Pan Am drama grounded
Pan Am just got the Qantas treatment, grounded by ABC (US) at 14 episodes, with its outlook unclear.
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Period drama series Pan Am just got the Qantas treatment -grounded by the ABC (US).
The first series will wrap with 14 produced episodes, with a future still possible but unclear.
The network will produce only one more episode of the five additional scripts ordered.
“Well, we received THE call, #PanAm is only coming back for one more episode after Christmas,” tweeted cast member Karine Vanasse. “But up to the end, we’ll give it our all !”
The show, which features Australia’s Margot Robbie, is still in contention for next season but will have to make room for GCB.
After launching to promising numbers the drama lost more than 3 million viewers for its second episode, averaging 7.8 million although it did enjoy a later lift.
Reviews found some positives in the show, but it wasn’t without some tubulence.
The Hollywood Reporter‘s Tim Goodman noted that Pan Am seemed to be content with showcasing the glamorous side of being a Pan Am stewardess: “It has neither the exactitude of the times nor the talent of the writers to get at the issues, ala Mad Men, that illuminate the issues of the day.”
The series will air next year on Nine.
15 Responses
@camo – That’s what I was saying Mr Sunshine was in the same position as Pan Am is now, we didn’t get to see it on the main channel (or any channel yet) so why would things be any different for Pan Am?
I loved Mr Sunshine, some complained Matt was too much like Chandler but how is that a bad thing? I only saw the Pan Am pilot and liked it, hoped Nine would show it but again that doesn’t seem to be the case.
In unrelated news last month I signed up to a new 500Gb Internet plan.
@craig…mr sunshine got cancelled after i think 8 or 10 episodes sadly very good show though…i have it if you want it…. and re pan am…i read somewhere it was headed straight to the discount bin….errr i mean GEM
I was really looking forward to this, but saw a few eps when I was in the US recently and it’s bloody awful. The stories are bizarre ( think a pilot and flight attendant fighting armed gunmen in a jungle in Haiti) and the acting is at times laughable.
Pan Am’s latest official Facebook update (Nov 30 afternoon Melb time) says:
“Attention Passengers: Pan Am is scheduled for a full run of flights! Please keep your seatbelts securely fastened and tune-in Sunday for an all new episode at 10|9c on ABC.”
I assumed that meant they got a full 22 ep season.
@timmy, I’d get up for it!
@Ann, I think you’ve got your ABC’s mixed up.
Might have rated better if it was Pam Ann ?
Would have to be in a late slot tho. Very late.
Was inevitable. Love Margot, hope she finds something else soon.
Period network TV shows are primarily suited to basic or premium cable, where they have more freedom with what they can show, not to US network TV, as there isn’t a big enough audience for them. If Mad Men aired on a US broadcast network, it wouldn’t have lasted for very long either.
It costs the ABC 140k to produce a 30 minute show. They can purchase 3 for that overseas, so why bother producing here. We need the Government to set a mandate
“The series will air next year on Nine.”
While Nine might plan to air it on the main channel if Pan Am is not renewed in the US I would hold my breath waiting for it. My bet is we’ll see it on GEM mid to late 2012.
Sorry to sound anti Nine camo but it will probably happen. I’m still waiting on Mr Sunshine, which Nine promised about 12 months ago.
Too heavy in drama, too modern look, CGI airport with digital looking people… not good
@Charlie you boofhead…another stupid anti nine comment, cant say anymore than that..get back in your box
…. on the flipside…Aircrash Investigations could look into how the airline crashed…..
There’s no way this show will make it to a second season with the current ratings it gets
‘The series will air next year on Nine.’
There is you problem. Doomed from the beginning.