Cancellation Watch Rumor Control: Looks Good for Chuck and Human Target, Bad for Heroes
By John J. Joex
With the upfronts scheduled for next week, rumors are starting to fly about the fates of several of the bubble shows. Following is what we have heard so far: TV by the Numbers claims from a reliable source that Chuck will get a thirteen episode order for next season with the option for a back nine. If true, this would place Chuck on the Fall schedule next season unlike the current season when the series did not show up until January. EW’s Michael Ausiello claims that Human Target has received a thirteen episode order for next season as well and that Chuck’s co-executive producer Matthew Miller will join the production team as showrunner along with Jonathan Steinberg. Heroes, on the other hand, appears to have one foot in the grave. Josef Adalian of New York Magazine’s Vulture reports that NBC will cut ties with the ratings pariah because it has more confidence in its new slate of shows.
While none of this is confirmed at this point, personally I do not find these rumors surprising and if it plays out this way it stays close to what I have been predicting. Sure, Chuck and Human Target have their ratings challenges, but they still have plenty of upside and the networks can see that. And Heroes is way past its prime and just needs to be put to rest, though I could see them slipping in a couple of movies to give the show some sort of closure. Not certain how many would tune in, though.
Stay tuned as more rumors and announcements will be forthcoming over the next few days and NBC plans on announcing their Fall schedule this Sunday afternoon so we will pass that along as soon as we get the info.
Date: May 13, 2010
Categories: Cancellation Watch, John J. Joex