The Renew or Cancel Index is updated on a weekly basis, if you’re reading this after January 14, 2009 click here to see the latest list.
A new year brings a new format to our Renew/Cancel Index posts. We decided that while it might have been unique to see all the scripted broadcast shows in a single list, the reality is that in renewal or cancellation decisions Chuck is not competing against The New Adventures of Old Christine, but only against other NBC shows. So, we’ve decided to split the previous scripted show list into 5 lists, one for each English broadcast network. We think that’s a clearer way to look at show renewal or cancellation prospects and is likely more accessible to more people.
I skipped posting a week during the holidays, but very little has fundamentally changed since mid-December. New episodes began reappearing on Sunday, January 4, and then for only some shows. Others are waiting until later in the month. Still, there has been little movement over the past few weeks, but things will soon start heating up again with the new mid-season show introductions.
In the second phase of our new format, I’ve also broken out each of the network lists into separate posts to focus the discussions on them. To see the prospects for the scripted shows for each network click on the links below:
—————————————————————-
For unscripted shows, the results from last season were far less cut and dried. A similar relationship did seem to hold between 18-49 averages, but some unscripted shows survived with very low numbers. My conclusion was that some unscripted shows must be so cheap that they are expected to do little more than fill air time and produce little in the way of viewership. However the closer a show is to the top of the list the more danger it’s in of being cancelled or not returning when it’s run is completed. Other shows can be judged by their relative position on our list ranked from most likely to be cancelled to least likely to be cancelled.
This is the same “all network” list that I’ve always posted. Since we, and you, don’t care much about unscripted shows, and the Index isn’t all that good in predicting their future, it’s not worth splitting it up into 5 separate lists.
| PROGRAM | Net | STD 18-49 (LIVE+SD) (000) | Network Avg. STD 18-49 | Renew/ Cancel index | Status |
| IN HARM’S WAY | CW | 355 | 1,110 | 0.32 | cancelled |
| GAME SHOW IN MY HEAD | CBS | 1,308 | 3,800 | 0.34 | |
| GAME SHOW IN MY HEAD 830P | CBS | 1,442 | 3,800 | 0.38 | |
| AMERICA’S TOUGHEST JOBS | NBC | 1,453 | 3,590 | 0.40 | |
| ABC SAT MOVIE OF THE WEEK | ABC | 1,472 | 3,570 | 0.41 | |
| DEAL OR NO DEAL-FRI | NBC | 1,722 | 3,590 | 0.48 | |
| SMARTER THAN 5TH GRADER | FOX | 1,791 | 3,530 | 0.51 | |
| WIFE SWAP | ABC | 1,827 | 3,570 | 0.51 | |
| DATELINE FRI | NBC | 1,973 | 3,590 | 0.55 | |
| 48 HOURS MYSTERY | CBS | 2,091 | 3,800 | 0.55 | |
| DON’T FORGET THE LYRICS | FOX | 1,983 | 3,530 | 0.56 | |
| SUPERNANNY | ABC | 2,018 | 3,570 | 0.57 | |
| SAT NIGHT FTBL PRE-GAME | ABC | 2,029 | 3,570 | 0.57 | |
| COPS | FOX | 2,141 | 3,530 | 0.61 | |
| OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS | ABC | 2,175 | 3,570 | 0.61 | cancelled |
| HOLE IN WALL THU-8P | FOX | 2,184 | 3,530 | 0.62 | |
| MILLION DOLLAR PASSWORD | CBS | 2,514 | 3,800 | 0.66 | |
| AMW: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK | FOX | 2,419 | 3,530 | 0.69 | |
| FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 2 | NBC | 2,512 | 3,590 | 0.70 | |
| COPS 2 | FOX | 2,488 | 3,530 | 0.70 | |
| 20/20-FRI | ABC | 2,524 | 3,570 | 0.71 | |
| DEAL OR NO DEAL-WED | NBC | 2,607 | 3,590 | 0.73 | |
| AMER FUNN HOME VIDEOS | ABC | 2,840 | 3,570 | 0.80 | |
| KITCHEN NIGHTMARES | FOX | 2,854 | 3,530 | 0.81 | |
| EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-7P | ABC | 2,952 | 3,570 | 0.83 | |
| STYLISTA | CW | 988 | 1,110 | 0.89 | |
| SAT NIGHT FOOTBALL | ABC | 3,572 | 3,570 | 1.00 | |
| AMAZING RACE 13 | CBS | 4,180 | 3,800 | 1.10 | |
| 60 MINUTES | CBS | 4,211 | 3,800 | 1.11 | |
| FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 | NBC | 4,260 | 3,590 | 1.19 | |
| BIGGEST LOSER 6 | NBC | 4,329 | 3,590 | 1.21 | |
| EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P | ABC | 4,679 | 3,570 | 1.31 | |
| CBS NFL REG POST GUN | CBS | 5,350 | 3,800 | 1.41 | |
| SURVIVOR: GABON | CBS | 5,543 | 3,800 | 1.46 | |
| DANCING W/STARS RESULTS | ABC | 5,369 | 3,570 | 1.50 | |
| SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK | NBC | 5,578 | 3,590 | 1.55 | |
| DANCING WITH THE STARS | ABC | 5,789 | 3,570 | 1.62 | |
| OT, THE | FOX | 5,772 | 3,530 | 1.64 | |
| AMERICA’S TOP MODEL-5 | CW | 2,564 | 1,110 | 2.31 | |
| NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL | NBC | 8,533 | 3,590 | 2.38 |
-
Nielsen TV Ratings Data: ©2008 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved. All viewership numbers are Live+SD.
