Weekly Roundup: Manifest Continues to Hold On, The Nevers Gains in Delayed Viewing, and More

Weekly Roundup: 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 throughout the week, be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site

Ratings Results of Interest

ShowBuzzDaily continues to struggle to get their site back up and running and their future could be in doubt. And that may mean that it is time to re-think the Weekly Update column. I’ve known for a while that we are fast approaching the point where the ratings numbers mean next to nothing. Yes, the Big Four broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC) continue to drive their decision-making based on those stats. But they have been largely shying away from genre entries of late anyway. The CW is less beholden to the ratings as they focus more on the digital viewing from their app, and scripted programming on the basic cable channels has gone down to a trickle. There are other sources for the preliminary ratings results that the broadcast networks look at, and I will continue to report on those when available. And we do now have the Nielsen Streaming Top 10 for the Big Four streaming services (Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and Disney+). So there are some numbers out there to look at to gauge a show’s status. But those may become less of a focus going forward as the television landscape continues to change and evolve into more of a streaming-centric approach driven more by subscribers than viewership. For now, I will continue to report on what ratings numbers I have, but expect changes to this column in the coming months.

One show that I do have some ratings info and industry buzz on is NBC’s Manifest. Its same-day numbers have dropped over the last few weeks, but it continues to see notable gains in delayed viewing. The recent cancellation of Debris (more on that below) could work in Manifest’s favor as now the network has to mull over only one serialized genre drama returning to the schedule. Word is that NBC execs are pulling for the show and one of the people involved with the decision-making helped develop the show before moving to an executive office at the network. The creators have a six-year plan for Manifest, and it is possible that NBC could shift this one to Peacock where it could fulfill that goal. Or if the network decides not to continue the series, HBO Max could pick it up seeing as Warner Bros. has a stake in the show. So the chances of this one getting a fourth season renewal continue to look good, even if that may involve changing to a new venue.

In some additional ratings news, HBO’s The Nevers slipped a bit to a 0.08 score with 552K total viewers based on the same-day viewing in the 18-49 demographic for its mid-season finale. But it continues to see strong gains in delayed viewing and which lifted it to a 0.19 rating with 1.1 million total viewing in the Live+7 numbers. That show returns with new eps later this year or early in 2022 and continues to perform well enough to justify a second season.

Sci Fi TV News of Note

NBC has decided not to continue its freshman drama Debris into a second year and has cancelled that show after one season. It averaged only a 0.40 rating based on same-day viewing for the 18-49 demo, and while it did see some gains from delayed viewing, those were not enough to convince NBC execs to give it a second season. There appear to be no plans to shop this one around to another venue, though fans may try to lobby for a second season . . . The CW did not pick up the prequel spin-off for The 100 for the upcoming season, but network boss Mark Pedowitz has indicated that “there are still discussions going on” and it could happen down the road . . . Blumhouse TV is developing a scripted series based on the popular The Battersea Poltergeist podcast to be titled Blumhouse’s Ghost Story.  The supernatural-tinged podcast follows the “strange events focused around Hitchings in 1956 that were investigated over a 12-year period”.  No television network is attached at this time. Be sure to follow r/SciFiTV for news, schedule updates, trailers, discussions, and more.

Status Updates of Interest

For the status updates on all of the currently airing shows plus those awaiting word on their fate, go to this link.

MODOK (Hulu, Streaming 1st Season, Status – Renewal Possible): This show is one of the projects that survived after Marvel Television was shut down and all of the TV development came under the control of Marvel Studios. Word is that Kevin Fiege is supportive of MODOK, though, so perhaps it will have a chance to continue beyond its first season.

Lucifer (Netflix, Streaming Season 5B, Status – Renewed): This show continues to prove popular for Netflix and has been renewed for a sixth and final season which will allow it the chance to wrap up its storylines. Don’t be surprised if the streamer considers a spin-off series or perhaps a few additional movies as this appears to be a franchise that could keep itself going for a few more years.

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