It’s not completely over but the majority of US networks have announced their renewed and cancelled TV shows for the Autumn 2012 season. It’s not quite the massacre it was last season, but there are a couple of shows i’m sad to see go. Here is the round up…
ABC
Once Upon A Time renewed
ABC finally officially cancelled Pan Am (BBC 2), and it’s mid-season replacement GCB (no UK broadcaster). They also drowned The River, (which only ever aired on iTunes in the UK). With Desperate Housewives (Channel 4) coming to an end as well, ABC are going to be looking out for some new shows to plug the gaps…
Having said that, ABC aren’t doing too badly with the show’s they have decided to keep. Nathan Fillion’s brilliant Castle (airing in the UK on Alibi) is back for a 5th season. Modern Family, The Middle (both Sky 1), Happy Endings (E4), Grey’s Anatomy (Sky Living), Revenge, and Private Practice all got pickups.
Rookie fairytale drama Once Upon A Time (Cbannel 5) gets a 2nd season, and surprisingly, so does Body Of Proof (Alibi), which most people thought was certain for cancellation. The other oddity is Cougar Town, which was dropped by ABC, but rescued by US cable channel TBS.
CBS
CSI:Miami killed off
CBS has finally decided to close down one of it’s crime labs, with CSI:Miami ending up taking the bullet. CSI:New York maybe less popular, but it’s also cheaper to make, and that swung it for the east coast. The rather forgettable Unforgettable (Sky Living) also got the chop, as has Rob Schneider’s imaginatively titled sitcom Rob.
Killing off a CSI hasn’t left CBS short of decent shows though, with The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother (both E4) Hawaii Five-0 (Sky 1), Two and a Half Men (Comedy Central) & the original CSI (Channel 5) all returning. Blue Bloods, Mike & Molly, NCIS & NCIS:LA, The Good Wife & Criminal Minds are all also coming back.
They will be joined by rookie JJ Abrams/Johnathan Nolan drama Person Of Interest, which gets a 2nd season. Hopefully that means someone in the UK will pick this show up, as it’s amazingly still without a UK broadcaster!
The CW
The Secret Circle Cancelled
Sky Living might be wishing it had held onto the final season of Chuck, with The CW cancelling Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Ringer, and teen witch drama The Secret Circle, both which aired on Sky Living in the UK. Sad to see Ringer go, as it was one of the more interesting shows last season. Unfortunately, the plot twists that made it so interesting probably added to it’s downfall, making it pretty impossible for new audience members to jump in halfway through.
Although they may have killed 2 of their rookie dramas, the CW are keeping tight hold on the brilliant Supernatural, along with The Vampire Diaries, 90210 & Gossip Girl. Nikita also just scraps through a renewal, and is joined by Rachel Bilson’s Hart Of Dixie which nabs a 2nd season.
FOX
Alcatraz Cancelled
JJ Abrams’ Alcatraz (airing on Watch in the UK) had it’s cell doors closed by Fox, joining the already cancelled Terra Nova and series ending House (both air on Sky 1). Bones spin-off show The Finder (no UK broadcaster) failed to find it’s way out of dire ratings and got canned.
Fox has a number of obvious renewals – Bones, The Simpsons, Seth Macfarlane’s trio of American Dad, Family Guy and The Cleveland Show, and of course, Glee. One of the more interesting renewals though was the wonderful decision to bring back Fringe for 1 final (albeit shortened) season. For that Fox, I thank you.
Interestingly, they also renewed Kiefer Sutherland’s Touch, despite it’s shaky ratings. That’s either because they actually have faith in the show to grow… Or they’re scared of Kiefer going Jack Bauer on their ass. ;) Zooey Deschanel’s New Girl also gets a 2nd season.
NBC
Awake Cancelled
Sky Atlantic will also only be saying hello to Jason Isaacs for 1 season, as his show Awake got put to sleep by NBC, suffering a similar ‘what the hell is going on?’ problems as Ringer. They’ve also cancelled the US version of Who Do You Think You Are?, which is a shame (the UK version of that show is great!) Speaking of US versions of UK shows, the US version of Prime Suspect has also been killed off after only 1 season.
NBC’s renewals include rookie drama Grimm (Watch), meaning both fairytale shows from last season make it through. The wonderfully camp Smash (Sky Atlantic) also gets a 2nd season, along with veteran shows Law & Order: SVU, Community, The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Parenthood. Despite rumours to the contrary, 30 Rock is going to be back for a 7th, and possibly final season (it’ll only be 13 episodes long though).
