ABC's first new midseason scripted show was drama Zero Hour, thrown into the same Thursday 8/7c slot where plenty of other dramas have failed recently. Aside from the usual big competition from The Big Bang Theory/Two and a Half Men and American Idol, this show also had to deal with an overall viewing depression thanks to Valentine's Day. All of that proved too much, as Zero managed just a 1.4 demo on premiere night. Because of the timeslot, that was not as dead on arrival as your average 1.4 premiere, but it was still pretty bad.
WEEK TWO
In week two, the viewing went back up, but the ratings did not; in fact, Zero Hour dropped 21% to a 1.1 demo. Considering its situation should've been easier, this point certainly removed any remote chance the show might have had of long-term survival.
PROGNOSIS
As has become a twice-yearly tradition with the Thursday 8/7c dramas, I will reiterate that ABC probably gives (or at least should give) the shows in this timeslot a pretty decent-sized pass. It may be approaching the level of difficulty of a Friday timeslot at this point. But, once again, we have a show that can't be called a success even with that pass. 1.1 is not a number that ABC can be renewing right now, and chances are 1.1 will not be the show's low point. Unlike some shows this season, it'll get a third episode, but another big drop could put the show's week-to-week existence into question. Cancel.
"First Two Weeks" is my look at... the first two weeks of a new scripted broadcast show's ratings. I also line up all of the premiere and week two drop numbers together.
1 comment:
If Zero Hour isn't able to grow tonight (against all repeat competition, sans Community) than it'll for sure be pulled within the next week. If it can bounce back up to a 1.4, it may have earned itself another week.
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