Comments on: Is this Numb3rs last season? Order cut to 16 episodes

By: forg

forg — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:18:01 +0000

Well at least the producers of the show is already preparing a a closure for the likely final episode
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/11/06/exclusive-numb3rs-fans-can-count-on-closure/

By: Bob Loblaw

Bob Loblaw — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:19:56 +0000

Any story about about a quality show having its season order cut is an allusion to Arrested Development.

By: Holly

Holly — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:25:20 +0000

^or an allusion to Arrested Development

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:23:53 +0000

Elaine, if you’d just worked Jericho into your comment it would have been a disgruntled fan trifecta!

By: Jon

Jon — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:19:42 +0000

CBS will not, I repeat not bring back Moonlight even if they like Alex O’Loughlin, it’s not like Firefly which had sufficient DVD sales and even then Serenity didn’t set the Box Office alight. Vampires may be hot at the moment but that doesn’t mean CBS should bring back a show that was underperforming and wasn’t own by them. CBS brought back Jericho which all but flopped and they are unlikely to bring back another dead show.

By: elaine

elaine — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:06:49 +0000

Hopefully Three Rivers will end soon..what a dog. Wonder if CBS can admit they were wrong and bring Alex back to his show Moonlight. They made as big a mistake dumping ML as Fox did with FireFly.

By: Howard Beale

Howard Beale — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:19:55 +0000

But it’s got great live+100 day ratings.

By: DaisiesDeathKnell

DaisiesDeathKnell — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:54:30 +0000

Guess this means the prodigal son, Rob Morrow, can finally return to Northern Exposure.

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:42:30 +0000

Riff Rafferty – Well the shows that got the extra order have no chance of being moved or shuffled by midseason. Despite the fact that Ghost Whisperer and Medium havent gotten more episodes both are safe for fridays in 2010-2011. Cold Case and Numb3rs will be cancelled by May and Accidentally on Purpose is likely to suffer the same fate as Worst Week and The Class. Despite syndication, Old Christine will have 89 episodes which is good enough to be sold (shows like Still Standing and Everybody Hates Chris had around that number). ABC could pick the series up so Old Christine isnt in as much danger. Three Rivers will be axed soon and Miami Trauma may not have a good chance of surviving if it gets stuck with a bad slot. Does anyone know how many episodes Gary Unmarried will have for Season 2??

Here’s my guess for cancelled by May
Cold Case
Numb3rs
Old Christine
Accidentally on Purpose
Three Rivers
Miami Trauma

By: Delynn

Delynn — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:06:10 +0000

And yes, I am a hardcore NUMB3RS fan. Been a hardcore fan ever since the first episode. I grew sadder and sadder as the math was pushed to the background, tolerated love interests that felt flat to me, and groaned and griped about the directing when it was bad. But I believe with all my heart that NUMB3RS is worth the trouble, and am deeply saddened by CBS’s decision.

By: Delynn

Delynn — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:01:23 +0000

Fridays are notorious for bad ratings though, and no network is exempt. CBS wins the night in scripted dramas EVERY GORRAM WEEK, so there is NO FRAKKING REASON for this cut.

@Lynn: Lou D Phillips already filmed another episode! I love his character as well!

By: Riff Rafferty

Riff Rafferty — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:50:04 +0000

When a network uses the excuse that they’re cutting your order because they don’t “have room” for the episodes they ordered, you know your days are numb3red.

(Yes, I’m looking at you too, “Past Life.”)

And how tacky of CBS. They certainly seem to have room for several extra episodes of “CSI,” “CSI: NY,” “CSI: Miami,” “The Mentalist,” “Criminal Minds,” “Two and a Half Men” and “The Big Bang Theory.” You know, the extra episodes they ordered on the same day they took six episodes away from “Numb3rs”…

By: Lynn

Lynn — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:48:15 +0000

I’m sad. Numb3rs is a good crime drama for those of us who hate autopsies and like more of a character focus. It was one of the few “procedural” shows that got the mix between story and character right for me. And they never resorted to cheap stunts like killing people off to achieve “drama.”

I hope they bring Lou Diamond Phillips’ character back once more. He was one of their best recurring characters.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:30:17 +0000

Jon – I believe for next season, NCIS LA will stay at 9pm after NCIS.

Mumbo – Eleventh Hour was never cut back, it always had an 18 episode order. Usually if a series gets a smaller than usual order or gets the episode order cut, theres virtually no chance of the series getting another season. Rare examples are Fringe which got 20 episodes instead of 22 and Gary Unmarried which got extended to 20 intead of 22. However that episode order cut wasnt that great, and the additional episodes ordered for Gary last season were really close to a full year.

