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.

“Southland” is close to being picked up by cable net and WB corporate sibling, TNT.

Earlier this week in an interview, Executive Producer John Wells told various media outlets that there were two interested parties that were in talks with the studio, Warner Bros. One of those were Warner’s corporate sibling TNT

Although a deal has not yet been finalized, it now seems that the cop drama will appear on our screens.

Various websites have been complaining that this deal is happening, having not been able to save their own show in the past such as Arrested Development, Moonlight and others. The two situations aren’t the same though, as Southland has 6 episodes in the can ready to air and i’m guessing that TNT are getting them at a discounted rate. I’m just happy I won’t have to buy the dvd to see the remaining episodes….

Judy Greer is set to star in ABC’s comedy ’I'm With Stupid’ according to THR. The show, currently in development will centre on a woman who goes to Africa, has a fling with a park ranger for a safari park who then turns up on her doorstep and isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Greer has a number of TV and movie credits including ABC comedy Miss/Guided, FOX’s Arrested Development, 27 dresses and Mel Gibson hit What Women Want.

The series will be written by Allan Loeb, whose big screen credits include Wall Street 2, 21 and The Baster.

According to Variety.com, 20th Century Fox TV has a project in development which is inspired by the work of ‘Dog Whisperer’ Cesar Millan.

Fox has tapped Wilmer Valderrama, a FOX regular to star in the comedy about a professional dog trainer. Viewers will know Valderrama from ‘That 70’s Show’, which ran on FOX for 9 seasons, from 1998 to 2007. Valderrama c0-starred in every season.

Emily Kapnek (Hung) will write and produce the half hour show, which has just a script order in place.

Desperate Housewives creator, Marc Cherry, is developing a new idea for ABC with DH exec. producer, Alexandra Cunningham according to Hollywood Reporter:

In development circles, the project has been referred to as a “Desperate Housewives” spinoff, but while there was some discussion about spinning it from the hit dramedy, it will now be a stand-alone show.

The premise is being worked out, but the show is expected to have the tone of “Housewives.” Cherry and Cunningham are expected to exec produce the project with another “Housewives” exec producer, Sabrina Wind.

There has been a lot of curiosity about what Cherry would develop as a follow-up to “Housewives” under his overall deal with ABC Studios, the show’s producer. He spent the past five years on the hit series and has made it clear that he will stay involved until it ends. That is not expected to change if he gets another show on the air.

Meanwhile, Cunningham has been a rising star on “Housewives,” which she joined after the pilot as a producer and quickly moved through the ranks to exec producer.