It's a tough life for a freshman TV series, and every Fall some new shows have to get cut — but on the bright side, others are given a vote of confidence and picked up for a full season. We're at the end of October now, and most of the networks have made their big decisions, so here's a rundown on what shows are in, out, or balancing on the edge.
What's In
At NBC, Parks and Recreation, Community, and Mercy have all been picked up for full seasons, as have CBS shows The Good Wife and NCIS: Los Angeles and ABC's The Middle, Cougar Town, FlashForward, and Modern Family.
Over on The CW, ratings-winner The Vampire Diaries has been given an entire season. Fox's newbies have fared very well, with pop culture phenomenon Glee having gotten an early pickup, while The Cleveland Show got a full season before it premiered, and has already been granted a second season. On HBO, Bored to Death has gotten a second as well.
But not everyone has been so lucky; to see which shows have been canceled and what's in danger, just read more.
What's Out
Despite backing from Ashton Kutcher, The Beautiful Life got axed by The CW after just two episodes, and A&E's Benjamin Bratt vehicle The Cleaner is out too. But it's not all bleak news; though NBC oversaw Southland's surprise cancellation, the show may be getting a second chance from TNT.
Danger Zone
These newer shows haven't been canceled, but that's no guarantee of safety. Melrose Place did get picked up for more episodes — but only an 18-ep season (sister show The Vampire Diaries got 22). Dollhouse is being benched for all-important November sweeps, leaving its fate unclear. And struggling shows The Forgotten, Accidentally on Purpose, and Hank haven't been picked up or axed yet, but the lack of news isn't promising.
It's interesting seeing the season's hits and misses — you guys had some correct predictions for pickups and cancellations, but are you surprised by anything overall?
Photos courtesy of Fox and The CW
Agent Provocateur
parks and recreation? really? really?
1Any word yet on Eastwick? It is light entertainment, but I have a feeling it won't make it.
2I'm just hoping that Dollhouse doesn't get canceled, and I'm really glad that Glee, FlashForward, Modern Family, Parks and Recreation, and Community got picked up.
3I'm actually quite pleased that for the first time ever--EVER!--I'm not following a show that's getting canceled mid-season!
4Hmmm... I stopped watching Eastwick just because it didn't seem like it would be picked up and I didn't want to invest myself into a series that got axed mid-season again. But I'd like to hear a confirmation first and maybe I'll go back, because I love Lindsay Price. I'm happy that Cougar Town got picked up, I think Courteney Cox is hilarious, and I'm glad Glee got picked up as well.
5I have almost gotten to the point were I won't watch a show until it's in it's second season. I mean why should I invest in a show when they never get picked up. Of course there were a few exceptions. I've been watching Eastwick, The Vampire Diaries, Flash Forward, and Three Rivers. There are a few that I DVR, but haven't watched yet, waiting to see if they get axed mid-season.
6that mercy show is horrendous.
7If Fox promoted Dollhouse the way they promote Glee and maybe put it on a better night with Fringe, it wouldn't be suffering with such low rating. It will be a shame if it gets canceled since it has really picked up this season, and the whole premise has so much unmined potential.
Love Cougar Town, Modern Family and Flash Forward, glad to know they will be sticking around. Mercy stinks, tried watching the first 3 eps but something about it just seems off. Parks and Rec has also gotten a lot better this season
8I've been watching Flashforward, Eastwick and Cougar Town. Glad Flashforward and Cougar Town got picked up.
9So happy all of my new shows got picked up! (FlashForward, Parks & Recreation, Community, NCIS:LA, & Modern Family) Love them
10i read on Watch with Kristen that trauma might get the axe too. i hope it doesnt, i am really enjoying it and not to mention there is some serious eye candy on there, lol!!
11I'm with you #8, I feel like Fox keeps picking up these Joss Whedon shows but not properly promoting them or dumping them on Friday. I loved Firefly, but I didn't even know about it until episode 4, and then it was gone. The fact that Dollhouse is off the air until December after such a great episode this week sucks. Any momentum that it would have made is gone. Plus, even though it's an Elizacentric show it has so many places to go and can add and subtract characters forever.
12I watch Flash Forward, Dollhouse, Eastwick, Lie to Me, and Glee. Those are my 'can't miss' shows.
I'm not surprised about Flash Forward and Glee....they are great. And unfortunately, as much as I love Dollhouse, I'm not too surprised about their being in danger zone. They've always been in that zone. It seems like Fox doesn't want Dollhouse to succeed, which blows big time. They certainly don't promote it like they do with Glee, and I had a bad feeling about Dollhouse when Fox decided to keep it on the Friday Night slots. Oy!
I'm also rather curious about the future of Eastwick. It's cute and I like it a lot.
13i really like eastwick...its cute and different...plus i love lindsay price and rebecca romijn (spelling, eek?). i'm scared to keep watching, b/c it will probably get cancelled
i kind of like mercy...
14I'll be sad to see Dollhouse go, but I think this will probably be the last season. Fox has been a cruel mistress to Joss.
15Eastwick's plotline is interesting to me, but some of the dialouge just gets toooo cheesy. The interaction between the three main female characters justs seems a little corny and fake. I understand it's a "fun" show and on the whole I like it, just wish they would ease up a bit on the cornier "girl power" type lines. It seems too much like a caricature of what they probably intended it to be (unless that was the point?).
What I want to know is if Castle is getting another season. I really like the rom-com spin on the L&O type format. Nathan Fillion is always entertaining and the women who plays Beckett is well suited for the role.
Dollhouse has improved so much since last season! I'm not even a huge Eliza fan, but I still watch because aspects of it are compelling. And the supporting characters are awesome! But... it will probably get axed. LAME! maybe syfy will pick it up?
16when will fox stop ruining joss's shows?? dollhouse has been getting better and better, and i will be so sad if they get rid of it. he really needs to find a new network to do his shows on. maybe if dollhouse gets canceled he will do a dresden files tv show (a good one, not like the terrible and ill fated scifi attempt). i can't stop dreaming
17I don't hate Parks and Recreations, but I think it is just an ok show. Modern Family is getting better and better, and Cougartown is waaaaay funny. I think Courtney Cox deserves a Golden Globe/Emmy nom for Best Comedic Actress.
Too bad those two great comedies play directly opposite my favourite show on Fox: Glee! So I'm lucky to catch the two comedies now because Glee is taking a break.
18Save Dollhouse from Fox! Kill off some of the vampire shows instead.
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