Our Renew / Cancel Index predicts potential renewal or cancellation for scripted broadcast primetime shows for the 2010-11 season (includes results through November 1, 2009):
- Likely To Be Canceled By May, 2010
- Some Danger Of Being Canceled By May, 2010
- Likely to Be Renewed For The 2010-11 Season
| Program | Renew/ Cancel Index |
| Numb3rs (F), (P) | 0.54 |
| Three Rivers (P) | 0.55 |
| Cold Case (P) | 0.61 |
| New Adventures of Old Christine (S) | 0.61 |
| Medium (F), (P) | 0.62 |
| Ghost Whisperer (F), (S) | 0.64 |
| Gary Unmarried | 0.67 |
| The Good Wife (P) | 0.86 |
| Accidentally On Purpose (P) | 0.92 |
| CSI:NY (P) | 0.97 |
| How I Met Your Mother (S) | 1.05 |
| The Mentalist | 1.07 |
| CSI (P) | 1.09 |
| NCIS: Los Angeles (P) | 1.13 |
| Criminal Minds (P) | 1.14 |
| CSI: Miami (P) | 1.21 |
| NCIS (P) | 1.38 |
| Two And A Half Men | 1.40 |
| Big Bang Theory | 1.50 |
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Neither Three Rivers nor Cold Case will be back next season. They will both be canceled by the end of the year, but while Cold Case will likely air a full 22 episode season, the most Three Rivers will get will be the 13 episodes already ordered, and they’ll be lucky to get all of those. Three Rivers fans who’ll claim “but you said it would be off the air by now!”, can thank the accountants.
The Good Wife is still on the borderline. Its Index is depressed slightly because of last week’s repeat, see below.
New Adventures of Old Christine and Gary Unmarried ratings remain horrid, but what’s new? If CBS is determined to weather their terrible ratings to establish another night of comedy they may be fine for yet another season.
Numb3rs ratings are again close enough to those of Medium and Ghost Whisperer to put its future in less doubt. Last season Numb3rs was renewed with a gap between its Index and that of Ghost Whisperer of 0.10. At that gap or less, I figure the show is safe, above that gap there’s a risk it gets canceled, but I acknowledge there is some risk that the rest of CBS schedule is doing well enough that Numb3rs could get canceled just to open a slot for a new show.
11/7 Update: The episode order this season for Numb3rs was reduced to 16 episodes. It’s now in significant danger of not coming back.
Note: About half of the CBS scripted shows were in repeats last week, which depresses their Indexes vs. those that were not. In the short run, it causes some tricky comparisons, in the long run it pretty much evens out.
This is a breakdown of CBS scripted shows and their renewal and cancellation prospects. Here are links to the other networks:
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Notes:
The Renew/Cancel Index is a show’s Season To Date adults 18-49 rating divided by its network’s Season to Date average 18-49 rating. If a show’s season to date 18-49 ratings average equalled its network’s 18-49 average, the show would have an Index of 1.00. Without special factors, scripted shows that were more than 10% below their network’s average are typically canceled by the end of the broadcast primetime season.
Factors that could cause a show to be renewed with well below average index:
- (F) -Fridays: Shows airing on Fridays have been renewed with significantly lower than average Indexes.
- (S) – Syndication: Shows nearing syndication (66-88 episodes), often have economic factors that trump ratings leading to renewal.
- (T) – Third Party: Shows that have a portion of their cost underwritten by a 3rd party can be renewed with substantially lower ratings.
- (P) – Produced by the network’s production company – For shows on the bubble, being produced by the network’s corporate production company can be a survival advantage. For real losers, it’s unlikely to help.
While I initially tried to designate shows with “plum” timeslots, I think that’s hard to make that call at this point in the season. It’s likely still a factor, but will have to be an “after the fact” call.
What’s the History of the Index and How Did It Do In the Past? Check out the results from the 2007-8 season and the 2008-9 season.
Nielsen TV Ratings Data: ©2009 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved. All ratings used are Live+Same Day viewing.
