to a darker tone and it never earned higher than a 1.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic based on the overnights throughout its second season. Its cancellation has seemed certain for many months, though the show has developed a strong fanbase who immediately took to Twitter and the other social networks to protest the decision. Next week, I will be taking a look at the chances that Revolution and the other cancelled shows could still continue on another network or on a streaming service like Amazon or Netflix.
Also on the wrong end of the Network Executioner’s ax today was late season entry Believe. That show–produced by J.J. Abrams and Alfonso Cuarón–started with decent numbers when it bowed on a Monday with a lead in from The Voice. But its ratings quickly dropped off when it moved to its regular Sunday night timeslot (where it had to compete with AMC’s The Walking Dead, HBO’s Game of Thrones, and ABC’s Resurrection). I have been predicting its demise for several weeks now, so the announcement comes as no surprise.
Surviving the carnage is second year series Hannibal which received word it would continue into a third season. That show has been a perennial low-rated entry, but it comes at a lower cost to NBC because of its international production arrangements and it sufficiently fills a troublesome timeslot on the schedule (Fridays at 10 PM EST). No word has yet come out on early season entry Dracula, but that one followed a similar production model to Hannibal and actually performed slightly better in that late Friday hour, so it may still have a chance.
As far as genre pickups, yesterday NBC announced that Constantine–based on the DC Comics character–would be joining its lineup for next season (you can read a synopsis for the show at this link). I’ve heard of no other new sci fi/fantasy entries from the network yet, but we will see their full schedule when they unveil it prior to next week’s upfronts.
And for those who missed the news, the supernatural drama Grimm was renewed a while back as expected.
We are still waiting to hear CBS’ final verdict on Intelligence (most certainly cancelled) as well as official notice on Dracula so stay tuned to this site and the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for that breaking news and more.
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Jericho: The Complete Season 4
IDW Publishing
Description: Jericho is back with a vengeance, with a whole new chapter of stories told in the show’s official continuity. Jericho Season 4 picks up where Season Three left off. Though Jake and Hawkins are happy to be back in Jericho, the challenges they face are daunting. Not only are they fugitives in their own hometown, but they find themselves forced to play host to the newest member of the Jericho community-John Smith a man who some know as a friend of the resistance, but who Jake and Hawkins know as the man behind the September Attacks. Only they know his secret. And only they can stop him from committing another heinous act. Compiles together issues 1 through 5 of the Season 4 mini-series.
By: Kalinda Vazquez, Andrew Currie, Tim Bradstreet
Also available from Amazon.com in TPB format and as a Kindle book
this comes as no surprise given the appalling way NBC schedule their tv shows no winder they are in such poor ratings hell. perhaps they need to look at themselves and change the way they operate…………a little common sense goes a long way. eg; was there a need over both seasons to have such pointless extended breaks between episodes. But i dont think things will change
Very upset to learn that the show Dracula was cancelled! I loved the show from day 1 and all of the actors are great. The story of Dracula is classic and has mass appeal. The storyline of this particular show has it all: sex appeal, action, drama, etc. Bad call to cancel this show!!