Yes, the numbers are bad for TSCC but its index rating has been climbing (slowly) since Dec 9. Hope to see the trend continue.
Dec 3 .74
Dec 9 .74
Dec 16 .75
Dec 23 .76
Jan 7 .77
First Comment!!!
Anyways, I’m just glad that Chuck is still performing well enough to stay out of the cancellation zone. I am sad about Terminator; I’m surprised that it didn’t become a bigger hit.
However, for the most part the shows that are looking certain death in the eye deserve to go: Gary Unmarried, The Unit, Law & Order, Kath and Kim, and Prison Break. BLECH!!!
Was Crusoe officially pulled from the schedule (canceled) or just not renewed beyond 13 eps?
Andrea, it was sent to Saturday to finish its run. It’s more accurately labeled “finished”. I will change it.
I like the divided list, it’s very clear and easy to process.
I have to agree, the new format is really great.
if Jericho hadn’t been cancelled I would’ve come up with the separate list per network idea much sooner!
SUPERNATURAL has better ratings that Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill and 90210. Even the repeat viewings get hire ratings. I find it hard to believe that it is more likely to be canceled than all of those shows (even with CW’s track record of mistreatment of this show).
Love the format as well. So much easier to read.
Mb, Supernatural is NOT likely to be cancelled, but our list ranks based on 18-49 averages only, not total viewers. See all the explanations at the bottom of the post for more info.
so guys, do you think that abc will continue scrubs with a new cast? How good would the show have to do in order for that to happen?
i think christine is safe
One of the advantages of split lists is that it shows each network’s identity a lot clearer… And woe woe, does NBC have a crisis of identity or what… It doesn’t have *any* scripted 1 hour series with a positive trend… I’m still hoping for Kings though…
Thank you for this list, because as of now it eases my anxiety about Chuck. I’m glad to see that it is looking positive for the return next year, because quite frankly, it is an amazing show that would be talent and potential wasted if canceled. It has a little bit of everything for everyone, and NBC would be foolish to drop it. I think it just needs to be discovered by more, because it is not an issue of quality, but more an issue of advertising and getting it out there. Thanks for the updates.
Mr. Seidman,
What does Jericho cancellation have to do with this list processing by network? Not sure I get that part.
This list is very interesting divided by network. I like the footnotes too.
Clutz, he’s joking. If only Jericho hadn’t been canceled the whole world would be better.
Clutz, Julia is correct. to stay on topic, I really think the index doesn’t apply to the Wednesday comedy block as it does typically. The unanswered question is whether CBS will stick with the 8pm Wednesday experiment. If it does, I can’t envision it would cancel both Christine and Gary Unmarried and start afresh. If it doesn’t, Worst Week has no renewal advantage over either Christine or Gary Unmarried despite its better ratings due to the Monday timeslot.
Thanks Robert and Julia. Sometimes it’s hard to “read” jokes as such.
And Julia – I don’t know about the whole world, by my own TV world would be better if Jericho hadn’t been canceled. It’s well-written, well-acted, and based on issues topics that are a little unnerving in light of current world events. I miss that!
Back on topic I go – I see what you mean about the Wednesday experiment. If a second comedy block is what CBS is going for, they may have some patience to get the block solidified. I’m also wondering if “The Unit” will stay put, for no other reason that “what else do we throw there during football season?” Speaking of CBS comedies, Jim Parsons (Sheldon, BBT)deserves serious Emmy consideration. The only time I ever tune to CBS is to catch BBT here and there, and that’s entirely because Sheldon Cooper is the funniest character in years!
According to Nielsen Media Research (via December 29th issue of TV Guide) Chuck’s audience this season was tied for third for the highest median income ($68,000) among all prime-time shows only behind The Office ($78,000) and 30 Rock ($73,000). In case you are wondering, the King of the Hill has the lowest median income audience ($38,000) of any prime-time show.
CBS does not need to cancel anything. Until the other networks can prove they can schedule something that’s better than what CBS is offering, all of their remaining shows are safe.
Heh, so I guess King of the Hill DOES get a lot of low income hicks despite the fact that it’s a very subversive, subtle satire. It’s an absolute work of genius that a lot of people disregarded because they didn’t look close enough.
