There are only a couple of months left in the regular season and we don’t know the fates of two genre shows on the Big Four broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC) yet. FOX’s Fantasy Island is in its second season and viewership has been low for that one since it returned in January. It is currently well out of the Top 30 at the Number 110 slot (across 137 shows tracked) and it is performing below its network’s overall ratings average as well as its average for dramas. It is the fourth lowest-rated show on FOX and the second lowest-rated drama. It is a cheaper show for the network to produce, which may help its cause, but at this point it remains firmly On the Bubble.
The other show awaiting word on its fate is ABC’s new supernatural drama Not Dead Yet. That one got off to a decent start a month ago, but its numbers have been on a downward track ever since. It is currently at the Number 78 slot and it is ABC’s lowest-rated comedy. Sitcoms tend to be less expensive for the network, so there is a chance it could stick around. But I will be moving it to Bubble status.
The CBS supernatural comedy Ghosts improved its position since the last time I compiled these rankings, moving up to the Number 21 slot. Not surprisingly, that one has been renewed for a second season. NBC’s La Brea dropped to Number 71, and even though it has been renewed for a third season it looks like that will be its last. Quantum Leap dropped to Number 79, but it has already received the greenlight for a second season.
Below are the Top 30 broadcast network shows (plus the other genre entries) for non-repeat, non-special, and non-sports programming based on ratings results through March 12th. The comparisons are against ratings averages for other shows in the same category (drama, comedy, reality, etc.) on the same network and also against the overall average for the network. Continue on to see the rankings for The CW which I separated from the Big Four broadcast networks.
Rank | Program | Network | Category | StD Rtg | StD Tot Vwrs (M) | Network Category Performance | Network Performance |
1 | Next Level Chef | FOX | Reality/Competition | 1.30 | 4.700 | 1.52% ↑ | 2.02% ↑ |
2 | The Bachelorette | ABC | Reality/Competition | 0.90 | 3.570 | 0.86% ↑ | 1.22% ↑ |
3 | 60 Minutes | CBS | News | 0.82 | 7.990 | 0.34% ↑ | 0.92% ↑ |
4 | Survivor | CBS | Reality/Competition | 0.71 | 4.970 | 0.86% ↑ | 0.66% ↑ |
5 | American Idol | ABC | Reality/Competition | 0.69 | 5.380 | 0.43% ↑ | 0.70% ↑ |
6 | The Masked Singer | FOX | Reality/Competition | 0.68 | 3.800 | 0.32% ↑ | 0.58% ↑ |
7 | The Simpsons | FOX | Comedy | 0.68 | 2.220 | 0.92% ↑ | 0.58% ↑ |
8 | Chicago Fire | NBC | Drama | 0.66 | 6.810 | 0.52% ↑ | 0.57% ↑ |
9 | The Voice | NBC | Reality/Competition | 0.65 | 6.180 | 0.46% ↑ | 0.55% ↑ |
10 | 911 | FOX | Drama | 0.65 | 4.930 | 0.68% ↑ | 0.51% ↑ |
11 | Night Court | NBC | Comedy | 0.64 | 4.850 | 0.92% ↑ | 0.53% ↑ |
12 | NBC Election Coverage | NBC | News | 0.63 | 3.110 | 0.32% ↑ | 0.50% ↑ |
13 | Chicago Med | NBC | Drama | 0.62 | 6.650 | 0.43% ↑ | 0.48% ↑ |
14 | Big Brother | CBS | Reality/Competition | 0.60 | 3.180 | 0.58% ↑ | 0.40% ↑ |
15 | Young Sheldon | CBS | Comedy | 0.59 | 7.230 | 0.11% ↑ | 0.38% ↑ |
16 | Chicago PD | NBC | Drama | 0.59 | 5.420 | 0.36% ↑ | 0.41% ↑ |
17 | Law and Order: SVU | NBC | Drama | 0.59 | 4.890 | 0.36% ↑ | 0.41% ↑ |
18 | The Bachelor | ABC | Reality/Competition | 0.59 | 2.960 | 0.22% ↑ | 0.46% ↑ |
19 | Friday Night Smackdown | FOX | Reality/Competition | 0.58 | 2.340 | 0.12% ↑ | 0.35% ↑ |
20 | FBI | CBS | Drama | 0.56 | 7.170 | 0.38% ↑ | 0.31% ↑ |
21 | Ghosts | CBS | Comedy | 0.56 | 6.460 | 0.05% ↑ | 0.31% ↑ |
