Cancellation Watch: Tracking the weekly ratings and the cancellation prospects of the science fiction and fantasy shows currently airing on broadcast and cable networks.
By John J. Joex
The guys over at TV by the Numbers have been covering the network meetings with the Television Critics Association and came upon one nugget related to the fate of Fringe. While nothing has been announced on whether the series will be cancelled after this season, FOX exec Kevin Reilly has admitted that Fringe is losing the network money, though he has pleaded with fans not to start a Save Fringe campaign. The series has been languishing in the Nielsens this season, averaging only a 1.2 rating in the 18-49 demographic, and I currently have it at an Elevated Cancellation Alert status (you can see all my mid-season predictions at this link). I’ve basically expected this to be the final year for the show since the season began. FOX can avoid the Save Out Show campaign, though, if they do right by the series: let it go out on its own terms (and I have now started up a petition lobbying for this). Basically announce now that it will wrap up with this season and maybe even give them a few extra episodes to tie things up. Or do what NBC did last season with Chuck, which was to cancel it (even though they never admitted that) and announce a final, shortened season. The same strategy with Fringe would give the creative team plenty of time to wrap up the loose ends and should satisfy fans (after several years of raucous fan campaigns to keep Chuck on the air, they accepted the final season with little complaint). FOX already knows what is going on with Fringe‘s ratings and there’s no reason to believe the show will see a sudden improvement during the second half of the season. Sure, all of FOX’s shows see a lift when American Idol returns, but Fringe edging up to a 1.3 or even 1.4 average won’t change things much. So they need to make a decision now and not wait until May to cancel it and giving the creative team no chance to wrap up the story. If they do that, a Save Our Show campaign is inevitable.
As far as Terra Nova, there’s no news yet, though Reilly said that the network has made money on the show because it as sold well overseas. FOX will need to make a decision on it pretty soon, though, because it has to start ramping up for a second season due to the extended production time the series requires.
Last week saw the CW shows return from their hiatus with all pulling about the same ratings they have been averaging this season so far. Vampire Diaries was up one tick from where it ended its Fall run back in November, though.
Following are the ratings results for all of the genre shows from this past week. In some cases, the numbers below are based on the preliminary returns and could change slightly when the final results are tallied.
Ratings Results for the Week of January 1st:
Once Upon A Time (Repeat) (ABC Sun 8 pm) Rating: 1.1 | Trend: Down | Cancellation Alert: Low
The Walking Dead (AMC Sun 10 PM) Rating: On Hiatus | Trend: Down | Renewed
Vampire Diaries (CW Thur 8 PM) Rating: 1.5 | Trend: Up | Cancellation Alert: Low
Person of Interest (Repeat) (CBS Thur 9 PM) Rating: 1.7 | Trend: Steady | Cancellation Alert: Medium
Secret Circle (CW Thur 9 PM) Rating: 0.8 | Trend: Steady | Cancellation Alert: Low
A Gifted Man (CBS Fri 8 PM) Rating: 1.5 | Trend: Steady | Cancellation Alert: High
Nikita (CW Fri 8 PM) Rating: 0.5 | Trend: Steady | Cancellation Alert: Elevated
Chuck (NBC Fri 8 PM) Rating: 1.0 | Trend: Steady | Cancellation Alert: Final Season
Supernatural (CW Fri 9 PM) Rating: 0.8 | Trend: Steady | Cancellation Alert: Low
Grimm (Repeat) (NBC Fri 9 PM) Rating: 0.7 | Trend: Steady | Cancellation Alert: Moderate
Fringe (Repeat) (FOX Fri 9 PM) Rating: On Hiatus | Trend: Steady | Cancellation Alert: Elevated
Sanctuary (Syfy Fri 9 PM) Rating: 0.0 | Trend: Steady | Cancellation Alert: Moderate
Ratings Source: TV by the Numbers
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