Skip to main content

FRESHMAN SCORECARD: January 2012

Not too much has changed since December so this will be a shorter version of the Freshman Scorecard. To see December's, click here. To see the Freshman Scorecard from last January, click here. As always, these shows are put in order from best-to-worst chance of survival. Also, look below this post for my top 20 episodes of 2011!

ABC

Suburgatory - The show is not soaring in the ratings anymore but after last year's Better With You, why mess with a good thing?

Last Man Standing - This show is holding its own on an island and repeats very well. It's a near lock for renewal and ABC will probably try to find more traditional sitcoms to complement it.

Once Upon a Time - The luster has faded a little bit as the show showed some drops in December. If it continues to drop in January, that will be problematic but for now, it is still basking in its early dominance.

Revenge - Despite being fourth on the list, this drama is in no real danger right now. We'll see how it can adapt when its current storyline ends.

Pan Am - The 1960s drama would have to have a pretty incredible January to have any chance of survival and I don't see that happening.

You Deserve It - It's back to the drawing board for a December filler between Dancing with the Stars and The Bachelor.

Man Up!/Charlie's Angels - Cancelled though Man Up! has not been given the official word from ABC but considering all its remaining episodes were yanked from the lineup, that's a pretty sure bet.

CBS

2 Broke Girls - An absolute lock for renewal. No questions asked.

Person of Interest - The slow-starting drama really has held up well in November and December which helps its case. CBS seems quite invested in making this show work.

Unforgettable - It's still being billed as TV's #1 New Drama. It will likely get a renewal but it wouldn't be surprising if it ends up Friday bound next season.

A Gifted Man - It's not dead yet as CBS will let it air through March. I'm not sure CBS can do much better than this show on Fridays. Do they agree with me?

How to Be a Gentleman - Cancelled long ago.

NBC

Up All Night - The upcoming move to Thursdays can only help this show which was doing better than expected on Wednesdays. I expect an early second season renewal here.

Grimm - It's still surviving on Friday nights and with the state of NBC's lineup, it has a pretty good shot for renewal at this point.

Rock Center with Brian Williams - Only above Whitney because it's such a cheap filler for NBC to put in its lineup.

Whitney - Maybe I'm wrong but I think this show will get killed on Wednesdays even if its with a more compatible lead-in.

Prime Suspect/Free Agents/The Playboy Club - Cancelled

FOX

The X-Factor - Renewed for a second go-round next fall.

New Girl - A lock for renewal. Could get a second season as early as this month.

Terra Nova - It's first season has ended and a decision will reportedly be made this month to allow production time if its renewed. I could still see it go either way but I'm leaning against a renewal unless the new dramas look like they're going to bomb.

I Hate My Teenage Daughter - It's done until spring when it will air after Idol and likely lose even more of its lead-in. I'd be shocked if this was renewed.

Allen Gregory - Not officially cancelled but it may as well be after a first season of terrible ratings.

January has many new premieres so look forward to the February scorecard!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

SEASON IN REVIEW: 2017-18 Miscellaneous Awards

As usual, I am ending the season with a few miscellaneous awards. The blog will be quiet this summer but I will continue to do the week ahead posts with broadcast TV news as it happens this summer. Then I'll be back for previews, pilot reviews, and more in the fall! BEST RETURNING COMEDY Superstore (NBC) - Superstore was awarded my "Best Returning Comedy" last year, but it only got better in season three. The funniest ensemble on TV took another step forward with some truly hilarious moments (the season premiere, the Golden Globes party, and the Christmas episode to name a few) and some major plot points moving forward. It also has the potential to be surprisingly sentimental at times. I think back to the first year of the show and how I felt like it had so many funny elements but didn't always bring it completely together. Well now it does on a weekly basis and it is one of those shows that just seems to be in the sweet spot of what will hopefully be a long run. ...

EPISODE GUIDES: Happy Days Season Five (Part 1)

On Thursdays, I take a detailed and critical look at a TV show by season. Today I am looking at Season 5 (Part 1) of  Happy Days ! HAPPY DAYS: SEASON FIVE 1977-1978 27 episodes Season Five is the year where Fonzie infamously jumps the shark. It happens at the beginning of the season and while  Happy Days  does eventually decline in quality, it is not this season. In fact, this season graded out slightly higher than the previous season even though it doesn't feel as strong. I think that's because there's not a lot of outright stinkers in this season. It's a very solid season with the show continuing to hum along. There are some signs of the troubles to come but it doesn't happen on a regular basis in the fifth season. Starring Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham  (27 episodes) Henry Winkler as Arthur Fonzarelli  (27 episodes) Tom Bosley as Howard Cunningham  (27 episodes) Marion Ross as Marion Cunningham  (27 episodes) Anson Williams as Potsie Webber  ...

EPISODE GUIDES: That 70s Show Season Seven

On Thursdays, I go through classic series with a critical look at each season. Today I am looking at Season Seven of  That 70s Show ! THAT 70s SHOW: SEASON SEVEN 2004-2005 25 episodes The seventh season of  That 70s Show  is the final season with Topher Grace as a series regular and also the final full season for Ashton Kutcher. Despite still having both of those cast member, the show finds itself flailing especially with Topher Grace's Eric, who is stuck in a terrible arc for most of the season. The show also brings many characters back at one point or another but everything just feels tired. This season actually graded out the worst for me. Even worse than the often maligned final season (more on that next week). Every title this season is named for a Rolling Stones song. Starring Topher Grace as Eric Forman  (25 episodes) Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart  (25 episodes) Ashton Kutcher as Michael Kelso  (25 episodes) Danny Masterson as Steven Hyde  (25 e...