Unless otherwise noted, the ratings numbers below are based on the final overnights and may vary slightly from the preliminaries reported on the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site.
Casting News: A couple of recent casting announcements are bad news to two of the current sci fi shows. Person of Interest co-star Sarah Shahi will be playing an adult Nancy Drew in the upcoming CBS reboot of that property, and Second Chance co-star Adhir Kalyan has been cast in an upcoming ABC pilot. Of course, as I said with the ABC casting of Agent Carter‘s Haley Atwell in an upcoming pilot, these moves are more about securing the talent and don’t indicate that a show is definitely cancelled. But at the same time, you don’t see AMC casting Andrew Lincoln in a new pilot or The CW mulling over projects for Grant Gustin. Pilot commitments for actors in existing shows is quite often the handwriting on the wall (but not always), and all three of the shows mentioned above appear to be on the way out. Second Chance flopped in the ratings and was quickly shuffled off to Fridays. Person of Interest barely avoided cancellation last season and has only received a thirteen episode fifth season order that still has not found a place on the CBS schedule (and the creative team approached it as the show’s last). And Agent Carter is well below acceptable ratings levels for a Big Four broadcast network show, so only another last minute save from Disney could keep it going at this point and that looks unlikely. And all three of these shows landed in the Likely to Get Cancelled category in our latest set of Power Rankings. So the fact that the actors are looking ahead to the next thing at this point is no surprise.
I covered the early week shows plus the broadcast network and cable scorecards in the Friday Cancellation Watch post at this link.
Ratings results for the sci fi / fantasy shows airing Monday February 22nd thru Sunday February 28th (metric definitions below):
(Updated for the broadcast network and cable Top 25 chart activity)
Gotham FOX Mon 2/22 8 PM
Rating: On Hiatus | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): n/a | StD Rating: 1.5 | Net Avg: 1.6 | Cancellation Alert: Low
On hiatus, returns February 29th.
Supergirl CBS Mon 2/22 8 PM
Rating: 1.5 | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): 7.3 | StD Rating: 1.8 | Net Avg: 1.6 | Cancellation Alert: Low
This show slipped back to a 1.5 rating which is not a good thing. Those numbers are almost certainly too low to keep such an expensive show going, especially on sci fi-averse CBS. It needs to get back up to its 1.8 season to date average if wants a chance to fly into another season.
Chart Activity: This show slipped out the broadcast network Top 25 based on the overnights for the 18-49 demographic (it was at Number 21 for its last new episode) and it slipped to Number 23 in the Top 25 based on total viewers (down from Number 22 for its last new ep).
The X-Files FOX Mon 2/22 8 PM
Rating: 2.4 | % Chng PW: +14.3% | Tot Viewers (MM): 7.6 | StD Rating: 3.2 | Net Avg: 1.6 | Cancellation Alert: Low
It improved for its season finale as expected. FOX is certainly at work trying to negotiate another season of this show for next year.
Chart Activity: This show slipped to Number 8 in the broadcast network Top 25 based on the overnights for the 18-49 demographic (down from Number 7) and improved to Number 21 based on total viewers (up from Number 22).
Lucifer CBS Mon 2/22 9 PM
Rating: 1.5 | % Chng PW: -6.3% | Tot Viewers (MM): 4.9 | StD Rating: 1.8 | Net Avg: 1.6 | Cancellation Alert: Low
It slipped again, but more important will be its numbers with Gotham as its lead-in instead of The X-Files. How it performs going forward will determine its fate.
Chart Activity: This show slipped out of the broadcast network Top 25 based on the overnights for the 18-49 demographic for the first time since its debut.
The Magicians Syfy Mon 2/22 9 PM
Rating: 0.3 | % Chng PW: 0.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.7 | StD Rating: 0.3 | Net Avg: n/a | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
It held steady with the prior week and it has already been renewed for a second season.
Lost Girl Syfy Mon 2/22 10 PM
Rating: 0.1 | % Chng PW: -30.8% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.5 | StD Rating: 0.1 | Net Avg: n/a | Cancellation Alert: Final Season
Its numbers remain low, but it is in its final season.
Bitten Syfy Mon 2/22 11 PM
Rating: 0.1 | % Chng PW: -28.6% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.4 | StD Rating: 0.0 | Net Avg: n/a | Cancellation Alert: Final Season
This show’s numbers are also low, but it is also in its final season.
