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: On Sunday, The Walking Dead slipped to a 1.8 rating based on same day viewing for the 18-49 demographic with 4.8 million total viewers. That marks a new series low for the show as the curious onlooker effect for the post-Rick Grimes era seems to have worn off pretty quickly. But I still expect this one to be back for at least one more season. Over on BBC America, Doctor Who improved to a 0.25 rating with 745K total viewers and word is that they are already working on the twelfth season of that show. Over on CBS, God Friended Me slipped back down to a 0.8 rating with 7.5 million total viewers. But that one continues to rank in the Top 25 based on the total viewers stat, so it should be okay for now.
On Friday, Syfy’s Z Nation improved to a 0.18 rating with 531K which tied its high point for the season. I still believe that one will be back for at least one more year. Van Helsing also improved as it posted a 0.12 rating with 359K total viewers. But I moved that one to Bubble status last week and fans need to take to the social networks to support it. Over on NBC, Midnight, Texas remained low at a 0.4 rating with 2.1 million total viewers. That’s another show that is On the Bubble and needs support from its fans.
On Wednesday, FX’s American Horror Story improved slightly to a 0.81 rating with 1.8 million total viewers for its season finale. Than one has been renewed through its tenth season. Over on IFC, Stan Against Evil improved slightly to a 0.05 rating with 138K total viewers and it still has a chance of coming back for a fourth season.
On Tuesday, The CW’s The Flash was at a series low 0.6 rating with 1.7 million total viewers, but still remains that network’s top-rated show. Black Lightning remained at a 0.3 rating with 902K total viewers. Over on FOX, The Gifted remained low for its network at a 0.6 rating with 1.9 million total viewers and that one remains firmly On the Bubble. On Monday, Manifest slipped to a 1.1 rating with 5.6 million total viewers, but it remains one of the Top 5 highest rated shows on the broadcast networks based on Live+7 delayed viewing.
Most of the other shows remained about even with last week’s numbers. 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
What’s to watch on the Streaming Services? Click on the following links for a comprehensive list of the Sci Fi TV Shows available on Netflix | Prime Video | Hulu | Other
News Roundup: ABC has given a seventh season extension to its Marvel Universe series Agents of SHIELD, though Clark Gregg is not yet confirmed to return for that. The DC Universe streaming channel has set January 4th as the premiere date for the third season of the animated series Young Justice. You can see the preliminary mid-season schedule at this link. In development news, Hulu has ordered two series based on George R.R. Martin’s superheroes books Wild Cards, and Syfy has ordered the animated comedy Alien News Desk. You can read about those and more at this link.
Status Updates: Stan May Fight Evil for Yet Another Season
Below are the status updates for 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.
American Horror Story (FX, Status – Renewed): This show had decent numbers for its eighth season and remains one of the highest rated cable shows on television. FX has already renewed it through its tenth season and could keep it around longer if it continues to draw strong viewership.
Arrow (CW, Status – Renewal Possible): This show has returned down a bit from last year’s numbers and it is almost certainly looking at wrapping up sooner rather than later. Whether it comes back for an eighth season depends on how The CW decides to proceed with its Arrow-verse shows.
Black Lightning (CW, Status – Renewal Possible): The numbers are down for this show in its second year and it will not have too many episodes under its belt by season end. The CW prefers to renew shows rather than cancel them, but with the waning popularity of its superhero entries, this one could be the first casualty if its ratings remain low.
Channel Zero (Syfy, Status – Cancellation Likely): By all appearances, this one looks to be a dead show walking. Its ratings have been on a continual decline across its four seasons, and Syfy burned off the fourth year episodes across six consecutive nights outside of Prime Time. The show has stirred up some good buzz and has picked up a small but loyal following, but Syfy has been in the cancelling business of late and it looks like this one could be the next to fall. Fans could try to make some noise on the social nets to see if another venue might be interested in picking the show up, though.
Charmed (CW, Status – Renewal Possible): The same day ratings for this show may not be great on highly competitive Sunday nights, but it is one of the most watched shows in digital viewing on the network’s website and app. Since The CW has better adapted to the 21st century than the other broadcast nets, it factors online viewing more heavily into its model. This show has received a full season order and should be on track to charm its way into a second season.
Doctor Who (BBCA, Status – Renewed): This show is off to a strong start with the thirteenth Doctor (played by Jodie Whitakker) drawing in plenty of viewers to see the first female lead for the series. The numbers have slipped now that the curious onlooker effect has passed, but word is that production has already begun on a twelfth season so expect this show to stick around for several more years.
The Flash (CW, Status – Renewal Likely): The momentum for this one has slowed some with its continued ratings declines, but it is still the network’s top-rated show and it should race right into a sixth season.
The Gifted (FOX, Status – Renewal Possible): This show is at series low numbers and it is not getting the same lift from delayed viewing that it was seeing last year. FOX owns the show and it is part of the X-Men franchise, but at these levels it has to be counted as On the Bubble and fans should take to the social networks to try and give it a boost.
God Friended Me (CBS, Status – Renewal Possible): This show’s numbers in the 18-49 demo are just passable, but it continues to rank in the Top 25 based on total viewers each week. It has received a full season pickup, and if it can continue to post good total viewers stats (older-skewing CBS tends to give more weight to those numbers), then it may survive to a second season.