Three Rivers should have been axed already but why it hasnt remains a mystery. Maybe Alex O’Loughlin and Moonlight may have something to do with it. Its the final season for Cold Case, the veteran will end in May. The Good Wife is 50/50 but will likely be axed by May. Old Christine and Gary Unmarried are only doing OK but both should air the full season. Who knows what CBS will do with the two for 2010-2011. Everything else is safe, even likely Numb3rs.
5506-You realize that’ll be on ABC, right?
Look at my previous Comment saying “Wrong Area”
Good thing they cancelled The Unit.
Goodness sake. Last year when they announced Three Rivers I knew THEN it wouldn’t last. What a waste that was.
I guess the “accountants” theory makes sense for CBS. I bet around 8 Three Rivers episodes will air and then it will be pulled (should it not be pulled earlier than November 22). Every other series currently airing on CBS should air all episodes for the season.
Thanks for reminding me tough.
Accidentally On Purpose Hasn’t Evan Been Picked Up For More Episodes Yet, so how can you say that it’s likey to come back next season when the show hasn’t evan been renewed for a back 9 order yet? And Besides, it’s the weakest link in monday night and looses HIMYM Audience about each night.
Three Rivers is excellent show. I wished it wont be canceled. But CBS sucks! Every other network with such ratings definitly would keep show.
@John,
The only broadcast network that would keep a non-Friday show with a 1.7 in the demo is The CW. ABC, FOX, and NBC would all cancel it.
R.J. – I forgot about Accidentally but its likely to get additional episodes and then Rules will return to the slot. CBS should have treated Rules better. Maybe if Old Christine ends after this year, Rules could get the Wednesday slot, should it be renewed.
Three Rivers is ruining CBS’ Sunday average and I think it’s hurting them for their weekly average. Nina must love Alex to keep on airing it or maybe they’re afraid that the loony fans will send organs to the CBS Offices, human or animal.
If I was CBS, I would pull it now, move Cold Case to 9pm and out NCIS or Mentalist repeats at 10pm.
Miami Trauma is not ready to air yet but Flashpoint and The Bridge are, what is keeping them from replacing them and saving them from defeat of November Sweeps.
what do you have against the good wife…it is a top 20 show.
mark-allen, on what list? The meaningless average viewership list? Not adults 18-49 ratings. It’s average is a 2.77, below CBS’ average of a 3.2 rating. It’s on the bubble.
@mark-allen, I don’t think Bill and Robert have anything against The Good Wife, but its ratings are a little soft. They aren’t bad, and the show would be completely safe on any other network, but for CBS they’re a little low.
Another answer to The Difference Between Three Rivers & Cold Case question, Bill? About one million viewers.
I still think Cold Case has a lot of life left. In my opinion, it’s way better than any L&O or CSI series that’s on the air.
They need to see if it would improve in its old timeslot behind TAR instead of putting TR there.
Love Three Rivers
The 18-49 demo for Old Christine and Gary have been pretty low considering the ‘norm’ but it is performing extremely well against its competition – usually first or second in both total viewers and the 18-49 demo.
I think CBS is probably pretty satisfied with their performances. If it was getting these numbers on, let’s say, Monday night, than there is no way that they are sticking around, but the fact that they are doing it in a fairly new time-slot and coming very close to winning the time period can’t make them feel to bad!
I don’t see how CBS will keep Gary Unmarried and Old Christine.
First of all, they didn’t launch any new comedies on Wednesday. Gary and Christine aren’t establishing anything.
Second, ABC’s Wednesday Comedy Block is doing well, and that’s direct competition. I think CBS will let them run the season, and then can them. What else can they reasonably do?
^Actually, the fact that the CBS comedies are beating the 8pm ABC comedies is a vote in their favor.
CBS is really keen on having a second comedy block and have been willing to put up with the low ratings on Wednesday to keep that dream alive. Will they give up after this season? Maybe. But I think it’s just as likely they keep them.
I don’t see why you put repeats in as I doubt any CBS show does more in it’s repeat than the premier does, so it’s a bit artificial at the moment
@Chris, Repeats are included in the index because that’s the way the numbers come from Nielsen.
