CBS’s Partners was cancelled and removed from the schedule on Friday. Slightly softer exits for ABC’s 666 Park Avenue and Last Resort. Neither show got a back nine pickup, but both will get to air all of their episodes according to ABC. All three are marked “canceled” in the table below. None of them will be back next year.
Nobody who reads our site regularly should be surprised at any of those cancellations. They’d all been certain cancellations both here and in the Renew/Cancel Index for a while. In the case of the two ABC shows, they were. by wide margins the lowest-rated dramas that hadn’t already been cancelled (joining Private Practice). Similarly Partners was CBS’s lowest-rated comedy by a wide margin. Predicting those cancellations was akin to predicting that “water is wet” and “fire is hot.”
Another easy prediction: the Nielsen rage and fan campaigns that ensured in comments, e-mails, Twitter, Facebook, etc. While I’m not a believer in the fan campaigns, I’ll give them a very slight edge over Nielsen rage in terms of being worthwhile because they at least can give a person the illusion of doing something productive. Still, I was amused by the EW story that quoted a “suit” as saying it amounts to “pissing in the wind.” But I'll take that over the "antiquated system" complaints, particularly the protests that Nielsen doesn't measure DVR viewing (it does!). But advertisers only pay for commercial viewing 3 days after shows air, and advertisers don't pay when the commercials get skipped/fast-forwarded during DVR playback.
No state-of-the-art measurement system is going to convince advertisers to pay for things they're not interested in paying for. But fans and TV networks can dream!
Don't Trust The B----, Happy Endings & The Neighbors
You can debate whether I did it on purpose or merely forgot to downgrade Don't Trust The B----to certain cancellation and Happy Endings to likely cancellation thiis week. The B---- pulled some horrible, terrible, awful numbers on Tuesday, and Happy Endings wasn't much better. Though Happy Endings is in its third season, because it's first season was only 13 episodes, it's going to need more than one more season to get to the 88 episodes necessary for Mon-Fri syndication. But with Sony involved in its production, its relative ratings will have to get worse to get moved off the bubble.
As for The Neighbors, yep, I did merely forget to downgrade it to the bubble. I updated the text in the table, but the sorting and color is off. Next week...
Update: Bonus Forgetfulness
Yep, I forgot to add Whitney to the table even though it premiered on Wednesday. Because there's only one data point I'd have had it "on the bubble/too soon" this week anyway. It'll probably be there next week too since it's airing on Thanksgiving Eve...
When it comes to bubble status, like the Renew/Cancel Index we're focusing on the likelihood that a show will be renewed **for next season** (2013-14). Certain shows are toss-ups where based on the ratings, the renewal decisions could go either way and not be surprising.
Here, “canceled” is used interchangeably with “won’t be renewed for next season” and is not meant to imply a show will be yanked off the schedule in the current season though obviously the two outcomes are not mutually exclusive. The semantics police and lawyers should feel free to break out the handcuffs and plead their cases in the comments.
This Isn't The Renew/Cancel Index
Though the basic methodology is the same (intra-network relative ranking of shows by adults 18-49 ),unlike the Renew/Cancel Index which predicts what would happen if the season ended now, Bubble Watch prognosticates about what will happen by May. The two are still usually closely aligned, and almost certainly very closely aligned towards the end of the season.
Note: only scripted shows that have aired at least one episode this season are in the table below.
