“Undercovers” Cancelled
NBC’s freshman espionage drama Undercovers is biting the dust after 13 episodes.
On Thursday, The Peacock pulled the plug on the J.J Abrams-produced series — the leader of its Wednesday night lineup — due to poor ratings, The New York Times reports. Only a lowly 5.8 million viewers tuned in for last week’s show. Undercovers was primetime TV’s first drama to star two Black actors in the lead roles. Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw played married CIA operatives who take on sticky cases around the world while operating a catering business.
Do we have any Undercovers fans in the house? Are you disappointed to see the show go?
Written by Castina on November 4th, 2010 | Tagged as: TV,TV News
On November 5th 2010, ann wrote:
I enjoyed watching “UNDERCOVERS”
It was a very good spy drama.
On November 5th 2010, angela wrote:
I liked the show , i watched all the episodes.. it just seemed to be missing something. I am disappointed that it was canceled there are other shows in my opinion that should have gone before this show..
On November 5th 2010, jj wrote:
if you are a Undercovers fan let NBC know how you feel..sign the petition http://www.petitiononline.com/Undr9078/petition.html please help spread the word
On November 6th 2010, baileydancing wrote:
I really loved the show, the characters, the theme. I actually liked that it wasn’t too complex. Not every spy show has to be the same. I liked that this one highlighted how it affected their “normal” life. I think the show needed more time.
On November 6th 2010, Paul Steele wrote:
I *hated* undercovers. I struggled through the first three episodes, hoping it might get better, but it never did. The banter between the various characters was *so* bad. Give me SVU any time!
On November 6th 2010, Joni Pantallion wrote:
I enjoyed watching Undercovers, it was very suspenseful and entertaining, I feel it was not given a chance, not on long enough!
On November 6th 2010, Ginger Mac wrote:
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don’t cancel this, my daughter and I really enjoy this very much….It’s informative, funny has an elegance about it and a married couple that can work together without bickering. They really complement each other well and it’s not too vilent.
THANKS FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
Ginger and Lisa
On November 9th 2010, Doug wrote:
This show was a huge disappointment. I love all of J.J. Abrams shows but this one had horrible writing and it seems was more interested in being “cute” than providing intriguing stories. Good concept, but BAD everything else.
On November 9th 2010, Black Web Series wrote:
Hey! Send Those 5.8 Million people My Way!!
On November 10th 2010, Lorraine wrote:
Please give Undercovers another chance. I love the show. I love the characters and it is exciting to see each week. Please NBC do not cancel this show. I look forward to watching this show with my family each week. It is far better than some of the other shows on TV.
On November 11th 2010, Lady wrote:
I watched every episode! But I can’t lie and say it was a good show. It was hilariously bad. Hilariously. Especially the theme song. I was just disappointed that such a great concept, black spies not being limited by their race but rather being valued in “the field,” was so poorly executed. Tsk.
On November 17th 2010, Mona wrote:
I was afraid the show was cancelled. Loved the concept, loved the “Hart to Hart” feel to it. Can’t remember if they were double agents too. Here’s hoping the petition works…
On November 18th 2010, Felicia wrote:
I’m not surprised it was cancelled. It was a show that was clean and wholesome for anyone to watch. Maybe the acting or the scripts wasn’t the absolute best, but the show was overall good. Why society has to ruin everything I’ll never know. I’m sad to see the show go….
On November 20th 2010, Jecolia wrote:
Oh NO I really really really love this show.
this is so upsetting. Hopefully they might change their minds
On November 23rd 2010, Larry Brown wrote:
I’m very disappointed that this show was cancelled while you have the silly stereotypical “Meet the Browns” still on to the detriment of millions of African Americans in this country. As a black American I think we blacks are the blame for not supporting this show and instead supporting Tyler Perry’s stupid slapstick comedy. No wonder why so many black children are failing academically,
On November 24th 2010, john wrote:
fuk you nbc i am in australia and all your other shows are crap this is the only show i like of yours and you go and cancel it nice job no wonder your network is dying a slow painful demise
On November 27th 2010, sherri wrote:
YYYYYYYYY? That show was good .It was nice to seeit was clean. Not blacks playing the stupid parts
On November 29th 2010, Birdie wrote:
The show was good, but I believed ill placed. Had it been broadcast on USA network, I believe it would have had much higher ratings, as it would have fit better into that lineup.
On December 6th 2010, Madden Corner wrote:
My wife and I enjoyed the show. I guess you can’t have a good clean show that anyone can watch these days. I hope someone else picks it up.
