'The River' - Continue to Flow or Dry Up?

'The River' promo logo

'The River' is an American paranormal/adventure/horror/found-footage television series (that's a mouthful) that debuted during the 2011–12 television winter season on ABC as a midseason replacement. Only eight episodes will be produced for the first season. The series premiered on February 7, 2012 and will have its finale on March 20, 2012 (unless pushed forward due to scheduling conflicts). According to TV Guide, it's not looking good that it will be renewed for a second season, but not confirmed yet. Scroll down for more of  my thoughts...

Long Synopsis (for those curious):
Famed explorer Dr. Emmet Cole (Bruce Greenwood) went looking for "magic" deep in the uncharted Amazon basin and never returned. The shocking truth about his disappearance is out there, somewhere, just waiting to be discovered. To the millions of kids who grew up watching his nature show, Dr. Cole was a hero. To his own son, Lincoln (Joe Anderson), he was more of an enigma. Now, six months after he vanished, Lincoln is finally ready to bury the past when Dr. Cole's emergency beacon suddenly goes off. At the urging of his mother, Tess (Leslie Hope), Lincoln reluctantly joins her on a search for his father. To fund the rescue, they agree to let Dr. Cole's cagey ex-producer, Clark (Paul Blackthorne), film the mission documentary-style. The mixed crew of old friends and new acquaintances includes the missing cameraman's daughter, Lena Landry (Eloise Mumford), Magus mechanic Emilio Valenzuela (Daniel Zacapa) and private security bodyguard Captain Kurt Brynildson (Thomas Kretschmann).

Official 'The River' Website.  Jammed with way cool stuff! One of the better sites I've seen dedicated to a TV show.

According to ABC's final ratings data through Thursday, March 8, 2012: 'The River' was #15 out of 19 Scripted TV Shows on ABC. It received a "D" grade. The 18-49 age demo rating was 1.7. The viewers in millions: 4.97. Not looking good. 

Much comparison is made between 'The River' and 'Lost' but they are quite different. I think a decent number of viewers started out watching the show, only to have faded away after a few episodes. At Internet Movie Database the latest voter rating gave it  6.7 out of a 10 from 3,498 users. That's isn't terrible, although it could be fans are flocking the site trying to post great reviews to help save the show, boosting the rating score.

I'm always amazed at the number of new TV shows that are heavily promoted...it seems as if you've memorized their previews as they are firmly lodged in your memory banks from constant advertising. The new shows fire up, everyone is excited and then to the disappointment of many, half of them (again-it seems that way) get canceled mid-season or only survive the one initial season. I reviewed the early predictions/rumors/actual facts/etc. at TVGuide.com about the fall season...I think MORE THAN HALF of the current shows I'm watching are either canceled or "not looking good". Depressing and a sad, sad time to see some disappear. I hope the networks come up with decent replacements or I'll be spending more time reading books (which is not a problem!).