TNT’s ‘Dallas’ season 3 debate: Is it airing on the wrong night?
What is going on when it comes to “Dallas” this season? If you ask many casual TV viewers, they may not even know that it is on. We questioned this back when TNT moved it to Mondays last year, and we are questioning it again now: Why is the show airing on the same night that includes “The Voice,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “The Following,” and also some popular CBS comedies?
When looking at the ratings right now, you are not necessarily seeing the prettiest of pictures. This past Monday’s episode, for example, drew just a 0.5 rating in the 18-49 demographic, and also 1.8 million viewers. This is lower than any figure scored during season 2, which was in turn lower than season 1. The show’s numbers have clearly suffered from the timeslot, and we don’t feel like the quality is the difference.
Why do we think that the numbers would be better elsewhere? It stems from solid live+3 data for the past two seasons, and the strong sense of competition that is here. If “Dallas” moved to Fridays, for example, most of his demographic would still be around … and not forced to choose between three or four shows. We do even think that it could fare well on Saturdays, given that AMC found a surprise bit of success here with airing ‘Hell on Wheels” in this timeslot, which was not traditionally thought of as a good time for an original show beforehand.
All we know is that the longer that ‘Dallas’ goes on Monday night with these ratings, it’ll be in danger. DVR data is nice, but live ratings are what viewers tend to care about first and foremost.
What do you think: Is the show’s timeslot hurting its ratings? Share your thoughts below!
Ryan Michael Healey
April 2, 2014 @ 7:01 pm
TNT hasn’t gotten this right since Season 1. Dallas SHOULD be a “summer series” as it was when it launched. There is little competition, people are looking for something new to watch, etc. That was a key reason Dallas did so well in Season 1. Then, we had Season 2 over a year later air in the winter. If it were not for Larry Hagman dying and bringing a huge amount of attention to the show, many didn’t even know it was back! Now, here we go again… airing it in the winter up against first run shows on he major networks on a MONDAY!? TNT has no one to blame but itself for any ratings issues as the show is very well written and acted. Unless TNT is content with these numbers and is ready for season 4, 5 and 6 if they cancel this show it will be their own fault. The show is a gem being aired foolishly.
LouLou
March 26, 2014 @ 4:57 am
I agree 100%. The show has the elements of good tv. However, airing it in the same time slot of major network hits, is setting it up for failure.
Larry
March 24, 2014 @ 10:55 pm
Dallas needs to air on Fridays, but it needs producers and writers who actually know the characters and the history of the show. There needs to be more old character back on as regulars, like Ray, Lucy, Cliff, and Gary. Gary Ewing was the brother that loved Southfork the most. He was to weak to deal with JR and was driven away. He became very strong and a very ruthless businessman while in Knots Landing. It only makes sense that he would be back at Southfork, especially with JR gone. Also, where is Bobby’s son Lucas? He would be a great addition to the show. In addition, finding out that Christopher is really JR’s biological son would have ramifications for everyone. Finally, the producers seem to believe that Ann is the love of Bobby’s life. Any fan of Dallas knows that is Pam. To honor their love story, they should have Bobby find out that Pam was pregnant when she had her accident and later gave birth to a daughter. Cliff also needs to find out he has a son who can assist in the Ewing/Barnes feud which is what Dallas is about.
Ryan Michael Healey
April 2, 2014 @ 7:17 pm
I could not agree more. With JR gone why on Earth have they not rehired Lucy, Ray and even brought Gary back to Southfork? Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray can’t be expected to represent the entire original cast now that Larry Hagman is gone and while they are trying, the “new” cast is not strong enough to carry the show without strong ties to the original show. These actors are not exactly booked and can be signed pretty easily. No idea why they only appear once a season for a wedding or cameo.
Wayne
March 24, 2014 @ 4:01 pm
It needs a different night and more promotions.
FFilipek
March 23, 2014 @ 4:11 pm
I do think Monday Nights are very crowed with good tv but Major Crimes seem to do ok there. Dallas is a wonderful show but needs some tweaking for Must See TV. It’s so close to being great. Linda Gray is a powerhouse and should be front and center. The over the top writing needs to be fine tuned for real gripping drama with sharp twists and turns. Don’t just throw a cheap dress at us with a “lewinsky” stain. Dallas is rich with history … use it.
DallasDivasDerby
March 21, 2014 @ 5:57 pm
Framing Dallas’s ratings death spiral on scheduling is overly simplistic. Mondays are tough, for sure, but there are serious issues within the show itself that need to be addressed asap. It’s already lost 30% of the audience it started this season with. Those are viewers chose to watch, but have chosen to not watch it again.
mikemazzla
March 21, 2014 @ 3:59 pm
Totally hurting…I like watching Dallas but there is just too much on Monday nights. I am not sure why they moved it from Wednesday. And I am not even a huge TV watcher…but I watch the Following, Bates Motel, a little bit of Raw….etc etc.
Move it later in the week..
Ed N.
March 21, 2014 @ 2:42 am
Before the first season started, someone mentioned that Patrick Duffy said in an interview that TNT was aiming for Friday nights at 9:00 (the timeslot where the old series was popular on CBS). I don’t know what TNT has against airing the current series at that day and time. I myself will not watch the show on Mondays. I watch it Friday nights on VHS tape or On Demand. I think the show is great, but it would get better ratings if TNT would move it to a better night, like Friday night.
mikemazzla
March 21, 2014 @ 3:59 pm
VHS tape?
Ed N.
March 21, 2014 @ 5:08 pm
Yes, VHS tape. I tape it on old fashioned VHS tape since I have a VCR/DVD player combo and don’t have a DVD recorder yet.
Lee Keels
March 21, 2014 @ 6:19 pm
DVD Recorder? How does that even enter into the mix of recording a TV show? What decade are you living in?
Lee Keels
March 21, 2014 @ 6:20 pm
Putting a TV show on a Friday night is a death sentence. People aren’t home and they don’t watch live television. Hell, I haven’t watched a live tv show in probably 5-7 years!
diane
March 21, 2014 @ 1:09 am
There’s too much going on, on Monday nights. I think even moving it up an hour would help. TNT has really let this awesome show down. They barely advertised it at all.