Cancellation and Renewal Predictions

It's almost judgement day. At this point in the season, we should be able to tell the fate of the remaining shows, or at least classify them as 'bubble shows'. For a more statistical look at the prospects, I encourage you to seek out the Renew/Cancel Index at TV By The Numbers, link on the right hand side of the page.

CBS doesn't have very many unsuccessful shows,. In some ways, that makes it hard to predict and in others, it makes it easy. I'd say the Criminal Minds spinoff will be back, as will The Good Wife (Emmy nominated, and recent rumours have suggested CBS is looking for a two-year renewal), CSI:NY has kind of tanked since moving to Friday, so I fully expect that one to do. I'd predict Bleep My Dad Says and Mad Love to be canceled, but with the Two and a Half Men situation, it's a wild card.


ABC: Detroit 1-8-7 and No Ordinary Family will be canceled. I'd say Better With You and Off the Map don't have much of a shot, Body of Proof is actually looking pretty good, the only succesful new drama from ABC this year. Mr. Sunshine could go either way, but I'm leaning towards canceled. If ABC decides they want to do a second comedy night, I could easily see it staying. Happy Endings is heading towards cancellation. It's hard to make a call on V. I'd lean towards cancelled, but I could see it coming back again next midseason.


FOX: With Fringe renewed and The X-Factor on its way, there's hardly any room left on FOX's schedule. I'd say the only bubble show that could make it would be Lie to Me, possibly with a summer renewal. I'd say Human Target and The Chicago Code are dead (then again, I said that about Fringe a month ago). Breaking In has a decent shot, it depends whether or not FOX really cares about the fact its retention from American Idol is not so great. Traffic Light is a goner.

NBC: Chuck, as much as it pains me to say it, is probably not coming back next year. If it does, it'll be a very limited order. In the past couple weeks, its ratings have fallen too far for me to look at the situation with optimism. Harry's Law will probably return. It stayed slightly under NBC's average until its last episode, and it gets a low of viewers, which really only helps NBC in the PR department, but it still helps. The Cape, Perfect Couples, The Event, and Law and Order: Los Angeles won't be back. Parenthood will be renewed.