Skip to main content

FRESHMAN SCORECARD: October 2014

Welcome to the Freshman Scorecard of 2014-15. Each network's new shows are ranked from what I see as best to worst chance for survival to a second season. I didn't include the two new ABC comedies, Selfie and Manhattan Love Story because the ratings haven't come in, but I don't think they have much of a chance. The October scorecard is hard because shows are so new, but here goes. By November, I'll be able to add Stalker, Bad Judge, A to Z, Gracepoint, Mulaney, Cristela, Marry Me, Constantine, and The McCarthys to the list. Plus, we'll probably have the first cancellation of the season by then.

This year, I'm adding a percentage chance at the end of each description (purely my opinion).

Past October scorecards: 2013    2012    2011    2010

ABC

Black-ish - Yes, I know How to Get Away with Murder is the show du jour and deservedly so. But right now, I think Black-ish has the best chance for survival because it also had a great debut and it seems the most likely to sustain momentum. 95% 

How to Get Away with Murder - How to Get Away with Murder just posted the biggest gain ever for Live + 3 DVR ratings and it already had one of the top performances of any show in the overnights. I worry about a decline for this show, but it's got so far to go, it would have to evaporate quickly. 90%

Forever - Though it isn't anywhere near the two shows above it, I wouldn't rule this show out. The growth from Monday to Tuesday was mighty impressive. If it can survive in the difficult Tuesday 10pm slot, ABC might allow it to get by with lower ratings. 55%

CBS

NCIS: New Orleans - A strong debut and nestled in a very cozy timeslot, NCIS: New Orleans just seems "too big to fail." It would have to really fall apart to not get renewed and I just don't see how that happens in its current slot. 97%

Scorpion - The biggest surprise in the ratings yet for me was Scorpion's fantastic week two hold. With a much lower lead-in and middling reviews, I thought it would drop like a rock. It didn't, and that's a very good sign. 75%

Madam Secretary - Just like Forever, this is at the bottom of the list but I wouldn't rule it out. It has strong total viewer numbers and if it attracts the upscale audience, it has a real chance. CBS seems to really want this to work and that always counts for something. 55%

NBC

The Mysteries of Laura - Believe it or not, Laura is the only new show NBC has premiered so far. I'd put it at 50/50 right now. It surprised in total viewers in week two but dropped hard in the demo. A lot depends on how the other new shows go. 50%

FOX

Gotham - Considering how bad FOX's lineup is going, this would have to self implode to get cancelled. I bet we'll see a very early season two renewal as it is one of the only FOX shows with any sort of pulse. 99%

Red Band Society - The ratins are pretty terrible on Wednesday so I don't see it really making it, but the rules are different on FOX where most everything is in dire straits. I still don't really like it's chance, but I'm not counting it out completely. 35%

Utopia - As good as dead. The question is how long it will air. Season two is out of the question. 1%

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...