Chuck is pretty much a lock at this point for NBC. It’s ahead of last year’s renewal line and it does well with people that bank the moolah. Keep in mind that success with high income viewers was pretty much what brought back The Office after its first season underperformed.
As for Terminator, it would take about another two seasons for it to climb into acceptable ratings territory for FOX at this rate….and keep in mind that it’s index numbers will sink BIG time once American Idol returns to skew everything.
I like the list better this way.
Wow. 12 of 19 of CBS scripted shows (more scripted than any other network) are procedurals. That’s quite a ratio. If you cut the ex list out it’s 12 of 18 or a 2/3 ratio. Then if you eliminate the shows in orange, you get 11 of 16. Maybe a little variety wouldn’t kill them.
I noticed you changed some shows from orange to green, despite the fact that they’re below the line for renewal. The only unexplained one is Ugly Betty, which is barely below the line. As for ATJ, it may be a syndication zombie, but I still would have made it orange, same for “The Game” and “Everybody Hates Cris”
DDK, Although it is in the explanation portion of the post (which no one reads!) the Fox average will be frozen at its level prior to the Idol premiere. That’s what worked *much* better for comparison purposes last season, and that’s the way it will be this season:
“Because American Idol so skewed Fox’s 18-49 average, and would make nearly all Fox shows fall into the “cancel” range, for Fox, I used the last STD 18-49 average *before* Idol. “
johnthemon, as I admitted in a past post, guessing the shows “below the line (0.92)” that I think might come back is just that, a guess. Ugly Betty really isn’t much of a guess at this point, at 0.91+veteranship I think it’s pretty safe. As for ATJ, ABC is currently airing two new shows a week, it’s almost as if they’re trying to use up the episodes before the “important” part of the season. Still, because of it’s syndication value I think it comes back. As for the CW Friday shows, I agree their numbers are terrible, but there are so many unknown factors with them I’ll admit my renewal guess is a wild guess.
Oooh, something new and different…I like it
To Matt2, Yes, CBS does need to cancel shows. They are doing great this season, but they can’t just keep all their shows and not premiere anything new. As usual, they will cancel a couple of shows that are doing OK (like when they canceled Close to Home) and premiere around 3 new hour-long dramas and 1 or 2 comedies.
I wish Chuck came on Thursday before The Office. I’m guessing they share and would share the same type of viewers. The Mentalist is correctly paired with NCIS.
I disagree Holly. CBS may want to cancel some shows, but they are currently kicking the crap out of everyone else now, and until someone can come close to them, they do not need to cancel anything. I do agree with you that they will cancel something before the end of the year though.
I didn’t mean they’ll cancel anything now, I mean they will cancel/not renew a couple of shows in May to make room for new shows in the Fall.
Law and Order is currently in orange, but do you think NBC might keep it around for one more season and try and attract more viewers for “the final season”, like they did with ER?
OMG AXE TSCC 4 GODS SAKE ITS SO FUKIN SHIT!!!!
Oh Kyle, how could you betray your lover and son?
ok, garry unmarried just one peoples choice award for best new comedy. does that help its chances?
I think all the current scripted shows (C,C,TU are not included) in ABC will have a new season this september except for Private Practice. That show has got to go I hate it.
CBS I think we’ll keep all the shows but whatever happened to Rules of Engagement
CW will probably kill Privileged ands bring Melrose Place 2 next season.
In Fox its the end for Terminator and possibly Prison Break.
And in NBC its the end for Life and Kath & Kim not sure about Law & Order especially since its been too long for NBC.
Grace, I’m a big L&O fan, and I’d love if NBC brought it back for another year, but the numbers at this point say otherwise. By comparison, ER did much better last season.
Knight Rider is safe NBC just renewed it.
CBS is so booooooooooooooring, Producerals are so boring and repetitive I dont get how people can watch a new case every week, this is why I love ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy it might be a medical drama but it doesnt feel like repetitive unlike FOX’s House. I think CBS should have a serial show like Lost, Heroes, Ugly Betty. The only shows that I watch in CBS are Survivor/Amazing Race.
NBC renewed Knight Rider?? Wow…
yeah I heard it on Chelsey Lately and there’s info about that in Wikipedia.
They are reformatting the show. The original last 5 episodes of Knight Rider season is now the first 5 episodes of their second season.
Hopefully the Harper’s Island, which looked good from the promo, is an indication that CBS is looking for more serials. I can’t imagine CBS making as much money from DVD sales as FOX, NBC and ABC. But then again, syndication is easier with procedurals. Either way, diversity doesn’t hurt.
Glad to see Chuck over the line and into the green! I hope really hope NBC renews that awesome show.
ABCFanatic: I couldn’t find anything on Wikipedia or anywhere else about NBC renewing Knight Rider beyond allowing it to air its remaining episodes this season. Can you provide a link to any source that says it’s getting another season?
