Short term (4 week) ratings trends indicate the renewal prospects for Castle, The Good Wife, Heroes, Parks & Recreation and Law & Order have improved.

Read the full story

Our Renew / Cancel Index predicts potential renewal or cancellation for scripted broadcast primetime shows for the 2010-11 season (results through November 15, 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

-
Note that the Index values for all Fox shows will continue to be very depressed for some time because the World Series ratings have unusually boosted Fox’s overall 18-49 average (3.7 vs. ~3.o before baseball). That will slowly subside as Fox’s average evens out post-baseball. For the time being, the order of the shows is far more important than the Index values.

Dollhouse has been officially canceled. The only difference between it, ‘Til Death and Brothers is there has been no announcements about them. There may never be. They’ll continue to air episodes for some unknown period of time and then vanish.

With those 3 shows out of the way, Fringe is the only remaining scripted show in Fox’s lineup in some danger of cancellation. Could Fox renew it based on the fact it knew it was going to get crushed at 9pm Thursdays? Yes. But they also could decide they could do better in that time slot. It’s an interesting situation because I’m not sure how much new useful ratings information about Fringe’s situation we’ll get before the end of the year when decisions are made, short of an unlikely big change upwards or downwards in the ratings.

This is a breakdown of Fox scripted shows and their renewal and cancellation prospects. Here are links to the other networks:

Read the full story

Our Renew / Cancel Index predicts potential renewal or cancellation for scripted broadcast primetime shows for the 2010-11 season (results through November 8, 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

-
Note that the Index values for all Fox shows will continue to be very depressed for some time because the World Series ratings have unusually boosted Fox’s overall average. That will slowly subside as Fox’s average evens out post-baseball. For the time being, the order of the shows is far more important than the Index values.

I’m on record in the recent past as being positive on Fringe’s chances for renewal even with its relatively poor ratings performance on Thursdays. However, last week it managed only a 1.7 adults 18-49 rating. Was that entirely a post World Series scheduling/confusion situation? Why then did Bones dip just slightly to a 2.6? The eyes of Fringe fans should be on this week’s results. Another sub-2.0 rating and you might want to start a crazy fan “Save Our Show” campaign. Commenter Harold suggests skywriting.

Dollhouse, ‘Til Death and Brothers , all certain to be canceled, are off Fox’s schedule for the November sweeps period. Dollhouse will gets its 13 episodes aired, as it seems Brothers will too. Who knows (or cares) what happens with all the episodes of ‘Til Death.

10/11 Update: Dollhouse is officially canceled.

This is a breakdown of Fox scripted shows and their renewal and cancellation prospects. Here are links to the other networks:

Read the full story

Our Renew / Cancel Index predicts potential renewal or cancellation for scripted broadcast primetime shows for the 2010-11 season (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

-
While a certain favorite commenter of ours may find it hard to believe, I had never heard of Joss Whedon before we started this site two years ago. He’s shown he’s got a sense of humor about himself, his shows and the entertainment business in general. That seems a healthy thing to have when your show (Dollhouse) is going to be canceled, particularly when he’s got the talent to keep at it.

Dollhouse, ‘Til Death and Brothers , all certain to be canceled, are off Fox’s schedule for the November sweeps period. Dollhouse will gets its 13 episodes aired, as it seems Brothers will too. The situation with all the episodes of ‘Til Death produced or ordered and not aired is so confusing, and not worth thinking about, I will let “Riff Rafferty” fill you in via comments if you care.

While I think the prospects are still positive for Fringe because it has done much better for Fox on Thursday’s at 9 then they’ve done for awhile, there is at least some question about its future, so I will keep it in orange.

Note that the Index values for all Fox shows will continue to be very depressed for next few weeks because the World Series ratings have unusually boosted Fox’s overall average. That will slowly subside as Fox’s average evens out post-baseball.

This is a breakdown of Fox scripted shows and their renewal and cancellation prospects. Here are links to the other networks:

Read the full story

Our Renew / Cancel Index predicts potential renewal or cancellation for scripted broadcast primetime shows for the 2010-11 season (results through October 25, 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

-
Dollhouse, ‘Til Death and Brothers have been pulled from the Fox schedule for the November sweeps period. Dollhouse will return with double episodes on Friday’s in December. Brothers will move to Sundays to finish its run. ‘Til Death returns in a four episode Christmas Eve mini-marathon. Fox stole my idea! (ok, mine was for Independence Day). They are all out of the way for other shows that presumably can attract more viewers, and they are all certain to be canceled.

