Small numbers for Best Years

The college-set Canadian-made drama The Best Years ended its inaugural season on a low note, attracting only 205,000 viewers for its finale on Global on Tuesday, Aug. 14, according to BBM Nielsen Media Research. That’s down 53,000 viewers from its second-to-last episode on Aug. 7.

The 13 x 60 series, which aired in the 10 p.m. timeslot formerly held by The Gilmore Girls, attracted 346,000 viewers for its May premiere, airing after a repeat of Global’s stalwart U.S. import House.

Best Years couldn’t hold on to its audience throughout the summer, averaging a modest 201,000 viewers following Big Brother 8. It aired opposite reruns of Law & Order: SVU on CTV, and CBC’s The National.

Produced by Blueprint Entertainment (Kenny vs. Spenny, Whistler), Best Years follows the adventures of college freshman Samantha Best (played by Charity Shea), who wins a scholarship to a prestigious Boston university. It is the creation of Aaron Martin, a longtime writer on Degrassi: The Next Generation. Like Degrassi, Best Years airs on U.S. teen network The N.

A Global spokesperson says no decision has been made on a second season.