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| Show | Network | Status |
| 666 Park Avenue | ABC | Canceled |
| Last Resort | ABC | Canceled |
| Made In Jersey | CBS | Canceled |
| Partners | CBS | Canceled |
| Animal Practice | NBC | Canceled |
| tvbythenumbers.com | ||
| Emily Owens, M.D. | CW | Certain Cancellation |
| The Mob Doctor | Fox | Certain Cancellation |
| tvbythenumbers.com | ||
| Don't Trust The B---- in Apartment 23 | ABC | Likely Cancellation |
| Vegas | CBS | Likely Cancellation |
| Ben And Kate | Fox | Likely Cancellation |
| Guys With Kids | NBC | Likely Cancellation |
| Up All Night | NBC | Likely Cancellation |
| tvbythenumbers.com | ||
| Happy Endings | ABC | On The Bubble |
| Last Man Standing | ABC | On The Bubble |
| Malibu Country | ABC | On The Bubble |
| Nashville | ABC | On The Bubble |
| Scandal | ABC | On The Bubble |
| CSI: NY | CBS | On The Bubble |
| The Good Wife | CBS | On The Bubble |
| The Mentalist | CBS | On The Bubble |
| 90210 | CW | On The Bubble |
| Hart Of Dixie | CW | On The Bubble |
| Nikita | CW | On The Bubble |
| Beauty And The Beast | CW | On The Bubble |
| The Mindy Project | Fox | On The Bubble |
| Chicago Fire | NBC | On The Bubble |
| tvbythenumbers.com | ||
| Castle | ABC | Likely Renewal |
| Neighbors, The | ABC | On The Bubble, Sorry About the Sort/Color |
| Suburgatory | ABC | Likely Renewal |
| The Middle | ABC | Likely Renewal |
| CSI | CBS | Likely Renewal |
| Elementary | CBS | Likely Renewal |
| Hawaii Five-0 | CBS | Likely Renewal |
| How I Met Your Mother | CBS | Likely Renewal |
| Two and a Half Men | CBS | Likely Renewal |
| Bones | Fox | Likely Renewal |
| The Cleveland Show | Fox | Likely Renewal |
| Law & Order: SVU | NBC | Likely Renewal |
| Parks & Recreation | NBC | Likely Renewal |
| The New Normal | NBC | Likely Renewal |
| tvbythenumbers.com | ||
| Grey's Anatomy | ABC | Certain Renewal |
| Modern Family | ABC | Certain Renewal |
| Once Upon A Time | ABC | Certain Renewal |
| Revenge | ABC | Certain Renewal |
| 2 Broke Girls | CBS | Certain Renewal |
| Blue Bloods | CBS | Certain Renewal |
| Criminal Minds | CBS | Certain Renewal |
| Mike & Molly | CBS | Certain Renewal |
| NCIS | CBS | Certain Renewal |
| NCIS: Los Angeles | CBS | Certain Renewal |
| Person Of Interest | CBS | Certain Renewal |
| Arrow | CW | Certain Renewal |
| Supernatural | CW | Certain Renewal |
| The Vampire Diaries | CW | Certain Renewal |
| Glee | Fox | Certain Renewal |
| New Girl | Fox | Certain Renewal |
| Raising Hope | Fox | Certain Renewal |
| Go On | NBC | Certain Renewal |
| Grimm | NBC | Certain Renewal |
| Parenthood | NBC | Certain Renewal |
| Revolution | NBC | Certain Renewal |
| tvbythenumbers.com | ||
| The Big Bang Theory | CBS | Renewed |
| American Dad | Fox | Renewed |
| Bob's Burgers | Fox | Renewed |
| Family Guy | Fox | Renewed |
| The Simpsons | Fox | Renewed |
| tvbythenumbers.com | ||
| Private Practice | ABC | Canceled/Final Season |
| Gossip Girl | CW | Final Season |
| Fringe | Fox | Final Season |
| 30 Rock | NBC | Final Season |
| The Office | NBC | Final Season |
@rob60990-Suburgatory may have been a better fit ratings wise in the 8:30 slot, but its a much better fit content wise in the 9:30 slot. Sub’s content is geared more teen/adult humor than TM or MF. Love it now that i can watch it live as the kids are in bed. Its drop may just be the sophmore slump, but its doing okay considering the downward slide of ratings in general this season. An improving NBC is spreading the drops around this season.
@John
I have watched both Last Resort and Homeland. I like them both. I can tell you wihout a doubt that Last Resort is MUCH better than Homeland.
I do not like The Neighbors. I watched Don’t Trust…, but would not be a great lost if they cancel this (I would prefer they renew, but I am more concerne about another shows). I would be more sad if they cancel Happy Endings. I enjoy so much that comedy.
How could Last Resort return for another season? Are we to suppose they can drag it out that long? It should have been 5 or 6 episodes in total to begin with
Nick: “Last Resort is MUCH better than Homeland.”
First, the two shows can’t be realistically compared as they’re entirely different.
Second, the actors on Homeland are far and away better than the actors on Last Resort (although the latter are mostly decent, except for Daisy Betts – even Scott Speedman has gotten better since his earlier movies.)
