Medium Gets Rare Early Renewal
Averaging 15.7 million viewers through its first four airings, there was little doubt that NBC would bring Medium back for the 2005-06. In a somewhat unusual move, the network made the early announcement on Friday (Jan. 28) that the mysterious drama will be back for 22 episodes next fall.
"With Glenn Gordon Caron's flair for developing characters, Patricia Arquette's winning performance and a unique concept for television, Medium has resonated with viewers," says NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly. "We are looking forward to more provocative stories from Caron through this year and into a second season as well."
Medium stars Arquette as Allison DuBois, a real-life mother of three who has to balance her domestic life with her ability to communicate with dead people, see the future in her dreams and read thoughts. The drama co-stars Miguel Sandoval and Jake Weber. Caron [Moonlighting] created the series and executive produces along with Kelsey Grammer, Steve Stark and Ronald L. Schwary.
The series has doubled NBC's time period audience from earlier in the season and has settled in as one of the season's Top 15 programs in the network's desired 18-49 demographic.
In addition to ordering up a full season for next year, NBC has asked the Medium producers for three additional episodes this spring, bring the series order to 16.
Reuters by Andrew Wallenstein 1/31/05
Medium Outlook Is Bright on NBC
Medium has a future at NBC, which has ordered a second season of the new crime series starring Patricia Arquette as a psychic.
The network Friday ordered 22 more episodes of Medium from Picturemaker Prods. in association with Kelsey Grammer's Grammnet Prods. and Paramount Network Television.
In addition, three more episodes were ordered that will keep Medium fresh during the May sweep, bringing the series' first-season total to 16.
Since joining the schedule this month, Medium has been a strong performer in a tough time slot opposite the CBS hit CSI: Miami. The series has doubled the adults 18-49 average NBC previously was getting in the Monday 10 p.m. slot.
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