By: Shaz

Shaz — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:01:19 +0000

It wasn’t Dianne Farr leaving that turned Numb3rs from a must-see to a maybe-see for me. It was having to suffer through all of Don’s incredibly boring love interests. I’m not opposed to Don having a love life, but the storylines they gave him were generic and dull.

By: yoshue

yoshue — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:57:57 +0000

I have never watched this, but I’ll miss Judd Hirsch anyway.

By: Howard Beale

Howard Beale — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:46:58 +0000

OK, one word: “Wedding.” A inter-continental cultural war ensues as Amita’s parents revolt and you have a revived program. It could even be renamed “Days of our Numb3rs” or “The Guiding Numb3rs Racket.”

Better yet, after Charlie marries, then becomes addicted to the horses as an escape from his overly-calculating wife?

I’m thinking the plots have become stale.

By: Mumbo

Mumbo — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:45:59 +0000

This reduction in Numb3rs episodes could just be to make room for their Canadian acquisitions to air on Fridays.

Of course, I think people said the same thing when Eleventh Hour was cut back for Harper’s Island.

—-

“Is everyone aware that The Good Wife Consistently makes the Top 20 in total viewers and that it is the second highest rated new show of the season?”
Total viewers don’t matter, and it’s not the second highest rated new show of the season.

If an hour-long drama’s below the network average it’s in danger. The Good Wife is.

The show could be saved by the Emmys, but only if it doesn’t fall below the bubble.

By: Jon

Jon — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:34:47 +0000

The Good Wife has Emmy potential from Julianna Margulies and others and out of NCIS LA it’s not doing badly although it skews older. I hazard a guess that either NCIS LA or TGW move to another day or if CBS wants to be brave and have 9-11 as new shows which would be unlikely.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:25:34 +0000

Kim – Thats not going to happen. Whered you hear that about Two and a Half Men.

Forg – I initially believed that The Good Wife could be axed at the end of the season but with Numb3rs soon to be axed along with Cold Casr it gives more room on the schedule, which actually gives Good Wife a chance. O ould still say 50/50 but now Im leaning toward it being renewed.

By: forg

forg — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:25:10 +0000

^ I like The Good Wife and I’m hoping for the show’s success, the total viewers is great but the 18-49 demo for the ranges from 2.7-2.9, which is good but since this is CBS, they could afford to cancel this show because the demo is not that spectacular compared to the rest of their line up just like Eleventh Hour last season. Yes it’s too early to tell but there is good reason why there is a bit of worry of the show’s chances for a second season

By: tom

tom — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:09:31 +0000

It always surprised me when I come into these chatrooms and people talk as if The Good Wife is on life support and needs to either be moved to another night and that its chances for renewal are slim.

Is everyone aware that The Good Wife Consistently makes the Top 20 in total viewers and that it is the second highest rated new show of the season? Its current slot is a good fit , cbs doesnt have a reason to move it nor does cbs have a reason to cancel it. The Good Wife will be renewed for a second season, I have no doubt.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:47:42 +0000

Err, more likely to end up on Sundays than Tuesdays or Fridays, I mean. Shouldn’t post before I get my coffee in!

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:44:52 +0000

I think Good Wife is more likely to end up on Sundays than Wednesdays or Fridays next year, to be honest – B&S is only getting older, AND CBS knows GW skews way female – what better to use against SNF?

*Assuming, of course, that GW doesn’t continue to drop / CBS likes other pilots more. I don’t consider another year of GW a lock by any means.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:32:01 +0000

@Robert: “And it even seemed like there was less Judd Hirsch than normal in a couple of episodes this year, though I could definitely be wrong about that.”

You’re not wrong. There’s been considerably less “Alan” (Judd Hirsch) and “Amita” (Navi Rawat) this year. Alan only ever seems be in Charlie’s house talking to Don, while Amita seems to be an afterthought until Charlie needs a second opinion on something for Don. So with the loss of Larry (Peter MacNicol) too, Numb3rs seems to be really focussing on the FBI guys this year. And even then, Liz and Nikki seem to be in one episode and not the next, although David and Colby haven’t missed one so far, I think.

But as someone who’s been with Numb3rs since the beginning, it’ll be sad if (when?) it does go but I do agree with so many people here, it does appear to have run out of steam. So maybe, if this sixth season is the last, then I hope they end it right with Charlie and Amita getting married, Don most likely becoming ordained and Alan maybe getting his own place and/or back with Millie (who apparently still works at CalSci but hasn’t been seen for a few seasons).