And yes, CBS does need to cancel at least a couple shows to make room for new blood. Resting on its laurels would be foolish.
When I heard more about the concept of Harper’s, I lost interest. I don’t want to see characters I might like get killed off every week, and the introduction of a new cast apparently every 13 weeks. Others might enjoy that, though.
One of JERICHO’s producers Jon Turtletaub is one of the HARPERS ISLAND producers. Thats a bad omen.
Carol Barbee Exec. Producer of JERICHO had her next show SWINGTOWN go down in flames over the summer.
Pamela Reed who played Mrs. Green on JERICHO was in the recently axed ELI STONE as Mrs. Stone.
Its pretty much doomed. I will check it out but I will not get too attached it if the first few episodes arent 10 million+
I’m a huge fan of all the L&O (I’m under 25, btw). It’ll be a shame if they cancelled L&O, especially to pave the way for Leno. They should at least move it to USA.
Wow, I just realized that NBC has the second highest behind CBS. Why does everyone talk like NBC’s tanking?
second Highest average that is. Yeah, I know it will droop after football ends, but still, it’s not doing that badly.
L&O will probably either come back at mid-season or head over to USA.
There is no way NBC renewed Knight Rider — unless Ford gave them a chunk of their bail-out money. Are we all funding Knight Rider???
I like this format much better.
Thanks for doing this list, since you’re usually always dead on
I chalk up Law and Order’s unimpressive ratings due to that stinking corpse, known as Life, airing in front of it. The one time Life didn’t air in front of it, it had its best ratings of the season. If you put something that actually does ok in front of it, Law and Order will do well.
johnthemon, 4 of NBC’s 22 hours a week through last week were NFL Football + ancillary shows, take that out and they’re in the tank. When people focus on NBC, the primary reason is that most of the shows that *they* created, particularly newer shows, (as opposed to something like football) are doing badly.
LIFE should change its name to DEATH for final episode. Or is it already dead?
I anxiously await Bill’s writeup for Wednesday’s overnight numbers (which will of course be in a different post than this one). Christine and Gary Unmarried both did better in reruns last night than the last time they aired *new* episodes in the middle of December.
Stylistically, I think purple and strikethrough for cancelled shows is overkill. Just leave it as purple text. I also question why ER & Hill, as they aren’t returning, are in orange, not purple.
Secondly, since you are breaking them out by network, having the Network Ave. for every single entry is redundant, as is the NET column. I would remove those columns, move the index column over to the left, and then add a timeslot column. I’d mention each Network Ave. next to their name, e.g.:
FOX – Net AveSTD 18-49: 3,530STD 18-49(LIVE+SD)(000)Renew/CancelIndexTimeSlot
Personally, I would label Jim cancelled/shipped to ABC Family, and label Privileged & Eleventh Hour as Not Likely – both are ending early.
Economically, I just don’t understand why Viacom keeps the CW running. It has to be a giant money pit. Sell their share to Time/Warner or cancel the whole deal and move the few keepers to MTV, etc.
Ugh, it stripped out the formatting. Something like this (put in your own breaks):
FOX – Net AveSTD 18-49: 3,530 | STD 18-49 (LIVE+SD)(000) | Renew/ Cancel Index | Time Slot
Tom, I may be mistaken here, but my understanding is that Viacom has nothing to do with CW. They split from CBS in 2005.
As for the new format, I like it a lot, but it will be much more interesting once the new midseason shows start and Idol returns to ruin everyone’s averages. Too much green right now.
Tom, the strikethrough was my suggestion, and I say we leave it because everyone isn’t a numbers addict, and and some people just want to glance and skim and move on. The separate lists by network were also my suggestion and I agree with you that it makes it redundant to list the network average every line, but listing the network itself on every line is too. Sadly, it’s not zero work to remove that stuff and leaving it in, while redundant, allows people’s eyes to focus a line at a time without jumping around.
I once spent a week in a usability lab looking at how people read financial data in tables in a web browser. While I personally come down on your side, when it comes to your proposed tweaks, from a general usability and accessibility point of view it’s better off with the info you feel is redundant and overkill.
Rules of Engagement is coming back March 2 -Monday 9:30 during sweeps. I have actually seen a few of the shows be shot..the writing this season is sharper than ever. There are some interesting new characters that will pop up ( I am not talking about stunt casting, rather 5-6 show guest arc’s)that are truly hilarious. I have been a fan of this show from the get go so I feel confident saying that the new season has some of the funniest shows yet. I suspect that RoE’s numbers will smoke those of Worst Week, which would be great as I have never understood the allure of that show.Were it on WEd nights, it would have been cancelled long ago. It has never had great retention out of Men. RoE pulled better numbers than WW last season, but I think that they will do even better come March. BTW, I have never though that Christine was a good match with 2 1/2 Men. I think that CBS is going to keep the Wed night comedy block, with lower expectations for the numbers.
