This week there were no renewals or cancellations announced for any of the broadcast network's scripted shows (but Showtime announced a third season renewal of Homeland if you just can't stand not having any renewal news). While not renewals, CBS gave full season “back nine” orders for Elementary and Vegas.
In last week's Renew/Cancel Index for ABC on Tuesday, Nashville fell to a toss-up, but the good news for Nashville fans is rating stabilized for its third episode.
Woefully Rated 'Nikita' Is Likely To Be Renewed; Wait, WHAT??!! (Redux)
Bill appropriately titled last Tuesday's Renew/Cancel post for CW with the bold text above. The conventional wisdom is that once Nikita was picked up for a third season it would be shepherded along to at least a fourth to get to 88 episodes for syndication purposes. Granted, conventional wisdom doesn't usually involve shows as low-rated as Nikita, but it's not like Nikita's ratings were any good last year either and while CW execs probably hoped for the best with the changes to the Friday night lineup, it surely knew that there was a good possibility the ratings would get worse than last year.
But then the preliminary ratings for Friday came out -- a 0.2 adults 18-49 rating (yes, that could be adjusted up to a 0.3 in the finals -- woot!) prompting questions like:
"is woefuller a word?"
It also begs the question of "just how crazy are the syndication gods that they would demand -- d-e-m-a-n-d -- more episodes of Nikita?" There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that when it comes to ratings the syndication gods make some demands that to mere mortals like me seem pretty crazy. But Nikita ratings style C-R-A-Z-Y?!
That's a reasonable question and one that I'm pretty curious to learn the answer to myself. While I'm not as comfortable as Bill, because of syndication I wouldn't have Nikita as likely or certain to be canceled either. I definitely wouldn't bet any money Nikita will be canceled, but I'm not sure I'd bet $5 it will be renewed either! I'd have it on the bubble.
I hope Nikita fans won't hate me, but I'm kind of rooting for a 0.1 A18-49 rating just to see @TheCancelBear squirm...or perhaps go crazy and ride a tricycle!
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| Show | Network | Renewal Status |
| Private Practice | ABC | Cancelled/Final Season |
| 666 Park Avenue | ABC | |
| Last Resort | ABC | |
| Scandal | ABC | |
| Castle | ABC | |
| Don't Trust The B---- in Apt 23 | ABC | |
| Happy Endings | ABC | |
| Neighbors, The | ABC | |
| Nashville | ABC | |
| Middle, The | ABC | |
| Suburgatory | ABC | |
| Revenge | ABC | |
| Grey's Anatomy | ABC | |
| Once Upon A Time | ABC | |
| Modern Family | ABC | |
| Made In Jersey | CBS | Cancelled |
| Partners | CBS | |
| CSI: NY | CBS | |
| Good Wife, The | CBS | |
| Mentalist, The | CBS | |
| Vegas | CBS | |
| Elementary | CBS | |
| CSI | CBS | |
| Criminal Minds | CBS | |
| How I Met Your Mother | CBS | |
| Two and a Half Men | CBS | |
| NCIS | CBS | |
| Hawaii Five-0 | CBS | |
| Blue Bloods | CBS | |
| Person Of Interest | CBS | |
| Mike & Molly | CBS | |
| NCIS: LA | CBS | |
| 2 Broke Girls | CBS | |
| Big Bang Theory, The | CBS | Renewed |
| Gossip Girl | CW | Final Season |
| Hart Of Dixie | CW | |
| 90210 | CW | |
| Emily Owens, M.D. | CW | |
| Nikita | CW | |
| Beauty And The Beast | CW | |
| Arrow | CW | |
| Supernatural | CW | |
| The Vampire Diaries | CW | |
| Fringe | FOX | Final Season |
| Mob Doctor, The | FOX | |
| Ben & Kate | FOX | |
| Mindy Project, The | FOX | |
| Bones | FOX | |
| Raising Hope | FOX | |
| Cleveland Show, The | FOX | |
| Glee | FOX | |
| New Girl | FOX | |
| Bob's Burgers | FOX | Renewed |
| American Dad | FOX | Renewed |
| Family Guy | FOX | Renewed |
| Simpsons, The | FOX | Renewed |
| 30 Rock | NBC | Final Season |
| The Office | NBC | Final Season |
| Next Caller | NBC | Cancelled |
| Animal Practice | NBC | Cancelled |
| Up All Night | NBC | |
| Guys With Kids | NBC | |
| New Normal, The | NBC | |
| Chicago Fire | NBC | |
| Go On | NBC | |
| Law & Order: SVU | NBC | |
| Parks & Recreation | NBC | |
| Revolution | NBC | |
| Parenthood | NBC | |
| Grimm | NBC |
If the CW cared about Nikita’s ratings they would have moved it to Wednesday over Supernatural. Supernatural is stable, it would have thrived anywhere, regardless of timeslot but Nikita isn’t as solid. When they gave it ANTM as a lead-in, it was clear they don’t care about improving its ratings, they’re just going to shove it in a corner and wait until the season 4/series finale.