The Good Place (NBC, Status – Renewal Possible): This show’s numbers are down from its second season average, but it is still doing well enough for an NBC show on Thursday nights. If it holds around its current levels, it should be okay.
Humans (AMC, Status – On the Bubble): This show’s numbers were down in its third season, and AMC kicked it 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, but 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 in June and there is still no word on when it will be back, leading me to wonder if AMC has given up on it (more on that at this link). Its ratings are down over fifty percent from its second year and it remains firmly On the Bubble at this point. Fans should definitely make a Call to Action on the social networks to show that it has a loyal following.
Legacies (CW, Status – Renewal Possible): This one has not gotten off to a great start based same day ratings, but it is one of the most watched shows in digital viewing on the network’s website and app. Since The CW has adapted to the 21st century better than the other broadcast nets, it factors online viewing more heavily into its model. Legacies has received an order of three more episodes (shorter than the usual Back 9 because production got off to a late start) and seems to be on track for a second season renewal.
Legends of Tomorrow (CW, Status – Renewal Possible): This show is at series low levels so far in its fourth season, but I believe it is still safe for now. This is the one that can pick up characters from other Arrow-verse shows if the network decides to start trimming down on those. Plus, once a show gets through its third season on this network it usually sticks around for at least 70 episodes (it will be just shy of that at the end of this year), and one more full season gets it to a syndication friendly count of episodes.
MacGyver (CBS, Status – Renewal Likely): This show has returned down from last year’s numbers, but that likely will not matter. It is owned by CBS and it will have three full seasons after this year, so it is worth it to the network to keep it going at least one more season to get it to the episode threshold the syndication market prefers. Also, it plugs up and hour on low-viewership Fridays.
Manifest (NBC, Status – Renewal Possible): This one pulled very strong numbers for its series premiere, though it has seen those drop since then. It continues to see a notable lift from delayed viewing, though, and if it does not drop much further from its current same day ratings then it should be on course for a second season renewal.
Midnight Texas (NBC, Status – On the Bubble): This show performed relatively well for a Summer entry when it debuted in July of last year, but shifting it to Fridays in Fall has done it no favors. It has started out as one of the network’s lowest rated shows and I have placed it On the Bubble. I know this one had a pretty dedicated fanbase in its first season, so they need to make some noise on the social nets if they want it to stick around.
Outlander (Starz, Status – Renewed): This show has returned down in its fourth season, but Starz pays less attention to the same day viewing and more to the total airings for the week plus online viewing. This is an established franchise for the network that performs well overseas and it has already been renewed through a sixth season.
Preacher (AMC, Status – On the Bubble): This show has wrapped its third season with ratings down by close to 40% 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.
Riverdale (CW, Status – Renewal Likely): This show has returned about on par with last year’s numbers and it tends to get plenty of attention on the social networks. It also performs very well in its encore runs on Netflix and is on the verge of the syndication stretch. Expect it to be back for at least one more season if not more.
Salvation (CBS, Status – On the Bubble): This show’s numbers remained low through its now completed second season as do it chances of surviving to a third year. 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 as we wait to hear word on the show’s fate.
Stan Against Evil (IFC, Status – Renewal Possible): This show has returned down from last year’s numbers, but it has improved each week since its third season debut and may still be doing well enough for an IFC entry. Fans might want to take to the social nets and show some support, though.
Star Wars Resistance (Disney, Status – Renewal Possible): This show’s numbers are on the low side, but then animated series tend to live and die more by their merchandising than overnight ratings results. This one could stick around for a few seasons if it sells enough toys.
Supergirl (CW, Status – Renewal Possible): This show returned close to last season’s average and has also done quite well for The CW’s first foray into Sunday night programming in a decade, especially considering how competitive that night is. If it doesn’t drop too much in the coming weeks, and if the network remains committed to its Arrow-verse shows, this one should soar into a fifth season.
Supernatural (CW, Status – Renewal Possible): This venerable genre entry has returned even with its average from last season and it remains one of the better-rated shows on The CW. The network boss has already said that this one will continue as long as the lead actors want to stay with the show, so whether it has a fifteenth season is largely up to them.
Van Helsing (Syfy, Status – On the Bubble): This show’s numbers are down notably in its third season (though it did see a bump up this last week) and I have now officially moved it to Bubble status. Since it is a low-rated third year show not owned by Syfy (the network tends to cancel those, more on that at this link), it needs to keep its numbers at least at or above the prior-season levels (it is currently below that) and fans need to make some noise on the social networks supporting it.
The Walking Dead (AMC, Status – Renewal Likely): This show is at series low levels and its ratings woes even caused AMC’s stock to slip. It is still one of the highest-rated series on television, but network bosses have to be concerned about the continued decline in its numbers. It won’t be cancelled this year, but it may be ending sooner rather than later which I look at in more detail at this link.
Z Nation (Syfy, Status – Renewal Possible): This show has slipped to series low levels (though it saw a notable improvement this last week), but it may still be on track for renewal. It is relatively inexpensive to produce and a sixth season gets it to a good episode count for a syndication run, so it could stick around another year. But fans should probably take to the social networks to show some support and to boost attention.
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