On December 7th 2010, Mo wrote:
I loved undercovers!
when the summer covert affairs season ended on USA this show filled that espionage gap! Granted it is not quite as good as covert affairs but it was a great show and did not deserve to be cancelled : (
On December 9th 2010, HawaiiWahine wrote:
My husband and I love the show. We are very discriminating on what we watch and this one made the cut. Novel plot. We loved the interaction of the characters. Really enjoyed the banter between the the couple who were brainy, incredibly skilled and very much in love. Since we’ve led very activists lives, my husband and I could really related to being compelled to do what you do- addicted to doing in fact, but also wishing you could just forget it all and curl up with a good book, and also trying to have a “normal” life. We’ll miss it. It made us laugh. And they got the bad guys. How could you not like it? (And the main characters were gorgeous and charming. And while I am not of their race, I’m thrilled that there was a show with the main characters who are so smart, well-educated, brave and devoted to each other. Hopefully another network will see the valu e in this show…
On December 12th 2010, msme wrote:
I’m sorry this show was not a success. It was poorly written and the acting was not that great – although the actors are very talented. It just lacked that something special. I say all of this as an African American viewer, I wanted to like it, but it was just NOT good. So I think they made the right decision.
On December 14th 2010, john wrote:
at least your network the peacock has a word that sums you up and it’s four letters start with a C and end in a K but you should change it to that minus the pea and add head to the end because that is what you are at that network for canceling this GREAT show …. maybe you can bounce back with a company name I have come up with for you, i have even designed a logo for you so feel free to contact me!
On December 22nd 2010, Michelle wrote:
I am so dissapointed that this show was cancelled, but not surprised. Let’s see a clean show with a married couple working on a good marriage. Showing a couple of color as educated, happy, healthy and working in a professional job. This is a show I would watch with my kids knowing there wouldn’t be anything I’d have to explain to them regarding sex, language or blood. I hope they change their minds. Maybe CBS will pick it up like they picked up JAG all those years ago. They know have 2 spin-offs from it NCIS and NCIS-LA. I will truely miss Undercovers. :-(
On December 25th 2010, Joe wrote:
I really like this show and as an african american viewer I’m glad to see two black actors staring in positive roles and not the typical lacky side kick comedy relief roles. Hopefully another network will pick up Undercovers and run with it. Finally, Gugu Mbatha-Raw is soooo sexy I will miss seeing her every week.
On January 4th 2011, Ryan G. wrote:
I just finished watching the last episode.
Am truly going to miss the show very much.
The entire cast was excellent, and I was looking
forward to seeing how everything would unfold.
*sigh*…….
On January 4th 2011, Moses B. wrote:
NBC messes up again by canceling a good quality television show that promotes family viewing and great family values. It was the only show I watched on NBC. I love watching Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbath-Raw is a beautiful talented actress, such a joy to watch. Guess I won’t be watching NBC anymore. I pray USA or TNT picks it up. Please someone, pick this show up.
On January 5th 2011, J wrote:
I loved this show! I think they should have pulled LOLA instead of this one!
On January 5th 2011, Amie wrote:
I was not sure about this show at first but really ended up enjoying it… thus it being cancelled. Sorry Undercovers, it was most likely my “like” that caused your demise.
On January 7th 2011, benjo wrote:
Everyone had to see this coming. The show was cute, not really suspenseful. I enjoyed it a little, but there was nothing really exciting about it. It was mostly silly. Will not miss it.
On January 16th 2011, shinyfirefly wrote:
I agree with several of the posters. I WANTED to like it, I really did, and watched every episode, but it just lacked that certain something I can’t put my finger on. Beautiful people, talented actors, but stories and dialogue that didn’t seem to rise to those qualities.
On January 17th 2011, Kim wrote:
This is nuts. I loved this show. It was nice and light and entertaining. It was all around wholesome, good clean fun show
On January 19th 2011, Oscar wrote:
I think the show had started to improve. It is a clean show that is not embarrassing to watch with family members. I like it, and would like to see it continue, but the bottom line is profitability, and if that is not envisioned in its future, then as sad and regrettable as it may be, we have to say good bye. Nevertheless, this should only be the beginning of greater heights for these fine performers.
On January 19th 2011, L Macasiljig wrote:
I think this show is amazing, one of my favorite tv series. As it go along it is progressing. I hope NBC will keep this show and move it to a different time slot.
