NBC Renews Weakest Link

To no surprise, NBC has given a second season to the Jane Lynch fronted revival of the popular British format. The first season has performed pretty well, delivering ratings wins for NBC on Monday nights and currently averaging a 1.2 with 5.6 million viewers when you factor in delayed viewing. Typically, game shows don't get a huge ratings boost from digital/VOD/delayed viewing, but no doubt NBC has been happy with the results so far.

“Audiences have clearly embraced this smart, fun and completely addicting show, and it’s been a great addition to the NBC lineup,” said Jenny Groom, Executive Vice President, Unscripted Content, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. “A huge thank you to Jane, our friends at BBC Studios, Universal Television Alternative Studio and everyone who has been instrumental in keeping the DNA of the original format intact while simultaneously adding new flourishes that make it as relevant and popular as ever.”

The first season will wrap up this Monday, February 1st. The show will go into production later this year on a 13 episode second season. Casting has already begun and you apply here: https://www.theweakestlinkcasting.com. The deadline to apply is May 10th, so my guess is that the show won't tape until sometime in the summer, and will once again be a part of NBC's fall schedule.

While there definitely was critics of the new version, the show has held it's own and has been a solid performer. Another positive for the second season is that the casting appears to have expanded to a nationwide search. When the first season taped, the limited casting to just in the LA area due to COVID. While it's no doubt COVID will still be with us this summer, BBC must feel comfortable enough to expand casting. I assume the next season will once again tape without an audience. (It's a show that doesn't really need one anyone).

It's also no secret that the first season was a bit rushed as NBC needed content for the fall. This season they should have more time to clean up some production issues as well. Either way, it's been a fun show and I am glad that's back. Stay tuned for more Weakest Link