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All Your Favorite Television Shows Will Be Cancelled Renewed

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under TV Reviews | Comments (35)

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Fuckity bleep. The state of network television is such a shambles right now (network television viewership is off 10 percent since last season, which was already dismally low) that my radar detecting cancellations is severely off. It clearly doesn’t take a 2.0 rating point and 8 million viewers to save a show anymore. “Community” and “Parks and Recreation” were renewed last week despite historically soft ratings, and yesterday, Fox — the network that loves to shitcan — renewed the woefully rated “Fringe,” which last recorded a 1.3 and a mere 3.7 million viewers. That’s in the range of where the now cancelled “Sarah Chronicle Files” lived, and it’s not that much better than the ratings of “Dollhouse.” Maybe Fox just likes JJ Abrams more than Joss Whedon. Or maybe it’s because “Fringe” is a better show. And now that it’s renewed, and it seems to have all this energy behind it, I’ll probably stupidly return to the show, just four days after abandoning it.

I’m such a sheep. But I will remain steadfastly annoyed with the show’s inability to play by any set of rules. Also, with Anna Torv’s impression of Leonard Nimoy, which sounds like a generic female impression of Jimmy Cagney.

What does perturb me about the renewal, however, is that “Fringe’s” ratings are below that of “Lone Star,” the wonderful, fantastic show that Fox cancelled at the beginning of the season after only two episodes. That was a show that very well could’ve found a strong, DVD-buying audience, much like “Fringe.” And if Fox is going to support quality programming, they should at least be more consistent about it. Also, if “Lone Star” had remained on the air, we could’ve been saved from an Adrianne Palicki led “Wonder Woman.”

Meanwhile, in actual cancellation news, F/X has at least remained consistent, basing its programming decisions on actual ratings, cancelling the very decent “Lights Out,” a show that I very much like, but for the lead character, Holt McCallany, whose woodenness gets irritatingly under my skin. But, thank you F/X for both picking up the series in the first place, and for allowing the show to finish the entire season before shitcanning it. Really. Say what you’d like about F/X, but at least they are green lighting great shows (see also, “Terriers”), they are giving them a real chance to gain a following, and they are allowing them to run the course of their entire seasons. I’d have been really upset if F/X had cancelled either “Terriers” or “Lights Out” midway through the season.

Also, F/X is responsible for “Justified,” and word from Deadline is that the network is closing to renewing it for a third season. And it should: Combining all the weekly airings, “Justified” is pulling down 7.4 million viewers, which is twice that of “Fringe,” without the benefit of a network. Here’s a rare situation where ratings and quality coincide.









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Comments

It's embarrassing how happy this makes me.

Posted by: camila at March 25, 2011 10:19 AM

Ahem.

Sarah Connor Chronicles. But I like your title, too.

I have to admit, I am surprised Fringe is getting renewed, though I've a sneaking suspicion it's simply because Fox wants to save face on its move to the dreaded Friday Night Death Slot. It's just too bad that didn't try to do this Friday thing two seasons ago, when they had Fringe, Dollhouse, and Sarah Connor. If they didn't use all three that night, they could easily put any two of those shows together. It works on the CW, anyway, with woeful Smallville and the much-better-but-much-cheaper Supernatural.

Posted by: RobP at March 25, 2011 10:58 AM

Am I the only person disturbed by this news? Until I read this I didn't know renewing Justified was even up for debate. I assumed it was a sure thing. They can't do this to me. They can't.

Posted by: PaddyDog at March 25, 2011 11:07 AM

"when they had Fringe, Dollhouse, and Sarah Connor. If they didn't use all three that night, they could easily put any two of those shows together."

Coming this fall....Wooden Blondelivia is being protected by an amnesiac robot Summer Glau while Pacey tries to prevent the future from happening and then prevent it from happening WITH ROBOTS while John Noble creeps the fuck out of DOOOshkOOOO who is cloned in 50 alternate universes so Joss Whedon can live out his fantasy of having a Dushku-harem and Lance Reddick stands in the corner and wonders "what the fuck are these white boys doing?".

This fall...Frollhouse Connercles

Posted by: D-Day at March 25, 2011 11:08 AM

Aaagh. Fringe, a better show than (ahem) Sarah Connor Chronicles? Maybe in the alt-verse.

Posted by: heatseeker at March 25, 2011 11:12 AM

"What does perturb me about the renewal, however, is that “Fringe’s” ratings are below that of “Lone Star,” the wonderful, fantastic show that Fox cancelled at the beginning of the season after only two episodes."

Crap like this pisses me off beyond words. I just cannot stand the slash and burn method of TV programming with stuff that's not an instant hit. Geez, give a show a decent chance to find it's footing. And then to turn around and renew some piece of dreck that's not doing any better in the ratings is just insane.