And finally, if Numb3rs does end – bring back Megan (Diane Farr) for the finale, maybe even a two-parter. I’m sure Californication can spare her for a very special episode.

By: Kathy B.

Kathy B. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:37:27 +0000

Looks like I’ll be losing two of my Friday shows. Numb3rs & Dollhouse. Good thing we have cable. Loving White Collar & Psych.

By: Kim

Kim — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:01:51 +0000

I heard rumors that CBS might move Two and a Half Men to Sundays at 9, Big Bang Theory to Mondays at 9, and drop one of the Wednesday comedies (along with Rules of Engagement) into the Sun/Mon comedy lineups, bumping Cold Case to Wednesdays at 8.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:49:10 +0000

Andrew, I received no response from an inquiry to NBC press on the L&O story.

By: igor

igor — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:55:57 +0000

Friday night is not going to became the next Saturday. I don’t know why people are saying that. Yes Friday is a mess for all the network all of them are pulling terrible ratings but c’mon it’s the busiest night in the week. All my shows are basically on Friday. Monk, White Collar, Stargate Universe, Sanctuary, Smallville, Ghost Whisperer, Medium, Dollhouse, Ugly Betty.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:17:09 +0000

As long as we’re talking about episode orders, did anything ever come of that story about L&O being given another four episodes, or is that still a rumor?

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:15:13 +0000

Thats no surprise all those shows do really well. Though Im surprised Big Bang Theory, Mentalist and CSI havent been given 24 and also that Good Wife got a 23rd episode. It could mean good news for season 2. From that order it seems only the soon to be cancelled Cold Case and friday night dramas Ghost Whisperer and Medium are the only dramas not to have their numbers upped. While comedies Gary Unamrried and Old Christine havent been upped, though I believed those to only have 22 a piece.

By: Tar

Tar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:08:07 +0000

In related news, CBS has upped the episode orders of How I Met Your Mother, NCIS, NCIS: LA, CSI: Miami, and Two and a Half Men from 22 to 24, while requesting one additional episode of Criminal Minds, CSI: NY, The Big Bang Theory, The Good Wife, CSI, and The Mentalist, bringing their totals from 22 to 23.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:49:10 +0000

At this point its doubtful Numb3rs is worth saving. CBS dramas stay cancelled once they get axed, and it seems unlikely that another network would pick the drama up. Hopefully the writers will think of a good finale for the series.

By: Joseph

Joseph — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:45:53 +0000

Isn’t Numb3rs the spiritual guide/mascot for a website called TV By the Numbers? Perhaps to complement the awesome bingo cards, a spinner is in order to determine what fast-food sandwich product needs to be purchased to save our honorary show.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:43:36 +0000

The crime aspect of Good Wife is compatible to Medium and Medium’s Ghost aspect is compatible to Ghost Whisperer. The fact that its three shows with female leads helps the trio out more. Its not a bad thing, its actually good for the network.

By: Tory

Tory — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:38:09 +0000

Why is The Good Wife a nice match for Ghost Whisperer and Medium? Because it has a female lead? What else does it have in common? It is insulting that people keep thinking that anything with a female lead belongs together, like its the only draw of a show. Its ridiculous reasoning.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:17:46 +0000

Here’s a potential 2010-2011 CBS schedule

Sunday
7:00 60 Minutes
8:00 The Amazing Race
9:00 The Mentalist
10:00 NEW DRAMA

Monday
8:00 How I Met Your Mother
8:30 NEW COMEDY
9:00 Two and a Half Men
9:30 The Big Bang Theory
10:00 CSI Miami

Tuesday
8:00 NCIS
9:00 NCIS LA
10:00 NEW DRAMA

Wendesday
8:00 Rules of Engagement
8:30 Gary Unmarried
9:00 Criminal Minds
10:00 CSI NY

Thursday
8:00 Survivor
9:00 CSI
10:00 NEW DRAMA

Friday
8:00 Ghost Whisperer
9:00 Medium
10:00 The Good Wife

Of course all of this is subject to change but if I ran CBS, this is the schedule I would have for 2010-2011 and I think if CBS moves the established Mentalist to lead 9:00 sundays (In place of axed Three Rivers and Cold Case) and moves The Good Wife to fridays at 10 (In place of the likely axed Numb3rs) They have 3 open slots for new dramas all at 10:00, which I think is a good slot to launch a drama.
Its also likely that Accidentally gets let go (do to bad retention), and CBS finally axes Old Christine (so ABC can save it).