Dave, I doubt CBS is “satisfied” with Christine and Gary’s ratings, but will they “tolerate” them? My guess is yes based on last year’s actions, but you never know.
Chris, (and Holly, FYI) since I am manually calculating show averages this season, I could do whatever I want with them (all episodes or new only) and might in a special post later. But I am *not* calculating the overall network averages, and it would be a *massive* amount of work to calculate them without repeats (and likely an error magnet).
And comparing show averages without repeats to network averages with repeats is completely apples to oranges.
I think 13 episodes of Three Rivers are more than enough.
I watched 4 episodes to see if the show could get better , but it didn’t .
I don’t understand who in CBS thought this show was a good idea , and how CBS was a able to make advertisers pay for that. LOL.
I am really surprised CBS is keeping it for that long . Three Rivers is making CBS look like CW on Sundays.
The Show Formerly Known as Miami Trauma will be ready to go on in January. What will CBS use it to replace? Hmm, that’s a real tough one alright…
^What’s it known as now?
The Good Wife is the only show on CBS worth watching and although I guiltily enjoy it, it really isn’t that “good.”
Holly writes, “^What’s it known as now?”
I’ll let you know when they know!
CBS needs to axe Gary Unmarried and get a show more compatable with Christine. Even though Gary is doing slightly better than Christine I still think Gary has more of a chance of being cancelled. Maybe a OC/AoP hour on Wednesdays. CBS needs to cancel Rules of Engagement it’s their worst comedy.
Well Cold Case usually airs 40 minutes or so after it’s supposed to, no wonder its audience is so small now. CBS has always been stupid with their Sunday shows.
The only reason that makes sense for Three Rivers to continue airing is because they have already made the episodes, so why not air them.
Does anyone know where they are in the making episodes, i imagine episode 8-9.
One of the worst show i’ve seen, i’ll never get back those precious minutes i spent watching Three Rivers thrash.
I don’t understand why CBS treats Rules the way it does. Seen the show, not a HUGE fan, but it does well enough in the ratings to justify full seasons. So why they just stick to midseason airings does not make sense to me. And it would actually benefit the Wed 8-9 comedy block; but oh well.
and 5506, I wasn’t trying to get on your case. Glad you didn’t take what I said in a dickish way.
Rules is a back up player, 3/4 of their Monday sitcoms are doing well and they are capitalizing it by using the one slot to launch a new show in the fall hoping that it would be a hit. Placing Rules or even Christine on Mondays would definitely make the line up even stronger but CBS wants to find another hit that could replace their older sitcoms in the future.
forg – exactly.
They could put Old Christine or Rules on Monday nights and insure great ratings all night. But they want to find more successfull comedies to take over there ones that will be ending sooner or later.
Cold Case canceled is very sad. I really think is waste to cancel a series so good. The time display on CBS really does’t have cooperated. If the audience of other countries were worth, certainly Brazil has put the number at the top. Pitty.
Tony – I think the opposite. I think CBS should let veteran Old Christine go, as well as newcomer Accidentally on Purpose and pair Rules and Gary wednesdays 2010-2011. CBS has tossed Rules around long enough and theyve never treated it great. Old Christine and Gary Unmarried are compatible (both shows deal with a divorced couple and their relations to each other afterwards). Its just maybe its time CBS should see how Rules performs in Christine’s slot (in 2010-2011) since Christine’s numbers have gone down. CBS hasnt axed a comedy after its second year since 2003 (a CBS comedy is either let go after 1 season or survives into at least 4)
Forg – I agree. I see Big Bang Theory as a potential Men replacement and CBS is struggling to find a potential HIMYM replacement. Accidentally’s retention isnt that great to warrant a second season and its 18 episode order basically gives Rules the chance to replace it.
nkinsey – I agree. Last May I had thought CBS would axe Gary Unamrried and give Rules the 8:30 wednesday slot but they kept Gary and bumped Rules to midseason (where it will again replace a losing monday comedy like in 2007 and 2009) I agree Rules could be a solid performer, CBS doesnt give it the chance and the most episodes its had in a season is 15.
