Lessons In TV
Why Minka Kelly is blue, while Sarah Michelle Gellar somehow still sits prettierthan Playboy Club
Many different television-viewing tactics can be employed when it comes to choosing which new TV series to devote your time to — time that's increasingly precious.
Some diehard television enthusiasts choose to watch all the new shows and make their decisions based on pilots alone, while some viewers give a show three or four episodes before deciding whether or not to continue watching the series. Some simply wait until they know the show will last before even starting the series because, let’s face it, nothing is more frustrating than starting a TV show you genuinely enjoy only to find out it's getting canceled halfway through its run.
Unfortunately, many shows aren’t lucky enough to even get halfway before the cancelation axe comes down, so to help you avoid such devastating disappointment, here’s a rundown on what’s been canceled and what’s been picked up for a full season so far on the top five networks:
Canceled:
- Charlie’s Angels(ABC) – canceled after four episodes, despite Minka Kelly's best efforts.
- How to be a Gentleman(CBS) – canceled after two episodes
- H8R (CW) – premiered Sept. 14 and was canceled four episodes
- The Playboy Club (NBC) – canceled after three episodes
- Free Agents(NBC) – canceled after four episodes
Full Season:
- Suburgatory (ABC)
- Revenge(ABC)
- 2 Broke Girls(CBS)
- Ringer (CW)
- The Secret Circle(CW)
- Hart of Dixie(CW)
- New Girl(FOX)
- Up All Night(NBC)
- Whitney(NBC)
The series that received full-season orders are fortunate enough to get a complete 22-episode first season, but the next hurdle the shows have to jump is getting renewed for the next fall season. NBC’s Up All Night is a great addition to the network’s crop of comedies and ABC’s Suburgatory has surprisingly delivered as a perfect lead-in to Modern Family.
Jane Levy, who stars in the new comedy series, has been described as television’s Emma Stone and has serious breakout potential once the show ends.
But then there's Whitney, a show that defies the very laws of the universe by receiving a full season pickup even when it clearly doesn't deserve it. CW’s wildly disappointing Ringer should have been canceled as well, but because the show is on the CW and because Sarah Michelle Gellar is the star, they’ve given it a go.
I’ve now realized the only reason I continue to watch that show is because of Gellar, but even her hypnotizing power over me is beginning to wear off.
As for the list of shows that have gotten canceled, well, there are no surprises there — especially if you’ve taken into account their struggling ratings. Because as much as Charlie’s Angels tried to be hip and cool and remodeled, it just wasn’t connecting with audiences. The same goes for Free Agents, The Playboy Club and H8R. CBS’s How to be a Gentleman on the other hand, well, who’s even heard of it?
The only silver lining (depending on whether you were a fan or not) is that ABC has chosen to air the rest of the already-filmed Charlie’s Angels episodes — all eight of them.
Meanwhile, Deadline reports that CBS procedurals Person of Interest and Unforgettable have each received full season pickups. ABC has been doing pretty well, too — Tim Allen’s Last Man Standing has a good chance for a full season pickup with the help of a strong premiere and steady ratings. And Sunday, ABC’s Once Upon a Time also made its case, premiering as the No. 1 drama debut this season for adults 18 to 49.
Shows like ABC’s Pan Am and FOX’s Terra Nova are still in the air. Pan Am, which delivered respectable ratings for its premiere, has unfortunately been free falling ever since, both in the ratings and creatively. Terra Nova, on the other hand, debuted to underwhelming ratings but has kept steady.
If there’s one thing to take away from all this, it’s that the TV industry is ruthless. If a show’s not a hit right out of the gates, networks are quick to swing the axe down, but that’s show business for you.
Which shows are you tuning in to? Do any of the cancelations disappoint you? Tell us in comments.