Network Scorecard: Scoring the networks based on their history of airing and supporting sci fi and fantasy television shows.
Network Overview
NBC is one of the oldest broadcast networks, having aired sows as far back as the mid-40’s (the horror/mystery anthology Lights Out arguably counts as the oldest genre series to air on U.S. television). Over the years it has aired quite a number of well-known sci fi and fantasy shows (Star Trek, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Quantum Leap) and also had also had its fair share of high-profile cancellations (same shows). Over the past ten-plus years, the network has been receptive to adding sci fi/fantasy entries to its schedule, but few of them have lasted very long (see the full list of shows below). The show with the longest tenure over that period was the supernatural drama Grimm which hung around for six seasons. But that one hardly counts as a genre powerhouse. Among the high-profile cancellations that occurred during the past ten seasons were Constantine, Revolution, Hannibal, Timeless, and Manifest. The longest-lived of those were Manifest and Hannibal, both of which had three seasons.
What Type of Sci Fi Shows Does the Network Air?
As with most of the broadcast networks, NBC tends to greenlight genre entries that offer a twist on a more established Prime Time television formula. The procedural drama is the most common with Grimm, Manifest, Debris, Hannibal, and more incorporating that format. The Lost-style serialized drama with elements of mystery is common as well and is mixed with the procedural elements as we saw with Manifest and Debris or the more story arc-heavy shows like La Brea and Revolution. The network has managed to throw out a few original ideas, though, most notably the fantasy comedy The Good Place. And it did allow that show to run for four seasons and wrap up its storylines. But for the most part it has preferred to play things safe and only two genre shows have lasted for four seasons or longer over the past ten years. NBC did have some success with La Brea this past season, and it has given the greenlight to the Quantum Leap revival/sequel series for the 2022-23 season. And that may indicate a willingness to keep genre entries on the schedule in the coming seasons.
How Quick is the Network to Cancel Sci Fi Shows?
The general thinking in the sci fi community is that the broadcast networks cancel sci fi and fantasy shows more often than other scripted programming, but the numbers do not always support that, especially for this network. First season shows overall were cancelled 64.6% of the time over the past ten years by NBC and freshman genre entries had basically the same cancellation rate of 64.7%. It just seems that sci fi shows are cancelled more often because there are fewer of them. And the fact is that the broadcast networks just cancel a lot of shows, regardless of the genre. Of the 82 scripted series that debuted during the 2012-13 season or later on NBC, only 17 (21%) were sci fi/fantasy. And you can see from the numbers below that the cancellation rate over the first two seasons is not much different than the general population, though the chances of surviving for four seasons or more are lower.
NBC New Scripted Programming 2012-13 Season thru 2021-22 Season
| All Scripted Shows | ||
| Series Count | 82 | |
| Cancelled after 1 Season | 53 | 64.6% |
| Cancelled after 2 Seasons | 9 | 11.0% |
| Cancelled after 3 Seasons | 3 | 3.7% |
| 4 Seasons or More | 11 | 13.4% |
| Sci Fi/Fantasy | ||
| Series Count | 17 | |
| Cancelled after 1 Season | 11 | 64.7% |
| Cancelled after 2 Seasons | 2 | 11.8% |
| Cancelled after 3 Seasons | 2 | 11.8% |
| 4 Seasons or More | 1 | 5.9% |
Network Score
For last year’s scorecard, I gave NBC a score of 2 on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being the highest), and for this year I am keeping it the same. The network has been receptive to adding sci fi and fantasy shows and has even taken some chances (The Good Place, Dracula, You, Me, and the Apocalypse). It is no more likely to cancel genre entries over their first two seasons than it is with other scripted programming. Though they rarely last for four seasons or more and its sci fi shows tend to be watered down for the mass audience (La Brea is a perfect example of that). In general, NBC acts much like the other Big Four broadcast nets and focuses primarily on the same-day ratings. Shows that do not perform well based on those numbers are more likely to get cancelled, even if other factors like delayed viewing or fan support suggest that standing by the show may ultimately prove profitable for the network. With La Brea finding some success last season and the new Quantum Leap in a position to do well this year, it is possible that NBC could be more receptive to the genre in coming seasons. If that proves to be true, then its score could go up.
Sci Fi/Fantasy Shows that Debuted in the 2010-11 Season and After
This is a list of the sci fi and fantasy shows that have debuted on NBC since the 2010-11 season sorted by how many seasons they lasted (the upcoming second season for La Brea is included in the count).
| Series | Start | Seasons | Cancelled/Ended |
| Grimm | 2011-12 | 6 | Y |
| The Good Place | 2016-17 | 4 | Y |
| Hannibal | 2012-13 | 3 | Y |
| Manifest | 2018-19 | 3 | Y |
| La Brea | 2021-22 | 2 | N |
| Revoluton | 2012-13 | 2 | Y |
| Timeless | 2016-17 | 2 | Y |
| Awake | 2011-12 | 1 | Y |
| Believe | 2013-14 | 1 | Y |
| Constantine | 2014-15 | 1 | Y |
| Debris | 2020-21 | 1 | Y |
| Do No Harm | 2012-13 | 1 | Y |
| Dracula | 2013-14 | 1 | Y |
| Emerald City | 2016-17 | 1 | Y |
| Heroes Reborn | 2015-16 | 1 | Y |
| Powerless | 2016-17 | 1 | Y |
| Reverie | 2017-18 | 1 | Y |
| The Cape | 2010-11 | 1 | Y |
| The Event | 2010-11 | 1 | Y |
| The InBetween | 2018-19 | 1 | Y |
| You, Me and the Apocalypse | 2015-16 | 1 | Y |
CancelledSciFi.com: Keep up with the status updates of all the currently airing sci fi and fantasy shows with our Cancellation Watch posts. And be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for breaking news and updates.
SciFiTVSite.com: Follow our Sci Fi TV Schedule for all the currently airing and upcoming sci fi and fantasy television shows, and keep up with what is airing/streaming each week with our Weekly Listings.
