FRESHMAN SCORECARD: December

As with every new month, its time for an update on the freshman shows. They are ordered from best to worst chance of seeing a season two.

ABC

Better With You - This is not the breakout hit that Modern Family was last year or showing signs of a loyal and growing audience like The Middle has, but it has been a serviceable bridge between the two shows so far. Until ABC finds a more suitable replacement, it has a decent shot. If ABC decides to expand their comedy hours, then it has a real good chance. Quality-wise, it's been getting better and better as the actors are getting into their roles. It's not something exciting and new but it's a likable enough sitcom.

Detroit 1-8-7 - It's a tough call whether this or No Ordinary Family has a better chance at renewal, but right now I'm leaning this way despite it only having 18 episodes and ending its run in March to make way for Body of Proof. It hasn't been a hit but is generating good reviews and has been great for the city of Detroit. If ABC gets hits in the spring with Proof or January's Off the Map, this show's chances go way down. But if they flop, this show might make it. I certainly hope it does, it has been gritty and interesting each and every week.


No Ordinary Family - ABC's hyped family drama has been a huge disappointment so far. It is getting a trial run at 9pm for three weeks but last night's results were not promising as it hit a series low in viewers. This doesn't have the critical buzz that Detroit does and I don't think it will be picking up many new viewers. It might see a slow death unless it can rebound. This show just isn't that interesting and ABC put it in a terrible timeslot that most knew would doom its fate.

Skating with the Stars - The winter replacement for Dancing with the Stars has been a huge flop so far just like Skating with Celebrities was for FOX years ago. ABC will probably ride it out in December but don't look for future editions to be a fill-in for the ever popular Dancing.


The Whole Truth/My Generation - Already cancelled though The Whole Truth is burning off some of its remaining episodes throughout December.

CBS

Mike & Molly - CBS's fall comedy is coming into its own as it has grown in viewers and the demo in each of its last three original episodes. With no Dancing with the Stars for awhile, it should have even more time to grow its audience. Quality-wise it seems to veer between sweet and crass, but the sweetness resonates more. The Thanksgiving episode (most recent new one) may have been its best yet.


Blue Bloods - The new Friday drama is skewing very old as expected but it has been doing great with total viewers. It's been a long time since a Friday 10pm show drew over 11 million viewers but Bloods has been doing that regularly. Forget the demo, on Friday night - it's a shoo-in for renewal.

Hawaii Five-0 - CBS's big budget remake hasn't been the smash hit everyone thought it would be but it's still doing well. It may see a boost soon when Monday Night Football ends and seems to have stabilized. It's older-skewing than most expected and it's not showing big gains over former occupant CSI: Miami but it's been successful. I have tried many times to get into the show and I usually find myself getting bored by the halfway point.

$#*! My Dad Says - The other new comedy has had mixed results on Thursday has had mixed results. It was showing some promising signs in ratings for awhile but then seemed to slip back again. It seems to hover right around 10 million viewers and a 3 in the demo. That will be enough if CBS adds another hour of comedy next season but may not cut it if they stick to three hours.

The Defenders - This is by far the CBS show on the shakiest ground. It has slipped below a 2 in the demo in its last two new episodes which is probably unacceptable for CBS. If it moves out of its current slot for the Criminal Minds spinoff as many think it will, it may go to Friday 8pm which would likely finish it off. CBS has too many successful shows to keep around a mediocre performer.

NBC

Law & Order: Los Angeles - Really the only show that has been on the map at all for NBC, the Law & Order spinoff has been average at best and will move to Tuesdays at 10pm in February. In NBC's low-rated world, it's doing well enough to survive but it's not a hit. Quality-wise, there's not much to report as every time I've seen it, it reminds me of its parent show - some good, some bad. Nothing amazing.

Outsourced - Many thought this might crash and burn but it has held its own so far. It seems to have leveled off around 5.5 million viewers and 2.5 in the demo and that demo will be its saving grace, but what happens when it moves to 10:30pm in January? It's hard to know what NBC expect in that hour, but if it can hold most of 30 Rock's 10pm audience, it may stand a chance.

The Event - A huge disappointment for NBC, The Event has been anything but an event in the ratings as it has bled and bled and on Monday for its fall finale, had less total viewers than Chuck and Chase. It now goes on a long hiatus and will likely suffer the same fate as FlashForward on ABC last year after a long time off. If it does end after this season, hopefully NBC will give it some forward notice so the writers can wrap up the storyline for those of us (like me) who are engrossed even when it borders on the ridiculous.

Chase - It was tempting to actually put this low-rated drama above The Event just because it has been showing a hint of growth in the last two weeks when a timeslot competitor - ABC's Castle - was preempted. What will doom this show is its move to Wednesdays at 9pm in January against megahits American Idol, Modern Family, and Criminal Minds, the latter of which is a more engrossing procedural drama. It's a shame though because this show is actually quite good and, I think, the most improved in the young season. This would be a hit on CBS but can't find an audience on NBC.

School Pride - Although not officially cancelled, hell will freeze over before NBC orders more episodes of this dud. After an incredibly low-rated Friday night run, it has finished its initial seven episodes. There may not be an official confirmation for awhile but everyone knows it's dead.

Undercovers/Outlaw - Already cancelled though Undercovers will burn off some episodes in December while Outlaw finished its run on Saturdays in November.

FOX

Raising Hope - FOX's only potential freshman success, Hope has held its own in an competitive Tuesday night timeslot. It has lost a lot of Glee's audience but has been stable and seems to have a loyal niche audience. It seems very likely for renewal at this point but FOX is still looking for something to pair it with.

Running Wilde - This flop has not been officially cancelled but its back-9 episodes were not ordered which is almost always a death sentence. It will end its run at the end of December and it would be shocking to ever see it again, especially if there's any success with midseason comedies Mixed Signals and Breaking In.

Lone Star - Cancelled long ago.