Photo credit: imdb.com
About a month ago, I wrote an article detailing why I thought FOX’s Outmatched deserved a second season. I cited that even though the writing of the show needed to be improved, and the development of the characters needed work, the idea was there: Two normal parents raising four kids, three of whom are genius’.
Sounds like a great concept and a ratings hit, right?!
Well, you would be right, except that the ratings for the show were downright awful.
The show only 2.4 million views per episode. For comparison sakes, FOX’s popular sitcom, Last Man Standing, which aired right before Outmatched, averaged 4.3 million views per episode. That means that about two million people flipped the channel after a new episode of Last Man Standing instead of staying put to watch Outmatched.
After the first season only lasted 10 episodes, many online outlets knew Outmatched was in trouble and speculated that it would not return for a second season.
On May 19, my biggest fear came true; Outmatched was cancelled by FOX after just one season.
I’m not surprised the show got cancelled, but I am hurt.
As I wrote in my season one review, “Yes, Outmatched has its flaws when it comes to writing and character development, but the concept is there. We got a twist and a cliffhanger at the end of the first season. The show cannot end after just ten episodes.”
“The creator of the show, Lon Zimmet, famously cut ABC’s Happy Endings too early. Here’s to hoping Outmatched doesn’t suffer the same fate.”
I personally don’t like when series’ end on a cliffhanger, and that’s exactly what happened with Outmatched.
At the end of season one, Leila, the youngest kid in the family, and the one who is supposed to not be a genius, reveals to Irwin (her dad’s best friend) that she is secretly a genius as well during her birthday party.
I guess we’ll never know if Lelia’s family finds out about her secret.
Here’s to hoping another network picks up Outmatched, or it least takes the concept and turns it into gold, even if it is under a different name.
The pieces are there.
Now, who is going to create a masterpiece out of these parts?!
Hopefully, that answer comes someday!
Brandon Lewis is the Web Director for Black Squirrel Radio. Follow him on Twitter @brandonlewis_7.