Winner: MacGyver
This reboot of the classic 80’s series defied the conventional wisdom that a Friday night timeslot equals death for a new show. Instead, the show has managed to maintain solid ratings and recently scored a full-season order.
Loser: Pure Genius
The only new CBS fall show to premiere to soft ratings, this medical drama starring Augustus Prew and Dermot Mulroney opened to just 6.2 million viewers and a 1.0 rating. And as shows tend to dip in their subsequent weeks, this one could be ripe for cancellation already.
Winner: Supergirl’s CW move
The Girl of Steel went from being a bubble show on CBS to the top-rated show on The CW. This was a no-brainer.
Loser: Notorious
“Notorious” has the unfortunate distinction of being the first fall show to have its episode order cut – essentially a cancellation.
Winner: This Is Us
Who knew a wholesome, earnest family drama would be the breakout hit of the fall TV season? NBC needed a hit, and it got one in Dan Fogelman’s latest.
Winner: Lethal Weapon
Among the hits and misses of movies being turned into TV shows, Fox’s redo of the Mel Gibson cop comedy is firmly in the “hit” column, thanks to the strong chemistry between the two leads.
Winner: Jeff Zucker
We may all come out losers when this election is finally decided, but with the way CNN has cashed in on ratings thanks to Trump’s antics, CNN boss Jeff Zucker definitely won’t be one.
Winner: FX
Move over, HBO and AMC. From “Fargo” to “American Horror Story” to “Atlanta” to “Better Things,” FX has become the go-to cable network for quality programming.
Loser: Divorce
Sarah Jessica Parker’s big return to TV and the network of “Sex and the City” didn’t make much of a splash, and “Insecure” and “Westworld” are both buzzier.
Winner: Designated Survivor
Kiefer Sutherland’s return to TV was a resounding success, and “Designated Survivor” is a hit with audiences and critics alike.
Loser: NFL Games
There are only a few guarantees in life: death, taxes, and strong TV ratings for NFL games. That last one has been a bit shaky thus far this season, however, as weak match-ups, sloppy play, altered rules and even a contagious national anthem protest have turned a significant number of viewers off.
