What I think, feel and hope will happen to the TV shows of each network
this season
Throughout the years CBS has been
the most consistent network regarding the ratings. It is not usually the network
with the most hip and original series, but they have a solid and loyal
audience; even when their shows (at least the dramas) feel like 10 different
versions of the same thing. CBS is also the network with the most shows I DON’T
watch. That’s not to say that they are bad shows necessarily, but my heart lies
with serialized dramas and CBS has a preference for procedurals. The only CBS
show I like a lot is Person of Interest and
I only started watching it because of the cast (Jim Caviezel, Taraji P. Henson
and Michael Emmerson) and JJ Abrams’s involvement.
Regardless of my personal preferences, most networks (and
most show-runners) would kill for CBS’s ratings and consistency. Here is the
scorecard for the network so far (I left out shows that were already
cancelled):
Comedies
|
Dramas
|
|
Chopping block
|
CSI: NY (cancelled)
Vegas
|
|
Bubble
|
Rules of Engagement
|
The Good Wife (renew.)
Golden Boy
The Mentalist (renewed)
|
Reasonably Safe
|
Mike & Molly
2 Broke Girls
|
Blue Bloods (renewed)
Hawaii Five-0
CSI
Elementary
Criminal Minds
NCIS: LA
Person of Interest (renewed)
|
Already renewed
|
HIMYM
The Big Bang Theory
|
NCIS
|
?
|
Two & Half Men
|
What my logic says
Let’s start with the comedies. I
really don’t know what is going on with Two
& Half Men anymore. I’ve heard everything, from Charlie Sheen wanting
to return to Miley Cyrus replacing the half-man Angus T. Jones. After a while I
lost interest in keeping up with the news so I have no idea if the show is
ending or not. If it was up to ratings it would be renewed, but it could [and
it should] end after this season. Another endangered comedy is Rules of Engagement. They may decide to
cancel it, regardless of what happens with Men.
For the dramas, Vegas will be
gone after this season. I never got a chance to watch it. I was actually
excited for Vegas, but then the
ratings came and I knew it was going to get cancelled. I am actually surprised
it is still on the air. The second drama headed for cancellation is CSI: NY. On top of those two there is a
chance they want to cancel a third drama. It could be The Mentalist or The Good
Wife, but most likely it will be the newest: Golden Boy. The recently premiered drama had a 1.8 and 1.6 rating
for its first and second episode respectively. If we judge it as a TV show in
general those were pretty decent ratings, however as a “CBS show” they were not
impressive. I haven’t checked out this show yet, but I heard good comments
about it, so I might give it a try this week… but I wouldn’t get too attached.
What my gut says
What I hope would happen in an ideal world where I program all 4
networks (an The CW)
Two & Half Men should go, it should have ended years ago… it is
just a shadow of what it was and, amazing as it is that it still gets high ratings,
it is just detrimental to the image of everyone involved. Even with my undying
love for Neil Patrick Harris, I also feel that HIMYM has been on the air too long and wouldn’t mind it ending, but
clearly that is not going to happen. I don’t care about Rules of Engagement. I would like to see a new comedy on its
time-slot I guess; hopefully something fresh and not offensive. I haven’t even
seen Golden Boy, but I wish they
would cancel The Good Wife instead
(their ratings are similar). The Good
Wife was always an under-performing show that stuck around due to critical
acclaim. I do commend CBS for keeping at least one show due to favorable
critiques and not only ratings, but I think they have been championing The Good Wife for one too many years.
Fans may kill me for this, but I never quite got all the adoration for The Good Wife. Don’t get me wrong, I
don’t think it is a bad show at all! Good writing, good acting, good overall…
but it isn’t Breaking Bad for god’s
sake! Let’s not exaggerate with our love for it.
You may also want to read about the fate of other networks
FOX, ABC, NBC, THE CW
Update 03/11/2013
I just saw the pilot of Golden Boy and I thought for a CBS show it had an interesting new take on the whole 'cop show', but I am not in love with the show either. So, my feelings remain pretty much the same. Between The Good Wife, The Mentalist, and Golden Boy... I guess it all comes down to whether you want to see Julianna Margulies, Simon Baker or Chi McBride on your screen each week. I lean towards Simon Baker and/or Chi McBride... but that is just a matter of preference (and Pushing Daisies obsession)
Update 03/27/2013
The Good Wife, Elementary, Person of Interest, 2 Broke Girls, NCIS: LA, The Mentalist, Mike & Molly, Hawaii Five-0 and Blue Bloods have been renewed. Everything is going as predicted so far. I am guessing they are going to cancel Golden Boy after all.