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:10:14 +0000

chrisjozo – Different network. FOX does horrible fridays, CBS does well. However since January 2005 CBS has only aired Numb3rs in the slot. Before that, Dr. Vegas did badly on the slot. Nevertheless, The Good Wife moving to the slot for 2010-2011 may be beneficial to CBS. The female oriented Ghost Whisperer and Medium may help out The Good Wife as well.

Now I truly believe its the end for Numb3rs. I never thought CBS would actually cut the order but they have. But CBS cancelled two veterans last year (Without a Trace and The Unit) and they can this year. I can see headlines for CBS’s May upfronts

“CBS has cancelled veteran dramas Cold Case and Numb3rs, both of which were on the bubble for a while”

By: Tory

Tory — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:29:47 +0000

I hope this doesn’t spell the end of Numb3rs. CBS is lucky that this show has its own fanbase that continues to tune in in this rough timeslot. This is one of two CBS shows I watch. I don’t think they’ll just get another show that will succeed in that slot.

And really don’t see them moving The Good Wife there. I don’t know why people get this impression that having a female lead in a drama somehow means shows have the same appeal. I wouldn’t watch Medium in a million years and Ghost Whisperer holds no appeal either. But I’m really enjoying The Good Wife. And last season I didn’t watch Ghost Whisperer but did watch Ex-List and Numb3rs.lad Medium fits so well with Ghost Whisperer but that’s not going to apply to any drama with a female lead.

Robert, I don’t know why you think that Navi and Judd have been on less this season. I disagree, they’ve been on as much as they always have. Maybe its perception but I’ve tried to consider it objectively and don’t see a diminished role for either of them. And Navi not being in one episode really isn’t evidence of that given she hasn’t appeared in all episodes and she wasn’t in at least one episode last season too.

By: chrisjozo

chrisjozo — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:11:51 +0000

The Good Wife would do horribly on Friday or have people forgotten the fate of Canterbury’s Law.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:31:18 +0000

It would be a good opportunity to air The Good Wife after Medium should CBS give it a second year. A three hour female block should draw attention.

By: Jimmy McAwesome

Jimmy McAwesome — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:25:50 +0000

wouldnt surprise me if it was its last. they could put another show after medium and do the same numbers and if not then you just renew it for another season, not really a bad part of the deal

By: ABCFanatic2009

ABCFanatic2009 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:24:30 +0000

it is the last season

By: shelly

shelly — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:57:00 +0000

I don’t watch the show but I know that CBS doesn’t like aging dramas even when they’re doing okay in the ratings. I remember many years ago how the cast of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman was taken aback when they didn’t get picked up after 5 seasons, CBS citing progressively declining ratings (though they got some wrap-up tv movies).

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:46:02 +0000

Tony – Yeah Big Bang couldve gotten another ep. and I agree Good Wife may actually be renewed and placed after Medium fridays for 2010-2011. Anyway this is basically an early confirmation that Numb3rs is dead. Anytime an episode order is cut its never good news and usually means the show is at the end (should the series be a veteran). Id figured that all of the shows that got upped to 24 episodes (save for HIMYM) were already at 24 episodes. Does anyone know how many episodes Old Christine and Gary Unamrried have. Christine has 22, but Im nnot sure if Gary has 13 or 22.

By: Tony

Tony — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:22:32 +0000

I think next season they will try Good Wife after Medium. and possibly flashpoint at 10 on tuesdays or a new drama. most likely a new drama.

I’m surprised CBS only uped Big Bang by only one ep.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:21:21 +0000

Steve, there was one episodes she definitely wasn’t in at all whether she got a show credit or not. I think it was the one on 10/23, but it might have been the one on 10/16. But in even a few of the ones she has been in, she had a more limited role than normal. She had a big role last week though, but no Fleinhardt!

By: steve

steve — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:20:55 +0000

if not all most of them anyway.

By: steve

steve — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:20:16 +0000

Shame i love numb3rs i dont think theyll find another show thatll perform as well as numb3rs in the 10pm slot on a friday might find a cheaper one which means probable would survive with less ratings.

and to Rob Navi Rawat has appeared in all the episodes so far

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:13:16 +0000

Angie, you can catch at least some glimpses of Ms. Farr on the current season of Californication.

Between Navi Rawat seeming more scarce due at least in part her role on FlashForward and now what appears to be a diminished role for Peter MacNicol as Larry Fleinhardt, it looked like they were already attempting to cut costs to me.

And it even seemed like there was less Judd Hirsch than normal in a couple of episodes this year, though I could definitely be wrong about that.