Cancellation Watch: Ratings results and streaming viewership for the sci fi and fantasy shows on the broadcast networks, cable channels, and streaming services as well as status updates and breaking news on the currently airing, returning, and upcoming genre entries.
Linear Ratings Results of Interest:
On Sunday, AMC’s new supernatural drama Mayfair Witches had its premiere and only managed a 0.11 rating based on same-day viewing for the 18-49 demographic with 577K total viewers. That is lower than the 0.15 score Interview with the Vampire had for its premiere in Fall (both are part of the “Immortal Universe”) but a little higher than the 0.09 score it averaged through its first season. Considering these two shows mark the launch of a premium franchise, they are not moving the needle much on linear ratings. Both are streaming concurrently on AMC+, so they may be making up slack there. But I would not consider either a breakout hit. Interview with the Vampire has received a second-season renewal, though, and I expect the same for Mayfair Witches unless it tanks in viewership in the coming weeks.
Last Monday, FOX’s Fantasy Island returned for its second season after getting shuffled around the schedule multiple times and it had a 0.17 rating in the demo with 1.7 million total viewers for its premiere. Those numbers are notably below the network’s average and also below its prior season average which has it off to a slow start. This is considered an inexpensive show to produce, so maybe that will help. But if the numbers do not improve it will be moving to Bubble status.
On NBC on Monday, NBC’s Quantum Leap returned from hiatus and pulled a 0.32 rating with 2.3 million total viewers. It has already been renewed for a second season. On Thursday, CBS comedy Ghosts also returned from its short break and posted a 0.59 rating with 6.6 million total viewers, on par with its Fall numbers. I am expecting that one to get the greenlight for a third season.
You can see the full, season-to-date ratings for the sci fi and fantasy shows at this link, and below are the ratings for the genre shows from the past week. Ratings Source: ShowBuzzDaily
Ratings Results for the Week of 1/2/23
| Series | Rating / Tot Viewers |
| Fantasy Island (FOX) Mon 8 PM | Rtg: 0.17 / Tot Vwrs: 1.7M, Status: Renewal Possible |
| Quantum Leap (NBC) Mon 10 PM | Rtg: 0.32 / Tot Vwrs: 2.3M, Status: Renewed |
| His Dark Materials (HBO) Mon 9 PM | Series Ended, Status: Final Season |
| The Winchesters (CW) Tue 8 PM | On Hiatus, Status: On the Bubble |
| La Brea (NBC) Tue 9 PM | On Hiatus, Status: Renewal Possible |
| Kung Fu (CW) Wed 9 PM | On Hiatus, Status: On the Bubble |
| Ghosts (CBS) Thu 8:30 PM | Rtg: 0.59 / Tot Vwrs: 6.6M, Status: Renewal Likely |
| Mayfair Witches (AMC) Sun 9 PM | Rtg: 0.11 / Tot Vwrs: 577K, Status: Renewal Likely |
Status Updates:
Trending Toward Cancellation:
Cabinet of Curiosities (Netflix, On the Bubble): There has been no word on this show yet, but it had the dreaded three-week run in the Netflix Top 10 similar to other recently cancelled shows Warrior Nun, The Midnight Club, and The Imperfects. It may get a little bit of leeway since del Torro’s name is attached to it, but the streamer has been pretty unforgiving with its originals of late if they don’t believe they are pulling in the expected completion rates. Fans may want to make some noise on the social nets to bring this one some more attention.
American Horror Stories (Hulu, On the Bubble): There has been no word on this one since it wrapped up its second season in September 2022. It did not make it into the Nielsen Streaming Rankings this past Summer, and this horror-of-the-week spin-off from the season-long anthology series AHS has not received much buzz so far. The episodes will likely get added to the AHS syndication package at some point, so there is not necessarily a need to continue the spin-off if it is not drawing many viewers. But as an anthology, there is always a possibility that a new season could show up at some point.
Trending Toward Renewal:
Chucky (Syfy, Renewal Possible): The numbers were down notably for this horror series in its second season, but I am still thinking it will stick around at least one more year if not longer. It is a high-profile entry to an existing franchise and NBCUniversal has a stake in the show so they will make money on encore runs. The network may not make an announcement until the May timeframe, but I am leaning toward it returning for a third year.
You can see the status of all the currently airing, returning, and upcoming sci fi and fantasy shows at our Cancellation Watch page.
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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 you can see the premieres for all the upcoming genre entries at this link.