Posted by: elsie at March 25, 2011 11:27 AM

Usually FX gives a show an entire season, not in the case of The Riches season 2. I'm well aware its due to the writer's strike, but there was zero wrap up to that show and with the number of subplots being introduced leading up to the last one I think the writers were just sadistically fucking with the fans for having the audactiy to stick with it.

I stopped watching Fringe after last year's mid season ending (when Olivia got kidnapped) but I'm happy for you fans that it got renewed. It's so rare a cult sci-fi show makes it to season 2 let alone a season 3 that the news has to celebrated no matter what.

Posted by: TylerDFC at March 25, 2011 11:40 AM

I'm still pissed about "TSCC" being cancelled, but Olyphantypants makes up for just about anything.

Posted by: Cindy at March 25, 2011 12:06 PM

Tyler, I don't think you can't blame The Riches' cancellation on FX. Pretty sure the creator is to blame: (in my lowly opinion) he creates interesting characters and then puts them in impossible-to-suspend-disbelief situations, and wonders why his audience wanders away (look at "Hung", his current show, which is a waste of the lead actor and various supporting actors).

Posted by: Val Vadynia at March 25, 2011 12:07 PM

D-Day, making an early push for the week EE championship belt.

Not surprised "Fringe" is getting picked up. It's probably cheaper to give it another year than to dump it and go look for something else to put at that slot.

Also not surprised "Lights Out" is turning out the lights. FX, whatever can be said about their policies, is at least consistent.

Get ready for more reality crap next fall.

Posted by: Fredo at March 25, 2011 12:09 PM

I'm still pissed about "TSCC" being cancelled

On the bright side, it left Lena Headey free to take on the role of Cersei Lannister in "Game of Thrones."

If anyone's going to be involved in some incest, I'm glad it's her!

Posted by: Fredo at March 25, 2011 12:20 PM

Yeah, but, Fredo, it's been like two years since Sarah Connor got the axe. They could at least have had a third season. Season two ends on such damn amazing new plot thread, it's almost worse than Firefly being canceled after one-half season. (Operative word being "almost.")

D-Day: That sounds like the worst show ever. So, still, I'm surprised Fox didn't do that.

Posted by: RobP at March 25, 2011 12:52 PM

I have no confidence in shows with complex mystery-plots, fantasy/sci-fi elements, and vague spiritual destinies for their characters. They tend to go off the rails and/or end very badly. For instance:

Battlestar Galactica (ended badly and left plot threads dangling)
Lost (No shit)
Angel (An evil god was behind everything all along)
Dollhouse (Manatees wrote this show)
Fringe (apparently, I don't know, but it sounds like it)
Heroes (Jeph Loeb is the best writer ever, you guys)

The only story I can think of that took this approach and succeeded was Planescape: Torment, and that's an obscure video game that most people will never play (it's damn good and it changed my life, go play it). It's possible that the serialized nature of TV storytelling plus the fact that you don't know how many seasons you'll have is the downfall of this kind of show.

Posted by: Lucas at March 25, 2011 12:52 PM

wow Rowles, you just had to snipe about Fringe again, you big sissy.

Posted by: idleprimate at March 25, 2011 12:56 PM

"I'm still pissed about "TSCC" being cancelled"

^ ^ ^ This

Posted by: idleprimate at March 25, 2011 12:59 PM

Justified better have another few seasons at least. Can't get enough of that show, especially since they've really picked up their game in the second season.

Posted by: Mel C. at March 25, 2011 12:59 PM

"It's possible that the serialized nature of TV storytelling plus the fact that you don't know how many seasons you'll have is the downfall of this kind of show."

I think you just reiterated how genius The Wire was.

Without any faith from the studios, there's such a huge amount of pressure for any show on the single digit channels. You've gotta hit a home run with the pilot, have enough in the tank for advertising, have enough for press releases, teasers and trailers and social media bullshit.

So if you blow your proverbial load on the first 4-5 episodes, and your show hits and is renewed, now you're supposed to be ready to go back to the drawing board and start up on season 2?

Fringe seemed like it knew exactly what it was in the first season, playing like an updated X-Files, and then, just like Lost, all of the sudden they ran out of cases and decided to MINDFUCK YOU INTO WONDERING WHAT YOU JUST SAW MWAHAHAH and hitting you with those impossibly inconclusive endings and hints.

Posted by: D-Day at March 25, 2011 1:05 PM

Some idiot just gave Dushku another television role. A bowl of fruit would have been the better choice.

Posted by: Cindy at March 25, 2011 1:20 PM

But Lucas, what you have to ask yourself is, what can change the nature of a man?

Posted by: Socraz6 at March 25, 2011 1:25 PM

Rowles, being able to post a comment here is not a right, but a privilege. I crossed the line with my crass statement in another post. Please accept my apology.