Vader, you may have a point, note L&O results sans Life:
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/01/08/wednesday-ratings-the-people-choose-cbs-waltersswayze-special-scores-for-abc/10396
Bill, No, note L&O results sans CSI: NY. On 12/3 (the only other time CSI: NY was not on), L&O got 11.31 million viewers and a 3.0 in the demo even with Life as the lead-in.
LIFE is like one of those Wraith guys from Stargate Atlantis. Sucks the LIFE out of whatever its next to.
WHEN CHUCK IS WOULD BE RENEWAL TO 3 SEASON ?
Im sorry for my vocabulary, im chilean and i need to know about chuck, but if chuck fight againt house and dancing with the star is gonna lose.
Name — haha, you’re referencing a show that is less watched even than Life (though even Bill should watch the finale of SG: Atlantis on Friday if for nothing but the very final scene). I’m with Holly though, CSI: NY is the bigger problem for L&O
Holly, after looking at those numbers, I’m with you too!
I wonder how Leno will affect the cancellation line for NBC… Obviously they’ll have to cancel more than usual. I’m worried for Chuck.
Eek! So happy to see CHUCK in the green! I hope he stays there where he belongs!!!
It will be interesting to see how Harper’s Island fares on CBS. I don’t intend to watch it, but I’ll be watching the numbers! CBS seems to have real trouble getting any serial up and running – or any drama other than a crime procedural, for that matter. In terms of scripted drama, the CBS procedurals are Nielsen powerhouses. If HI cannot score huge (a’la The Mentalist) right out of the gate, I doubt they’ll have the patience for it. Quality, cult followings, yadda yadda… won’t matter much.
Matt, on the contrary, I look at the index and think NBC will still be needing shows! Looking at the green scripted items (I think all listed as safe will come back, even if Earl is just to hit syndication quantity), NBC only has 4.5 hours of scripted programming for Fall. Assuming they keep cheap non-scripted shows on Friday, even with a two hour Biggest Loser, that’s still only 6.5 hours of programming for 8 M-Th timeslots. And that is not even considering that their March* – May schedule also has to program Sunday!
*The 2010 Winter Olympics fills the second half of Feb; I would assume NBC will air new episodes of regular programming during Jan-mid Feb. What they do Sunday is a bit of a problem: Given that the NFL doesn’t end until Jan. 17th, NBC has to air something on those three (some sweeps) Sundays between the NFL and the Olympics. Movies? Dateline and another low cost reality “mini-”series? Who knows.
As such, it is possible shows like original L&O, L&O:CI, and Medium could return in midseason, if they can cut the license fee, simply because I have seen no signs NBC has the 5-6 additional hours of programming they need come March of 2010 waiting in the wings.
Ok We’ll save Monday open for now.
Tuesday: Biggest Loser
Wednesday: Law & Order: SVU + ? Maybe Kings if it’s a hit? Maybe new show?
Thursday: Comedy (Same but replace K&K with the Amy Poehler show.)
Friday: Deal or No Deal + Reality/New Show that will flop. Maybe Dateline
Sunday: Fall = Football Spring = Apprentice + Midseason
Now back to Monday.
Assuming Heroes survives into season 4, there’s one hour of programing left.
I hope they put Chuck there…
Basically there’s an hour open Wednesday and Monday. If Chuck takes on of those spots then NBC only has one new show. There’s no way NBC can survive putting 1 new show on the air each season.
And that’s not counting Medium (which does pretty well), Superstars of Dance (which is doing decently and is cheap), and the other L&O’s. Those will probably end up being replacements.
The House move to Mondays at 8 is definitely not a good sign for Chuck, right?
Do you think there will be any chance of them moving Chuck? because to me canceling would be a terrible decision.
Matt, I know nothing about how “kid friendly” Kings is supposed to be, but there’s no way you can put L&O:SVU on at 8pm in it’s current form without raising a ruckus.
Randy, NBC is not going to move Chuck this season. At this point it looks likely to return and they may move it next season, but there still four months till upfronts, so who knows.
Can’t believe they renewed Knight Rider….
@Plutonic Dude,
Ford didn’t take the bailout by the way.
TSCC is preety much done. Lena Headley (sp?) has already started directing a new movie
http://www.darkhorizons.com/news09/090108j.php
Bill,
L&O can attribute its ratings spike to the absence of CSI: NY, and not to Life.
In fact, both Life and L&O had ratings spikes a few weeks ago when Criminal Minds and CSI: NY were absent from the schedule that day.
ABCFanatic2009 says:
January 7th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
I think all the current scripted shows (C,C,TU are not included) in ABC will have a new season this september except for Private Practice. That show has got to go I hate it.
——————————————–
Just because u hate it??? hahahaha poor you!