On January 19th 2011, Chris Goodson wrote:
I’m very disappointed, this was my modern co-ed James Bond fix. I thought it was a very entertaining show. Sorry to see this one go.
On January 23rd 2011, Kassandra wrote:
I really enjoyed the show. I watched and taped every episode. I’m disappointed, but I am not surprised the show is cancelled. It was like someone wanted to make a show to fail because it had all the parts, but it was missing all the glue.
On January 24th 2011, Martin Luther wrote:
I really hated Undercover’s. After the half of episode one I had to cut away from the serial since characters was very boring a full of themselves. Very bad casting, annoying dialogues and most of all, very very bad plot scripts.
I am very glad and happy that the serial is canceled. Thank you
On January 27th 2011, wilma mclean wrote:
i am so disappointed. I really enjoyed this show. Maybe some other network will pick it up and make me and other like me happy. Good clean shows just don’t make it. You have to be really tacky to make it in show business
On January 28th 2011, Antwan Grier wrote:
wow can’t we have clean shows these days i mean “Really” thats just sadd!
On January 30th 2011, RCB wrote:
It’s unfortunate this show was cancelled. i was a faithful watcher and DVR’ed it when not able to watch it live. Unfortunately, some of the story lines were weak, but I like the concept and the actors. I hate that the shows that seem to thrive are full of inappropriate language, alternative lifestyles and all that’s negative in humanity. If I really wanted to see that, I’d just look out my front door, I don’t need it pushed on my on TV as well.
JJ Abrams, I hope you will shop this show to other networks and beef up the scripts. You could really have a winner.
On February 2nd 2011, Jamal wrote:
Undercovers: Excellent theme with a very compelling concept. The actors and the performances: Intellectual and Sophisticated! Married professionals of color that are portrayed positively! Why cancel such a show? Hopefully another network will acquire this show!
On February 3rd 2011, fan wrote:
[they] keep taking away all the good shows. or at least the ones i like. any good espionage/action show they have cancelled or not had enough funding.
On February 5th 2011, Christal wrote:
Im kind of upset, it was different, not played out, and yeah it could of picked up quicker , but it had its great moments and was going to get good for the second season. I am extremely annoyed that this is cancelled. My bf and i like the show because we both had eye candy! lol Who can complain!
On February 8th 2011, renae wrote:
I really enjoyed the show b/c it was clean and nothing you take seriously – especially during these rotten times. I hope someone else picks it up.
On February 8th 2011, Melinda wrote:
I loved this show. The last eoisode was really good and season two was going to be great. I am upset that nbc decided to cancel the show and believe that they should bring it back. Even thoug the show did not get the ratings they wanted doesn’t mean that alot of people do not like the show. There are mean other shows that should be canceled but Undercovers is not one of them.
On February 9th 2011, Erin wrote:
I’m beginning to really dislike NBC- they don’t give good shows a chance. All of their publicity and advertising efforts are geared toward the already successful Thursday night line up and all new shows quickly fall by the wayside, especially if they require intelligent thought (heaven forbid). All the good stuff gets canceled. NBC, you’re killin’ me, smalls. I really loved this show.
On February 11th 2011, Teri wrote:
I was so impressed with the quality of this show. Are we really so ignorant that Wipeout stays and Undercovers is cancelled? I am shocked. This was the best show NBC has produced in a long time. BIG Disappointment! Was it a bad time spot? Are the execs so driven by stats that they lack the vision to give this one a chance? Most people I spoke with didn’t ever watch it. It diserved more hype and a better time slot!
On February 27th 2011, Must be the crew wrote:
It must be the Undercovers production crew writing all these “I love you Undercovers” laments. Any numbskull not hiding behind politcal/racial correctness could see the show was doomed from the start. How do you expect white middle america to support and watch a show who’s white characters were all portrayed as inept, neurotic idiots? If the Gerald McRaney character, the sycophantic suck up to the leads, and the drunken fool whom they were rescuing in the first episode had been characters that displayed some modicum of intelligence, it would have been a popular show. But this JJ Abrams apparently decided that he’s going to avenge all the years blacks were unfairly portrayed in a negative light in Hollywood by making the two black leads on the show the only smart, logically thinking, sane people on the show. Let this be a lesson to all you hollywood writers – creating a show with african americans in the lead roles can be popular, as long as you don’t portray all the white characters as complete idiots, as you did on Undercovers.
On June 12th 2011, tom wrote:
Gugu sure was nice to look at.