Are TV Networks ‘Secretly’ Canceling New Shows?

TV Tattle

Are TV networks “secretly” canceling new shows?

Not a single new fall broadcast show has been canceled so far this season, which is unusual, as E! News points out. Yet a number of poorly performing rookies have had their episode orders reduced. As E! News notes, “instead of canceling poorly performing shows and putting them out of their misery (ie. allowing talented actors and writers to move onto other, better/less doomed things), networks are holding on for dear life with a new, trendy thing called ‘reducing the episode order.’”


Ash vs. Evil Dead renewed for Season 2 before its Season 1 premiere

Says a Starz exec: “One season isn’t enough to satisfy the fans’ two decade-long appetite for more Ash.”

Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants are moving to Fox

The pageants formerly owned by Donald Trump will now air on Fox, starting on Dec. 20 with the airing of the 64th annual Miss Universe pageant.

CNBC is charging about $250,000 per 30-second ad for tonight’s GOP debate

CNBC is counting on Donald Trump, who used to have a “Trump Tuesdays” segment on the business news network, for a big ratings boost. The price for a 30-second ad “significantly exceeds” what CNBC typically charges for primetime hours, reports The NY Times. As CNBC chairman Mark Hoffman notes, “This is a substantial, historic sort of one-off.”


Watch George R.R. Martin as a zombie on Z Nation

The Game of Thrones honcho’s cameo on the Syfy series airs this Friday.


The Next Top Model franchise has crowned its first transgender winner

Holland’s Next Top Model winner Loiza Lameras revealed halfway through the 10th Cycle that she was transgender.


Dr. Phil to play tapes of ex-Subway spokesman Jared Fogle talking about child sex

The show will devote Thursday and Friday to the secretly recorded tapes.


Mindy Kaling’s new book contains a real voicemail number

If you leave numerous voicemails, will Mindy Kaling call you back?


ABC’s Wicked City has fall’s 2nd-worst premiere in the key demo

Just 3.3 million watched the Ed Westwick serial killer drama. In fact, Wicked City premiered to lower numbers than Forever, its canceled timeslot predecessor.


Baby Daddy’s Jean-Luc Bilodeau to undergo skin grafts today as he recovers from his burns

The ABC Family star posted a pic of himself in the hospital giving the thumbs up.


Judy Greer signs on for a Mom guest stint

She’ll get some help playing a sloppy drunk.


NeNe Leakes to make a brief return to The Real Housewives of Atlanta

She’ll make a surprise appearance when the ladies make a trip to Jamaica.


Gotham casts House of Cards’ Nathan Darrow as Mr. Freeze

He’ll make his first appearance in the Nov. 30 episode.


Game of Thrones’ Ser Barristan Selmy was “miffed” by his abrupt exit

Ian McElhinney says the showrunners never took him aside to tell he would be killed off in Season 5.


NBC teams with The Descendants Oscar winners on The Leeches

Jim Rash and Nat Faxon’s family comedy follows a young woman who’s forced to become business partners with the mom she so despises.


Carrie Brownstein had the perfect response when Stephen Colbert asked, “Are you cool?”

“No matter what I say, I fail,” said the Portlandia star.


Lorne Michaels and his SNL co-head writer launch a sports humor video website

The Kicker from SNL co-head writer Brian Tucker will feature humorous video content from SNL-ers Andy Samberg and Kenan Thompson, as well as “Weird Al” Yankovic and JB Smoove.


Here’s your first look at Britney Spears on Jane the Virgin

Spears plays herself on the Nov. 9 episode.


Once Upon a Time’s Cinderella is head to Nashville

Jessy Schram will play a singer-songwriter named Cash Gray.


Kelly Ripa recreated Kim Kardashian’s famous “bootylicious” magazine cover for Halloween

Check out the Live star with a prosthetic derriere.