Private Practice is not going anywhere, Ugly Betty would sink first!
why all the hate on Gary Unmarried? It just won the award last night best new comedy it has done great in the wednesday and monday slots so why the hate…the people have spoken! Leave Gary alone, it’s funny!
I wasn’t going to do this, but since Matt did, what the heck. Here’s how I see NBC’s lineup next fall.
Monday
Heroes
Kings
Tuesday
Biggest Loser
Wednesday
Chuck
New Show
Thursday
My Name is Earl
Amy Poehler Show
The Office
30 Rock
Friday
Deal or No Deal
Dateline
Sunday
Sunday Night Football
As matt pointed out, that leaves only one hour for a new show. What they might do is make some shows into mid-season replacements, but that’s a lot of replacements.
They’ve got L&O: SVU (i’m assuming the original will be canned), possibly Merlin, possibly Medium, and The Apprentice to return mid-season, so I don’t know where they’re going to put all the new shows they’re thinking up, not too many shows oddly enough.
The Philanthropist and Zip are there only shows they have planned for Fall, they have some Summer shows planned, but nothing for next fall.
NBC has 6 drama pilots in the works:
1. Blue Blood – Harvard-educated rookie NYPD cop
2. LAPD – name speaks for itself
3. Legally Mad – Chicago law firm from creator of The Practice & Boston Legal
4. Lost & Found – quirky, offbeat female lapd detective
5. Lost in the 80s – 80s version of “the wonder years”
6. Played or Be Played – New York law firm
NBC has 4 comedy pilots in the works:
1. Man of Your Dreams – produced by Conan O’Brien
2. Off Duty – cops who can’t leave their job at the station
3. Untitled Jon Pollack Project – powerful woman in the high-stakes world of hedge funds
4. Zip – family man who is a con man
Derrick, it’s not un-common for actors to be working on multiple projects at once. Thomas Dekker was directing a film while shooting season one. And besides, T:SCC has only 3 episodes left to shoot. By the time T:SCC is winding down, her film will just be getting started.
@ Thecolours
i think what he meant to say is that she started doing her now, most of the actors do it during the offseason
But did you miss the part where Thecolours states Thomas Dekker (man he’s hot) was directing a movie during season one? By the way, wasn’t Lena Heady starring in one of his movies or projects as well? Was it that one?
And they only have 3 more eps left to shoot? Aww… that makes me sad…
“Matt, I know nothing about how “kid friendly” Kings is supposed to be, but there’s no way you can put L&O:SVU on at 8pm in it’s current form without raising a ruckus.”
Oh definately, and from the previews Kings looks way intense and definately not an 8PM show.
I can’t see a Chuck/SVU or Chuck/Kings line up either.
I like johnthemon’s line up, though Heroes at 8PM? Gotta tone back. Plus I don’t see NBC holding back with L&O:SVU as a midseason. Plus the obvious only one new show dilemma.
I think Chuck would work as a lead in to Office/30 Rock. But there’s no way they’ll can the $yndication of MNIE and the Amy Poehler show won’t take that quick…
Where can Chuck go?! It wouldn’t make a great midseason replacement. It’s gotta be Monday with Heroes
Why couldn’t Leno be 3 nights a week or something…
While there are obviously a number of shows which will unquestionably be renewed and similarly cancelled it is the ones in the “twilight” zone which are the most interesting.
While there is no 100% certainty of anything ratings notwithstanding would anyone know if the fact that the main cast in a show which is hovering around the 92 benchmark (Without A Trace)is contracted until the end of the 2009/2010 be likely to have any significant relevance with regard to cancellation or renewal or not?
This show has been jumping from cancellation by May to likely to be renewed throughout the Season and is difficult to call.
Are people really going to watch Leno every night? I’m not a talk show/variety/reality person so maybe it’s my built in bias but I just don’t see that being appointment television like a CSI. It will be a curiousity to people at first and then erode away. Plus, it has got to hurt they guy taking over for Leno at 11:30 (I can’t even remember his name that’s how little I watch late night).
I agree with an earlier post that one or two nights a week might be more appealing.
lisaw, A network will not renew a show simply because the actors have one more year on their current contracts.
Networks might renew a bubble show because of syndication value, because someone at the net really likes the show, critical acclaim, to keep an executive producer/major actor happy, or a variety of other reasons, but I seriously doubt cast contracts would make any difference whatsoever.
Hey guys,
Just wanted to relay that NBC has officially picked up “Police” (wow, what a great name!), formerly called “LAPD”. It’s by the producers of ER and will initially run this season after ER finishes.
BTW, ER has been given 3 more episodes.
This is all according to The Hollywood Reporter.
@ Rachel P
I read the part about Dekker, but it was a hollywood film not british. I think the actors know that TSCC is done and are starting to find other work.