Update 04/19/2013
Not much new with CBS lately. Just confirmation of what we were expecting. It looks more likely that CSI:NY will be cancelled. The general opinion is that Rules of Engagement will be gone too, but for some reason I believe it will get renewed. This is more a gut feeling than logic.
Update 04/27/2013
Last Wednesday CBS renewed Two and a Half Men. From a business point of view, I guess that decision makes sense. From an art, integrity, brand image point of view I think it is awful. That show has lost its way and keeping it around is just hurtful to TV, but you know... money rules. Ashton Kutcher and John Cryer are set to return, but they will have to look for a new 'half man'. So let the casting speculation begin! The fact that this show was renewed makes me doubt my previous prediction that Rules of Engagement may get picked up. The remaining drams will certainly be gone, except for Criminal Minds.
Update 05/08/2013 FINAL PREDICTIONS
One week before upfronts! Here are my last predictions, CBS isn't as hart to predict as other networks.
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT --> Cancelled (with a super minor chance of renewal) (Cancelled May 10th)
CSI: NY --> Cancelled (Cancelled May 10th)
GOLDEN BOY --> Cancelled (Cancelled May 10th)
VEGAS--> Cancelled (Cancelled May 10th)
CRIMINAL MINDS --> Renewed (Renewed May 9th)
After upfronts you are welcome to congratulate me or mock me, depending on how my predictions go.
You may also want to read about the fate of other networks
FOX, ABC, NBC, THE CW
Update 03/11/2013
I just saw the pilot of Golden Boy and I thought for a CBS show it had an interesting new take on the whole 'cop show', but I am not in love with the show either. So, my feelings remain pretty much the same. Between The Good Wife, The Mentalist, and Golden Boy... I guess it all comes down to whether you want to see Julianna Margulies, Simon Baker or Chi McBride on your screen each week. I lean towards Simon Baker and/or Chi McBride... but that is just a matter of preference (and Pushing Daisies obsession)
Update 03/27/2013
The Good Wife, Elementary, Person of Interest, 2 Broke Girls, NCIS: LA, The Mentalist, Mike & Molly, Hawaii Five-0 and Blue Bloods have been renewed. Everything is going as predicted so far. I am guessing they are going to cancel Golden Boy after all.
Update 04/19/2013
Not much new with CBS lately. Just confirmation of what we were expecting. It looks more likely that CSI:NY will be cancelled. The general opinion is that Rules of Engagement will be gone too, but for some reason I believe it will get renewed. This is more a gut feeling than logic.
Update 04/27/2013
Last Wednesday CBS renewed Two and a Half Men. From a business point of view, I guess that decision makes sense. From an art, integrity, brand image point of view I think it is awful. That show has lost its way and keeping it around is just hurtful to TV, but you know... money rules. Ashton Kutcher and John Cryer are set to return, but they will have to look for a new 'half man'. So let the casting speculation begin! The fact that this show was renewed makes me doubt my previous prediction that Rules of Engagement may get picked up. The remaining drams will certainly be gone, except for Criminal Minds.
Update 05/08/2013 FINAL PREDICTIONS
One week before upfronts! Here are my last predictions, CBS isn't as hart to predict as other networks.
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT --> Cancelled (with a super minor chance of renewal) (Cancelled May 10th)
CSI: NY --> Cancelled (Cancelled May 10th)
GOLDEN BOY --> Cancelled (Cancelled May 10th)
VEGAS--> Cancelled (Cancelled May 10th)
CRIMINAL MINDS --> Renewed (Renewed May 9th)
After upfronts you are welcome to congratulate me or mock me, depending on how my predictions go.
That was a great article. As a non-American I'm not aware of the more subtle nuances of different networks...that made for a very interesting read. As far as the three dramas on the bubble go I wouldn't be heartbroken over either the mentalist or the good wife ending...I used to think the good wife interesting, even edgy, but I haven't been able to discern where it's supposed to be going for a while now...I would be very interested to know where Golden Boy is headed. I can't say much since I've only seen two episodes, but it feels different from other classical procedurals and it has a pretty amazing cast. Maybe the audience will get the chance to decide whether this show is worth its time or not before it is prematurely axed?
ReplyDeleteYes, I don't really mind which show they cancel and I am definitely curious about Golden Boy, hopefully I'll be able to watch it sometime this weekend.
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