Fall report card: Which new TV series will stick around?
It's a rite of fall TV: The culling of the herd.
In a lackluster season with few new hits, network TV series are learning their fates. First-year shows usually receive 13-episode commitments; in success, they're given "back-nine" orders in October or November to continue production for a full season of 22.
Some freshmen series have done well enough during the opening weeks of the new season to earn such extensions: CBS' Life in Pieces and Limitless, NBC's Blindspot, ABC's Quantico and Fox's Rosewood. Fox comedies Grandfathered and The Grinder and ABC's Dr. Ken also won full seasons (despite low ratings) thanks to combinations of tough time periods, network ownership or faith in the shows' creative prospects. ABC's The Muppets will get three more episodes, for a total of 16.
The new batch shows evidence of continued ratings erosion plaguing broadcasters, even when seven-day DVR viewing is factored in. Until last week, fall's top-rated newcomer was Blindspot, with 12.5 million viewers, compared to last fall's standout, CBS's Scorpion, which was averaging 15.2 million at this time last fall. Just two others are managing 10 million or more. And every network has shed viewers this season.
But in a sign of the more-patient times, none of the 21 new series on the five broadcast networks have been canceled. But it's clear which of them won't last much longer, in less-abrupt exits: ABC's Blood & Oil and Fox's Minority Report had their initial 13-episode commitments cut to 10, and NBC's The Player's went from 13 to nine; all three series will be gone by December. NBC comedy Truth Be Told also was cut to 10 episodes, but it's unlikely all of them will air. And don't look for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, CW's lowest-rated series, to continue past its first 13.
Fox's Scream Queens, along with NBC's Heroes Reborn and variety series Best Time Ever With Neil Patrick Harris were dubbed "limited" series designed to last only through fall. Their ratings wouldn't justify an extension anyway, but it's possible one or more could return next season.
That leaves a handful of series waiting for word on their futures: CBS' Supergirl premiered well last week, though it's too soon to measure its longevity, while ABC's Wicked City was DOA against the World Series. CBS medical series Code Black is struggling, though NBC's own try at the genre, spinoff Chicago Med, won't even premiere until Nov. 17.
Yet the networks have already begun scheduling midseason replacements: Jennifer Lopez cop drama Shades of Blue will sub for The Player on Thursdays starting in January.