Ratings results and status updates on all the currently airing sci fi & fantasy shows as well as those still awaiting word on their fates. For the latest ratings updates, be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site
Ratings Results of Interest: Outcast Barely Registers in the Nielsens
Anybody who hoped that the slight improvement for Outcast‘s Season 2 debut over its first year ratings average was a good sign can throw that away now. In its second week, it slipped to a 0.02 rating based on same day viewing for the 18-49 demographic with 91K total viewers. That has the show only a couple of ticks away from having to go into triple digits to display its ever-diminishing viewership and the network is almost certainly ready to cast this one out after its wraps up its current season.
On Tuesday, The CW’s new entry Outpost slipped back to a 0.1 rating with 639K total viewers. But since it is an acquisition, its fate is more heavily determined by its performance overseas. On Wednesday, Colony slipped to a 0.13 rating with 585K total viewers for what turned out to be its series finale. At those levels, USA probably believes that cancellation was the right choice for that one. On Thursday, Freeform’s Cloak & Dagger improved to a 0.19 rating with 531K total viewers as it rebounded from the prior week’s low. On Friday, Syfy’s Wynonna Earp held steady at a 0.12 rating with 484K total viewers as it continues to fight off year-over-year losses. On Sunday, AMC’s Preacher slipped to a 0.22 rating with 781K total viewers as that one remains firmly On the Bubble.
Note that there will be no Cancellation Watch post next week because I will be traveling. I will try to keep up with the ratings results on Twitter and will recap any major developments when I return.
You can see the full ratings results for the week at this link, and be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for the latest results and breaking news. Ratings Source: ShowBuzzDaily
News Roundup: In news from last week, AMC announced that Fear the Walking will be returning for a fifth season. Netflix announced that Altered Carbon will return for a second season, and that Anthony Mackie will be taking over the lead role from Joel Kinnaman. And it appears that Syfy’s supernatural drama Superstition will be one-season-and-done as expected because one of its co-stars has tweeted that no work is being done on a second season. In additional news, Netflix VP of original content Cindy Holland has said that even though no “firm decisions” have been made on a third season of Luke Cage, writers are already working on storylines. As for a second season of The Defenders team-up series, she commented “it could be possible, there are no plans at this time”.
Status Updates: Fear the Walking Dead Will Keep Walking
Below is the status of all the currently airing shows or those still awaiting word on their fate. This does not include streaming shows, unless there is information worth mentioning, because there is typically too little data available to gauge their fates. You can click through to the show pages to see week-over-week ratings results (where available) and find out more information about the series. You can see the status of all the currently airing and returning sci fi TV shows at the Cancellation Watch Page.
The 100 (CW, Status – Renewed): This show returned for its fifth season posting decent numbers for The CW with The Flash as its lead-in, though it has dropped off some in Summer while airing on its own. It has been renewed for a sixth season which will get it close enough to the episode threshold that should get it a profitable syndication deal. Whether the show’s upcoming season will be its last is uncertain at this point, but consider that a strong likelihood.
Altered Carbon (Netflix, Status – Renewed): Netflix announced last week that this show will be returning for a second season. Anthony Mackie will be taking over the lead role as Joel Kinnaman has moved on to a new gig. Altered Carbon is an expensive series to produce and its viewership has been on the low side for a Netflix entry according to Nielsen, but apparently the streaming service decided to give this one another shot to see if it can build up its audience.
Cloak and Dagger (Freeform, Status – Renewed): This show debuted with good numbers for a Freeform entry, but it has fluctuated notably since then. In its favor is the fact that Disney owns the network and the show and a second season renewal was announced at Comic-Con.
Colony (USA, Status – Cancelled): This show’s third season ratings dropped by 35% from last year, and it has not seemed to have had as much support on the social network as in past years. That led USA to the decision to cancel the show after its third season.
Fear the Walking Dead (AMC, Status – Renewed): Despite some slippage in this show’s ratings during its fourth season (after getting off to a strong start), AMC has renewed this one for a fifth season. That does not come as a huge surprise, though, and the network is likely targeting at least six seasons total for this show to get it to s syndication friendly count of episodes.
Ghosted (FOX, Status – Cancelled): Apparently FOX’s claims that they would give this show a chance to prove itself in Summer were not entirely true. It was slipped on the schedule with almost no notice and aired amidst repeats. Not surprisingly, the ratings were low and the network pulled the plug after only a few weeks. It is currently airing its final episodes before getting cast to the TV wasteland.
Humans (AMC, Status – On the Bubble): This show’s numbers have been down in its third season, and AMC kicked the show out of Prime Time to the 11 PM hour; never a good sign. Its fate is more closely tied to how it is performing in Britain on Channel 4, however, its numbers are down over there as well according to Wikipedia. I have moved it to Bubble status and will keep it there until we hear final word on its fate.
Into the Badlands (AMC, Status – On the Bubble): This show wrapped up the first half of its third season with ratings declines of over fifty percent from its second year and remains firmly On the Bubble. Fans should definitely make a Call to Action on the social networks to help it out and maybe bring more attention to it when it returns later this Summer.
Killjoys (Syfy, Status – Renewed): This show has returned for its fourth season at series low ratings levels. But it has already been renewed through a fifth and final season, so consider it safe until then.
The Originals (CW, Status – Final Season): This show is currently airing its final season, though a spin-off titled Legacies will debut in Fall 2018 and will focus on Hope Mikaelson.
Outcast (MAX, Status – Cancellation Likely): By all appearances, this show appears to be in burn-off mode. The second season already aired in Europe over a year ago and the contracts for the actors have lapsed. The network has indicated that if the ratings are strong enough for the second season in the U.S. that they could try to get the cast back, but that seems unlikely at this point.
The Outpost (CW, Status – On the Bubble): The debut numbers for this one were low even for a CW series, but as an acquisition to fill up space on the Summer schedule it’s not necessarily doomed. If it does well internationally and if it does not cost the network too much, it could be back for another season.
Preacher (AMC, Status – On the Bubble): This showed returned for its third season with ratings down by 42% from last year and I already considered it on iffy ground then. I have it On the Bubble and fans should definitely take to the social networks if they want this one to survive to a fourth season.
Reverie (NBC, Status – Cancellation Likely): This show debuted with tepid numbers even for a Summer entry. It was originally planned for a mid-season start, but was pushed on the schedule suggesting that the network lost faith in it. At this point, it is almost certainly in burn-off mode and I have moved it to Cancellation Likely status. If there are any fans out there, they need to make some noise on the social nets RIGHT NOW to draw attention to the show.
Salvation (CBS, Status – On the Bubble): This show’s numbers remain low as do it chances of surviving to a third season. It has a streaming deal that likely makes it profitable for the network, but CBS may prefer to fill the hour with something that will draw more viewers watching live. I consider it firmly On the Bubble and will likely keep it there until we hear word on the show’s fate.
Superstition (Syfy, Status – Cancelled): This show barely registered in the ratings during its first season and was kicked out of its Prime Time slot to 11 PM EST on Thursdays about mid-way through its run. It started streaming internationally on Netflix in April, but apparently that did not draw in enough viewers and series co-star Robinne Lee has indicated that no work is being done on a second season. For now, I am considering this another one-season-and-done casualty of the Peak TV era.
Wynonna Earp (Syfy, Status – Renewed): This show has returned even with its prior year ratings and it received a fourth year renewal notice during Comic-Con. But fans should definitely remain active on the social networks to help expand the audience beyond its cult following.
LAST WEEK: Killjoys Returns Low, Outcast Will Likely Be Cast Out Read
