Fox’s new hospital dramedy Red Band Society isn’t doing too well in the ratings. Last night’s numbers were the lowest so far for the show.

Whatever you think of Red Band Society, the message the latest ratings numbers are sending is clear: the show just isn’t generating as much buzz as Fox was hoping for.

Set in the fictional Ocean Park Hospital, Red Band Society follows the lives of a group of child patients and their doctors and nurses.

In the fourth episode, which aired last night, one of the kids began his chemotherapy treatment while the others attended a homecoming dance at a local high school.

Related: Red Band Society season 1, episode 4 recap: We need to talk about Emma

The writers are aiming for a fun, light-hearted show about the group of teens, who form an unlikely friendship while being treated at the same hospital.

But the show, which has been marketed as a mix between Glee and The Fault in Our Stars, is failing to connect with viewers. Ratings have not been stellar, and while last week’s episode managed to retain its viewership from episode 2, last night’s numbers slipped to a new low.

Only 2.89 million viewers tuned in last night, down from last week’s 3.3, with only a 0.9 rating in the 18-49 age group.

If Fox is only looking at the ratings (that is where the advertising revenue comes from, after all), this show is likely to be cancelled.

However, there’s hope: Red Band Society has so far been about more than the show itself. Fox is arranging for the actors to visit various hospitals, hosting charity Soul Cycle sessions, and generally trying to promote its goodwill image through the show.

With all the effort that’s gone into branding the show, it’s likely that it will be allowed to stay on the air for the remainder of the (13-episode) season, and we wouldn’t even rule out a renewal for season 2 – but maybe with a bit of a makeover, if we get that far.

While season 1 could be extended to a full season, keeping it at 13 episodes seems the most logical choice right now. Executive producer Rina Mimoun has previously stated that the writers would rather have shorter, self-contained seasons that focus on different groups of patients.

Would you be upset if Red Band Society was cancelled?