In my opinion, DWTS and “Heroes” should be canceled, despite high ratings on “Dancing”! Why? I’ll tell you why in a minute. But, why in the heck is “Heroes” still on the air? I’m saying this because my favorite show is “Prison Break”! They’re beating the crap out of PB! By the way, NBC the only intelligent thing you ever did was carry “Kings”. I’m really looking forward to seeing it! But, if you cancel “Kings”, like, which I’m assuming FOX will cancel “Prison Break”, I’m not going to watch either NBC or FOX!
Ricki, hypothetically, if Fox were to announce today that T:SCC was coming back for a third season, all the actors would still be looking for other work between now and June. The actors lining up work, as T:SCC winds down, is not an indication that Fox plans on canceling the show. Fox won’t make an official decision on any shows fate until the up fronts in May. Anything written on the internet between now and then is pure speculation.
Thecolours: true. but sadly, speculating that there is almost zero chance that TSCC will return for a third season is at least educated and well-informed speculation (see numbers above).
Thecolours, i understand what you’re saying; however, looking at the numbers and the move to friday night it would be foolish for the people involved with TSCC not to look for a new job
Here is my suggestion for NBC:
Sunday: Football
Monday: Chuck / Heroes
Tuesday: Biggest Loser / Legally Mad
Wednesday: My Name is Earl / Amy Poehler / L&O SVU
Thursday: Office / 30 Rock / LAPD
Friday: Deal or No Deal (or other Game/Reality show) / Dateline
Saturday: Repeats
Philly, I see NO CHANCE of NBC cutting The Biggest Loser down to one hour given current performance of the two hour show.
Why aren’t more People watching Life On NBC Wednesday nights? It is hands down one of the top three shows On TV ,and I think the best show to come along since House they have to give it at least one more season for the sheep to catch on.
I am so sick of sitcom watching people still looking for the next friends or Seinfeld both of them shows stunk Life is a great show NBC just is clueless The Black Donnellys was a great show but since it was an Irish family instead of an Italian mob family IE the sopranos another show that stunk.Whatever Chuck is a terrible show,Thank God Jack is Back 24 thank the lord.I said I’d never watch another NBC show after they cancelled The Black Donnellys,until I Life and they never promoted that show at all just like life great show no promotion.NBC has nothing but LIB sheep working there terrible network and I will indeed never watch another show on NBC if they cancel Life!!!!!!!!!!
Robert, I disagree that there’s zero chance of Fox bringing back T:SCC for a third season. If Fox is going to order a full season of Till Death for next fall(link below), which got abysmal ratings, I feel better about T:SCC chances today, than I did yesterday.
Also, the current TV landscape, and recent economic downward spiral, is lowering the expectations for a shows performance.
And, we have no idea what’s going on in the minds of the Fox executives. They might have convinced themselves that a high grossing Terminator Salvation will garner new found interest in T:SCC. I’m not saying this scenario is likely, but it’s possible. Everything has to be taken into account.
http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/01/fox-orders-more-til-death-.html
Thecolours, disagree all you want. Jericho, Moonlight, Pushing Daisies…I’ve seen this movie before. How well the T4 movie does will have no bearing on TSCC. I’ll grant ‘Til Death is mystifying, but it’s just another mysterious 30 minute sitcom (see According to Jim) and in a different bag of wishful thinking than a 1 hour SciFi show.
Fox doesn’t produce TSCC, so unless after the movie a million people run out and buy the Season 2 DVD and it winds up being offered to Fox basically for free (Fox doesn’t produce it, so it isn’t getting the DVD revenues)…winds up being in the realm of “if only I could throw a fastball 98 miles an hour accurately and had a good changeup pitch.” Pure fantasy.
Thecolours, I had added the news about ‘Til Death to the post above earlier. I admit that it was a big surprise to me as well. It may have something to do with its value in syndication (like then ratings loser According to Jim), but that’s difficult to figure since it is produced by Sony Pictures, not Fox.
Barring a miraculous rebirth on Friday though, which is highly unlikely, Terminator is not coming back for another season.
Can we please can all this termination talk for now? The future is not yet set!
Rachel i think there just stating the obvious to anyone that cant exactly see the future of the show.That is tscc is as good as gone once it hits the friday timeslot.Grant it there going back to a serielized format but they alienated enough people to turn them away from the show instead of bringing in the viewers.One of my favorite shows knight rider is getting canned and i cant do nothing about it.Sure its not the greatest show on earth but there isnt that many scripted car shows on tv anymore or at all.All i can say it to the tscc fans enjoy it while you can and just hope josh firedman learn his lesson dont mess with something that was already layed out for you in the first place.
I get the impression ‘Til Death may cost next to nothing now due to Sony taking the majority of the costs, to baby it to syndication.
Gossi, exactly so according to this Variety story:
Instead, insiders said producer Sony Pictures TV gave the network a deal it couldn’t refuse to bring the laffer for a fourth year.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117998321.html?
I do like the new format of the list via networks, but I still think that a total average viewer should be included.
