Cancellation Watch: Five Shows That May Not Return Next Season - Emergence, Vagrant Queen, and More

There is still not much in the way of sci fi TV news this week with the production shutdowns, so I will forego the Weekly Top 5 column and instead rundown five shows from this season that currently look like longshots for renewal. These shows have delivered low ratings and could succumb to the Peak TV Crunch as we head towards the end of the regular season. Note that the shutdowns could work in the favor of one or more of these shows, as the networks will likely have space to fill on their schedule later this year. And it is easier to ramp up an existing show that start up a new one. But that is no guarantee at this point. A Call to Action on the social networks may help give them an extra boost, but that needs to be loud and it needs to be right now if any of these are to be saved.

5. The Purge (USA): This show’s numbers were down from its first year, and it faded notably with its season finale. Plus, the fact that it wrapped up in Fall and USA has still not made a third season announcement is concerning. It was originally billed as an “event series”, and that event may be coming to an end soon.

4. The Terror (AMC): After proving to be a hit for AMC in its first season, this show returned with ratings down notably in its second year. But the series reboots itself each year, and network execs have listened to pitches for a third season, so they may still find a space for it on their upcoming schedule.

3. Emergence (ABC): This is one of ABC’s lowest-rated dramas based on same-day ratings, and its delayed viewing gains faded as the season progressed. I had moved it to Cancellation Likely status, but recent events with production shut-downs for other shows may work out favorably for Emergence. More on that at this link.

2. Dispatches from Elsewhere (AMC): This show is barely registering in the ratings and it hasn’t developed much buzz thus far in its first season. At its current viewership levels, I can’t see the network bringing this one back unless it has international financing/syndication deals keeping it viable.

1. Vagrant Queen (Syfy): This fun little show arrived on Syfy with minimal promotion and it has not found much of an audience early in its run. Since it is not owned by the network or its parent company NBCUniversal, the only revenue generated is from ads that are driven by the same-day ratings. And at current viewership levels, Syfy can’t be getting much for those commercial spots. It may have international deals that could keep it afloat, but at the moment it appears this show could become another one-season-and-done casualty of a dying network.

Be sure to follow our Weekly Roundup posts on Tuesdays to keep up with the latest ratings results and the status of all the currently airing sci fi and fantasy entries.