The Cancellation Game - October

[the G-man]

I would say that, generally yes, network TV tends to only take chances when it has "nothing to lose." Otherwise, it tends to just replicate whatever was last successful for them (or a rival) over and over until people get sick of it.

Part of NBC's problem, for example, is that they are still trying to replicate "Must See TV" nearly 20 years after the fact. And don't get me started on how they ran, and are still running, the "Law and Order" concept into the ground.

[Starbreaker]

The Mindy Project received a full season pickup.
Ben and Kate had an additional 6 episodes ordered.

[Dream]

The Mob Doctor will be dead in two weeks.

[Starbreaker]

Community and Whitney have had their premieres delayed. They might be taking the spots of Animal Practice and Guys With Kids soon.

[Guy Gardener]

Animal practice is awful, and Guys with kids is fantastically bad BUT Guys with Kids is comfortable... It's just like so many other shows that were okay and we miss.

Guys with kids... THAT'S VANESSA FROM THE COSBY SHOW!!!

Bury the lead already.

And is that.. is that.. ITS MEADOW FROM THE SOPRANOS!!

And the third wife is on EVERYTHING (but mostly Children's Hospital.)!

Never be anything great, but it's paying peoples rent till they can find something worthwhile.

[Enterprise is Great]

Dream wrote:

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The Mob Doctor will be dead in two weeks.

It's off for baseball for three weeks but yeah...it'll be cancelled during that time.

[Kosh Naranek]

I voted 666 PA. Its adverts cannot decide if it is soap or horror. It just looks cheesy, and is not likely to capture Once Upon a Time's or Revenge's audience IMHO.

[Enterprise is Great]

Kosh Naranek wrote:

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I voted 666 PA. Its adverts cannot decide if it is soap or horror.

It's both a soap and a horror show unfortunately it's not soapy or scary enough.

It just looks cheesy, and is not likely to capture Once Upon a Time's or Revenge's audience IMHO.

Yeah. This Sunday 666 got 4 million less than Once's 9+ million and 3 less than Revenge's 8+. It should/will be cancelled pretty soon.

[FPAlpha]

Temis the Friendly Ghost wrote:

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PS, Castle's ratings on ABC are far from solid and the show may be headed for cancellation.

I don't know on which data this assessment is based but Castle is consistently one of ABC's top shows.. it has shed some viewers in season 4 which i think was good but not the best season they had but they are stable at the mark they finished 4th season and i can't see why it shouldn't be picked up (and storywise there were major developments in the season 4 finale leading to a whole new ballgame.. it remains to be seen if that means a pick up in viewers).

[Temis the Vorta]

tvbythenumbers compiles data from Nielsens ratings and then compares shows with other shows on the same network since that's a big factor in determines what lives or dies. Networks usually start at the bottom of the list and axe the weakest shows (there are some mitigating factors such as airing on Fridays.)

Based on recent Nielsens, it doesn't look to me like Castle is one of ABC's top rated shows, or else it would be higher on the list. Maybe this is a recent development as of S5 and the show just came back to much weaker numbers, but that doesn't change the numbers, maybe the show is just out of steam.

Shows that drop in the ratings rarely come back up, but it's all relative and ABC's freshman class this year is not doing too well. If their new shows keep dropping, then that could change things before ABC makes any decisions about what to axe this season.

For instance, the list has just been updated and Castle moved up a notch due to 666 Park Ave dropping even more. Still not far up enough to be safe, but ABC can't be feeling very cocky nowadays so maybe they'll renew it because it's a known quantity. Or, ABC could move it to Fridays, which is a good night for low rated shows with a loyal fanbase, works for Grimm and Fringe.

The comments section at the link above discusses more factors like syndication that will influence the decision, although I can't vouch for the reliability or rationality of the tvbythenumbers crowd.

[Guy Gardener]

The second episode of the nieghbours was much funnier.

Human daughter "You've made my life intolerable up till now and to top it off you've me us in next door to the cast of District 09."

Human father. "I haven't seen District nine, is it any good?"

Human Daughter "yeah it is, the the special effects were pretty cool."

Human Mum "I'd like to see district nine with you Amber."

Human daughter "I'd rather die."

[Starbreaker]

Castle is actually doing really well in number of total viewers, it's close to syndication, already airing repeats on other channels, and it's one of ABC's darlings. It'll at least get to finish out the year.

[Temis the Vorta]

Total number of viewers is meaningless. Like a lot of shows, Castle skews too old. But syndication and the fact that it is made in-house are points in its favor.

[Temis the Vorta]

First blood drawn! Made in Jersey.

[Starbreaker]

These are the only votes that will count for Made in Jersey:

antichristhill, Base_Delta_Zero, bigdaddy, bullethead, Cap'n Crunch, Carcazoid, Count von Count, Guy Gardener, Nick Ryder, Scout101, Spot's Meow, Starbreaker, Temis the Friendly Ghost, The Abominable Dr. Horrible, Toxteth O´Grady, Winged Devilry

Thanks, Temis