By The Network Executioner
Greetings from me, the humble minion of the television networks, and my pet vulture Cuddles! The end of the season is coming, that time when the networks call upon me to put the ax to those shows that do not draw enough viewers each week. Only a few short years ago, the networks kept me busy all season long sending ratings laggers to my chopping block. But they have since become leery about sending those poor performers to me too quickly because they don’t have quite as many replacements waiting in the wings anymore as budgets are getting tight. But by the end of the season, I always have to make sure my ax is plenty sharp as the networks will be lining them up for me.
This year, Cuddles and I will be keeping a close eye on the struggling sci fi / fantasy shows in this countdown to season end. I’ll be watching the latest numbers closely and reporting on my Twitter site whether I think that the Nielsens will be speeding these shows along to their demise. Following is the list of shows that have yet to receive a renewal–along with their status from this site’s Sci Fi TV Power Rankings–and I have grouped them by those in danger and those currently safe from me:
In Danger of Facing the Executioner:
Resurrection (ABC) – Likely to be Cancelled
Galavant (ABC) – Likely to be Cancelled
Constantine (NBC) – Likely to be Cancelled
Helix (Syfy) – Likely to be Cancelled
Forever (ABC) – On the Bubble
Agents of SHIELD (ABC) – On the Bubble
Agent Carter (ABC) – On the Bubble
Olympus (Syfy) – On the Bubble
Dig (USA) – On the Bubble
The Returned (A&E) – On the Bubble
Safe from the Executioner (for the Moment):
Salem (WGN) – Renewal Possible
iZombie (CW) – Likely to be Renewed
Person of Interest (CBS) – Likely to be Renewed
Once Upon A Time (ABC) – Sure to be Renewed
The fates of the three at the top of the first list–Resurrection, Galavant, and Constantine–are already pretty much determined as they have finished their seasons and can’t hope for a late year ratings surge. Constantine has a slight bit of hope of moving to another network, but short of that it is sure to meet my ax. Syfy’s Helix just wrapped up on Friday and even good numbers (unlikely) for its season finale (which have not been reported yet) will not help that one. If it has some good international financing and syndication, though, it might escape my ax.
ABC’s Agents of SHIELD got a bit of good news that a possible spin-off is in the works which means it could still get a stay of execution. But if that spin-off does happen, that likely means Agent Carter will be done for. As for the cable entries Dig (USA), The Returned (A&E), and Olympus (Syfy), all of those are performing poorly and will only escape me if their international financing and syndication deals are good enough. Syfy’s Haven is also looking very iffy, but since the second half of its fifth season will not air until later this year, it should get a stay of execution until that wraps up (and thus the reason for its absence from the list above).
As for those four currently safe shows, Once Upon A Time and Person of Interest look most likely to escape my ax. Salem and iZombie just started their seasons within the last few weeks, so Cuddles and I will be keeping a close eye on them.
The fates of most of these shows (particularly the broadcast network entries) should be determined by mid-May when schedules are presented to advertisers at the upfronts. Following are the days that each of the nets will give their presentations and expect them to release their schedules (along with all the renewals and cancellations) shortly before:
Monday, May 11, 2015 NBC (Morning)
Monday, May 11, 2015 FOX (Afternoon)
Tuesday, May 12, 2015 ABC
Wednesday, May 13, 2015 CBS
Thursday, May 14, 2015 The CW
Note that Galavant and Agent Carter may not get official cancellation notices because of their “limited run series” status. But they will ultimately get sent to me.
Be sure to follow me on Twitter over the next few weeks as I keep an eye on the season end numbers and what they mean to the fates of the shows above that have not yet received a reprieve from facing my ax.
Why Haven when it has topped your charts as high as possible for months and months. That makes no sense. Nor does the actual tv ratings because everyone I know watches Haven and believe me i know a lot of people. I smell something very fishy here and it is not the Gray Gull.