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19 TV shows that have just been canceled
It's that time of year when the broadcast networks are bringing down the ax on several of their series.
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In order to make room for new series and prepare for May's presentation to advertisers, executives have been crunching the ratings numbers, checking their pilot inventory, and making both easy and difficult decisions on which shows have to go.
"Revenge" had the dubious honor of becoming the first casualty of the season when ABC officially announced its farewell after the current season, the show's fourth.
That would be followed by other tough (though expected) goodbyes to Fox's "The Mindy Project" and The CW's "Hart of Dixie."
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*Updated as networks announce decisions
In many ways, "Cristela" was never really given much of a chance.
ABC stuck it on Fridays between low-rated "Last Man Standing" and "Shark Tank" — neither of which made any sense with the comedy about a middle-class Mexican family.
That aside, ABC has been a trailblazer in show diversity and has several pilots in the wings that would make up for the loss of "Cristela." So, it had to go.
This supernatural drama about a man who can't die struggled for an audience since its premiere episode. It was a surprise when ABC decided to order a full season of the series.
No doubt, the network hoped it would find an audience. Plus, it hales from Warner Bros. Television, a partner on high-profile Marvel shows “Agents of SHIELD” and “Agent Carter.” It never did find its audience and WBTV should be happy that ABC gave it a fighting chance.
There is no more coming back for ABC's "Resurrection."
Last year, the series premiered with huge ratings for ABC but fell consistently after that. That should have been a sign for the network to bury the show.
But it went on to a second season that just couldn't recapture its audience.
Even if we were to forget the show's consistently declining ratings, there is no ignoring that it has been creatively lost since season two.
There were doubts it should've even gone on to a fourth season, but ABC had a sweet spot for "Revenge." Its first season revitalized the network and started a swing of drama wins with "Once Upon a Time" and later "Scandal" and "How to Get Away With Murder." ABC owed "Revenge" one (or four seasons in this case) to find its way again. Too bad it never really did.
ABC's foray into the culinary competition genre never really caught on, despite its celebrity-chef-filled judges' table.
If it had a stronger reality slate, the network would've never renewed it for a third season. ABC served it up nonetheless, but viewers weren't biting.
There was so much excitement surrounding “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan’s new series. But the buzz didn’t turn into ratings and CBS can’t have this drama pull its ratings average down.
Once the most-watched drama in the world, "C.S.I." had given up that title to "N.C.I.S." last year. There were signs that the show was winding down: it lost its original showrunner, Carol Mendelsohn, and CBS decreased its episode order this season to make way for other offerings. But, fans will get a TV movie to wrap up storylines with William Petersen and Marg Helgenberger set to return. Plus, Ted Danson will join the franchise’s only series left, “C.S.I. Cyber.”
Kevin Williamson’s (“The Vampire Diaries,” “Scream”) gory stalker thriller hasn’t become an obsession with viewers. It’s also never a good sign when a network pulls a show off the schedule to make room for another series. It returned on a new night, Monday, and was able to pick up more viewers. But it was probably too late to save itself.
Everyone from the show’s creator and stars to its small, loyal group of fans had declared the show over after its low-rated four-season run; but The CW was the last to be able to utter the word “canceled."
It may be a little early since “The Messengers” has aired for only a few weeks, but The CW basically shoved this supernatural show into cancellation territory.
It premiered late in the season and on Friday nights. It seemed the network had already given up on it before it even premiered.
After years of dwindling ratings, Fox has decided to end the long-running singing competition after its upcoming 15th season. The once groundbreaking show has become out of step with today's television despite Fox's efforts to freshen up the format. The current season opened to 11.2 million viewers, but just 6.9 million people tuned into last week's episode, according to Nielsen ratings.
There was a lot of excitement around “Office” alum Rainn Wilson’s new detective dramedy. But it failed to find an audience.
After a first season that captured viewers’ attention, the Kevin Bacon-led series struggled creatively and lost its audience and buzz. And with the success of “Empire,” dark, violent shows may not be in vogue at Fox right now.
Beloved by TV critics and starring popular "Office" alum Mindy Kaling, Fox had a couple reasons to keep “The Mindy Project” around. But its ratings are poor and most of the time business becomes the functional word in show business. But it may have a reprieve in a pick up by Hulu. Keep the faith.
NBC’s highest-rated sitcom in its first season, “About a Boy” has plummeted in its second season. With a healthy amount of comedy pilots waiting in the wings, the network can afford to let “About a Boy” go, even if it means cutting ties with executive producer Jason Katims (“Parenthood,” “Friday Night Lights”) for a bit.
Despite a groundswell of activism among fans in support of a second season of the comic-based show, there are very few reasons NBC could've kept this show another season. It wouldn’t even air the totality of its first.
The network’s previous inability to announce the show’s official cancellation could be the result of a few things: embarrassment over jumping on the comic-book adaptation craze and failing, as well as a desire to maintain its relationship with executive producers Daniel Cerone (“Dexter”) and David S. Goyer (“Batman” trilogy). NBC is known to make silly decisions for relationships.
Viewers have apparently grown tired of waiting for the answer to will they or won't they. Despite the show's strong leads, Ken Marino and Casey Wilson, it has had a bumpy ratings journey with long periods of declining viewership and sudden rises. Well, the rollercoaster ride is over and it's time to get off.
The Ellen DeGeneres-produced comedy about a lesbian whose plan to have a baby with her straight best friend goes to pieces when he suddenly meets a new woman got mixed results from critics. But viewers were pretty clear that they weren't going to tune in to find out what happens.
There was a lot of buzz surrounding "Grey's Anatomy" alum Katherine Heigl's return to TV, but that didn't translate into ratings.
A pretty impressive 8.6 million people tuned in to the show's premiere to see if she still had it, but the finale went out with just 4.6 million viewers. But, but, there was a cliffhanger! Sorry, folks.
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