The Flash CW Tue 2/23 8 PM
Rating: 1.4 | % Chng PW: -6.7% | Tot Viewers (MM): 3.8 | StD Rating: 1.4 | Net Avg: 0.6 | Cancellation Alert: Low
It slipped down from the season highs it saw during its two Earth 2 episodes, but it is still performing strong for the fifth place network (it was the fourth highest rated show on Tuesday across the broadcast nets and cable) and a third season looks like a sure thing at this point.
Agent Carter ABC Tue 2/23 9 PM
Rating: 0.8 | % Chng PW: +14.3% | Tot Viewers (MM): 2.5 | StD Rating: 0.8 | Net Avg: 1.5 | Cancellation Alert: Medium
It improved slightly, but these numbers are still far too low for a show to survive on one of the Big Four broadcast networks. Can fans stage a Call to Action to convince Disney to save it once again?
Agents of SHIELD ABC Tue 2/23 9 PM
Rating: On Hiatus | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): 3.9 | StD Rating: 1.4 | Net Avg: 1.5 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate
On hiatus, returns March 8th.
iZombie CW Tue 2/23 9 PM
Rating: 0.6 | % Chng PW: +20.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.5 | StD Rating: 0.6 | Net Avg: 0.6 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate
It improved some, but are these numbers good enough when The CW has so much development currently in the pipeline?
Shadowhunters Free Tue 2/23 9 PM
Rating: 0.4 | % Chng PW: -14.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.8 | StD Rating: 0.5 | Net Avg: n/a | Cancellation Alert: Low
It slipped some, but it is still looking good for a cable series and a second season renewal seems like a good bet.
Teen Wolf MTV Tue 2/23 9 PM
Rating: 0.4 | % Chng PW: -14.3% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.8 | StD Rating: 0.4 | Net Avg: n/a | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
It slipped some, but it has already been renewed for a sixth season.
Limitless CBS Tue 2/23 10 PM
Rating: 1.1 | % Chng PW: -8.3% | Tot Viewers (MM): 5.9 | StD Rating: 1.4 | Net Avg: 1.6 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate
This show slipped to a series low and it is officially On the Bubble at this point. It needs a Call to Action from fans to help build back its audience.
The Shannara Chronicles MTV Tue 2/23 10 PM
Rating: 0.3 | % Chng PW: +3.1% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.7 | StD Rating: 0.4 | Net Avg: n/a | Cancellation Alert: Moderate
It held steadily low and I now consider this a Bubble show. If the international financing is there, though, it could still get a second season.
Arrow CW Wed 2/24 8 PM
Rating: 1.0 | % Chng PW: +11.1% | Tot Viewers (MM): 2.7 | StD Rating: 1.0 | Net Avg: 0.6 | Cancellation Alert: Low
The Vixen cross-over caused the ratings to improve a bit, and this one is definitely on target for a fifth season renewal.
Supernatural CW Wed 2/24 9 PM
Rating: 0.7 | % Chng PW: -12.5% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.9 | StD Rating: 0.7 | Net Avg: 0.6 | Cancellation Alert: Low
It dropped a bit, but there is no reason for concern. At this point it looks headed into a record-busting twelfth season.
Star Wars Rebels DXD Wed 2/24 9:30 PM
Rating: 0.1 | % Chng PW: -6.7% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.6 | StD Rating: 0.1 | Net Avg: n/a | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
It held mostly steady and it has already been renewed for a third season.
Legends of Tomorrow CW Thu 2/25 8 PM
Rating: 0.9 | % Chng PW: +12.5% | Tot Viewers (MM): 2.5 | StD Rating: 1.0 | Net Avg: 0.6 | Cancellation Alert: Low
It improved a bit and at these levels as second season is possible. Assuming The CW wants to stick with this format and not go to a cheaper, less sfx-heavy team-up series.
You Me and the Apocalypse NBC Thu 2/25 8 PM
Rating: 0.6 | % Chng PW: 0.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 2.6 | StD Rating: 0.8 | Net Avg: 1.6 | Cancellation Alert: Elevated
At these levels it’s only a matter of time before NBC kicks this one to Fridays or Saturdays. There is a chance that the British Sky Channel could keep the show going for a second season, but its days on NBC are surely numbered.
The 100 CW Thu 2/25 9 PM
Rating: 0.6 | % Chng PW: +20.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.4 | StD Rating: 0.6 | Net Avg: 0.6 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate
It improved a bit and I believe it needs to hold here or even higher if it wants to survive into a fourth season.
