Post by Queen of the Damned on May 18, 2010 19:53:34 GMT -5
Upfronts News Roundup: Bubble Show Updates
by Chris Harnick, posted May 17th 2010 1:45PM
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Cold CaseIt's mid-May and that means one thing: The networks are doing their upfront presentations! Yes, it's a wonderful and exciting time to be a television fan. We've got the updates on all the major cancellations and renewals from CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox complied all in one place. Did your favorite show survive?
CBS:
Canceled: After seven seasons, CBS pulled the plug on 'Cold Case.' Despite a loyal fan base, ratings fell during its tenure on TV. The show averaged 14.18 million viewers in its first season, but slumped to 9.55 during its seventh and most recent. Falling ratings and high production costs are likely to blame here.
Canceled: Despite insider predictions that the show was safe, Jennifer Love Hewitt's 'Ghost Whisperer' will not return next season. The show aired on Friday nights, a night many consider the place shows go to die, and flourished. Over five seasons it averaged approximately 10 million viewers. While not great numbers by CBS standards, they were good for a Friday night -- though apparently not good enough to warrant a sixth season. UPDATE: According to the Ausiello Files, ABC may save 'Ghost Whisperer,' though no official decision has been made.
Canceled: The freshman drama 'Miami Medical' won't live to see a second season. The series debuted to decent numbers, but started plummeting soon after. Ratings eventually rose, but by then it was too late.
Canceled/Saved?: 'The New Adventures of Old Christine' has been on the bubble virtually every year it has been on the air, but CBS has finally given it the boot. The series just wrapped its fifth season with an average of 7 million viewers. ABC is reportedly interested in saving the show, but no official decision has been made. UPDATE: A source for the Ausiello Files says there is now a "50/50 chance" that ABC will save 'Christine.'
Canceled: The Jenna Elfman-fronted sitcom 'Accidentally on Purpose' won't go on to a second season. The sitcom was plagued with mixed reviews from the start and averaged around 7-8 million viewers -- not a success by CBS standards.
Saved: 'Medium' slipped by the cancellation ax once again. The show migrated over from NBC last season and was paired with 'Ghost Whisperer' on Friday nights and has done decently, averaging about 8 million viewers this season.
Saved: CBS has picked up its midseason comedy 'Rules of Engagement' for another season. The comedy does well in the coveted 18-49 demo, and this season the series has bounced around in total viewers from 10.19 million to as low as 6.7 million.
Saved: 'Two and a Half Men' has signed Charlie Sheen for two more years. 'Men' is the top-rated comedy on television, averaging around 15 million viewers over the course of seven seasons. Sheen is set to receive close to $2 million per episode. Our full report can be found here.
CBS announces its full schedule on Wednesday. Stay tuned to TV Squad for more updates.
NBC:
Canceled: 'Law & Order,' NBC's cornerstone legal drama, was canceled after 20 years on the air. The series, which helped launch the careers of many, including Chris Noth and Benjamin Bratt, slumped in the ratings in recent years. Luckily, the franchise will be carried on by 'Law & Order: SVU' and 'Law & Order: Los Angeles.' UPDATE: As we previously reported, executive producer Dick Wolf is still looking for ways to save the show.
Canceled: 'Heroes,' NBC's superhero drama, debuted to strong ratings -- 14.3 million viewers -- in 2006, but was a victim of the writer's strike during its second season. The show never rebounded and consistently lost viewers, with only 4.4 million viewers tuning in to its season finale on Feb. 8. NBC may be planning a wrap-up movie or mini-series, though nothing is set in stone.
Canceled: 'Mercy' and 'Trauma,' NBC's two medical shows that couldn't fill the void 'ER' left, have gone the way of the dinosaur. 'Mercy' saw an average of 6.4 million viewers during its brief tenure on air, but its finale was only watched by 4.4 million people. 'Trauma' debuted to about 7 million viewers but lost steam week to week, only getting more episodes ordered after NBC's 'The Jay Leno' show failed.
Saved: Fan favorite and perennial bubble show 'Chuck' was given a fourth season, and will kick off NBC's Monday nights. The show has held steady this season, with last week's episode bringing in 5.3 million viewers, and was the subject of a flash mob campaign by fans to save the show.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LIST OF NBC PICKUPS, RENEWALS AND CANCELLATIONS
FOX:
Canceled: And so ends Fox's late-night talk-show experiment: 'The Wanda Sykes Show.' Created to fill the 'MadTV' void, the show premiered to decent ratings. However, the talk show couldn't keep the momentum going, and its ratings fell below those of 'MadTV's' final season.
Saved: Fox moved 'Lie to Me' to June this season, which is never a good sign, but it has since officially been renewed for a 13-episode third season. Its renewal is a bit of surprise, since ratings have fallen since its first season -- its first new episode since December aired in April and only attracted 5.28 million viewers.
Saved: Another struggling drama, 'Human Target,' also got a surprise pickup. The action show debuted to decent numbers and held steady as a lead-in for 'American Idol,' but didn't perform well in its season finale, which brought in only 7.2 million viewers. Fox has moved the show to Fridays next fall.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LIST OF FOX PICKUPS, RENEWALS AND CANCELLATIONS
ABC:
Canceled: The Alyssa Milano sitcom, 'Romantically Challenged,' received the boot after to failing to capitalize on its lead-in, ratings juggernaut 'Dancing With the Stars.'
Canceled: 'FlashForward' debuted to decent ratings, 12.4 million viewers, but fell drastically. It recently hit a low of 4.4 million viewers, failing to keep the audience around. The show also switched showrunners and suffered from a lengthy hiatus.
Canceled: No surprise here -- ABC canceled the low-rated comedies 'Scrubs' and 'Better Off Ted.' 'Scrubs' was around for nine seasons, seven on NBC and two on ABC. 'Better Off Ted' had passionate fans, but not enough of them tuned in, the series hit a low with 2.17 million viewers.
Saved: 'V,' ABC's other science fiction/concept drama, got a surprise renewal. It aired four episodes during the fall, with viewers starting at 14.3 million and falling to 9.3 million. Its return this spring after a lengthy hiatus was only watched by 7.2 million and was bested in viewers by a rerun of CBS' 'The Good Wife.'
Saved: 'Brothers & Sisters' was renewed for a shortened 18-episode season, despite its hefty production costs. Look for official word from ABC during its upfront regarding the rumored new season.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LIST OF ABC PICKUPS, RENEWALS AND CANCELLATIONS
THE CW:
Canceled: The CW's 'Melrose Place' reboot won't live to see a second season. The series premiere was seen by 2.6 million viewers and ratings slumped from there. After much hype, the show failed to connect with viewers, not even Heather Locklear could save it.
Saved: 'One Tree Hill' will surprisingly live to see season 8. The popular teen soap has averaged no more than 3 million viewers for the past few years, but those ratings are OK by The CW standards.
Saved: Another surprise renewal, critically-acclaimed 'Life Unexpected' has also been picked up for a second season. The series premiered to 2.8 million viewers but slumped to 1.8 million for its season finale.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE CW PICKUPS, RENEWALS AND CANCELLATIONS
Tell us: What cancellation has you the most upset? Are you happy about any of the shows that were renewed?
www.tvsquad.com/2010/05/17/upfronts-news-roundup-bubble-show-updates/