Posted by: Pookie at March 25, 2011 1:35 PM

As a fan of The Chicago Code, which has higher ratings than Fringe, this is very upsetting.

People forget sometimes that SOME shows have to get cancelled to make room for new ones. It's perfectly understandable that the lower-rated ones are the ones to go. For me this is a baffling time to go against the grain when Fringe is struggling so much creatively and in the ratings.

Posted by: S.K. at March 25, 2011 2:06 PM

whoa whoa whoa, @Lucas.

You need to check yo' self son. I can't get into it now, but you are just all wrong about this. This, this... gaaarghh.

FROWNY FACE

Posted by: LBeees at March 25, 2011 3:47 PM

I like Dushku...Then again I've found I usually like stuff that the Pajive-mind (especially Dustin) hates.

Still, another season of Fringe makes me happy!

Posted by: Adam C. at March 25, 2011 4:08 PM

Happy to see Fringe renewed, though I agree with RobP that it's a face-saver. Maybe with a little more time they can steer the show back to Season 2 quality, which was fantastic.

While I'm not thrilled with the show's current state, I'm hoping that some of it is due to uncertainty and the difficulty of building a good arc before getting axed. I can't agree with Dustin's turd-fervor; it's still got potential, it's just taken a turn for the douche lately. Hoping renewal will give them some commitment to quality.

If I were more industrious I would check up on the writers to see if the Season 2 stable was rotated elsewhere, but I'm lazy.

Posted by: Salieri2 at March 25, 2011 5:33 PM

Even more importantly, The Venture Brothers has signed a contract for two more seasons. BOOYA.

Posted by: Craig at March 25, 2011 7:06 PM

Jerce is so relieved. Jerce is grateful to Pajiba for the good news about The Walter Show.

This fall...Frollhouse Connercles

I would completely watch this show, D-Day, provided it has Harry Lennix and that little feller who played Topher in it.

Posted by: Jerce at March 25, 2011 7:23 PM

P.S. Sadly, Lucas is right, y'all, and that is coming from someone who watched every nanosecond of Lost (ending broke my fucking heart) and actually enjoyed most of Dollhouse.

Posted by: Jerce at March 25, 2011 7:26 PM

The Angel plotline is completely in synch with not only Angel, but also with the whole Buffyverse. Have you seen any of the plotlines from those two shows? It's ALWAYS a god, demigod, demon(s), etc. What else did you expect? It wasn't exactly a secret who/what was behind everything, it was just what form that person/thing would take.

Posted by: Three-nineteen at March 25, 2011 8:33 PM

Some idiot just gave Dushku another television role. A bowl of fruit would have been the better choice.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Why do you have to ruin my day like that, Cindy?! I could have had at least the weekend to be blissfully ignorant of this.

Add me to the list of people pissed about TSCC getting canned.

Posted by: Uda at March 25, 2011 8:38 PM

I agree guys,I hate the cancelation of Tscc or my name is Earl,Im still pissed about what happens when a chanel decides forget why they do that series.

Posted by: J at March 25, 2011 10:21 PM

Yay! I'm very happy about this news, very happy indeed.

Also, the show may have an over 1.3 but TV by the Numbers showed it had a 2.2 with the 18-49 crowd and a strong DVR audience:

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/03/24/its-official-fringe-renewed/86988

perhaps that contributed? Either way, I'm thrilled!

Posted by: Even Stevens at March 26, 2011 12:16 AM

I love Fringe, and would never wish for anything bad to happen to it, but a small yet horribly cynical and conspiracy-believing part of me is wondering if Fox didn't do this just to shut people up about them not keeping shows, especially after the move to the death slot.

Posted by: johnnyseattle at March 27, 2011 10:32 AM

The problem with fringe is not enough marketing. I didn't even know the show existed until halfway through the third season. I rarely watch tv so if their isn't many commercials about it I won't know about it. I found it by accident. I've since purchased both season one and two on itunes to get all of the back story.

Another thing is fridays, less people watch tv on fridays than other nights. They should switch it to another night like monday or tuesday.

I'm a new fan of the show and I'm glad its going to continue. To anyone at fox- FRINGE NEEDS MORE MARKETING and a DIFFERENT TIMESLOT.

Posted by: Chris at May 7, 2011 4:41 AM

Seriously does the time slot really matter. Hello DVR. Yeah I guess for new viewers it does.

I seriously doubt Alfred Hitchcock or any of the great scifi producers/writers would be able to stay on air today.

Scifi takes time to develop. You can't just throw good looking people on. You have to... you know have a good plot.

Posted by: Adam Gent at May 13, 2011 12:10 AM

They better NOT!! cancel Fringe,its a great show,and if ratings are that low,then people are stupid!!just because its a friday night,doesnt mean you cant DVR it!

Posted by: Chris at May 13, 2011 10:22 PM