Home TV News US TV Upfronts : Bloodbath 2014

US TV Upfronts : Bloodbath 2014

by Dave Elliott

Over the last few days we’ve seen most of this year’s US TV renewals and cancellations announced, and a number of new shows put into production. In this first post, we look at the fates of the currently airing shows.

This time of year is never pretty for TV fans, as ‘freshmen’ shows get kicked to the curb, usually leaving the viewer with a lot of unanswered questions. Some manage to rise from the dead (thanks to Netfix/Amazon), but most are set to leave you hanging. Hopefully if you’ve followed our Renewals/Cancellations page over the past 12 months, you’ve managed to avoid getting too invested in a show that was obviously dangling over a precipice, but if not, prepare yourselves for BLOODBATH 2014!

The Biggest Loser

New TV Show Revolution

Revolution will not be televised

It’s fair to say, JJ Abrams and Bad Robot did not have a good season on the television front. Both their freshmen shows got canned, meaning no more Believe or Almost Human, the latter of which has only just started airing in the UK. Also NBC announced the revolution will not be televised, as Bad Robot’s 2nd season show Revolution was dropped. I’ll be sorry to see it go, but it had languished at the 50/50 mark all season, so it’s no great shock.

I’m sure JJ will be upset… then console himself by having a lightsaber battle with Luke Skywalker, and inviting Captain Kirk over for a game of Tridimensional Chess… followed by swimming through a vat of money, Scrooge McDuck style… (i’m just guessing). Bad Robot don’t currently have any new tv shows on the horizon for this season, leaving Person of Interest as their only tv show on air right now. Still… i’m sure they’ll find something to fill the time… Maybe something in a galaxy far far away… ;)

The Shocks

How the heck?...

How the heck?…

There were a couple of major shocks this season on the renewals side this season. First up, against all odds, Beauty & the Beast got a renewal, despite being one of the lowest rated shows on The CW (it’s US network). How? Well, could be international sales, or it could be someone at the network has a crush on Kristin Kreuk. Whatever the reason, well done B&tB for beating the odds in spectacular fashion!

The other surprise renewal was The Mentalist. It was thought that it’s struggling US ratings would see it end this year, but it seems CBS had other ideas, and wants at least 1 more season from the show.

Slaughter of the Innocents

No more Tomorrow People

No more Tomorrow People

This season was not a good year for freshmen tv, as large quantities of 1st year shows were culled, with 2 networks in particular responsible for most of the slaughter.

Fox was particularly brutal, only saving 2 out of 7 newborns. The excellent Sleepy Hollow, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine survived, but RakeEnlisted, Dads, Surviving Jack, and the aforementioned Almost Human all got their marching orders.

NBC was equally harsh, killing off all but 2 of it’s new shows. Believe, Crisis, Growing Up Fisher, The Michael J. Fox Show, Sean Saves The World, Welcome To The Family, and Ironside all got canned, leaving only About A Boy and The Blacklist living to see another year.

Whilst things weren’t quite so bloody at The CW, it did also slip a dagger through the heart of The Tomorrow People and Star Crossed, but choosing to save The 100 and Reign.

To the Victors go the Spoils

Agents of SHIELD returns

Agents of SHIELD returns

It’s not all bad news though, as a number of shows managed to make it through the battle, and survive unscathed. From ABC, Agent’s of SHIELD will be returning for a 2nd season, along will a number of more mature shows, with NashvilleScandal, Revenge, and Once Upon A Time (despite it no longer having a UK channel) all back for new seasons. GrimmHannibalParks & Recreation and Chicago Fire are all returning to NBC, and The Originals, Arrow, Vampire Diaries, and our beloved Supernatural (again a show with no UK home) all back thanks to The CW.

 

So what do you think? What shows are you happy are back, and what did you hate to see go? Let us know in the comments!

Click here to see the full list of Renewed and Cancelled TV Shows for the 2014 season.

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