Third, the Homeland premise makes sense, while the Last Resort premise is wildly improbable.
If Last Resort had spent more time on the conspiracy rather than the sub, it would have been much better and more comparable to Homeland.
Who do you complain to, or is the viewing audience just this damn immature. I’m middle age, six figure income so demo’s work out. I usually watch sports more than anything else, but have been hooked on ‘Last Resort’, albeit by chance. Never got into it with the original advertising which may be the problem. Well written, fast moving, having to put some thought into it (probably the problem). I guess a real brain drain like ‘Big Brother’ is going to be renewed? Never cared enough to do this, but I’m pissed.
I know that we’ve seen the impending cancellation of Last Resort in the tea leaves for some time, but it still sucks. It’s not a perfect show, but it’s got a great concept and a great cast.
The biggest thing against the show is that the pilot was so jam-packed full of story and “holy crap” moments that viewers were let down by the comparatively less exciting episodes to follow.
If I were writing the show, I would have teased the end of the season and then started working forward. At least people would know where the show was going. I really liked the show, and it seemed like there was no continuity to it. Each episode was fine, but where was the show going? I think a lot of people felt lost watching this show.
Please tell them to keep Chicago Fire great show. Sad about 666 being cancelled.
I agree with By The Numbers bubble watch with a few exceptions. I think that The Mentalist shold be moved to Tuesday night’s lineup if they cancel Vagas. I like the show, but The Mentalist is really good. Simon Baker’s edgy humor is hard to resist. It was a mistake to move it to Sunday.
Gutted to hear 666 park avenue & last resort will be cancelled. I’d imagine there is high costs involved with last resort but why 666?
We (me & my partner) have found 666 gripping TV & coming from the UK have a wide selection of “supernaturalism” to choose from but 666 & American horror story are the 2 best shows along with walking dead that we have access to over here.
Keep 666 alive….If only for your European buddies!!
666 Park Avenue is such a smart show with good acting and intriguing story lines. Such a shame its the only show i watch. Perhaps if they put it in a 9pm slot they wouldnt have as many dvr recordings as people watching in live time. The only show of its kind. As a side note. I cant believe Revolution is being renewed. The worst acting ever. Laughable.
Cancel Last Resort & renew The Neighbors?
Unbelievable!!
I cannot believe that 666 Park Ave has been canceled! what is the point of airing showing with a great story line if they are only going to make it one season? and keep stupid shows! I am done with ABC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
666 Park Avenue is such a good show. The network hasn’t given it enough of a chance. It is eerie and suspenseful. Anyone who ever enjoyed the book or movie ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ would be hooked on the story line with the evil landlord (maybe Satan?) and the odd mix of characters, including the walking dead and ghosts. It has the conspiracy, supernatural, going back in time flavor that is intriguing. Best of all, you root for the heroine every week. You want her to succeed and get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding the seeming possession of the charming old New York hotel (Think Hotel California) and its inhabitants. Seriously ABC, give it a chance. Please.
ABC you really suck ass. You are cancelling one of the best shows you have had on in years. WTF is wrong with you guys. Renew, renew, renew.
I am a Nielsen Rater and I tend on picking winners, cancel 666 and I might start giving ABC a good whipping on future shows.
Last Resort makes absolutely no sense. When a military person gets orders they should follow them, and traitors have a limited appeal unless they are cast as the bad guys. No one much likes people that are willing to fire on their own people even in self defense. Especially if they earned it.
Wait why is LAST RESORT being cancelled when it has more viewers than that trashy show GLEE? TV is just garbage these days with many of the good interesting shows biting the dust for trashy stupid boring shows!
When a show like FRINGE is on its 5th & final season SOMETHING is SERIOUSLY wrong with Viewers…..Unreal how many trashy STUPID unimaginative shows are kept on while interesting intriguing shows are left on the wayside but alas I guess what happened with our country re-electing Obama should tell us something! Just pitiful!
Oh and while I am at it…..HOMELAND is AWESOME. I like Last Resort but Homeland is definitely better!
It figures, 1 show I finally like and it’s canceled. Thanks ABC, i can see why your network does so poorly. Perhaps if Last Resort was on at 10pm…. Seems stupid to put on a show like that at 8pm. Most of us 1% aren’t able to sit down until about 9pm since we have to do real work!