'Terra Nova' Renewal Could Depend On Mid-Season Flop
Fox wants to see how spring shows fare before making decision
The decision on whether or not to renew "Terra Nova" is no longer up to the big-budget dinosaur epic to perform. It now all depends on Fox's mid-season schedule to not perform.
During Sunday's Television Critics Association winter press tour, Fox president Kevin Reilly said that "Terra Nova" was a strong family show for the network, but it is expensive to make, and the show didn't necessarily meet audience expectations.
Yet, the fact that the show has not been cancelled yet is a good sign. Only as long as Fox has little luck in the shows it plans to premiere mid-season. That might mean genre fans who love "Terra Nova" may have to bet against new shows, like J.J. Abrams' upcoming "Alcatraz," to ensure there will be more prehistoric times in the network's future.
"I do feel fortunate that we have some high-class problems," Reilly said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "Terra Nova," he added, "was an exciting bet to take, and it's proven that it was worthwhile."
In its abbreviated run, "Terra Nova" earned a 4.7 rating/7 share average, according to Fast National overnight ratings from The Nielsen Co. It was Fox's third-highest rated show (tied with "New Girl" and "Glee") in the first half of the season, and was behind only "The X Factor" and "Bones."
Yet, it's expected to finish outside the top 40 by the time the season ends, which might make it difficult to justify a show that is one of the most expensive on television. But, if there are fewer shows returning in the fall for other reasons, especially if new mid-season shows fail to perform, then Fox may look to return shows like "Terra Nova," that at the very least, have been generating a tremendous about of buzz.
"The bar was set enormously high," Reilly said, adding that the show still made money, despite its lower ratings.
"If we had more holes, we'd be thrilled to lock it in," he said.
But the clock is ticking. "It needs to get back into production next month. We won't be able to drag our feet on it for too long."
"Terra Nova" was created by Craig Silverstein and Kelly Marcel, and is executive produced by Steven Spielberg. It chronicles a society from the future settling in prehistoric times after watching Earth become nearly inhabitable in their own time period.
It stars Jason O'Mara, Shelley Conn and Stephen Lang, while the showrunner is a Star Trek alum, Brannon Braga.
About the Author
by charlituna | Sun, 01/08/2012 - 13:58 #1
I wouldn't be surprised if they renew it but not for next fall. It's a great show for shorter doses (i.e. 12-13 episodes) and they could end up giving it a tad more time to produce the episodes by holding it until January. Perhaps pairing it with another show like Alcatraz which could also work well in a half season set up and could probably have episodes ready by Fall a lot easier than Terra Nova could.
by browncoat1984 | Sun, 01/08/2012 - 14:34 #2
I'm honestly on either side of the fence in regards to whether or not I want to see more Terra Nova. On the one hand, it wasn't nearly as bad as I feared it would be when it aired, on the other. Branon Braga? Really? You put the man who many Trek fans is responsible (at least in part) for the demise of Star Trek in charge of one of the, if not the most expensive shows ever produced? You put the man whose two Star Trek shows most fans consider to be the weakest of the franchise in charge? The guy who wrote such terrible episodes as Voyager's "Threshold" and TNG's "Genesis?" This is the guy who was available?
It wasn't a bad show, certianly, but it didn't quite hook me in 13 episodes the way Firefly or Battlestar Galactica did. It didn't have that "ooomf" that those shows did and I think the reason is I didn't really care much for the characters. They were all rather predictable, and seemed to be there to serve the plot rather than vice-verse, as opposed to Firefly or the early Battlestar Galactica seasons where you really care about these characters. They were all rather two-dimensional in their depictions.
Also, I certainly hope that any future Terra Nova seasons would tone down the teen angst as it almost got cringe-inducing at times. The stupid kid should have just realized "hey, this hot chick here is totally into me, why don't I just bang her instead of trying to risk my neck and risk getting banished by getting my chick from the future over?"
Still, the season finale certainly introduced some interesting new questions. I agree with charlituna though that Terra Nova would work much better with a short season.
by mhinman | Sun, 01/08/2012 - 16:15 #3
The only issue I have about that is that if you hold it for January, it will be a year before you see new episodes.
For a new show like "Terra Nova" that has only aired a dozen episodes, this would not be good. Especially on network television.
People will have moved on.
by Athena28 | Mon, 01/09/2012 - 14:11 #4
Coudn't watch it. 'Falling Skies' was hard enough to keep up with. Just had no more time.
by dahougaard | Fri, 01/13/2012 - 05:31 #5
I am so sick of the networks canceling every show that is worth watching. If it is not blood and guts or some stupid reality show you take it off. Terra Nova was one of the best shows this season. Science fiction beats the hell out of some of the crap that is on tv today. You want to remove Terra Nova and you removed Falling Skies. I just don't get the mentality. You wonder why Kids commit crimes and people are going nuts. Try and stop making shows that are all police shows with shows, one like Terra Nova and Falling Skies and you just might peek the interest in young people. I have teenagers and they could not wait for the shows to come on, the adults love it too. So I don't know about your ratings, but you need a better system. People even at church talked about how refreshing it was to see something with imaginations instead of guns and blood and robbery and rape. Go figure just maybe the times are changing. People want a change from the violence to using their minds.
by dahougaard | Fri, 01/13/2012 - 05:33 #6
I am so sick of the networks canceling every show that is worth watching. If it is not blood and guts or some stupid reality show you take it off. Terra Nova was one of the best shows this season. Science fiction beats the hell out of some of the crap that is on tv today. Remove Terra Nova and you removed Falling Skies. I just don't get the mentality. You wonder why Kids commit crimes and people are going nuts. Try and stop making shows shows that are all police shows with shows like Terra Nova and Falling Skies and you just might peek the interest in young people. I have teenagers and they could not wait for the shows to come on, the adults love it too. So I don't know about your ratings, but you need a better system. People even at church talked about how refreshing it was to see something with imaginations instead of guns and blood and robbery and rape. Go figure just maybe the times are changing. People want a change from the violence to using their minds.