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Axed: Terra Nova

Bad news for Queensland as Steven Spielberg's dino-drama Terra Nova is axed by FOX.

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Steven Spielberg’s dino-drama Terra Nova has been axed by FOX.

While the news is not unsurprising it comes as a blow to the Queensland production sector, given many Australians were employed on the shoot.

FOX made the decision after weeks of exploring potential Season 2 tweaks to the series.

Given then lengthy production time required on the heavily-CGI series, the clock was ticking if it was to be readied for the next Fall season.

In the US the series attracted respectable ratings, and 20th Century Fox TV is hoping to shop the series around to other networks. The likelihood of a pick-up, especially given the high Aussie dollar, is slim.

In January, Fox’s entertainment president Kevin Reilly said, “If this is all we make [of Terra Nova], we made money on it, the studio made money on it, and it seems to have resonated with the family audience,” he said. “There is a show, which if we are to bring back, there’s an audience there. But creatively, the show was hunting [for its identity]. If we had more holes in our network, we’d be thrilled to lock that right in.”

Presuming the show is not given an afterlife, TEN was wise to continue episodes through summer non-ratings.

David Mott recently told TV Tonight, “With a show like Terra Nova people did invest and it rated well. We would have ended up with 3 episodes. So what was the point in breaking it and not being loyal to the viewers who had committed to it? But I know that comment will get some traction.”

Source: Deadline

26 Responses

  1. We watched every episode so will be sorry to see it go. Yeah, some of the plots were a bit lame but it made a change from the cop/seriaI killer genre. And it was great to spot the Aussie in the cast.

  2. @sifter
    My sentiments exactly. Amazingly my wife was into this & i was really enjoying it. Towards the end it really started to get good. Shame.

  4. I just read a story (elsewhere) comparing TN with other ‘bubble’ shows ratings and TN was doing quite well with a season average 3.6 demo, which is higher than some other shows expected to be returned for another season. I know it’s not a cheap show and the high AU$ isn’t helping, but reports are it was making money for Fox so I just don’t get it. If it’s rating okay and making money then what more did Fox expect the show to do?

  5. Gotta echo the comment re: Alcatraz vs Terra Nova. Both shows have been pretty poor, but I think Terra Nova had more potential than Alcatraz. It’s a shame they didn’t find good enough stories to do. Watching through Fringe at the moment makes me: a) want a 5th season, and b) wonder what on earth JJ is doing with Alcatraz???

  6. I think it had potential to become more interesting. It’s sad that it’ll never be realised and even more for those that were employed to make it.

    I’ll admit I really hope Fringe will be renewed for a fifth season. Maybe even Alcatraz although I might not be able to see it on FTA. I want to though.

  8. Fox is so delusional..

    Terra Nova was up against CBS comedy block and ABC’s DWTS… it didn’t have a chance of getting and keeping decent ratings.

  10. This is a big shame as a lot of my Queensland friends are now out of a job. But, let us not forget Screen Queensland heaped a huge amount of benefits and cash on to this production to get it to the state. For what? A blip on the production radar.

    At the same time I know they were knocking back home-grown projects with the excuse: ‘we’ve spent all our money on Terra Nova’. This is not the way to build an industry – to pander to runaway productions. But they just don’t get it do they?? Industry? You have to be kidding…

  12. I watched the pilot and left it at that.

    I’ve seen it all before and done better with less money. This type of SG show that is. Only disappointment is the Queensland job losses.

  13. @Phoenix and @Mr. J – I couldn’t agree more. I love dinos and so thought that it was a really good premise but, omg, the writing was straight out of script school, ticking the box of every cliché and trope. The characters?, most of the acting? – ugh.

    I gave up part-way thru the 2nd Ep (right after the kevlar-armoured soldier was conveniently knocked out by the air-vent cover). I saw enough of Ep 3 and one other to know that it was only going to continue to get worse.

    “If we had more holes in our network, we’d be thrilled to lock that right in.”
    I think Mr Reilly means if TN had less holes in the plot.

  14. Not a major shock. I watched the first six episodes, and became less interested in watching it after each one. Eventually I just didn’t bother to tune in. An expensive show filled with visual effects will obviously get axed if it can’t hold an audience.

    Shame – it had great potential when it was first announced.

  19. It was promoted as jurrasic park for tv. But what we got was a saturday Disney take on the dinosaur genre. It was a show for 12 year olds. I was really disappointed with it. Not upset to see it go.
    FOX has not had a good season, especially with drama. Bones is the only one that should be renewed.

  20. I liked the show and the final left them lots of places to go in the story, such a shame that a show making money gets the axe. They better not bring back Alcatraz!

    FYI Jason O’Mara was recently in the film ‘One for the Money’ with Katherine Heigl which flopped at the box office. Hope he gets a better part soon.

  21. The show’s finale in the US only landed a 2.2 in the demo – better than Alcatraz has rated the past few episodes but not enough to justify renewal. This isn’t a surprise

    As for the show IMO it simply wasn’t good enough…pretty mediocre acting and storylines. I only lasted three episodes

    With House, Terra Nova both now finishing this season and Alcatraz and the Finder likely to be axed, FOX will have a fairly blank slate for dramas come fall.

  23. I was a Terra Nova fan but i guess this happens. The thing is though if they renew Alcatraz or The Finder over this show i won’t be happy. At least this show had some substance towards the end. The other 2 shows i have mentioned have gone downhill.

  24. Terra Nova was based on a great idea, but the show itself and its characters were very poorly executed.

    I had high hopes for the show before it started, but was disappointed with every episode. I really don’t care that it’s been axed.

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