Colony USA Thu 2/25 10 PM
Rating: 0.4 | % Chng PW: +16.7% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.0 | StD Rating: 0.4 | Net Avg: n/a | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
It improved slightly and it has already been renewed for a second season.
Vampire Diaries CW Fri 2/26 8 PM
Rating: 0.5 | % Chng PW: +25.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.1 | StD Rating: 0.5 | Net Avg: 0.6 | Cancellation Alert: Low
The cross-over with The Originals helped this show’s numbers a bit. An eighth season is likely still in the cards, but that will almost certainly be its last.
Sleepy Hollow FOX Fri 2/26 8 PM
Rating: 0.8 | % Chng PW: +14.3% | Tot Viewers (MM): 3.0 | StD Rating: 0.9 | Net Avg: 1.6 | Cancellation Alert: High
It improved a bit, but likely not enough to help its fate. It is almost certainly in burn-off status at this point and a Call to Action from the fans can convince FOX to keep it going for another year.
The Originals CW Fri 2/26 9 PM
Rating: 0.5 | % Chng PW: +25.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.1 | StD Rating: 0.4 | Net Avg: 0.6 | Cancellation Alert: Low
The Vampire Diaries cross-over brought this show to its best numbers since Fall. Its third season show status will get it to a fourth year, but that could be its last.
Second Chance FOX Fri 2/26 9 PM
Rating: 0.5 | % Chng PW: -16.7% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.8 | StD Rating: 0.7 | Net Avg: 1.6 | Cancellation Alert: High
This show slipped further and appears to be just burning off its remaining episodes before heading for its date with the Network Executioner
Grimm NBC Fri 2/26 9 PM
Rating: Preempted | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): n/a | StD Rating: 0.9 | Net Avg: 1.6 | Cancellation Alert: Medium
Preempted. Returns Friday with a new episode.
Beowulf ESQ Sat 2/27 10 PM
Rating: Pending | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): n/a | StD Rating: 0.0 | Net Avg: n/a | Cancellation Alert: Moderate
Ratings results pending.
Once Upon A Time ABC Sun 2/28 8 PM
Rating: On Hiatus | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): n/a | StD Rating: 1.6 | Net Avg: 1.5 | Cancellation Alert: Low
On hiatus, returns March 8th.
The Walking Dead AMC Sun 2/28 9 PM
Rating: 6.1 | % Chng PW: -7.6% | Tot Viewers (MM): 12.8 | StD Rating: 6.6 | Net Avg: n/a | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
It slipped a bit for the week, but that’s not surprising especially considering the stiff competition from the Oscars. It was still by far the top rated scripted show on all of television and continues to walk tall.
Chart Activity: This show slipped to Number 6 in the Weekly Nielsen Twitter Ratings Top 10, likely because everybody was busy tweeting about the Oscars. It held at Number 1 in the Cable Top 25 based on the overnights for the 18-49 demographic and slipped to Number 2 based on total viewers. Post-show discussion series The Talking Dead was at Number 3 and 4 respectively on both those charts.
The Last Man on Earth FOX Sun 2/28 9:30 PM
Rating: On Hiatus | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): 3.2 | StD Rating: 1.3 | Net Avg: 1.6 | Cancellation Alert: Elevated
On hiatus, returns March 8th.
Be sure keep an eye out for the latest numbers and any breaking news throughout the week at the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site. You can see the status of all the currently airing sci fi / fantasy shows at the Cancellation Watch page and also the latest Sci Fi TV Power Rankings post. And for more information on where I get these numbers and how I make my Cancellation Alert assessments, check out the Cancelled Sci Fi FAQ.
—
Metric Definitions:
Rating: Overnight rating in the 18-49 demographic for same day viewing based on the final numbers unless otherwise noted
% Chng PW: The percentage change +/- for this week’s rating vs. last week’s rating.
Tot Viewers: Estimated total viewers (age 2+) to tune in to the episode for same day viewing.
StD Rating: Season to date average for the rating metric tracked above.
Net Avg: The season to date average rating for the network for non-sports programming and non-repeats. This data is available for the broadcast networks only.
Cancellation Alert: My prediction of the likelihood that a show will get cancelled. From least to most likely the statuses are Low, Moderate, Medium, Elevated, and High.