While I think the prospects are still positive for Fringe there is at least some question about its future, so I will keep it in orange.

Note that the Index values for all Fox shows will be depressed for next few weeks because the World Series ratings will unusually boost Fox’s overall average. That will slowly subside as Fox’s average evens out post-baseball. Edit: Fox’s average is *already* boosted because of the ALCS games, which is already driving down the Indexes of Fox’s other shows.

This is a breakdown of Fox scripted shows and their renewal and cancellation prospects. Here are links to the other networks:

Read the full story

Our Renew / Cancel Index predicts potential renewal or cancellation for scripted broadcast primetime shows for the 2010-11 season (results through October 11, 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

-
Fox’s Thursday ratings this fall with Bones and Fringe are way up over last fall (when they programmed dreck). Still, on that brutally competitive night, the ratings for the individual shows aren’t much to write home about and fans of Fringe are (not unreasonably) a bit worried. Fringe is at least in some danger, but I still believe Fox had expectations for the night that are close to what they got, and that the show will return next season.

Dollhouse will air during the November sweeps period, but even Joss Whedon is realistic about the prospects for the show. Enjoy the remaining 10 episodes.

10/22 Update: Dollhouse, ‘Til Death and Brothers have been pulled from the Fox schedule for the November sweeps period. Dollhouse will return with double episodes on Friday’s in December. Brothers will move to Sundays. No word yet on the return of ‘Til Death.

It’s highly unlikely that ‘Til Death or Brothers survives until next season as well. ‘Til Death’s producers (Sony) will have the episodes they need for syndication, and presumably won’t have an incentive to give the series away to Fox for nearly free again, and Brothers ratings are just plain awful. Still, because those are the only two open half hour slots till football is over, Fox is in a tricky situation if they want to pull just one of them early unless they double up on the other, which wouldn’t seem to increase the ratings either.

This is a breakdown of Fox scripted shows and their renewal and cancellation prospects. Here are links to the other networks:

Read the full story

Our Renew / Cancel Index predicts potential renewal or cancellation for scripted broadcast primetime shows for the 2010-11 season (results through October 11, 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

-
The announcement yesterday by Fox that they will produce and air all 13 episodes of Dollhouse that were ordered for this season sounds to me like the death knell for the show. As Robert cogently advises, don’t buy the % DVR increase hype.

I think it’s probable that yesterday’s announcement will be followed in the next week or so by an announcement that Fox is removing Dollhouse from its Friday schedule for at least the November sweeps period, perhaps without an indication on when it will return. Fans will see the last 10 episodes sometime, but who knows when.

It’s highly unlikely that ‘Til Death or Brothers survives until next season as well. ‘Til Death’s producers (Sony) will have the episodes they need for syndication, and presumably won’t have an incentive to give the series away to Fox for nearly free again, and Brothers ratings are just plain awful. Still, because those are the only two open half hour slots till football is over, Fox is in a tricky situation if they want to pull just one of them early unless they double up on the other, which wouldn’t seem to increase the ratings either.

Even though I have Fringe in orange, I think it is still quite likely, but not certain, to be renewed.

This is a breakdown of Fox scripted shows and their renewal and cancellation prospects. Here are links to the other networks:

Read the full story

Our Renew / Cancel Index predicts potential renewal or cancellation for scripted broadcast primetime shows for the 2010-11 season (results through October 4, 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

-
I’m more about the numbers than the rumors, but the numbers still say Dollhouse is a goner by the end of the season. It’s highly unlikely that ‘Til Death or Brothers survives until next season as well. ‘Til Death’s producers (Sony) will have the episodes they need for syndication, and presumably won’t need to give the series away to Fox for nearly free again, and Brothers ratings are just plain awful. Still, because those are the only two open half hour slots till football is over, Fox is in a tricky situation if they want to pull just one of them early unless they double up on the other, which wouldn’t seem to increase the ratings either. Even though I have Fringe in orange, I think the danger it gets canceled is small. It will get a big boost from American Idol in the spring and is likely to stick around another season. (It seems I was confused and it will be Glee getting the after Idol slot)

This is a breakdown of Fox scripted shows and their renewal and cancellation prospects. Here are links to the other networks:

Read the full story