My guess is that this season for CBS is all about retention rather than high or low ratings. Monday from 9-10 has very high numbers and Theory has the best retention out of Men and both are already renewed. Accidentally’s retention out of veteran How I Met Your Mother is only OK and remains the weak link of the night which (like The Class and Worst Week) will lead to the shows cancellation. Gary Unmarried actually builds on Old Christine, and to CBS’s perspective maybe it may be time to let the 5 year old sitcom go. Old Christine will have 89 episodes for syndication and should be ready to go into syndication by 2011. Also if CBS axes the show in May 2010, CBS will have room on the sched to develop new comedies and ABC can pick the series up so its a win-win. Rules has always done well but never has maired without a Two and a Half Men lead in. Now that there is no way for Rules to get that lead in, if the series retains better than Accidentally in the 8:30 slot, it should be renewed. Rules airing in the fall wednesdays should be a good test for the show. So my final thought for 2010-2011 is to have mondays the same, except air a new comedy out of HIMYM and to have Rules replace Christine wednesdays at 8.
Bruna Rush – Cold Case is the lowest rated drama for CBS (not counting the lower rated Three Rivers) It didnt help that the series was bumped to 10 but Cold Case being chosen over Without a Trace shows that Case just barely escaped cancellation last season so how could it possibly be renewed this May. Id see Cold Case as the only veteran being axed this year. Three Rivers, The Good Wife and Miami Trauma also look unlikely to survive. Everyone is saying Numb3rs looks likely to go but Im confident CBS will keep it for 2010-2011 and then let it go. Flashpoint will be kept as long as possible because its cheap and performs relatively well. CBS is the rare network with two many well performing series so its increasingly hard to let older shows go but every year they need to make room.
Cold Case will be gone by the end of this season and Numb3rs is likely to be after that although 7 seasons is still good and enough for syndication. CSI: NY could be in danger but I don’t think it’s likely to be axed if at all until 2011 at the earliest as that is when Gary Sinise’s contract runs out.
Maybe CBS could move “The Good Wife” to 10pm Friday next season. It’s a show with a strong female lead (and family) and would fit in the ghost (Ghost Whisperer) -> ghost/crime (Medium) -> crime/lawyer (The Good Wife) line-up.
Cold Case being moved to ten is it’s death knell… just as CBS knew it would be. Seven Years is still nothing to sneeze at though.
Sunday night is h*ll on a show, with football overtimes, etc.
Three Rivers has only played in it’s time slot here in Central time, twice. It’s been bumped and pushed out due to the game going over. My DVR records something other than Three Rivers and CBS wonders why it might be lagging in ratings? Come on Exec at CBS, what’s really going on? Does a mom sitting at home trying to watch a very interesting show, awesome storyline and educational, (Donors) get it and you don’t? Give the show a chance and it will deliver. You cancelled The Unit, Moonlight, and others that I loved and now, a really good, to the heart show, (no pun intended) comes along with so many options to explore, be patient. Sunday night is brutal with tv, all the shows getting bumped to a long game. Isn’t that how The Unit was dropped? It played after 11 or midnight, week after week.
Maybe put reruns of comedy’s on Sunday night after the game and don’t try to have a great lineup while football’s on. Am I the only one in a parallel universe to see this? What gives?
The football time delay is not what hurts Three Rivers – it’s competing against Desperate Housewives. The one week that Three Rivers’ ratings actually increased was when the football time delay was over an hour so that Three Rivers ended up airing opposite Brothers & Sisters instead of Desperate Housewives.
Since Cold Case seems to do better at 9, maybe CBS should swap timeslots for Cold Case and Three Rivers.
As for why Three Rivers is still on the air, another possible reason is that Alex O’Loughlin did a movie for the newly created CBS Films that will be coming out in early 2010. Maybe CBS wants to keep his face and name in the public eye to help with later movie promotion.
