Every spring, TV fans are tortured as networks drag their feet in announcing which shows will return and which shows are goners. Here are 27 series that the major networks have been notably quiet about, along with our predictions about whether they'll live to see another season. Disagree? Feel free to share in the comments. By the end of May, we'll know who was right. Let's start with the always-in-danger NBC comedy "Community." Our prediction: It'll live. 
"Revenge": Now in its third season, can this soapy ABC drama pull through for a fourth? Prediction: It lives. 
"Resurrection": This freshman ABC drama, about individuals thought to be dead who mysteriously return, has been performing well on Sunday nights. Prediction: Lives. 
"The 100": One of The CW's new futuristic sci-fi dramas, about a group of 100 teens who are sent back to Earth from their home on a spacecraft, it has found a stronger following than some of the network's other offerings. Prediction: Lives. 
"Hannibal": Movie spinoffs don't always play well on TV, but NBC's drama focused on the relationship between Hannibal Lecter and an FBI profiler has found a fan base. It's not doing so hot in Friday night ratings, but we're going to make a risky bet. Prediction: Lives. 
"Last Man Standing": Tim Allen is essentially playing the 2.0 version of Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor in this ABC comedy, but that's good enough for the show's fans, who've made it a mainstay on Friday nights. Prediction: Lives. 
"About a Boy": Yes, NBC has more than one series inspired by a movie, this one riffing on the 2002 movie that itself was inspired by Nick Hornby's novel. We think this freshman series, created by Jason Katims and starring talent like David Walton and Minnie Driver, is going to get a second round. Prediction: Lives. 
"Almost Human": Everything about this new Fox drama sounds like it should be a success: It's a cop drama with the added twist of androids working alongside human police officers, and it's produced by J.J. Abrams. Somehow, this hasn't become a breakout hit for the network, making us wonder if they'll want to test it again with a second season. Prediction: Brace for bad news. 
"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.": With the buzz around this show and its connection to the ever-popular Marvel movie franchise, we think this is an easy call. Prediction: Lives. 
"Super Fun Night": Rebel Wilson was part of the wave of actors known for movie roles who decided to shift over to TV. Unfortunately, that didn't work out so well. Fortunately, there's going to be a "Pitch Perfect 2." Prediction: Canned. 
"Dracula": For NBC, Jonathan Rhys Meyers was the movie guy coming to swim in network TV waters -- yet his portrayal of "Dracula" never really had any bite. Prediction: Brace for bad news. 
"Revolution": This NBC drama about the aftermath of a massive power outage (spoiler: things get ugly and retro) surprised everyone last year with a ratings resurgence. It doesn't look like it's been as lucky this year. Prediction: Brace for bad news. 
"Grey's Anatomy": You might think Shonda Rhimes' soapy medical drama would be running out of renewal gas after a decade on ABC. You'd be wrong; stars Ellen Pompeo and Matthew Dempsey are riding this train for at least two more years. Prediction: Lives. 
"The Crazy Ones": When it comes to this adorable comedy starring Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar, that was noticeably left off CBS' humongous series renewal list, we'll just say this: We really hope we're wrong. Prediction: Canned. 
"Intelligence": Who doesn't want to see Josh Holloway run around as a superspy with a computer chip in his brain? Enough people to make this freshman CBS drama disposable. Prediction: Canned. 
"The Tomorrow People": Who knows, maybe William Shatner live-tweeting "The Tomorrow People" will be enough to pull The CW's other futuristic sci-fi drama into the "must keep" pile. It's not as though lukewarm ratings have stopped the network from renewing before, but our Prediction: Brace for bad news. 
"The Mentalist": We fear that Simon Baker's run as investigation consultant Patrick Jane has run its course, despite the pleas from fans. Prediction: Brace for bad news. 
"Nashville": Here's some good news for stressed out "Nashville" fans (like ourselves) who are worried about their favorite country soap: Michelle Obama's going to make a guest appearance in the May 7 episode. They can't cancel a show the first lady's been on, right? Right?!? Sigh. We'd better heed our Prediction: Brace for bad news. 
"Scandal": As if ABC could cancel Kerry Washington. C'mon. You know this renewal is handled. Prediction: Lives (in crazy town, but it lives). 
"Trophy Wife": A bad title can sink a show, and we think ABC's new comedy about a twice-divorced husband making his extended family work with a younger love interest doesn't get its due. Prediction: Brace for bad news. 
"The Carrie Diaries": Given that its second season was basically a gift from The CW to fans, we're not anticipating seeing the young Carrie Bradshaw invited back for a third round. Prediction: Canned. 
"Enlisted": This comedy about a trio of brothers in the military was dropped off Fox's calendar back in March, so we're going to go ahead and call this one dead in the water. Prediction: Canned. 
"Hart of Dixie": Rachel Bilson's fish-out-of-water story of a cosmopolitan doctor finding a new life down South has morphed into a mainstay on The CW. Can't see Bilson being out of work anytime soon. Prediction: Lives. 
"Believe": J.J. Abrams hasn't had the best luck with TV series this year. "Revolution" and "Almost Human" are hurting, and so is "Believe," a series about a young girl with special powers being protected from those who wish to hurt her by an ex-con. It has a nice lead-in from "The Voice," but not enough of an audience to show for it. Prediction: Canned. 
"Parenthood": We're always impressed when we met a "Parenthood" fan without an ulcer, because this critically adored drama is forever in danger of cancellation. We like its survivor spirit though. Prediction: Lives. 
