Ratings: The Blacklist fights to keep season 5 renewal hopes alive
The good news is that the NBC show did win the timeslot last night with a 0.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic. Granted, that’s not such a big accomplishment when the other shows on the night aren’t faring all that much better. You had The Amazing Race generating just a 0.7 rating, while at the same time The Catch ended up pulling a 0.7 rating.
One thing we do want to say on The Amazing Race before we move forward is that we’re not as confident about its renewal hopes now as we were a week ago. This is the sort of number where CBS could consider the show to be sadly expendable.
As for the future of The Blacklist, we don’t think that its rating is impressive since this is what The Blacklist: Redemption was drawing during some of its season, and its renewal chances are far more dicey than The Blacklist proper. With that said, we’re still optimistic just because we don’t see NBC wanting to have the high-profile issue of canceling one of their biggest franchises. This is one that is popular all over the globe, and it has a marquee star in James Spader. It also performs far better in the DVR figures than Redemption did, and we just can’t imagine them wanting to get rid of it this season. Sure, there are some issues that could make the renewal process tricky, with one of the biggest ones being that NBC does not fully own the show like it does with some of the other stuff that is airing on the schedule.
Overall, The Blacklist will keep marching on, and we’ll keep monitoring it closely to see how it fares. For now, we want to be optimistic in thinking that the show has a reasonably good shot of being renewed — but we’re also saying this while being realistic at the same time. This isn’t some pie-in-the-sky whim that won’t probably become reality.
How are you thinking about The Blacklist and its potential season 5 renewal odds right now? Sound off with some of your thoughts in the comments!
(Photo: NBC.)
Randacious
May 8, 2017 @ 6:37 pm
The problem is NBC ruined the popularity of the show by constant switching time slots. Not a single show has worked on Thursday Nights at the 10/9 time slot in years. The Blacklist is actually doing okay compared to most other shows they had there. It is still an exciting show and has a lot of life left in it.
Jean Orlow
May 1, 2017 @ 10:58 am
I love this show and hope it’s renewed
Trapper
May 1, 2017 @ 6:16 am
With Grimm gone, The Blacklist is the only watchable show on TV, so I certainly hope they renew it for at least another season.
Jake Edwards
April 30, 2017 @ 10:09 pm
I grew up watching James Spader and consider him a great actor. He has depth, and even when on the dubious side of the law (Storyville) – an integrity that engenders loyalty. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed The Blacklist but the mystery behind Elizabeth Keane is gone. Mr Kaplan turning is an outstanding dynamic, as is Dembe’s admirable old school loyalty. It would be an easy way to finish, and it almost feels that we are being set up for, Reddington’s ultimate sacrifice. This all said, I still believe the show can create new and interesting ways to continue with Raymond surviving. The characters remaining are solid and proven to be likeable. My vote is for Season 5.
C Spottswood
April 30, 2017 @ 12:17 pm
Ever since The Producer/ Writer/ Creator of the Blacklist announced on a podcast that the show was renewed through season 4; this tail wagging the dog day has been coming to remind Producers who decides when such information comes out. Some may feel it productive to build drama this way but odds are it will be counter productive as it forgets the fans are loyal only to those shows that are loyal to their fans. It is not looking that way at the moment. Ratings stink. Why? The audience of the Blacklist is primarily over 49 and the show is on in a lousy time slot with no good lead in show to take on Grey’s Anatomy. As rating decrease over time each evening putting a show on last is all but guaranteeing it a 1 or below. This in mind people start talking about DVRs because on late hour shows the number of people who watch a show the next day or so, doubles, if not triples the viewership.Meanwhile Ad people are told older people buy bigger ticket items so focus commercial sales on car manufacturers and luxury items younger audiences can not afford and what we lose in rate we may pick up in exclusivity or focus promises to companies that want control in how their product is being sold.
There are loads of way to keep the show profitable and on the air especially knowing it comes from SONY Universal who create a large number of shows on air and own an even larger number of shows in rerun on netflix and amazon and hulu. No reason in discarding a show that has proven already it is binge worthy.
Oh and for that person who leaked the renewal, the only thing less likely to be dealt with kindly than that would be to mention on line that your series was designed for cable not network, especially if you do not have in the actors contracts that nudity is a large part of cable and they are willing to do nude scenes in coming seasons. That is not wagging the dog but biting the hand that feed you as Networks own Cable and if they want a show on Cable or on the Net then they can make that happen.
Personally i would be talking about firing NBC’s programmer at this point and replacing her with some one more decisive and vocal. There have been far too many of these speculation pieces to be good for business and with a strike in the works it is not a time for indecision. Take ABC, it seems already they are announcing not only will there be a season 14 of Grey’s Anatomy but Krista Vernoff will be back writing some of it. That is what is called taking charge of a situation and turning it into a reason to stay loyal.
The Blacklist has a very impressive writing and acting staff, top down but you would not know it from what little attention NBC gives them. It looks as though the show either hypes itself or it goes unrecognized.
Sad so sad as it
Sterling Archer
April 29, 2017 @ 2:27 am
They only delayed the start of Amazing Race for what, eight months? I’m guessing a lot of people forgot it was on. Then they put it on 10pm on Thursday. Not a good time for it. And the stuff they’ve renewed, Superior Donuts? Nothing about that screams “must see”. And I never expected MacGyver to last this long.
I’m hoping Amazing Race survives, and with the writers strike, it just may be the skin of it’s teeth.
Barbara E Turner
April 28, 2017 @ 6:42 pm
Please, I want another season. Love, love the show. Best show on TV.