Não acredito que isso está acontecendo comigo
COLD CASE IS MY LIFE *–*
OMG !
vsaint writes, “Does anyone know where they are in the making episodes, i imagine episode 8-9.”
Filming #9, casting #10.
“One of the worst show i’ve seen, i’ll never get back those precious minutes i spent watching Three Rivers thrash.”
I find the show so outrageously bad that it’s actually quite entertaining to watch. Everything — the writing, the directing, the acting, the concept, the cinematography, the editing, the score — is so over-the-top bad, it’s almost like they’re not even trying to make a good show. And those are the best kinds of bad shows. The way I see it, if you’re going to make a bad show, don’t just merely make it bad, like with “Community.” Make it so bad it’s good. And they’ve certainly succeeded on that front! Congratulations, Carol Barbee, for the best so-bad-it’s-good show of the season!
I am new with the whole TV thing so if you could help me out what happens during the November sweeps period and what dates are they?
Thanks
TV Bill tweeted that Numb3rs order was cut down from 22 to 16, oh no!
I love Cold Case. I have been watching it for years.
The problem is definitely the time slot. Not only does it stink that it was changed from 9:00 to 10:00 for this season, but the football games DO mess it up. This is because I, like many others I’m sure, DVR the show since it is late on a Sunday night. I can’t tell you how many times I had to either delete the episode because there was only about 20 minutes recorded, watch the show with the last 20 minutes cut off because my DVR stopped recording, or sometimes miss it completely due to the delayed start. This happened all of the time last season as well when it followed The Amazing Race.
CBS should move Cold Case back into its 9:00 slot. I don’t think anything else can be done about the time getting pushed back, but it is more likely that fans can DVR it or watch it if it is not on after 11:00 on Sunday nights!
Forg – Yes Numb3rs joins Cold Case as now officially in danger and likely gone by May.
Angela – I agree, after CBS axes Three Rivers they should move Cold Case to 9 and air a new drama (The Bridge, Flashpoint, or Miami Trauma) at 10.
Mike11 – I agree The Good Wife would fit in well at 10 on fridays with Ghost Whisperer and Medium. To those people who said if Ghost Whisperer and Numb3rs had a baby it would be Medium. I think it would make more sense that if the crime sense of Good Wife is mixed with the supernatural ghost aspect of Ghost Whisperer, you get Medium. Either way the combo could work.
Basically, while its shocking Three Rivers is still on. Its all Alex O’loughlin. Rivers would have already been axed if he wasnt on the show, but the series is somehow still airing. When will Rivers be pulled who knows. To anyone who guessed the series would survive into November, good guess. I dont know why CBS would want to return Flashpoint in February when they could just air the series now.
Cold Case did well enough to get 7 seasons, so 9pm slot has nothing to do with Three Rivers failing.
Problem is CBS can’t develop anything outside police, reality, comedy.
So they decided to use CSI template, hoping people won’t notice the difference. You should have gone all the way and called it CSI: THREE RIVERS OR NCIS:THREE RIVERS.
Whoever greenlighted this should be fired, just don’t make the mistake twice. CSI: MIAMA TRAUMA in 2010, baby.
I don’t get the appeal of Alex O’loughlin, but Cbs likes him so, let them waste there money.
Now that CBS had shortened Numb3rs’ season by 6 episode, Michael Ausiello on EW thinks that Flashpoint will move into Numb3rs’ slot. That leaves Three Rivers’ slot untouched, I hope.
You all conveniently forget that the actors in veteran shows are getting paid obscene amounts so CBS may likely keep Three Rivers because it isn’t that expensive yet.
sylvi,
Even if Flashpoint goes to Fridays, there is still The Bridge and Miami Trauma….and repeats, which would do better than new episodes of Three Rivers.
Note to CBS – what gives here? If a program is not another spinoff of CSI or a disgusting “reality” show like “Survivor” then it is not given any chance to succeed. You cater to a certain age demographic that has a mentality to actually think that “Survivor” is worth watching. Guess $$$$$ talks. If “Three Rivers” is gone after 13, does anyone reall think that another program will succeed in it’s place. CBS has their own idea of what is successful. That’s why there are all those carbon copies of CSI – and now a spinoff of NCIS.
