As the current seasons in the U.S. end, shows are confirmed cancelled or renewed, and new ones confirmed to take the place of those not coming back.
After it was recently confirmed that Fox would not be renewing J.J. Abrams’ latest sci-fi android series Almost Human (just as it began airing its 13 episode run on U.K. channel Watch), we now have the confirmation of the fate of most shows on U.S. network television for the coming year. Most that are coming to the end of their seasons are confirmed as cancelled or renewed (with the exception of True Detective which has not been announced by HBO but is expected to return).
There is a chance of these shows making a come back through another channel or other means of production, though in the cases of most that is unlikely as there just wasn’t the audience there to keep them around. Still, it can happen, as was Confirmed in February by Deadline that the BBC’s “Ripper Street” was picked up for a third series by Amazon Prime after the BBC decided not to bring it back when moving it to a new night caused a disastrous ratings drop. If this can happen with one show, it can happen with another, and indeed already has, with Keifer Sutherland returning to our screens this very week reprising CTU agent Jack Bauer in 24: Live Another Day, 3 years after it was cancelled, and with the similarly cancelled Heroes set to return with a mini-series in the 2015 season 4 years after it ended.
However, there were a couple in particular that, though it’s a disappointment to see them go, it’s not a total surprise, and they are most likely beyond saving through the means these above have done so. There are however, some new shows confirmed this week that will fill the voids left, but we’ll get to those in a moment. First, sadly (or not in some cases)…
Cancellations:
Intelligence, a novel inspired sci-fi tech-thriller series starring Josh Holloway (Lost), Marg Helgenberger (C.S.I. Crime Scene Investigation) and John Billingsley (Star Trek: Enterprise), with a C.I.A. operative that has a computer chip implanted in his brain (also similarly early in its 13 episode run on U.K. channel Sky One like Almost Human), had promise in its initial episodes, and personally was much better than Almost Human and came together well at the end of its run, but by this time, like Almost Human, its U.S. viewing figures were too low to justify the cost of it for another year.
Community, Dan Harmon’s comedy series around a group at a wacky community college has just finished its shortened fifth season in the U.S., and while fans hopes were high for a sixth season, the show just didn’t do well enough to be able to live up to its own in-joke reference of “Six seasons and a movie”. Hopes are high amongst fans for a possible source of a season from another option, such as Netflix or Amazon Prime as mentioned above, since the show has a big cult following and does not have as high a production cost as some other shows, only having half-hour episodes, though that’s just fan speculation this early in the game.
The U.S. adaptation of the U.K. series The Tomorrow People, about people with teleportation and other super-abilities has just been announced as cancelled by channel CW. After a rocky start where it was paired up with CW smash success Arrow (which is already confirmed for a season 3), the show moved to another night to make way for post-apocalypse sci-fi show The 100 (given a 2 season deal of 13 episodes each), and suffered even more ratings loss. A shame, as though it started out pretty bad, it did improve hugely in its final episodes.
The Crazy Ones, a new comedy series starring Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle-Gellar as a father and daughter advertising agency never quite managed to build the following it needed.
Believe, the new show from Gravity director Alfonso Cuaron has been cancelled after it’s first season of 13 episodes performed poorly in ratings. It’s unknown if the cancellation was confirmed before or after the final episode was filmed, so whether the show will have an ending, but it is unlikely since there are only four episodes left to air in the U.S. so unfortunately expect it to end abruptly and unresolved.
After a surprising renewal for a second season last year, post-apocalyptic show Revolution has undergone a re-working but has still not been enough to keep the audience tuning in. It’s current season will end after 22 episodes.
Though it was not a surprise, as they too suffered poor ratings early in their runs, both Jonathan Rhys Meyers starring adaptation of Dracula, and the Toni Collette starring conspiracy thriller Hostages are officially confirmed as cancelled.
Other cancellations: Cult, 90210, Nikita (already aired), The Neighbors, Once Upon A Time In Wonderland, Suburgatory, Raising Hope, Crisis, The Michael J. Fox show, Eastbound & Down, Treme, Californication (ending after its current 7th season), The Borgias, Dexter (already aired), Mad Men (current final season), Being Human (U.S.), Warehouse 13 (current mini-season), Copper, Futurama (already aired), Wifred (U.S.) (final 4th season), Necessary Roughness.
Renewals
Then there are those which have been confirmed as renewed for another season, starting with one which is a little bit of a bitter pill for fans of Cougar Town, the Courtney Cox comedy series, which has been renewed for a 13 episode sixth season. The bad news is that season six will definitely be the last. This will take the show past its 100th episode, a normal landmark that studios aim for in order to be able to sell on a show for syndication (essentially, they can sell it on to channels to be repeated as a whole series).
Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. will see Agent Phil Coulson and his team return for a second season thankfully, since though the show had a (very) bumpy start but with events that tied in to Captain America: The Winter Soldier on the big screen, the show has been forced to evolve and become one of the best shows around. It will be joined by a new Marvel series (details below).
Mom, The sit-com starring Anna Farris as a recovering alcoholic mother has (not surprisingly) earned itself a second season thanks to steady ratings. Not a bad show, and more deserving of renewal than some other comedies out there at the moment.
A big surprise to many is the renewal of The Mentalist, after the show’s current sixth season finally wrapped up the whole ‘Red John’ storyline that has been driving it for six years it was expected that the show would not return, but though it’s not had the best of ratings, it has held steady enough.
Just confirmed as renewed for a third season is Hannibal, though the show was moved to Friday nights in the U.S. (normally the death slot) and did not have the greatest viewing figures, it will be back for 2014/2015 again with a 13 episode season.
