Is this the beginning of the end for FOX’s Fringe?

The sophomore show, currently on a downward ratings spiral, is expected to have the break so that FOX can launch mid-season drama Past Life in its place.

The hiatus is set to begin on February 11. There will then be a double episode of Past Life running from 8-10 that night before it settles in to the 9pm slot for the following 6 weeks.

FOX have now released their mid-season schedule which you can view here.

We were all expecting it and it’s finally happened: FOX has cancelled dollhouse.

The show has performed poorly for FOX, averaging just a 0.9 rating around 2.3 million viewers. Over the past 2 weeks, A rerun of Bones and a rerun of House have replaced the show, each out-rating it by 50%.

A FOX spokesperson has said that Dollhouse will still air in its 9pm Friday timeslot when it returns on December 4.

This just in: ABC has decided to say goodbye to its worst scripted performer, Kelsey Grammer starring Vehicle Hank.

The freshman show really has been performing poorly, falling to a 1.2 18-49 rating last week, a series low. It hasn’t had to fall far though – the show has only been averaging a 1.5 rating and around 6.5 million viewers all season.

There are currently no plans to show the 5 episodes they have in the can.

More to follow…

So, yesterday it was announced that ABC would not be picking up any more episodes of Eastwick other than the 13 already produced.

Think you’re angry? Well here’s an except from an interview with Exec Producer Maggie Friedman talking to EW’s Michael Ausiello:

“I’m pretty furious, too. We have such an amazing group of writers and actors — best people I’ve ever worked with. None of us can believe this is really happening. We’re smack in the middle of several insanely juicy stories,”  Friedman sighs. “And so we do not get a chance to wrap things up in a bow. Which is killing me.”

The news coming out of ABC today is that Eastwick will be cancelled after its 13 episodes have aired, The Forgotten has had a 5 episode extension (taking its total to 18) and Lets Dance has been pulled out of development.

Eastwick had been averaging a 1.7 18-49 rating and around 6 million viewers over the past few weeks, so this really shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Forgotten has been doing OK, averaging a 2.0 rating and around 7.5 million viewers.

Lets Dance was only just put on the schedule recently, but ABC’s exec’s must not have liked what they’ve seen.

Although I’m not a fan of this show, a lot has been written about the demise (by me included) of FOX’s new sitcom, Brothers. I think it was written too soon….

I accept that yes, Brothers would be in serious danger of cancellation if just the Friday numbers were counted. The show is currently averaging just a 0.8 average 18-49 rating and around 2 million viewers on Fridays alongside ‘Til Death and Dollhouse. But it’s not those numbers I’ve been taking notice of.

Last night, FOX aired Brothers in the 7pm slot as they have been all season and the show pulled a 2.3 rating and 5.7 million viewers. While not exactly Family Guy numbers, a 2.3 is solid for a show that airs a 7. I think that if FOX can pair it with a show that isn’t Til Death on a night that isn’t Friday they could have a (somewhat minor) hit on their hands.

Am I saying it won’t get cancelled? No. Am I saying it has a fighting chance? Absolutely.

So, it’s Tuesday and time to look at what’s transpired in the world of television renewals and cancellations.

In an update from last week, the Trauma production team have been told that they’re done once the 13 episodes that have been produced have aired. Also, cancelled WB series ‘Southland’ was picked up by TNT and will start airing on January 12. Scrubs (Dec 1) season 9 and Better Off Ted season 2 (Dec 8) were given premiere dates (it’ll be interesting to see how they do) and NBC ordered 6 more episodes of ‘Chuck’, taking its total to 19 (we still don’t believe it’s going to start airing in March though).

This week i’m starting with an endangered species, ABC’s Ugly Betty. I know that ABC has a pretty strong schedule this year and thus there was no choice but to move Betty to Friday’s, which was a big mistake. In its first 3 hour long episodes the show, now in its fourth season, has averaged just a 1.4 rating (that;s Jay Leno territory) and just under 5 million viewers. The problem is that this show has quite a large cast and therefore probably quite a large pay packet to cover. The show is made by ABC studios so it has to directly cover these costs which I can’t see them wanting to do for much longer. In comparison, it was averaging a 2.2 rating last year….
My Prediction: Gone by the end of the season. With those numbers, even on a Friday ABC can’t justify keeping it around…

Three Rivers – My prediction was again wrong. CBS was mostly in repeats last week but Three Rivers wasn’t. It AGAIN averaged just a 1.7 rating which is not good enough (even for NBC!) but it lived to see another day. CSI and The Mentalist reruns out-rated it last week by around 40%!  I’m not sure if they’re just burning off episodes but this show is definitely gone by Christmas.
My Prediction: Cancelled by Christmas.

