Insight: Rick and Morty Producers And Network In Damage Control Following Ratings-Low Season

Through the first half of a Justin Roiland-less seventh season of Rick and Morty, Adult Swim’s once vaunted franchise is averaging a series low of under 500k viewers a week in the overnight ratings. A press push followed the show’s fourth episode “That’s Amorte” in an attempt for producers Steve Levy and Dan Harmon to try and save face on a season that’s been anything but a success. The Rotten Tomatoes score from fans are hovering around 40%, also a franchise low, an indicator that it may be too late to save this show.

Regardless of which side you are on in the debate on whether or not Justin Roiland should return to the series he created after charges of sexual assault were dropped, the fans’ reaction to the new voices are overwhelmingly negative, and the ratings are showing just that. The producers have admitted that they have read the Reddit thread reactions to this season of Rick and Morty, clearly whilst using coke-bottle glasses, as they, and the millennial-woke geek press, try to pretend that the fans don’t care about the voice changes for Rick and Morty. But as any mathematician would tell you, the numbers don’t lie, and we’re slowly watching the death of a franchise.

I’m reminded of the Charlie Sheen-less era of Two And A Half Men or the Steve Carell-less seasons of The Office. Notice that whenever Comedy Central or other networks air reruns of these shows during the week, they always make sure the primetime reruns are Charlie Sheen and Steve Carrell-starring episodes rather than the seasons that no longer featured the marquee stars. You seldom hear about any of the new cast from The Office show up for conventions or commercials. Certainly nobody cares about the Ashton Kutcher-era of Two And A Half Men. Likewise, in the annals of history, even if Adult Swim continues to shit out Rick and Morty episodes as part of a 70-episode order, they will do so with a continued pitfall that will only hurt the franchise in the future. At least The Office got seven seasons with Carrell…

Rick and Morty premieres new episodes Sunday @ 11pm ET/PT, only on Adult Swim. 

Synopsis:

Rick and Morty is a show about a sociopathic scientist who drags his unintelligent grandson on insanely dangerous adventures across the universe. Created and executive produced by Dan Harmon (Community, Channel 101) and Justin Roiland (House of Cosbys).