CBS does not want anything new or fresh, they just keep recycling the same crap. Guess they have 18 yr. olds on their payroll because the decisions that these people make are juvenile.
Guess $$$$$ talks
Yes. TV is a business and despite what some viewers want to pretend, it is about making money, not art and definitely not pleasing internet posters.
CBS’s idea of success is the same as any other TV network (broadcast or cable), and that’s high ratings (particularly in the 18-49 demo) because high demo ratings=advertising $$
Basically it seems CBS is willing to air out Three Rivers as long as they want. Its likely to get replaced but im guessing by January and probably by Miami Trauma. Miami Trauma will probably get axed quicker then Three Rivers. Id think it would be smarter to put Flashpoint on sundays after Cold Case and when Numb3rs finishes move Good Wife to that slot to test its strength on fridays. That way CBS could test a new series (Miami Trauma) Tuesdays at 10 to see its strength airing after NCIS LA.
Remember when the new TV season started and the decision was made to give the go ahead to “Three Rivers” over “Miami Trauma” because “Three Rivers” was the stronger of the two? Well, what in the hell makes anyone think that “Miami Trauma” or anything else will succeed, especially with that lousy time slot? Unless it is another CSI spinoff, forget it! Hey, here’s and idea similar to what Vsaint said. How about if they rename it CSI-Pittsburgh, Three Rivers”
Think that might work? If CBS cancels “Three Rivers”, then cancel me as a viewer. CBS is to quick to cancel shows without giving them a fair chance. I am tired of being on their rollercoaster.
I agree – if CBS cancels “Three Rivers”, then they can cancel me as a viewer also. CBS does not have to test a new show, just give “Three Rivers” a new day and time slot. I like Dan’s idea, except I would like to see “Three Rivers” moved to the slot after NCIS-Los Angeles.
I’m not ready to give up on “Three Rivers” yet. Guess if CBS still has Katie Couric as a news anchor after the low ratings she gets, then anything is possible.
Yeah yeah, I remember a lot of Moonlight fans said they would stop watching CBS after Moonlight was cancelled. Few of those fans stuck to their word after they found out Alex O’Loughlin signed a contract with CBS.
Anyway, if Three Rivers is the only CBS show you watch, and you’re only watching Three Rivers because Alex is on it, you’re such a small minority that threats to boycott CBS are as good as empty. Since CBS Films is making Alex’s next movie, The Back-Up Plan, I hope you plan to boycott that too so as not to be a hypocrite.
@Shaz *Anyway, if Three Rivers is the only CBS show you watch, and you’re only watching Three Rivers because Alex is on it, you’re such a small minority that threats to boycott CBS are as good as empty*..
You nailed it, Shaz. I’m one of those fans watching Three Rivers because Alex O’Loughlin is the lead; he can only do so much with the show as Carol Barbee’s the boss this time around. Not sure what her credentials are, but this whole production is piXX-poor. The actors who committed to this show deserved better. People will judge their performances, when it’s obvious Ms. Barbee needs to be replaced.
I would love to see Old Christine go to ABC. which i think it will if CBS cancels. And I don’t see Rule being moved to the fall season or bring renewed. I don’t think CBS likes it otherwise they would of put it on wednesdays with Christine than Gary. Especially with Rules not on after 2.5 men that just lowers its chances at renewal. but i’ll have to see what ratings it gets when its played after HIMYM maybe they will be good. who knows?
Tony – If CBS didnt like Rules then they wouldnt renew it. Its just CBS doesnt have room on the fall for Rules with their Monday night trio, new monday comedy, and wednesday duo. Had CBS not renewed Gary last season Rules would have likely got the 8:30 slot but CBS didnt want 2 failures comedy-wise and if they axed Gary then their only renewed series would have been The Mentalist. I hope CBS lets Old Christine go so ABC can grab it. CBS doesnt need Christine anymore and can test out Rules/Gary combo on wednesday. I think Rules and Gary will be kept despite the fact that CBS never treats Rules well and Gary’s ratings are OK. ABC can use Christine since they have virtually no comedies besides their wednesday trio.
