NBC’s short-lived sci-fi show was a real disappointment, representing a lost chance for the network. As high-quality TV dramas increasingly move to cable and streaming services, traditional networks are struggling to keep viewers engaged. While procedural dramas and comedies still draw an audience, there was a period when broadcast networks took more risks and aimed higher with their programming.
With competition getting tougher, NBC and other networks have largely stuck to what they know, leading to a lot of reboots and revivals of older shows. A few years ago, network television offered more diverse programming, with studios taking risks on different types of shows. One show, La Brea, stands out as a reminder of this trend and is unfortunately part of the list of NBC sci-fi series that ended prematurely.
La Brea’s Ambitious Premise Could Have Revived NBC’s Sci-Fi Efforts
David Appelbaum created La Brea, a show that many hoped would be the next big hit like Lost, the groundbreaking sci-fi series. Since Lost finished in 2010, several shows have tried to capture its magic, including this 2021 NBC series. Like the survivors of the plane crash in Lost, the characters in La Brea suddenly find themselves stranded in a prehistoric, dangerous world after a huge sinkhole opens up.
The creators of La Brea were aware of comparisons to Lost, but the show struggled to attract a large audience. While the first season received a 29% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (though viewers gave it a 47% score), it initially seemed like the show could recover with an average of 4.9 million weekly viewers. However, ratings dropped considerably in season two to 1.77 million, and only slightly improved to 2.03 million for the final season.
Why NBC’s La Brea Failed
Critics weren’t impressed with La Brea, pointing out several major flaws. Beyond predictable storylines, awkward conversations, and unbelievable situations, the show’s biggest problem was that it didn’t fully embrace its wild concept. La Brea began with a dramatic event – a huge sinkhole opening up in Los Angeles. While the initial premise was far-fetched, it wasn’t completely unrealistic, given that unexpected sinkholes do occur in real life.
However, after a strong start, La Brea seemed to lose its direction, which was disappointing. It had a wonderfully strange premise, but the show didn’t fully embrace the absurdity and build on it. If it had been more daring, the outlandish parts might have felt more believable. Ultimately, La Brea didn’t fully commit to its own unique style, and that made it hard for viewers to fully invest in the story.
La Brea is available to stream on Tubi.
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2026-03-25 20:41