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
3 Body Problem (Netflix, Status: Renewal Possible): This series repeated at Number 1 in the Nielsen Streaming rankings for a third week in a row. It has also now spent seven weeks in the Netflix charts, five in the Top 5. It is an expensive show to produce, and the showrunners want to go even bigger with its second season with hopes that it will last four years total. Whether Netflix will let it go that long remains to be seen, but I consider a second-season renewal to be a good bet at this point.
Resident Alien (Netflix, Status: On the Bubble): Deadline is reporting that Resident Alien is unlikely to get a fourth season at Syfy and that it could move over to sister cable network USA which is considering getting back into the scripted programming game. However, that move could come with a budget cut of $500K per episode. The show only averaged a 0.06 rating based on same-day viewing for the 18-49 demo in its third year, and Syfy in general has been having trouble drawing viewers to its original series. Resident Alien did see pretty strong viewership on Netflix when its first two seasons were released there in February, and there are also talks of the show possibly moving to that streamer. For now, though, I am shifting it to Bubble status and fans should definitely make some noise on the social networks to support this series.
Dead Boy Detectives (Netflix, Status: Renewal Possible): This show slipped to Number 3 in the Netflix charts for its second week, but viewership improved to 34 million hours across 4.7 million households. Its numbers are not as strong as other recent genre entries from the streamer like 3 Body Problem or the live-action One Piece, but it is likely not nearly as expensive to produce as either of those shows. However, Netflix does tend to cut bait pretty quickly on shows it considers to be underperformers, so fans should probably make some noise on the social networks to bring this one more attention.
Not Dead Yet (ABC, Status: On the Bubble): The prognosis for this supernatural comedy has not been good this season with its episode order getting truncated and its ratings slipping year over year. And ABC has announced the status of most of its shows while remaining silent on this one so far. We should know its fate by next week when the network unveils its 2024-25 schedule at the Upfronts, and right now is the time for fans to stage a Call to Action to help its chances of getting a third season.
Chucky (Syfy, Status: Renewal Possible): There has been no word on a fourth season of this horror/comedy yet, but creator Don Mancini has already made a pitch to Syfy for where the show can go next. In addition, fans have an opportunity to support the show by calling 1-201-500-3347 to demand more adventures from Chucky. Its numbers dropped off with its season finale last week, but perhaps this one could stick around for another year if the fans lobby for it.
Krapopolis (FOX, Status: Renewed): The same-day ratings for this animated fantasy comedy have dropped notably during the second half of its first season without a lead-in from football to boost its viewership. But is it performing about on par with FOX’s other animated comedies on Sunday nights and it has already been renewed through its third season, so it is safe for now.
You can see the status of all the shows from the current season at our Cancellation Watch Page.
Cancellation/Renewal Score:
There were no renewal or cancellation announcements this past week, though I expect to hear the fate of several shows (particularly ABC’s Not Dead Yet and Syfy’s Resident Alien and Chucky) by next week during the Upfronts when several of the networks and streamers will be revealing their schedules for the coming season. The score currently stands at 23 renewed sci fi and fantasy entries (40% of shows tracked) vs. 11 cancelled and ending (19%). 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 | 57 | ||
| Cancelled | 6 | 10.5% | |
| Ending | 5 | 8.8% | 19.3% |
| Renewed | 23 | 40.4% | |
| On the Bubble | 6 | 10.5% | |
| Renewal Possible | 17 | 29.8% | |
| Mini-Series | 6 |
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.
