Sure, it’s a bit early in the fall broadcast TV season to declare a series dead — unless that show is called “Ten Days in the Valley” or “Me, Myself & I” — but the inquiring minds need to know what’s in line to get the boot.
There are a number of factors that go into cancelling or renewing a series: costs, ratings, ownership, contracts, stars, I.P. — the list still goes on from there.
Show: “The Toy Box”
Net: ABC
18-49 rating: 0.4
The “Shark Tank”-for-kids show is one toy that ABC should have never unwrapped. (Ratings are from Nielsen’s “most current” metric, which includes one week’s worth of DVR viewing where available.)
Show: “Ten Days in the Valley”
Net: ABC
18-49 rating: 0.7
OK, so “Ten Days” was set up as a limited series, but we all know by now that you can add “…unless it’s a hit” to the end of that descriptor. This one definitely was not, and has already been banished to Saturdays.
Show: “The Exorcist”
Net: Fox
18-49 rating: 0.6
Couple things: Fox owns “The Exorcist.” Both the studio and network are run by the same pair of executives. But it’s time to exorcise this Friday series, not resurrect it.
Show: “Marvel’s Inhumans”
Net: ABC
18-49 rating: 1.0
From its weird IMAX rollout to Medusa’s awful CGI wig, this show was a disaster from the get-go. When asked by TheWrap for a phone interview tied to the show’s fall finale, ABC said no one in the cast was available — that’s never a good sign.
Show: “Once Upon a Time”
Net: ABC
18-49 rating: 1.0
Once Upon a Time, this show was a hit. Now it barely has any of the original cast members left, and even the creators are displeased with their rebooted fairy tale’s recent reception.
Show: “Me, Myself & I”
Net: CBS
18-49 rating: 1.3
Bobby Moynihan should have stuck with “Saturday Night Live.” But he didn’t, and the casting of a 6’4″ John Larroquette to play the older version of a 5’8″ Moynihan made absolutely no sense. CBS has already pulled this show from its schedule.
Show: “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”
Net: Fox
18-49 rating: 1.2
Though it pains us to say, this very good sitcom is probably about to be released on parole. It’s still very funny, but the Andy Samberg comedy isn’t owned by Fox, which doesn’t help its case. Plus, “Brooklyn’s” “live” rating should be considered a felony.
Show: “9JKL”
Net: CBS
18-49 rating: 1.4
Not a good show, an even worse title — don’t let the “Big Bang Theory”-boosted rating fool you. Cute only goes so far.
Show: “Great News”
Net: NBC
18-49 rating: 1.1
We’ve got good news and bad news, “Great News”: On the plus side, you’re owned by NBC and have garnered generally favorable reviews; on the negative end of the spectrum… your ratings. IF the sitcom returns, that can be chalked up to two words: “Tina. Fey.”
Consider yourself on notice (and on the bubble, at best), “Kevin (Probably) Saves the World,” “Last Man on Earth” and “Wisdom of the Crowd.” We’ll see how the rest of the 2017-18 season shakes out.