"The Neighbors": This ABC comedy about a family that moves into a neighborhood filled with extraterrestrials has apparently become too alien for its viewers. Shame, too -- it's actually pretty funny, despite what you may have heard. Prediction: Canned. 
"Suburgatory": This dramedy about a teen uprooted from the big city to the suburbs has hung in for three seasons without achieving more than modest success. Scrappy, and we like it, so we're hoping it'll survive on ABC for another season. Prediction: Survives by a hair.
- Every spring, fans wait to find out which shows will be renewed or canceled
- This year's no different, with a large number of shows facing possible cancellation
- Here are predictions for some of TV's top titles
(CNN) -- Every April it happens.
Fans of TV series are waiting to find out if their favorite shows will return next season. Often, they won't know until May, when the networks present their fall schedules.
In recent years, we've seen last-minute renewals of shows like "Chuck," "Community" and "Fringe," often after social media campaigns to keep them around.
This year is no different, as a large number of series are "on the bubble" (or just have yet to be renewed).
Here's a rundown of some of them, and our predictions as to whether you'll see them again next season.
Seven shows to bet on:
"Community," NBCEvery year, fans agonize over whether this critical favorite will get picked up, and every year it comes back at the last minute. Lately, it's come back with a lower budget, as a midseason replacement, and with two cast members -- Chevy Chase and Donald Glover -- having moved on.
The ratings weren't any better this year, but show creator Dan Harmon's return has breathed new life into the series, and critics say season five was one of the best yet.
With NBC's only other veteran comedy being the recently renewed "Parks and Recreation," we're thinking "Community" will get that much-fabled sixth season. As for fans' other great hope, a movie -- we're more likely to see "Arrested Development" on the big screen before the "Community" crew.
"Revenge," ABCRatings fortunes have tumbled for this once-hit show and the showrunner was replaced this past season after critics complained of a convoluted second year.
However, it's doing better in its new time slot, which should be enough to give it a fourth season.
"Resurrection," ABCSee above. ABC has been looking for a new Sunday hit for a few years now, and this series about the return of relatives thought to be long dead has captured the imaginations of enough viewers to keep it around.
"The 100," CWThe first few episodes of the CW's ambitious freshman series, about a large group of juvenile delinquents being sent back to a post-apocalyptic Earth, did well enough in the ratings to make it hard to imagine that it wouldn't come back (especially when other new series, like "The Tomorrow People" and "Star-Crossed," are struggling).
"Hannibal," NBCFans are ravenous to find out how Dr. Lecter will be caught in this series, which is currently serving as a prequel to "Red Dragon" and "Silence of the Lambs."
Despite some recent low ratings, critics and "fannibals" have embraced it enough that we could see it going the Netflix or cable route if it doesn't get a third season on NBC.
"Last Man Standing," ABCThis Tim Allen vehicle anchors ABC's Friday schedule, and the ABC-Allen tradition is probably enough to bring it back for a third year.
"About a Boy," NBCSay this for the Olympics -- it got people to tune in for this TV adaptation of the Hugh Grant movie in large enough numbers that suddenly NBC has a new hit comedy night on Tuesdays ("Growing Up Fisher" should get a second season as well).
Five shows that could go either way:
"Almost Human," FoxLike many sci-fi shows, this J.J. Abrams series gained a following over its first season, and it had star power (not to mention a futuristic bromance) in Karl Urban and Michael Ealy as a human and android cop paired together.
However, one has to wonder if Fox was hoping for the same runaway success here that it had with "Sleepy Hollow" on the same night. Since the ratings didn't reach that level, it's still a tough call whether this will return for season two.
"Nashville," ABCThis soap about the world of country music has a devoted following but ratings have sunk in its second year. We may not know until November if the fans will save it.
"The Mentalist," CBSThis show has had a great run, enough to get it syndicated on cable, but the numbers just don't seem to be there for CBS to pick it up again. On the other hand, long-running shows can often get final hour reprieves.
"Parenthood," NBCCritics are still head over heels for this series, even if its Thursday night ratings were never anything great. The network may believe in it enough to bring it back for another year.
"Trophy Wife," ABCA small but vocal chorus of critics has risen up in defense of the Malin Akerman series with a bad title. (See also: "Cougar Town.") It's not bringing in the audience of hit lead-in "The Goldbergs," so we'll see if the network is willing to give it a chance, as it did for a few years with "Happy Endings" (never forget ...).
Three shows that will likely be gone:
"The Crazy Ones," CBSProof that big names and big premiere ratings just aren't enough to keep you afloat. It got one of the best timeslots on television on CBS's Thursday night, but Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar's father-daughter act just hasn't been cutting it in the ratings department over the past few months. (Its cancellation would also be a blow to the idea that a sitcom with no laugh track or studio audience can make it on CBS, but the network has its "Bad Teacher" comedy still to test out.)
We hope the third time will be the charm for Gellar's comeback tour (and there's always that "Mrs. Doubtfire" sequel for Williams).
"The Neighbors," ABCThis show about a family of humans moving into an alien neighborhood was greeted with awful reviews when it premiered two years ago, yet its small but loyal audience kept it around even through a bump from Wednesdays to Fridays. Unfortunately, this year it probably won't be so lucky. We'll miss you, Larry Bird.
"The Carrie Diaries," CWThe hype around this "Sex and the City" prequel may have been enough to give it a second season, but we're afraid we won't get to see any more of young Carrie Bradshaw's exploits in the 1980s.
No comments:
Post a Comment