Eastwick – This week Eastwick was up a tick in the key ad demo and total viewers but it still isn’t good enough. ABC might want to pretend that they’re happy with this shows performance but who are they kidding. This show was also outrated by a few of CBS’s reruns and one night of Leno last week which is simply not good enough. I know that they probably just want to burn off episodes (like  Three Rivers…) and get the show out of there quietly without too much fuss. They’re leaving it on through sweeps simply because any reruns they could put off would rate lower than the freshman show
My Prediction: Santa comes, Eastwick goes.   

The Forgotton - wins! Well not really. It did win the 10pm hour for ABC last week but was only up against The Good Wife (rerun) and Leno. It pulled a solid 2.0 rating in the key demo (18-49) and 8.5 million viewers (which itself is not terrible). I think that this show will stay on the air until christmas also, but only because of the same reason as Eastwick, there’s notthing to replace it and we’re in sweeps. ABC’s having a better development year this year so I can’t see them being massviely bothered by this not grabbing the 4.0 rating the network is searching for.
My Prediction: Same as Eastwick and Three Rivers

Cold Case - This show has been a solid performer for CBS but after the way that the ratings have dipped this season I wouldn’t expect to see it back next season. The show pulled just a 1.5 rating on Sunday night, which is over 33% down on where it was at the end of last season. In fact, I think that this show is now the lowest rated scripted programming that they have on the air. It’s had a good run but it’s time to say goodbye…
My Prediction: End of its 22 episode season.

The Others -

- Fringe - Didn’t air this week due to the World Series. Needs to improve or gone after 22.

- Hank - replaced by Charlie Brown this week which led The Middle to its best ratings since its series premiere. Hasn’t got a chance of a back 9 pickup.

- Trauma - 13 Episodes. NBC has pulled the plug.

- Dollhouse – Replaced by a House rerun which outrated it by 33%. 13 and out.

- Brothers - Didn’t air due to a House rerun which also outrated it by over 33%. Possibly run until the end of the season.

- Law and Order – Apparently NBC are talking about ordering an extra 4 eps this season? Still looks bleak. 18 and Out.

- Gary Unmarried/ New Adventures of Old Christine – In reruns last week. Similar to last season. Possible 2010 pickup.

- Heroes - A 2.5 isn’t enough to save this expensive show. Gone after 18.

As I reported earlier, TNT has decided to pick up cancelled WB drama, Southland. What was left up in the air however, was whether we’d see any more produced after the 6 in the can already.

Michael Ausiello is reporting that the 13 episodes already in the can will be expanded with never before seen footage.

He also spoke with the shows star, Michael Cudlitz, who had this to say on whether there’s a chance that new episodes will be shot:

 “I really do feel like it’s going to do fantastic,” he says. “It may even be a bigger hit this time around.”

“We only had two (sets),” Cudlitz says with a laugh. “We were always shooting on the street. And as far as I know, they’re not packing up the city of Los Angeles and putting it away, so I think we’ll be fine.

“I’m just really happy that the show gets a chance to sink or swim based on what we’ve done creatively,” he adds, “and it’s not some arbitrary business decision.”

Several media outlets are confirming that TNT has indeed picked up cancelled NBC drama ‘Southland’. The show will begin airing against The Jay Leno Show on January 12th at 10pm

The drama series, starring Ben McKenzie and Michael Cudlitz was in limbo after it was cancelled prior to the start of its second season. This led to John Wells (E.R), the executive producer of the show to shop the remaining 6 completed episodes to other networks.

TNT is, of course a Time Warner network and Southland is a WB produced show so a deal was likely to go ahead. The series will be shown in its entirety on TNT, starting with the original 7 episodes that aired on NBC and then showing the 6 brand new episodes that are in the can. TNT is expected to begin airing them after Christmas.

via Press Release:

“This is a great win for fans of SOUTHLAND and a perfect opportunity to introduce the series to new viewers,” said Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks.  “It’s also another outstanding example of how TNT has established itself as the go-to place for the best dramas on television.”

“We are extremely pleased that TNT has acquired all 13 episodes of SOUTHLAND, giving devoted fans the opportunity to watch a show that they passionately support,” said Peter Roth, president of Warner Bros. Television.

“We’re delighted that TNT has stepped forward to pick up SOUTHLAND.  We are all extremely proud of the show,” Wells said.