TV Renewal Bubble: Which Shows Will Return This Fall?
Steve Marsi
at
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Which shows are returning for the 2011-2012 season? Which are as good as gone? Which are sitting on the proverbial bubble and could fall either way?
Just a few weeks remain before the networks decide which will and won't be back this fall. Are your favorite programs on the block, or looking safe?
If they DON'T appear below, you should be alright. But if they are, don't go breathing a sigh of relief yet. Here are two dozen shows in jeopardy:
$#*! My Dad Says (CBS)
The Good News: Despite negative critical response, the show debuted to 12.5 million viewers and held about 80 percent of The Big Bang Theory's audience.
The Bad News: The show wrapped up its freshman season in a hurry in February to make room for new comedy, Mad Love, which also appears in this story.
Better With You (ABC)
The Good News: ABC loves its comedy block.
The Bad News: There are better comedies.
Body of Proof (ABC)
The Good News: ABC's second-highest rated drama debut this season (13.9 million). Also, Dana Delany (pictured, above) is infinitely watchable.
The Bad News: The numbers sputtered a little since, albeit not too badly. Make no mistake, we'd be surprised if this one were canceled.
The Good News: ABC higher-ups reportedly restored some faith in it recently.
The Bad News: Cast shakeups, declining ratings and worst of all, writing quality.
The Chicago Code (Fox)
The Good News: Critics responded to the Code's character-driven approach to the police procedural and to the show's creative pedigree.
The Bad News: Consistent but less than exciting numbers leave it at risk.
Chuck (NBC)
The Good News: Chuck fans are insane; What else does NBC have going for it?
The Bad News: Four seasons already must seem like plenty to the suits.
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (CBS)
The Good News: CBS loves franchises, and this already wins its time slot.
The Bad News: Fans haven't exactly responded positively to the ensemble, led by Forest Whitaker. The show already suffered a steep decline in viewers.
CSI: NY (CBS)
The Good News: The veteran drama's move to Friday nights bolstered rookie cop drama Blue Bloods with a solid lead-in, and Blue Bloods became a hit.
The Bad News: Blue Bloods is now a hit.
The Defenders (CBS)
The Good News: Jim Belushi and Jerry O'Connell are a charming pair of leads.
The Bad News: The show was CBS' lowest-rated drama of the season.
Detroit 1-8-7 (ABC)
The Good News: It scored big points with critics.
The Bad News: ABC's lowest-rated hour this year that hasn't been axed yet.
The Event (NBC)
The Good News: We're not gonna lie, Lost Lite was always doomed.
The Bad News: Viewers were even more MIA after a looong hiatus.
Human Target (Fox)
The Good News: It's not a bad show. Its ratings aren't horrible.
The Bad News: Not a lot of buzz. Or ratings growth.
Law & Order: Los Angeles (NBC)
The Good News: It's been 20 years since there wasn't a Law & Order on NBC.
The Bad News: There's already SVU carrying the torch for the franchise, while the buzzed-about re-launch drew only 5.4 million viewers.
Lie to Me (Fox)
The Good News: On the bubble for two seasons, Fox obviously believes in it.
The Bad News: On the bubble for two seasons, Fox may finally move on.
Mad Love (CBS)
The Good News: Great cast, kinda fits with How I Met Your Mother lead-in.
The Bad News: Too many similar shows, doesn't hold a lot of HIMYM fans.
Mr. Sunshine (ABC)
The Good News: Matthew Perry and Allison Janney back on prime time!
The Bad News: American Idol is on opposite it.
Nikita (CW)
The Good News: The well-acted spy drama is retaining a healthy number of viewers from its Vampire Diaries lead-in, and doing pretty well overall.
The Bad News: It doesn't really feel like a CW show.
No Ordinary Family (ABC)
The Good News: [crickets]
The Bad News: Stars Michael Chiklis and Julie Benz see the writing on the wall, as both are starring in other pilots up for consideration this fall.
Off the Map (ABC)
The Good News: Shonda Rhimes is on board as executive producer and it's basically Grey's Anatomy in the jungle. Private Practice is also a hit.
The Bad News: In spite of the Rhimes pedigree, ratings were pretty bad.
One Tree Hill (CW)
The Good News: It's the perennial bubble show/teen drama that never dies!
The Bad News: It's eight seasons old and the CW has some promising pilots.
Outsourced (NBC)
The Good News: NBC ordered a full season of the new show.
The Bad News: Low ratings, universally panned by critics.
Perfect Couples (NBC)
The Good News: Olivia Munn has The Daily Show to fall back on.
The Bad News: NBC swapped it out for The Paul Reiser Show.
Rules of Engagement (CBS)
The Good News: Two and a Half Men is even more up in the air.
The Bad News: Average audience was the lowest in its history.
V (ABC)
The Good News: The reboot ended on a high.
The Bad News: The high may have been too late, as the episode was seen by just 5.5 million (a far cry from the 14 million who watched the premiere).
Which shows are you hoping come back? Which, if any, are you willing to see go? Share your comments and opinions with us below ...
Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.
