RENEWAL ALERT: Harry's Law, Parenthood, Chuck

NBC renewed a trio of dramas in preparation for the 2011-2012 season - the successful midseason entry Harry's Law, the critically acclaimed and young-skewing Parenthood, and, most surprisingly, Chuck which has a very loyal but very small fanbase.

The only new NBC show to make any sort of waves in the ratings was midseason entry Harry's Law. Starring Kathy Bates, the legal dramedy was somewhat of a surprise, coming out of the gate with 11.1 million viewers and a 2.2 demo. Though it dropped from there, was old-skewing, and hit a low in the season finale, it was a self-starter through its entire spring run airing after the low-rated and incompatible The Cape and The Event. In 12 episodes, it averaged 9.4 million viewers and a 1.8 in the demo. It will be interesting to see if NBC keeps it in the Monday 10pm timeslot or tries to use it to launch a new show.

Also renewed was the critically acclaimed Parenthood for a third season. The family drama has always had trouble with total viewers but is one of the youngest skewing shows in the demo. Many think that airing at an earlier time and not against The Good Wife would help its ratings. In the 21 episodes that aired in-season, it averaged 5.2 million viewers and a 2.1 in the demo.

Finally, and most surprisingly, Chuck was renewed for, supposedly, a final 13 episode run. The show has escaped the ax many times in its four year run and it did it once again despite hitting series lows in recent weeks. While it has a very loyal and rabid audience, that audience is very small and yet it keeps scoring renewals. NBC would be wise to not use it as a Monday anchor again next season. Through 23 episodes, it has averaged 5.2 million viewers and a 1.7 in the demo.