ABC's spin-off of Once Upon a Time provided the latest disappointing premiere number in ABC's long-problematic Thursday 8/7c hour, managing just 5.82 million viewers and a 1.7 demo. That was just a tick ahead of the prior week's ABC occupant, a Scandal recap special, and it finished in third place for the hour behind CBS' comedy block (5.1/3.0) and Fox's The X Factor (2.0). And it was well below the low 2's level that most of ABC's previous failed premieres have managed here.
WEEK TWO
If there was any hope after the premiere, it was completely dashed in week two as Once Upon a Time in Wonderland tanked by 29% to a pathetic 1.2. It remained ahead of NBC's awful comedy block (1.3/0.9), but it actually dipped behind the CW's The Vampire Diaries (1.3), which is kind of the ultimate insult for a big four original.
PROGNOSIS
I thought the show would do better than this, but I did wonder prior to the premiere if ABC would've been better off just calling it Wonderland and not bothering to attach the Once Upon a Time label. The story of Alice in Wonderland brings with it enough of a built-in audience, and Once Upon a Time is a weakening brand. We'll never know, but what we do know is that a big chunk of the opening audience has already bailed, which likely would've happened either way. If it can hang close to this number, it would likely air all 13 episodes. But it's already below what seems like the network's bubble level, so it's unlikely to get more than that. Cancel.
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9 comments:
Easy cancellation
Cancel, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if ABC finally waves the white flag on the spot altogether and puts a news magazine here in the spring. Although The Lookout did terribly in the summer so I doubt it's that.
Most likely they go with their ninth (!!) new drama in the slot since Ugly Betty, or finally recognise the futility (and Idol's vulnerability) and throw in Shark Tank.
I don't see the upside of having Shark Tank there pulling high 1s when it is doing that on Friday. What would they put on Friday? It could derail their whole friday. Also, if they were to move Shark Tank, I think it would be best utilized on Tuesdays. IMO, they should just move Grey's up an hour. Do Grey's/Scandal/Revenge in the spring and they probably win Thursdays. Scandal will dominate in the 9pm hour, Revenge can beat Elementary with the Scandal lead-in (it is already neck to neck with it on that horrible Sunday slot) and Grey's will hold its own on the 8pm hour against TBBT.
I do like the idea of ABC putting something unscripted here. Though a newsmagazine or reality show is likely to pull equivalent ratings, the cost would be much lower. I don't like Wipeout to return here, though, but a season of Whodunnit? would be interesting as its campy qualities almost play like a comedy.
ABC already had a show named Wonderland that aired for a very brief time in 2000 about a mental health ward. The name is taken. So they tried to add Once Upon a Time into it
FLOP
I remember Spot floating Grey's/Scandal/new drama; that might be an even better take on the same thing.
Next season maybe but for now I don't see any of the three new dramas having the potential or the compatibility to be Scandal lead-outs. They have two problems (amongst many others lol) they need to address which is the Thursdays at 8p slot and the revenge needing to be saved situation. This way, both would be saved.
Once Upon A Time In Wonderland uses most of the creative team from Once Upon A Time so even a person without a brain could figure out why it's called "Once Upon A Time in Wonderland."
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