The cancellation axe has Swung at NBC. It’s modern-day Russian spy drama, Allegiance was cancelled after 5 low-performing episodes. In its episode from Thursday, March 5, the show attracted 3.4 million viewers, a distant third place finish in the 10pm (ET) time slot behind the series premiere of American Crime on ABC, and Elementary on CBS. Allegiance even followed NBC’s hit The Blacklist, which was moved from Mondays to Thursdays in an attempt to help launch the series, but to no avail. This was clearly a case of too many good shows on one night.
Related: About Allegiance
Related: Interview with Gavin Stenhouse
The drama was about former KGB spies (Hope Davis and Scott Cohen) called back into service by the Russian Government. And now, Mother Russia wants to enlist the help of one of the couple’s children, a brilliant young CIA analyst with a brilliant — yet mysterious — mind. The genius, Alex O’Connor, was played by Gavin Stenhouse and his role was incredibly interesting, but it may have been his portrayal of a character that was repeatedly referred to as “special,” that was the show’s undoing.
I had the pleasure to chat with Stenhouse about the show and he is a delightful chap who is a wonderful actor. I found the show’s premise was incredibly promising: a bright guy solving crimes with his intellect while being spied on by his family. The pilot that I saw featured espionage and intrigue around every corner. And the show has a rich bunch of baddies who did terrible stuff like put someone in a furnace — alive! That’s an incredibly intense way to premiere a series.
One glance at Stenhouse and you know he’s a great looking man. And as the show’s star/hero you want to be attracted to him for his mind as well as his face. But here was where I felt a bit conflicted: throughout the pilot, we’re repeatedly told how “special,” Stenhouse’s character Alex is and that “his mind is different.” We also heard statements that implied he’d undergone some terrible trauma or experience that may have harmed his psyche. Of course, the references were shadowy enough that I worried more about what had happened and I then felt creepy for finding his character hot.
Of course, I start worrying: was he exploited? Abused or neglected? Does he have Aspergers? (because whenever someone on a TV show says someone is “special” and gives that look while the subject is solving a Rubik’s cube, or doing an intense math problem, or in Alex O’Connor’s case, rolling a squash ball obsessively in his hands while blundering through human interactions — that’s the TV message I’m receiving.)
While wanting to know what happens next, worrying about Alex became my focus, which was too bad, because it distracted me from how bad-ass Hope Davis was as momma bear, Katya O’Connor. And Margarita Levieva should keep her phone on; she was heartstopping as Alex’s big sister Natalie — a sexy, slinky, spy. Her services will undoubtedly be requested elsewhere on TV.
To fill the time slot, NBC will move The Slap from 8pm to 10pm, which seems a better fit for that series anyway. Nobody wants to watch a family fall apart at 8pm on a Thursday. But the move means that Allegiance is gone, not simply moved to a better, less competitive night. No word from NBC as to what will air at 8pm or what it will do with the 8 episodes of Allegiance yet to air.
UPDATE (3/11/15) :
I contacted NBC to find out the fate of the 8 unaired episodes of Allegiance and was told that the episodes will be available on NBC.com. The network is unsure of the rollout schedule, but at this moment, the next episode will be available on Friday, March 13.
Here’s the episode description for Allegiance: “Liars and Thieves”
Natalie (Margarita Levieva) must rely on an outsider to hunt down vital information on Black Dagger and risks Victor (Morgan Spector) discovering her plan. Anxious to detain an SVR source before he escapes the country, Sam (Kenneth Choi) and Alex (Gavin Stenhouse) set up a risky sting operation in broad daylight. Meanwhile, Katya (Hope Davis) asks Alex to help throw the task force off track, and the outcome brings him face to face with Victor. Also starring Scott Cohen (Mark O’Connor) and Alex Peters (Sarah O’Connor). Guest starring Floriana Lima (Michelle Prado), Robert John Burke (Special Agent Brock), Haaz Sleiman (Scott Tolliver), and Aleksander Mici (Oleg Zhulov).
Fans of the show are so outraged that they’ve even started an online petition to save the show. Will you Pledge your Allegiance? Sign here
Gavin Stenhouse as Alex O’Connor image: Will Hart/NBC, © 2014 NBCUniversal Media, LLC
Allegiance Cast image: © 2014 NBCUniversal Media, LLC
The Cape,now Allegiance?! What’s wrong with tv,the networks?The Slap?Not interested!
