Fun fact for TV shows on the bubble: You don’t have to have stellar ratings to get renewed. Yes, Nielsen numbers are a big part of the decision-making process when the broadcast networks choose which series to ax and which to keep, but they aren’t everything. Each year, plenty of shows which fair modestly in the key demo squeak by. Scroll through the TheWrap’s gallery to see the lowest-rated TV shows of the 2017-18 season — so far– that got renewed. (Of course we counted “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” here, because of that last-minute NBC pickup). All ratings in this story come from Nielsen’s “most current” data stream, which includes a week’s worth of delayed viewing where available. Least-viewed is first, most-watched last. And, yes, there are ties.
Series: “Ransom”
Net: CBS
18-49 rating: 0.4
Series: “Elementary”
Net: CBS
18-49 rating: 0.6
Series: “Madam Secretary”
Net: CBS
18-49 rating: 1.0
Series: “Instinct”
Net: CBS
18-49 rating: 1.1
Series: “For the People”
Net: ABC
18-49 rating: 1.1
Series: “A.P. Bio”
Net: NBC
18-49 rating: 1.1
Series: “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”
Net: ABC
18-49 rating: 1.1
Series: “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”
Net: Fox
18-49 rating: 1.2
*Canceled by Fox, revived by NBC 1 day later
Series: “MacGyver”
Net: CBS
18-49 rating: 1.2
Series: “Blindspot”
Net: NBC
18-49 rating: 1.2
Series: “Gotham”
Net: Fox
18-49 rating: 1.2
Series: “Man With a Plan”
Net: CBS
18-49 rating: 1.2
Series: “Fresh Off the Boat”
Net: ABC
18-49 rating: 1.3
Series: “Lethal Weapon”
Net: Fox
18-49 rating: 1.3
Now, if you are a show with low-ratings who just made the cut for next season, don’t feel bad. After all, it could be worse — you could be one of the highest-rated shows that got canceled this year. Oh, don’t you start gloating, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”