@KS/”Dude, Come On” : though there’s not much sorted out early, people are actually interested in renewals and cancellations as soon as the fall TV season starts. March traffic isn’t typically much different from October, though we definitely see a late May surge when the schedule announcements come out. I do understand some would prefer to see Bubble Watch on Sundays no matter what, and I accept that!
@Nikki
Ratings are in no way an indicator of a good show. I have no idea why people assume that the shows most people watch are the best. Look at the top rated shows on television: Two and a Half Men, Jersey Shore, American Idol, Teen Mom. None of these are shows that are going to win any critical acclaim but lots of people watch them so that makes them better than awesome low-rated shows like Parenthood, Community and Nikita? I guess you’re the same person who thinks The Hangover and Transformers are the best movies of the year because they make lots of money.
@Nikki
“Its all about the money nowadays..”
Perhaps you could point out to me a time in the TV industry when it was not “all about the money”?
Nikita will b renewed. CW wouldnt hav given it a third year if they didn’t want a fourth
and it is possible for a show to find an audience in syndication. cable networks use different marketing techniques than The CW does. Might actually make the show look like a spy-action series
at dude no actually i dont like the Transformer movies i think they suck. Ans i thought the hangover was moderatly funny but not the best movie of the year. Its funny you think that.. i watch Parenthood and thats an awesome show with decent ratings. I think quality should matter and it doesnt. Which is why Nikita got renewed and heart of dixie got renewed but TSC didnt. It had better reviews for that person who thinks reviews matter, it had better ratings, a strong fanbase, good acting, good writing yet it was cancelled. Quality should play a factor.
at anthony when tv first became big with sitcoms and dramas.. quality played a big role. It didnt matter if a cost a little more to make if it was good, and the fans liked it and it pulled good ratings. Reviewers mattered back then too, but not much anymore. Now they make decisons like okay this show is good.. people like it, the ratings arent terrific but not laughable but it costs this much to make and we dont wanna spend that much money. So we will renew this other show that has almost no fanbase, bad ratings, crap writing, people arent watching it. But it only costs this much money to make. And thats how they renew and cancel shows. Dont get me wrong what i like some people wont like and im not saying just because i like a show you should too. But when theres an outcry of fans who raise 7 thousand dollars and send mass amounts of emails and letters to bring it back. Or get petitions signed with over 80,000 signatures, id say people liked the show and feel it didnt deserve to be cancelled.
Robert, is Lyreco Bondoel? Please ban him
@Elena
You are totaly wrong about tuesday’s at 9 they call it the “death slot” for a reason, no show has survived in that time slot in years. Just about every show that has been in that slot has gotten under a million before except One Tree Hill, 90210 (which was on the bubble when it moved there in the second half of its first season), Ringer, and M.D. (which probably will go under a million next week or after).