Just remember how surprised we all were when Fox picked up the full season of TSCC in October. Perhaps due to a very good deal involving T4? Probably. But what is it that got Til Death already picked up for next season? In an article it said, “a deal that Fox simply couldn’t refuse.” Obviously good deals are liked by Fox, so who knows if T4 will do anything more for TSCC’s future.
I’ve come to learn to live by the motto, “Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.” I’m prepared for TSCC to be canceled. I see the ratings are low and most everything is pointing towards it’s
demise. But Fox has showed me by picking up the full season in
October, and this recent Til Death surprise, as well as T4 (we
really can’t tell how it will affect the franchise yet) that there is
at least still hope for a chance TSCC will return (we still
can only speculate on it’s Friday ratings).
It wouldn’t be the first time the presumed future has changed.
Well T4 comes out this summer, TSCC will wrap up in late april early may. Why would u make a deal to save TSCC and promote ur movie when the season ends couple monthes before T4 comes out and the fall season starts in mid semptember. How will that help promote T4?
I got one word for fox money.Thats the reason terminator has stuck around this long.Show commericals of t4 and get paid lots of cash for a show that is way off the radar.
Ricki – I was proposing that T4 could be used to promote TSCC. Though it would seem more likely to better promote it if TSCC were a summer series (lolpun) since the movie comes in May. Imagine airing a short preview for TSCC before the movie. That’d be bound to help get people back into the show. But it doesn’t seem it’d be as effective if TSCC didn’t return till fall… A summer special perhaps?
Rachel P, not to jump in on ur debate, but T4 will make a killing in the box office and that wont translate into viewers for TSCC, IMO.
I honestly think it’s pointless to speculate about TSCC until it returns.
dfsdf, isnt that what the Renew/Cancel Index does?
Indeed! Since none of us has any power in the process, it’s all speculation!
Exactly.
But speculation tends to lead to fear. And as we all know, fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. :p
Hi
The “Fox Shows” link goes to the CW page.
Joseph H
My bad linking! Fixed.
Prison Break is over after this season
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117998439.html?categoryid=14&cs=1
The “Fox Shows” link is still going to the CW page, just FYI. And I’m surprised you haven’t said anything about the fact that Prison Break is ending after this season.
Jennifer, wow, I know I changed that. It’s Alzheimer’s I tell you!
I do have the Prison Break ending footnoted in the Fox post. I was going to do more in this week’s post, but with the data delay I haven’t gotten around to it.
im a little new to this website so bear with me but i was hoping someone could explain to me why that new Terminator series is about to get cancelled. i’ve read nothing but positive reviews.
are the ratings that bad?
carg0, sadly, and this comes from a fan, ratings are that bad:
http://tvbythenumbers.com/category/renewcancel-fox-shows
carg0, Yes, the ratings are that bad and they’re going to get even worse now that it’s on Friday.
“We’ll see…”
Just because a show gets “nothing but positive reviews” doesn’t mean it gets the viewers it needs to survive. Some of my favorites (Pushing Daisies, Eli Stone, and older shows like Wonderfalls) got plenty of “positive reviews” and they are all gone. I’m a fan of Terminator SCC, and will miss it when it doesn’t get renewed, but I also understand it was the lack of viewers, not the lack of “positive reviews” that killed it.
thanks for the info, everyone! : )
(now, back to resuming my bitter disposition over the Giants early exit)
As much as I do like the separate tables per Network, are going to go through 3 pages to get to the actual data every time? Really that desperate for traffic that you have to artificially boost it?
This is an interesting concept!!!
What is it that makes a show a success?
I have been a TV fan (addict) all of my life. Surprisingly, my family once was asked to do nielson’s, back when it was a little booklet that you hand to fill out. We averaged 18 hrs a day!
I’ve lived through television shortages! Lived in Great Britain during the early 70’s when only BBC-I & BBC-2 existed. I remember watching a test pattern for up to 3 hrs waiting for any show to come on because there were no TV guides, printed or otherwise. During the 80’s during the writers strike when Canadian shows were imported.
Now with a family and many other responsibilities, the shows content is extremely important. Some shows, I watch, (male) some shows my wife watches (female) and some shows we watch together. Isn’t there room for both?
We watch many of the top ranked shows, but way too many of our shows are cancelled before given a chance to establish a strong and loyal following, or the writing turns to crap because the writers never expected to make it this far. Prison Break never expected to make it past 3!!! We gave up b4 this year aired.
How many TV exec’s would expect that I religiously watch Eli, Life and the wife doesn’t? Of course, they would expect me to watch Fringe which I do.
The cancellation process needs to be analyzed further by the networks.
Jim
The Unit is killed by CBS if it’s canceled (i certainly hope not) because they moved it to sunday and all the special programs preventing new episodes from airing. Way to go…
Why would CBS wants to kill their own show? I mean, seriously.. it’s time to go for The Unit.