Fans of
HBO’s dramedy “Six Feet Under” apparently never recovered from the
even-greater-than-usual despair that gripped the series last season.
“Six Feet Under” did pull
solid numbers for HBO during its third go-round in 2003, but it nevertheless saw a
significant dip – 13 percent – in average total viewers compared with the
previous year.
And now ratings for the critically acclaimed and Emmy-winning series, which
wraps up its fourth season Sunday at 9 p.m., have sunk even lower, fluctuating throughout
the summer but never approaching last year’s already-down showing.
So where does this leave HBO? Following the exit of the wildly popular
"Sex and the City" earlier this year, "Six" has moved from back-up
player to the mainline.
That this happened in a year when the series has been drooping both
creatively and ratings-wise must be somewhat troubling for HBO.
The first-year program that follows it, "Entourage," has received
extremely disappointing viewership despite already being renewed for a new season. And
"Deadwood," which premiered earlier this year, was a mild success but hardly the
type of show that can build "Sopranos"-like loyalty.
With "Sopranos" set to retire after its next season, HBO needs one
of its veteran shows to pick up some slack. The consensus now must be that "Six"
won't be that show.
As storylines went from randy to grim, the program stopped being an absurdist
escape. Instead it became, well, depressing.
Already known – and appreciated – for its black humor and
depressing plot twists, “Six Feet Under” sank to a new, almost Prozac-inducing
low at the end of last season.
Nate (Peter Krauss), part-owner of the Fisher & Diaz Funeral Home,
was steadily neglecting his personal and professional responsibilities in favor of
alcohol.
Then, during the third season finale, he got the call that wife Lisa
(Lili Taylor) had been found dead, and the stage was set for an exceptionally bleak fourth
season.
Which it was, at least in the beginning – and that may have been enough
to send disillusioned fans scrambling in search of lighter, slightly more escapist fare.
HBO can count itself lucky if the “Six Feet Under” finale attracts
between 4 and 4.5 million viewers. That’s still respectable for an HBO series, but
it’s down big time from last year’s finale, which drew 5.8 million viewers.
“Six Feet
Under’s” fourth season has averaged slightly under 3.7 million viewers, more
than a million below last year’s average.
That’s also nowhere near the most recent season averages for
HBO’s two biggest ratings-grabbers, “Sex” and “Sopranos.”
As usual, “The Sopranos” ruled HBO’s lineup this
season, averaging around 10 million viewers per episode.
But the sixth and final season of “SATC” held its own,
averaging 6.1 million viewers last winter – with the February series finale
attracting 10.6 million.
One factor that has likely played into the decline of “Six Feet
Under” – which nevertheless remains one of HBO’s most popular remaining
original series – involves a recent change in the way Nielsen counts HBO’s
audience.
Before this year Nielsen counted the performances of all HBO networks,
such as HBO2 and HBO Signature, as part of the premium cable channel’s overall
ratings.
That meant anyone viewing an episode of “Six Feet Under” would be
counted as part of the same audience as someone taking in a program on another HBO network
at the same time.
This year Nielsen is calculating ratings for each HBO network
separately.
And while episode-by-episode Nielsen numbers don’t demonstrate an
absolute trend throughout this season, overall viewership has slipped since the mid-June
premiere, with the August 12 episode posting a season low of 3.23 million.
But the numbers have been up since then, which could indicate increasing
interest in how the season will tie up its loose ends.
Sunday’s finale does offer at least one bright spot: Claire
(Lauren Ambrose) finally gets some recognition for her artistic (and drug-inspired)
talents with an art gallery debut.
But, in typical “Six Feet Under” fashion, there are plenty of
dramatic downers as well, including a showdown between Nate and his family over his
decision to bury Lisa’s body against their wishes.
The finale has at least one thing going for it, and that’s a lack
of much time slot competition.
Unless you consider wannabe pop stars making complete fools of
themselves on VH1’s “In Search of the Partridge Family” time slot
competition.
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