I still never would have expected that Three Rivers would have lasted this long. Two things, the economy and Alex O’loughlin stops Three Rivers from joinging the ranks of Smith, Love Monkey, 3 lbs, Viva Laughlin, and The Ex LIst from being axed after a few eps.
While there are a few diehard Alex O fans, most Moonlight fans loved the show, and enjoyed Alex as Mick St. John. There are many of us who have tried to like 3 Rivers, but most of us find it very boring. What a waste that CBS failed to make at least one more season of Moonlight, and this time they could have advertised it! I want to cry every time I see an ad for 3 Rivers, (this week I saw 3 ads for 3 Rivers in a single hour) because there were next to zero ads for Moonlight. I have met many new Moonlight fans online, who never heard of it while it was on the air, but discovered it after it went to DVD
Jon, sorry you are so pessimistic about Three Rivers. It is a show that is just now starting to find it’s “legs” and it’s “audience”. Putting a new show on a night that follows NFL may not have been such a good idea….but Alex fans have found it. I have had many friends who have never heard of Alex, tell me how interesting the show is and how much they are impressed by him. Now that they are giving some more time to the characters & their backstories & relationships….I think the viewers will return each week & more will join them. I agree the first couple of episodes were not quite ‘there’………but they are definitely getting better. Please give Alex & Co and Three Rivers a chance.
Somebody needs to update Numbers chance of survival. The fact that they reduced the order for the number of episodes this season I think its beyond certainty that this is its last…
Sparky, fair enough. Since I do new posts weekly, I had gotten out of the habit of going back to edit old ones, but I’ll change this one.
Caro – CBS cant keep every fall drama and despite Three Rivers finding its legs, its still dipping in numbers and should be cancelled soon.
Numb3rs and Cold Case are both gone by May, due to the episode cut, Numb3rs should go from green to brown on the index.
I think Three Rivers wishes it had some legs. I’m stunned it’s still on. I watched 4 episodes and consider them to be wasted hours. CBS hitched it’s wagon to the wrong horse if they think Alex O’loughlin is a star. He’s not the worst but there are far better actors out there. I don’t recall seeing the post from the DonateLife person? Maybe I missed it. I love the banter between the delusional Alex “fans” and the normal people. It’s quite amusing.
Alex is a good actor when he’s given decent material to work with (like his guest-star role on Criminal Minds) but he doesn’t have Patrick Stewart’s ability to make shite sound like Shakespeare.
So I’m guessing 3R will be a soft cancellation — they’ll shoot and air all 13 episodes then call it quits. Is 3R the only show where CBS hasn’t made a formal announcement about its future (by adding or cutting back on the episode order)?
Shaz, I agree with you about Alex O’loughlin. I watch 3R because of him. I don’t find the show boring but it isn’t as good as I want it to be. I believe that 3R is the only show that hasn’t been extended or cut from the schedule.
I don’t know where people think Three Rivers is doing any better. I find it interesting that once Amazing Race ended on 11/8/09, that the hour’s numbers dove like Esther Williams into a pool.
Three Rivers’ ratings are consistently below 1.9 for ages 18-49. I’m curious to know what the numbers are for ages 18-34, of which advertisers are especially fond.
I watch Three Rivers for the sole purpose of seeing Alex O. The show is basically a big corny, weep-fest, in my opinion. But I manage to soldier my way through it every week…just to see Alex. Get some decent writers for these poor actors!
Here’s hoping that the switch in time slots will help Cold Case stick around longer (no matter how unlikely this is, I still have hope), because the show is still going strong. I thought the most recent episode, “Read Between The Lines” was as good as anything they’ve ever done, and thought Zeb and Donalyn were excellent characters.
I also really liked that they played MC Lyte’s “Act Like You Know” when Zeb took Donalyn to her audition – really fit the whole scene (lyrically and musically) well. The scene is on YouTube at : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGCNcFKkQp0