Broadcast TV in Limbo: 26 Shows Still Awaiting Renewal
It’s springtime, which means the days are getting warmer, the trees are getting greener, and TV fans are biting their nails and pulling out their hair as they wait to hear the fate of their favorite broadcast series.
We’ve already gotten some renewals this year and some cancellations — Monarch was dethroned and The Resident was evicted, for example — but more than two dozen shows still hang in the balance.
Below, see the scripted series that the broadcast networks haven’t renewed or canceled yet, along with ratings figures (including rounded total viewership stats) from TV Series Finale.
Alaska Daily (ABC)
Hilary Swank’s crime drama is second-to-last among ABC’s scripted shows in the 18-to-49 ratings (0.23) but above the already-renewed Abbott Elementary in total viewers (2.8 million).
All American: Homecoming
Similarly, the future of the spinoff All American: Homecoming is in question beyond its soon-to-air third season. The showrunner has teased a “new direction” for the show, so perhaps this revamp will be a touchdown for the network.
American Auto (NBC)
This car-manufacturer sitcom isn’t firing on all cylinders, numbers-wise: Its average 18-to-49 rating is 0.28 and its average total viewership is 2.0 million.
Animal Control (Fox)
This new Joel McHale comedy hasn’t kept a ton of viewers in its net, with an average 18-to-49 demo rating of 0.25 and average total viewership of 1.3 million.
Big Sky (ABC)
The crime drama got a reboot of sorts in Season 3, but to diminishing returns — it’s down 18 percent in the 18-to-49 demo (0.25) and 11 percent in total viewers (2.3 million) compared to last season.
Call Me Kat (Fox)
Now in its third season, this cat café sitcom starring Mayim Bialik has an average 18-to-49 demo rating of 0.21 and an average total viewership of 1.2 million.
The Company You Keep (ABC)
This sexy spy drama hasn’t seduced many American households: It has an average rating of 2.6 in the 18-to-49 demo and an average total viewership of 2.4 million.
The Conners (ABC)
The Roseanne spinoff ties Abbott Elementary for first among ABC shows in average 18-to-49 rating (0.50), and its average total viewership (3.8 million) ranks it in the networks’ top five.
East New York (CBS)
This cop drama starring Amanda Warren and Jimmy Smits is on the lower end of CBS’ spectrum with its 18-to-49 demo average (0.39) and its total viewer average (5.0 million).
Fantasy Island (Fox)
Though this anthology reboot’s average total viewership (1.8 million) is decent for Fox, its producers are probably fantasizing of a better average 18-to-49 demo rating than 0.20.
Gotham Knights (The CW)
This alternate-universe DC series is beating the other freshman CW series, with an average 18-to-49 demo rating of 0.09 and an average total viewership of 0.47 million.
Grand Crew (NBC)
The Grand Crew ratings ain’t grand, sadly: Its average 18-to-49 rating is 0.17 and its average total viewership is 1.2 million, ranking the friend-group sitcom last among NBC shows on both counts.
Home Economics (ABC)
This family comedy’s third season is up in both its average 18-to-49 rating (0.35, a gain of more than 6 percent) and its total viewership (2.0 million, a gain of nearly 6 percent).
HouseBroken (Fox)
This animated sitcom about anthropomorphic animals tails all other Fox shows in both metrics, with an average 18-to-49 demo of 0.19 and an average total viewership of 0.7 million.
Kung Fu (The CW)
The CW’s martial-arts-heavy drama is down more than 18 percent year-over-year in the 18-to-49 demo (0.07) and down more than 20 percent in total viewers (0.41 million)
Lopez vs. Lopez (NBC)
A more accurate title might be Lopez and Lopez vs. Time Slot Competition: The father-daughter sitcom has gotten an 18-to-49 average of 0.27 and a total viewership average of 2.0 million.
Not Dead Yet (ABC)
Gina Rodriguez’s obituary-writer comedy is, yes, not dead yet — with its average 18-to-49 rating (0.32) and average total viewership (2.3 million) in the middle of ABC’s pack.
The Rookie: Feds (ABC)
This spinoff of The Rookie has only gotten about two-thirds of its already-renewed predecessor’s average 18-to-49 rating (0.30 vs. 0.43) and average total viewership (2.4 million vs. 3.8 million) this season.
S.W.A.T. (CBS)
Shemar Moore’s procedural police drama is down nearly 6 percent year-over-year in the 18-to-49 demo (0.42) but up 18 percent in total viewers (5.1 million).
Superman & Lois (The CW)
Of The CW’s pending series, this superhero drama has the best average 18-to-49 rating (0.11) and the second-best average total viewership (0.67 million).
True Lies (CBS)
True Lies seems truly doomed, with the Steve Howey–Ginger Gonzaga action drama ranking last among CBS shows in the 18-to-49 demo (0.25) and total viewers (2.7 million).
Walker (The CW)
This Texas Ranger drama starring Jared Padalecki ranks as The CW’s most-watched scripted series in total viewers, with an average of 0.71 million, and it boasts an average 18-to-49 demo of 0.09.
Walker: Independence (The CW)
Walker’s 19th-century-set spinoff ranks low for The CW in the 18-to-49 demo, with an average rating of 0.05, but high for the network in total viewers, with an average of 0.50 million.
Welcome to Flatch (Fox)
This small-town Ohio mockumentary is the only Fox show to improve both its average 18-to-49 rating (0.23, up 35 percent) and its average total viewership (1.0 million, up 30 percent) this season.
The Winchesters (The CW)
Supernatural’s prequel series has so-so ratings for The CW, ranking seventh for the network in the 18-to-49 demo, with an average of 0.07, and in total viewers, with an average of 0.46 million.
Young Rock (NBC)
Dwayne Johnson’s semi-autobiographical sitcom doesn’t have the lure of his big-screen movies: Its 18-to-49 average is 0.25 and its total viewership average is 1.4 million.
Conversation11 Comments
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G
Renew SWAT. Don’t watch any of the others. Tried to get into The Rookie:Feds, but that things needs to be put out of its misery sooner rather than later. It’s AWFUL
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P
Do not cancel Alaska Daily. The story lines, the actors, the filming are excellent. Repeat Do Not Cancel
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B
The only ones I’ll miss are SWAT, East New York and Alaska Daily
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G
Alaska Daily is AMAZING. Big Sky is really good too. I do love The Winchesters and Walker Indepence - there are no shows like them on TV. I like the escapism funny sitcoms, Call Me Kat, not Dead Yet, the Conners. Animal Contol has gotten better each episode. The first few weren’t that great, so people may have given up on them. They need to give it a chance. It’s good. Also The Company You Keep and True Lies are really good too. No, they aren’t totally believable but that is what makes escapism tv good. It’s just a chance to be entertained and not be politicized and preached to or have to think. And what Tv networks need to take into account on show released in spring, starting in February kids baseball and soccer and track and other sporting activities ramp up. Families are not home until really late, even on school nights. There are dancing classes and cheering classes and baton classes and just any kind of class your child would like to take. A person or family, especially in the age demographic they are trying to nail 18-49just isn’t home this time of the year they watch the shows , but it May be on DVR days later or binge a few at a time weeks later or on a streaming service on the weekend. So many great shows are put out to pasture way to early due to network execs shortsightedness
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P
I think it's shouldn't be surprising that some of these shows are getting lower viewership. They keep changing the days and it seams every other episode is a rerun.
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O
please renew the about half of the above that i watch! Alaska Daily is great! and renew Rookie Feds ,,but please, dump Niecy Nash Betts from the cast..
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G
In all fairness to ABC shows, ABC has removed itself from Dish and those shows can't be watched. I would hate for a good show to bite the dust because of ABC politics.
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B
Are any of these decisions based on the pending writers strike?
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G
Don't cancel Alaska Daily. I lived in Alaska many years and never was aware of the horrors the Indigenous women lived with. This series is a public service showing what has been ignored or covered up.
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O
Alaska Daily and East New York are great. Renew them!!!
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G
I really like Hilary Swank on Alaska Daily and I think Animal Control is hilarious, but I will watch most anything with Joel McHale!! Welcome to Flatch was a new find and I think it also is very funny!!
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