I really liked this show then were left hanging that is not like NBC pretty disappointed. Then it replacement is SLAP well won’t be watching the crap. I been checking in with thursday night showing again no Allegences what the hell. ….. please find away to bring it back even on another night…..
CORRECTION TO WEB ADDRESS:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/pledge-allegiance
SIGN THE PETITION ON IPETITION.COM!!
They need 10,000 signatures.They are petitioning NBC to put it back on the air.
IPETITION.COM/PETITION/PLEDGE-ALLIGENCE
Tell your friends, your family, anyone you can think of to sign the petition. The squeaky wheel gets the oil!! Let’s make some noise people!
This is ridiculous! What is wrong with NBC? This was a very good show. I look forward to watching every Thursday night. Maybe you need to change the time slot. Give it a chance! You cant just cancel the show after five episodes. Give people more time to learn about it, more time to spread the word about it.
I just watched all six episodes. I enjoyed them though there were a few weird lines, “like how is the guy doing whose throat you cut and threw into the bay doing? ” Problem with this show was the day it was on, even black list will suffer switched to thursday nights, its a great show but not likly to bump scandal, greys nor how to get away with murder! They shouldve considered changing the day it aired before canceling the show all together.
We look forward to watching this on dvr every Friday after a long week. Hoping they bring it back!
Every time I like a show they cancel it. Makes me not want to commit to any new shows!!!
Just as I was getting into this show, it’s gone. That Alex character was intriguing … I have a son with Aspergers and I knew from the get-go that this was one series I would enjoy. On one level I think we all wish we were more Alex-like … the brainy part at least. I think NBC should rethink their decision. As I recall, Seinfeld didn’t exactly take off right out of the gate and look at the following that show eventually acquired.
Finally an intelligent show with a superb cast and NBC refuses to keep quality on the air. Smart people want to know why!
Much to my surprise fans of Allegiance are not satisfied with NBC’s decision to make the remaining 8 episodes available online. The fans say that this is not good enough.
I am being urged by many fans to convince NBC to bring the show back to primetime in a better time slot and possibly begin filming season 2.
Challenge accepted.
Please go to the bottom of the above article and click on the “Sign Here” link and show your support.
Bros, went to NBC’s complaints. http://www.NBC.com/contact/General
selected “I have feedback on NBC programming”-> “alleginace
It was as GREAT show. Was telling my friends about it. Looked forward to this show every week. What are you doing NBC???
NBC is my most watched network and I’m so disappointed in them tonight. Looking forward to my favorite night of the week to see Blacklist followed by Allegiance, only to find out you cancelled it. So disappointed, please bring Allegiance back! It’s an excellent show!!
I so agree love this show. Don’t stay up but for Blacklist and Allegince.
I was looking forward to allegiance and was disappointed to see it was canceled. So disappointed. I liked it. Was a GREAT showcwwhile it lasted.
It’s not due to poor ratings. It’s about Russian spies in America. Yes there really are Russian spies in America and NO our government doesn’t want a show about them. End of story.
Oooo, Bob, I like your thinking! A government conspiracy sounds plausible! Anyone else?
I cannot beliecve that NBC cancels a GREAT EXCITING SHOW !!!!! VERY WELL WRITTEN and ACTED !!!!! I will NOT BE TUNING into NBC ANYMORE !!!!! AFTER the BRIAN WILLIAMS BS and Now this NBC SUCKS !!!!!
Good show! Hope another network grabs it!
Oh man! Really enjoy this show. Put it on during football season and promote during Sunday night football. NBC don’t give up on this show.
Never seen any pub about the show. It is a good show
CBS should pick this show up cause they actually know what a good show is! The Slap…stupid title, stupid story, stupid cast, stupid characters, awful show!
This was a great series that both my husband and I loved to watch. Why do so many great TV series get the ax and not given the chance to stay on for the entire season before deciding to cancel them? And why do so many stupid shows such as the realty shows remain on TV? Please, please bring back Allegiance. It was a very good and interesting show that kept us at the edge of our seats each week. And also, please bring back “State of Affairs” which was another great show that we watched each week. What is wrong with NBC to cancel these two wonderful series!