Cancellation Watch: Status updates for the sci fi and fantasy shows on the broadcast networks, cable channels, and streaming services as well as breaking news on the currently airing, returning, and upcoming genre entries.
Status Updates
Resident Alien (Syfy, Status: Renewal Possible): This sci fi dramedy returned for its third season last week and posted a 0.06 rating based on same-day viewing for the 18-49 demographic with 465K total viewers. That is down from its second season average but above what the network has been seeing for its scripted originals so far this season. When the third year of this show was cut back to eight episodes, I took that as an indication that the current season could be its last, and that is still possible. But the first two seasons just started streaming on Netflix and it premiered in the Top 10, so that could help it stick around for a while longer. Fans may want to make some noise on the social networks to give this one a boost, though.
Ghosts (CBS, Status: Renewal Possible): This supernatural comedy returned for its third season last week and posted a 0.67 rating in the demo with 7.1 million total viewers. That is a 14% improvement on its second-season ratings and it outperformed its lead-in Young Sheldon. The show was already pretty much guaranteed a fourth-season renewal because CBS is looking at a syndication run at this point (where shows really turn a profit), but these ratings alone should keep it going.
Echo (Disney+, Status: Mini-Series): This MCU entry dropped out of the Nielsen Streaming Rankings the second week after its premiere. It released all five of its first season episodes at one time, but the expectation is that shows stick around for at least a couple of weeks in the Top 10. It was billed as a mini-series, but a second season could have happened if the viewership was strong enough. There is still a possibility for that, but I don’t expect to see it on the schedule anytime soon.
Chucky (Syfy, Status: Renewal Possible): I previously had this show at Bubble status because it only averaged a 0.04 rating based on same-day viewing in the demo for its airings on Syfy in Fall (it was also simulcast on the USA Network). But with SurrealEstate getting a renewal after only averaging a 0.02 score, I am moving Chucky back to Renewal Possible. It returns for the second half of its third season April 10th and I will see how it tracks then, but since this is a major franchise for the network, perhaps it will stick around for another year or so despite the lagging viewership.
Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale (AMC+, Status: Renewal Possible): This supernatural drama premiered on AMC’s streaming service in January and has been receiving a fair amount of promotion. The Nielsen Streaming Rankings do not track AMC+, so no viewership numbers are available for the show at this point. It is based on the V. V. James novel Sanctuary: A Novel of Suspense, Witchcraft, and Small Town Secrets and it is unclear if there are plans to go beyond that story at this point. But if it performs well for the streamer, it could stick around for another year.
You can see the status of all the shows from the current season at our Cancellation Watch Page.
Cancellation/Renewal Score:
With last week’s cancellation of Evil (it will be ending after its upcoming fourth season) and SurrealEstates‘ renewal for a third season, that brings the score for the current season to seven cancelled and ending sci fi and fantasy entries (16% of shows tracked) vs. eighteen renewals (42%). Below are this season’s numbers, and you can see the list of shows and keep up with the score throughout the week at our Cancellation Watch Page.
| Show Count | 43 | ||
| Cancelled | 5 | 11.6% | |
| Ending | 2 | 4.7% | 16.3% |
| Renewed | 18 | 41.9% | |
| On the Bubble | 4 | 9.3% | |
| Renewal Possible | 14 | 32.6% | |
| Mini-Series | 4 |
Be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for breaking news and updates. And for the latest news and discussions on sci fi and fantasy television, follow r/SciFiTV
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.
