We are approaching the end of the regular season, and while we know the fates of three sci fi/fantasy shows airing on the Big Four broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC), two more are still uncertain. FOX’s Fantasy Island started airing its second season in January and its numbers have been on the low side this year. Of course, it has been preempted or running repeats on a regular basis, so that has not helped viewership. The show has dropped to Number 114 in the rankings, down four slots from where it was the last time I compiled these numbers. It is the second lowest-rated drama on FOX and it is performing 42% below the average in that category for the network and 47% below the overall average for FOX shows. It is currently On the Bubble, but there is still a chance it could continue to a third season and switch back to the Summer months.
Over on ABC, supernatural comedy Not Dead Yet has dropped five slots from the last set of rankings to Number 83. It is the lowest-rated comedy on the network and it is performing 24% below the average for that category and 20% below the overall average for ABC shows. That one is currently On the Bubble and will need a strong finish to the season to have any chance at a second-year renewal.
Ghosts continues to perform strongly for CBS and it is currently in the Top 20 shows at Number 19 (up two slots from the prior set of rankings). It is performing 6% above the average of other comedies on CBS and 32% above the overall average for the network. Not surprisingly, the show has been renewed for a third season.
NBC’s Quantum Leap wrapped up its first season a few weeks ago and it stands at Number 78 in the charts at this point which is actually a slight improvement from the last set of rankings when it was at Number 79. It did perform below the network averages based on the same-day numbers, but it did well in delayed and digital viewing and received a second-season renewal.
NBC’s La Brea wrapped up back in February and it is currently at the Number 72 slot, down one from the last set of rankings. It did receive a renewal for a shortened third season and that will likely be its last.
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 April 16th. 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 | The Bachelorette | ABC | Reality/Competition | 0.90 | 3.570 | 0.89% ↑ | 1.25% ↑ |
| 2 | Next Level Chef | FOX | Reality/Competition | 0.85 | 3.300 | 0.81% ↑ | 1.13% ↑ |
| 3 | 60 Minutes | CBS | News | 0.81 | 7.970 | 0.34% ↑ | 0.91% ↑ |
| 4 | Survivor | CBS | Reality/Competition | 0.71 | 5.020 | 0.87% ↑ | 0.68% ↑ |
| 5 | The Masked Singer | FOX | Reality/Competition | 0.66 | 3.800 | 0.41% ↑ | 0.66% ↑ |
| 6 | The Simpsons | FOX | Comedy | 0.66 | 2.140 | 0.95% ↑ | 0.66% ↑ |
| 7 | Chicago Fire | NBC | Drama | 0.64 | 6.800 | 0.52% ↑ | 0.60% ↑ |
| 8 | NBC Election Coverage | NBC | News | 0.63 | 3.110 | 0.32% ↑ | 0.58% ↑ |
| 9 | The Voice | NBC | Reality/Competition | 0.62 | 5.990 | 0.54% ↑ | 0.55% ↑ |
| 10 | American Idol | ABC | Reality/Competition | 0.62 | 5.010 | 0.30% ↑ | 0.55% ↑ |
| 11 | 911 | FOX | Drama | 0.62 | 4.810 | 0.71% ↑ | 0.56% ↑ |
| 12 | Chicago Med | NBC | Drama | 0.60 | 6.620 | 0.42% ↑ | 0.50% ↑ |
| 13 | Big Brother | CBS | Reality/Competition | 0.60 | 3.180 | 0.58% ↑ | 0.42% ↑ |
| 14 | Young Sheldon | CBS | Comedy | 0.59 | 7.210 | 0.12% ↑ | 0.39% ↑ |
| 15 | Law and Order: SVU | NBC | Drama | 0.58 | 4.820 | 0.37% ↑ | 0.45% ↑ |
| 16 | The Bachelor | ABC | Reality/Competition | 0.58 | 2.990 | 0.22% ↑ | 0.45% ↑ |
| 17 | Friday Night Smackdown | FOX | Reality/Competition | 0.58 | 2.330 | 0.24% ↑ | 0.46% ↑ |
| 18 | Chicago PD | NBC | Drama | 0.57 | 5.350 | 0.35% ↑ | 0.43% ↑ |
| 19 | Ghosts | CBS | Comedy | 0.56 | 6.440 | 0.06% ↑ | 0.32% ↑ |
| 20 | Night Court | NBC | Comedy | 0.56 | 4.350 | 0.81% ↑ | 0.40% ↑ |
| 21 | FBI | CBS | Drama | 0.54 | 7.060 | 0.35% ↑ | 0.28% ↑ |
| 22 | Fire Country | CBS | Drama | 0.54 | 6.070 | 0.35% ↑ | 0.28% ↑ |