22 | Accused | FOX | Drama | 0.56 | 3.070 | 0.45% ↑ | 0.30% ↑ |
23 | Fire Country | CBS | Drama | 0.55 | 6.070 | 0.35% ↑ | 0.28% ↑ |
24 | The Neighborhood | CBS | Comedy | 0.54 | 5.560 | 0.01% ↑ | 0.26% ↑ |
25 | America’s Got Talent: All Stars | NBC | Reality/Competition | 0.54 | 3.400 | 0.21% ↑ | 0.29% ↑ |
26 | ABC Election Coverage | ABC | News | 0.54 | 3.310 | 0.64% ↑ | 0.33% ↑ |
27 | Bachelor in Paradise | ABC | Reality/Competition | 0.54 | 2.320 | 0.12% ↑ | 0.33% ↑ |
28 | WWE’s Friday Night Smackdown | FOX | Reality/Competition | 0.54 | 2.200 | 0.05% ↑ | 0.25% ↑ |
29 | America’s Got Talent All Stars | NBC | Reality/Competition | 0.53 | 4.720 | 0.19% ↑ | 0.26% ↑ |
30 | The Price Is Right At Night | CBS | Reality/Competition | 0.53 | 4.620 | 0.39% ↑ | 0.24% ↑ |
71 | La Brea | NBC | Drama | 0.35 | 2.920 | -0.19% ↓ | -0.17% ↓ |
78 | Not Dead Yet | ABC | Comedy | 0.34 | 2.570 | -0.19% ↓ | -0.16% ↓ |
79 | Quantum Leap | NBC | Drama | 0.34 | 2.370 | -0.21% ↓ | -0.19% ↓ |
110 | Fantasy Island | FOX | Drama | 0.22 | 1.830 | -0.43% ↓ | -0.49% ↓ |
For The CW, The Flash has taken up the Number 3 spot with its return for its ninth and final season and it is the highest-rated sci fi/fantasy show on that network. The only other genre entry in the Top 10 is The Winchesters, which held on despite scheduling hi-jinks by the network. But that show’s fate is currently in doubt. Kung Fu is at The Number 11 slot and it is continuing to look unlikely that it will return for a fourth season seeing the new network execs have indicated they will not be bringing over many shows from the prior regime to the 2023-24 season. Superman & Lois and Gotham Knights just had their season premieres and are not included in these numbers.
Below are the Top 30 broadcast network shows for non-repeat, non-special, and non-sports programming based on ratings results through March 12th for The CW.
Rank | Program | Network | Category | StD Rtg | StD Tot Vwrs (M) | Network Category Performance | Network Performance |
1 | All American | CW | Drama | 0.13 | 0.490 | 0.80% ↑ | 0.87% ↑ |
2 | All American: Homecoming | CW | Drama | 0.11 | 0.360 | 0.53% ↑ | 0.58% ↑ |
3 | The Flash | CW | Drama | 0.10 | 0.530 | 0.39% ↑ | 0.44% ↑ |
4 | Walker | CW | Drama | 0.09 | 0.740 | 0.25% ↑ | 0.29% ↑ |
5 | Whose Line Is It Anyway? | CW | Reality/Competition | 0.08 | 0.540 | 0.16% ↑ | 0.15% ↑ |
6 | Masters of Illusion | CW | Reality/Competition | 0.08 | 0.500 | 0.16% ↑ | 0.15% ↑ |
7 | The Winchesters | CW | Drama | 0.08 | 0.480 | 0.11% ↑ | 0.15% ↑ |
8 | Penn and Teller | CW | Reality/Competition | 0.07 | 0.690 | 0.01% ↑ | 0.01% ↑ |
9 | Whose Line Is It Anyway | CW | Reality/Competition | 0.07 | 0.530 | 0.01% ↑ | 0.01% ↑ |
10 | Stargirl | CW | Drama | 0.07 | 0.450 | -0.03% ↓ | 0.01% ↑ |
11 | Kung Fu | CW | Drama | 0.06 | 0.410 | -0.17% ↓ | -0.14% ↓ |
12 | Family Law | CW | Drama | 0.06 | 0.310 | -0.17% ↓ | -0.14% ↓ |
13 | Killer Camp | CW | Reality/Competition | 0.06 | 0.230 | -0.13% ↓ | -0.14% ↓ |
14 | Walker: Independence | CW | Drama | 0.05 | 0.500 | -0.31% ↓ | -0.28% ↓ |
15 | Great Chocolate Showdown | CW | Reality/Competition | 0.05 | 0.330 | -0.28% ↓ | -0.28% ↓ |
16 | Coroner | CW | Drama | 0.04 | 0.350 | -0.45% ↓ | -0.43% ↓ |
17 | Professionals | CW | Drama | 0.04 | 0.280 | -0.45% ↓ | -0.43% ↓ |
18 | Bump | CW | Comedy | 0.04 | 0.210 | -0.06% ↓ | -0.43% ↓ |
19 | Devils | CW | Drama | 0.03 | 0.170 | -0.58% ↓ | -0.57% ↓ |
CancelledSciFi.com: Keep up with the status updates of all the airing, returning, and upcoming sci fi and fantasy shows for the current season 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.