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
Avatar The Last Airbender (Netflix, Status: Renewal Possible): This live-action adaptation of the animated classic was a big swing for Netflix and it opened at Number 1 in that streamer’s chart with 153 million hours watched across 21 million households. That was the second-best week posted by any Netflix entry this season and has the show off to a good start. Reviews have been mixed on this one so far (it holds a 60% Tomatometer Score on Rotten Tomatoes so far), but I expect that it will continue into a second season if the strong viewership holds up.
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (AMC, Status: Mini-Series): The latest Walking Dead spin-off had its premiere on Sunday and posted a 0.21 rating based on same-day viewing for the 18-49 demographic with 896K total viewers. That is lower than the final season of TWD but higher than the other spin-offs Dead City and Daryl Dixon (both of which have been renewed). The Ones Who Live has been billed as a mini-series and Andrew Lincoln previously indicated that he did not want to return full-time to the franchise, but there is a chance they could eke out another season or two from this one as a cross-over between all three spin-offs is being considered.
Quantum Leap (NBC, Status: Renewal Possible): This series wrapped up its second season last week, averaging a 0.19 rating in the demo and 1.4 total viewers for its two-episode finale. It performed below network averages after moving to the Tuesday 10 PM EST timeslot in January, but it was not far off from NBC’s average for dramas during its Fall run. Two other Fall dramas from the network have received renewals (The Irrational and Found) while Quantum Leap is still waiting for word on its fate. The fans should definitely make some noise on the social networks to support this one to help its chances of getting to a third season.
Not Dead Yet (ABC, Status: Renewal Possible): This supernatural drama returned for its second season two weeks ago and has averaged a 0.26 rating in the demo so far. That is below the network’s overall average and its average for comedies. It is also losing a fair amount of the audience from its lead-in from The Conners. I am not going to move this one to Bubble status just yet, but I will keep a close eye on how it tracks in the coming weeks, and fans should certainly give this one some support on the social networks.
You can see the status of all the shows from the current season at our Cancellation Watch Page.
Cancellation/Renewal Score:
Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 has received an April 4th premiere date, counting it as part of the 2023-24 season, and it will now get factored into the Ending shows this year. Also, I had not added Star Wars: The Bad Batch to that column yet, so I have fixed that now. That brings the score for the current season to nine cancelled and ending sci fi and fantasy entries (19% of shows tracked) vs. 18 renewed (38%). 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 | 48 | ||
| Cancelled | 5 | 10.4% | |
| Ending | 4 | 8.3% | 18.8% |
| Renewed | 18 | 37.5% | |
| On the Bubble | 4 | 8.3% | |
| Renewal Possible | 17 | 35.4% | |
| Mini-Series | 5 |
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.