| 23 | America’s Got Talent: All Stars | NBC | Reality/Competition | 0.54 | 3.400 | 0.34% ↑ | 0.35% ↑ |
| 24 | ABC Election Coverage | ABC | News | 0.54 | 3.310 | 0.61% ↑ | 0.35% ↑ |
| 25 | Bachelor in Paradise | ABC | Reality/Competition | 0.54 | 2.320 | 0.13% ↑ | 0.35% ↑ |
| 26 | WWE’s Friday Night Smackdown | FOX | Reality/Competition | 0.54 | 2.200 | 0.15% ↑ | 0.36% ↑ |
| 27 | The Neighborhood | CBS | Comedy | 0.53 | 5.540 | 0.01% ↑ | 0.25% ↑ |
| 28 | America’s Got Talent All Stars | NBC | Reality/Competition | 0.53 | 4.720 | 0.32% ↑ | 0.33% ↑ |
| 29 | The Price Is Right At Night | CBS | Reality/Competition | 0.53 | 4.620 | 0.39% ↑ | 0.25% ↑ |
| 30 | The Equalizer | CBS | Drama | 0.52 | 6.540 | 0.30% ↑ | 0.23% ↑ |
| 72 | La Brea | NBC | Drama | 0.35 | 2.920 | -0.17% ↓ | -0.12% ↓ |
| 78 | Quantum Leap | NBC | Drama | 0.33 | 2.320 | -0.22% ↓ | -0.17% ↓ |
| 83 | Not Dead Yet | ABC | Comedy | 0.32 | 2.400 | -0.24% ↓ | -0.20% ↓ |
| 114 | Fantasy Island | FOX | Drama | 0.21 | 1.800 | -0.42% ↓ | -0.47% ↓ |
Superman and Lois returned for its third season last month and it is currently the highest-rated sci fi/fantasy show airing on The CW. It is at the Number 2 slot and it is performing well above the network averages in the drama category and overall and could be the one genre entry to survive into next season. The Flash is not far behind at Number 4 as it airs out its final season.
New series Gotham Knights is the fourth highest-rated genre show on the network at Number 9, but that may not be enough to keep it alive seeing as new ownership does not plan on carrying over many shows from the prior regime. But if it continues to post good viewership there is a chance it could jump over to HBO Max (soon to be called just Max). The Winchesters is just ahead of that show at Number 8, and if The CW does not renew it, it could also switch to HBO Max or maybe join the Netflix ranks where Supernatural reruns are performing well.
Rounding out the genre entries at The CW are Stargirl (Number 11) and Kung Fu (Number 12). The former show has already been cancelled and the latter appears to be on the way out after three seasons.
Below are the Top 30 broadcast network shows for non-repeat, non-special, and non-sports programming based on ratings results through April 16th 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 | 0.75% ↑ | 0.86% ↑ |
| 2 | Superman and Lois | CW | Drama | 0.11 | 0.680 | 0.48% ↑ | 0.57% ↑ |
| 3 | All American: Homecoming | CW | Drama | 0.11 | 0.370 | 0.48% ↑ | 0.57% ↑ |
| 4 | The Flash | CW | Drama | 0.10 | 0.520 | 0.34% ↑ | 0.43% ↑ |
| 5 | Walker | CW | Drama | 0.09 | 0.720 | 0.21% ↑ | 0.29% ↑ |
| 6 | Whose Line Is It Anyway | CW | Reality/Competition | 0.08 | 0.520 | 0.26% ↑ | 0.14% ↑ |
| 7 | Masters of Illusion | CW | Reality/Competition | 0.08 | 0.500 | 0.26% ↑ | 0.14% ↑ |
| 8 | The Winchesters | CW | Drama | 0.08 | 0.480 | 0.08% ↑ | 0.14% ↑ |
| 9 | Gotham Knights | CW | Drama | 0.08 | 0.470 | 0.08% ↑ | 0.14% ↑ |
| 10 | Penn and Teller | CW | Reality/Competition | 0.07 | 0.670 | 0.11% ↑ | 0.00% ↑ |
| 11 | Stargirl | CW | Drama | 0.07 | 0.450 | -0.06% ↓ | 0.00% ↑ |
| 12 | Kung Fu | CW | Drama | 0.06 | 0.410 | -0.19% ↓ | -0.14% ↓ |
| 13 | Family Law | CW | Drama | 0.06 | 0.310 | -0.19% ↓ | -0.14% ↓ |
| 14 | Riverdale | CW | Drama | 0.06 | 0.250 | -0.19% ↓ | -0.14% ↓ |
| 15 | Killer Camp | CW | Reality/Competition | 0.06 | 0.230 | -0.05% ↓ | -0.14% ↓ |
| 16 | Walker: Independence | CW | Drama | 0.05 | 0.500 | -0.33% ↓ | -0.28% ↓ |
| 17 | The Great American Joke Off | CW | Reality/Competition | 0.05 | 0.340 | -0.21% ↓ | -0.28% ↓ |
| 18 | Great Chocolate Showdown | CW | Reality/Competition | 0.05 | 0.330 | -0.21% ↓ | -0.28% ↓ |
| 19 | Coroner | CW | Drama | 0.04 | 0.350 | -0.46% ↓ | -0.43% ↓ |
| 20 | Professionals | CW | Drama | 0.04 | 0.280 | -0.46% ↓ | -0.43% ↓ |
| 21 | Bump | CW | Comedy | 0.04 | 0.210 | -0.06% ↓ | -0.43% ↓ |
| 22 | Devils | CW | Drama | 0.03 | 0.170 | -0.60% ↓ | -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.