Other renewals: Grey’s Anatomy, The Middle, Modern Family, Once Upon a Time, Resurrection, Revenge, Arrow, The Originals, Supernatural (expected to be a 10th and final season), The Vampire Diaries, Beauty and the Beast, Castle, Nashville, Rookie Blue, 2 Broke Girls, The Big Bang Theory (Renewed for another 3 seasons), Criminal Mands, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Elementary, The Good Wife, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, Person Of Interest, Two And A Half Men, Under The Dome, Unforgettable, American Dad, Family Guy, The Simpsons, Bones, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Following, Glee, Sleepy Hollow, The Blacklist. Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Banshee, Strike Back (final season 5), Boardwalk Empire (final season), Game Of Thrones (renewed for 2 seasons), The Newsroom (final 3rd season), Veep, Episodes, Masters Of Sex, Homeland, Nurse Jackie, Shameless (U.S.), Bates Motel (season 3, 2015), Longmire, The Fosters, Alpha House (Amazon Prime, season 2), The Walking Dead, The Musketeers, South Park, The Americans, The Bridge (U.S.), Justified (final 6th season), Sons Of Anarchy (final 7th season), Teen Wolf, House Of cards (Netflix, season 3), The Killing (U.S.) (cancelled but final 4th season of 6 episodes via Netflix), Ripper Street (cancelled but 3rd season via Amazon Prime), Hemlock Grove (Netflix, season 2), Orange Is The New Black (Netflix season 2 released 6th June, season 3 renewed 2015), The Almighty Johnsons (possibe 2014/2015), Defiance, Haven, Helix, Falling Skies, Major Crimes, Perception, Rizzoli & Isles, Covert Affairs, White Collar (final 6th season of 6 episodes), Suits, Graceland, Parenthood.
New Shows
NCIS: New Orleans
As shown in a recent 2-parter episode of NCIS, this is a spin-off following a team based in New Orleans led by Scott Bakula (Quantum Leap, Star Trek: Enterprise). The two parter also starred Lucas Black (American Gothic, Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift) as an NCIS agent working under Bakula’s character, though as may happen with a series spin-off from another show, it’s unknown if all cast members will return.
CSI: Cyber
The latest CSI spin-off will focus on the CSI side of electronic crime and online forensics, following an FBI electronic forensics agent played by Rosanna Arquette (Medium). Like NCIS: New Orleans, this is spin-off from an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation which established Arquette’s character.
Marvel’s Agent Carter
Based on the Marvel One-Shot found on the Iron Man 3 blu ray which sees the return of S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent and founder Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell). Set in 1946 Peggy returns home from fighting abroad and must balance administrative work and going on secret missions for Howard Stark all while trying to navigate life as a single woman in America, in the wake of losing the love of her life – Steve Rogers.
Penny Dreadful
Some of literature’s most terrifying characters, including Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, and iconic figures from the novel Dracula are lurking in the darkest corners of Victorian London. This psychological thriller stars Eva Green (300: Rise Of An Empire) and will weaves together these classic horror origin stories into a new adult drama, similar to how literary characters from the public domain were brought together in The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
Constantine
Adapted from the DC comic series Hellbazer, Constantine was previously made into a movie starring Keanu Reeves in the lead, though he was nothing like the main character who is meant to be blonde (the creator based his look on British singer Sting) and have a strong liverpudlian accent like his creator. Here the show has been made in an attempt to be more faithful to that.
Here is the official synopsis:
“Based on the wildly popular comic book series “Hellblazer” from DC Comics, seasoned demon hunter and master of the occult John Constantine (Matt Ryan, “Criminal Minds”) specializes in giving hell… hell. Armed with a ferocious knowledge of the dark arts and his wickedly naughty wit, he fights the good fight — or at least he did. With his soul already damned to hell, he’s decided to leave his do-gooder life behind, but when demons target Liv (Lucy Griffiths, “True Blood”), the daughter of one of Constantine’s oldest friends, he’s reluctantly thrust back into the fray – and he’ll do whatever it takes to save her. Before long, it’s revealed that Liv’s “second sight” — an ability to see the worlds behind our world and predict supernatural occurrences — is a threat to a mysterious new evil that’s rising in the shadows. Now it’s not just Liv who needs protection; the angels are starting to get worried too. So, together, Constantine and Liv must use her power and his skills to travel the country, find the demons that threaten our world and send them back where they belong. After that, who knows… maybe there’s hope for him and his soul after all.”
Better Call Saul (Breaking Bad spin-off)
A prequel spin-off from Breaking Bad following lawyer Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk). No trailer available yet, but the series does have a viral website at http://www.bettercallsaul.com/
The Strain
Based on the vampire novels by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan who are also executive producers and co-writers on the pilot that was also directed by Guillermo del Toro. It follows Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Stoll) of the Center for Disease Control Canary Team who are called upon to investigate a mysterious viral outbreak with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism.
12 Monkeys – A 13 episode season based on the Terry Gilliam directed Bruce Willis movie.
Other New Shows: The Flash, Gotham, Outlander, Bosch (Amazon Prime), The After (Amazon Prime),
Possible new show: Chicago Med – With a special two part episode crossing over between Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. which was set largely around an explosion at a hospital, it’s hinted that a third series may be being launched which will cover the third area of Chicago’s emergency services – Medicine.
Misc: Heroes (Mini-series. Returning after a 3 year absence).
Andrew
Co-host of the Monday Movie Show, Andrew is a huge movie fan who is into all sorts of things movie related, as well as a fan of all things nerd. In his spare time he likes to work at script writing, that is when he's not spending it on something movie or nerd related! www.followingthenerd.com
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