I am quit sure that 666 Park Avenue will be cancel very very soon and there is no way they will air all 13 episode .
@Anthony Parello
Perhaps you could point out to me a time in the TV industry when it was not “all about the money”?
World War II
Elena, they tried Nikita on a “good night” -thurs in season one and it underperformed so it was moved.Now that it’s gone from 0.7 to 0.2 & below a million viewers, you really think they’re going to move it and loose what tiny audience it has left with not promoting the move & making a big change like changing its timeslots or night? NO .Nikitas ratings are so poor it belongs on fri.B& EO will get full seasons unless CW picks up more Midseason shows cause they have nothing to replace shows that don’t last 13 episodes besides Cult & Carrie Diaries.Also, Mon-Thurs are extremely competitive-2.5Men,Csi,Criminal Minds,Idol,Xfactor,Greys,NCIS,Big Bang Theory,Voice-so Nikita would be creamed on another night and at least Fri standards for ratings are lower so that might help Nikita reach season four.
@Nikki
“But when theres an outcry of fans who raise 7 thousand dollars and send mass amounts of emails and letters to bring it back. Or get petitions signed with over 80,000 signatures, id say people liked the show and feel it didnt deserve to be cancelled.”
Why would that possibly make a difference?
To me, the answer is obvious. The CW needs to take back Wednesday 10PM from the local affiliates in exchange for Friday 9PM. Nikita, Supernatural, Arrow mega block would do great. Heavy male skewing genre show Wednesdays. Then its not 1.) On the impossible to do well Friday death slot and 2.) Not against 2 competing (bigger) genre shows. I really think that Wednesday at 10PM is vastly preferable to Friday at 9 in this instance.
@Ultima
Awesome!!!!!
@ForceChoke
To me, the answer is obvious. The CW needs to take back Wednesday 10PM from the local affiliates in exchange for Friday 9PM.
What an absurd suggestion.
The CW giving Friday back to the local affiliates, on the other hand, will probably happen at some point.
IMHO
It seems likely that Nikita will get it’s final season in order to get to the magic 88 … although I do wonder who would want to syndicate a show that was drawing a 0.2 ~ 0.3 in original first run episodes … the Shamwow guy draws a 0.3 for gosh sakes and that’s just a 30 min commercial.
Anyways, fans of Nikita should just relax and stop trying to establish “Fan Excuse Bingo – The Nikita edition” (coming just in time for Yule from Milton-Bradley) It’s been the same sob story / song ‘n dance each season:
- it’s on the wrong time
- it’s on the wrong night
- it’s on the wrong time & night
- it’s on the wrong night & time
- I don’t own a watch
- it’s a 9pm show
- it’s an 8pm show
- it needs a good lead in (TVD wasn’t good enough?)
- it’s only 0.5 points away from being a CW hit
- it does well overseas
- it has strong DVD sales
- it’s top 3 in downloads
- it has great reviews
- people DVR it and watch later
- voices in my head tell me it’s doing ok
- it’s used as a training tool by the CIA
- it’s the only show Queen Elizabeth watches
- Space Aliens postponed their attack just to watch
- my dad works on the show, we need the $$
- the restraining order didn’t mention the internet
Enough! How about you just settle on ‘It’ll get renewed, naner naner naa-neer‘ and leave it at that? KISS
ymmv
I’d be amazed if Nikita sees a 4th season. Seriously if it’s drawing such a small audience now how is it going to do in syndication ? I like the show but still prefer the USA version of La Femme Nikita much more. Another show that has shown more strength than I thought it would is The Neighbors. I strongly believe TGIF should return with Neighbors relocated to Fri & allow Happy Endings to move back to Wed. Shark Tank can then replace Last Resort on Thur in January.
How much could Nikita be worth in syndication? If no one is watching it now, who is going to watch repeats of the show? I love Nikita but a 4th season would be absolutely baffling. Summer would make sense since they renewed that dreadful ballet show with similar ratings(although it is much cheaper to produce).