Benjamonster's TV

Here is the March Freshman Scorecard! Premiering in March are Chicago Justice (NBC, March 1), Time After Time (ABC, March 5), Making History (FOX, March 5), People Icons (ABC, March 7),  Kicking & Screaming (FOX, March 9), Trial & Error (NBC, March 14), Shots Fired (ABC, March 22), and Imaginary Mary (ABC, March 29). Past March scorecards:  2016     2015     2014     2013     2012     2011 A LOCK Speechless I still consider Speechless a lock to return and just a step above the other two freshmen likely to return. It has held extremely well out of The Goldbergs and there's no way ABC is not bringing this acclaimed show back. NEARLY A LOCK American Housewife, Designated Survivor I think American Housewife is nearly as likely to return but it's just been a step below Speechless all year in terms of ratings. Designated Survivor has been away for a long time but I still see it very likely to come back un...

Here is the February Freshman Scorecard! Premiering in February are Superior Donuts (CBS, Feb 2), Training Day (CBS, Feb 2), Powerless (NBC, Feb 2), 24: Legacy (FOX, Feb 5), APB (FOX, Feb 6), Doubt (CBS, Feb 15), The Blacklist: Redemption (NBC, Feb 23), and Taken (NBC, Feb 27). Past February Scorecards:  2016     2015     2014     2013     2012     2011 NEARLY A SURE BET Speechless It seems as though Speechless has separated itself from the pack a bit since the last scorecard. It has continued to do very well on Wednesday and continues to have more critical buzz than other ABC newbies. I don't see any scenario where it doesn't get a second season, the bigger question is whether it stays on Wednesdays at 8:30. IT'S LOOKING GOOD American Housewife, Designated Survivor I still think both of these shows are definitely coming back, I would just put their chances just ever so slightly behind Speechless . American Hous...

Here is the December Freshman Scorecard! Premiering in December are sneak previews of Star on FOX and The Wall on NBC. Premiering in January is Big Fan on ABC,  The Mick and My Kitchen Rules on FOX, Ransom and Hunted on CBS, Emerald City on NBC, and Riverdale on CW. Past December Scorecards: ABC'S COMEDY FACTORY SUCCESSES Speechless, American Housewife The two new comedies look as strong as they did a month ago. They fit perfectly into the ABC family comedy lineup and they both seem very likely to see a season two. THE DRAMA RENEWAL Designated Survivor Right now, Designated Survivor is easily ABC's top new drama and that gives it a very good chance to return. Unless all their midseason shows pop, and that seems quite unlikely, this still strikes me as having nearly as good a chance as the comedies despite lower ratings lately. NO CHANCE Conviction, Notorious These are airing out the string. Notorious had its episode order cut while Conviction was capped...

Here is the November Freshman Scorecard! No new series premiere during this month but I have a feeling we'll get a lot more midseason information before this month is done! Past November scorecards:  2015     2014     2013     2012     2011     2010 LOOKING GOOD Speechless, American Housewife ABC may be in trouble with their dramas not named Grey's Anatomy but they know how to do sitcom blocks like no other and it looks as though they've found two new winners. Speechless has been a perfect fit after The Goldbergs on Wednesdays while American Housewife has built on its lead-in ( The Middle ) for three straight weeks in the new Tuesday block. Comedies don't tend to have as dramatic drops in the season especially when their nestled in a strong lineup so I think prospects are bright for both of these. Speechless already has a full season and I'm sure one is coming soon for American Housewife . STILL VERY LIKELY Desig...

Happy October! Welcome to the new Freshman Scorecard. As always, this scorecard looks at survival chances for the newbies. This year, I will be putting each show into groups rather than listing individually. Premiering this month are Conviction and American Housewife (ABC), Man with a Plan, The Great Indoors, and Pure Genius (CBS), Timeless (NBC), and No Tomorrow and Frequency (CW). Past October scorecards:  2015     2014     2013     2012     2011     2010 LOOKING GOOD Speechless, Designated Survivor ABC is having all sorts of problems so their two new Wednesday shows are looking good at this point. Speechless fits right into the ABC comedy lineup and is in a more protected slot than Tuesday newbie American Housewife and bubble comedy The Real O'Neals (both premiering October 11). Designated Survivor had a big premiere and an understandable week two drop. It remains a huge improvement on the Weds schedule but it ma...

Here is my April Freshman Scorecard. As always, these are ordered by my opinion of best to worst chance for survival. Premiering in April is Game of Silence (NBC, April 12), Strong (NBC, April 13), and American Grit (FOX, April 14). Past April scorecards:  2015     2014     2013     2012     2011 ABC Quantico - Renewed. Dr. Ken - This should definitely get a renewal over pretty much anything else from ABC's troubled class of freshmen. It has been the best pair with Last Man Standing yet. 85% Bachelor Live - I definitely see this coming back for a limited run next winter after The Bachelor . 80% The Real O'Neals - I feel like this show's chances are going up with each week that it stays at a 1.0 demo and pairs up well with Fresh Off the Boat . Still, ABC has a lot of comedy already renewed and they may just opt for new shows especially with a new regime. 50% The Great Holiday Baking Show - Could definitely be winter filler or the...

Here is my March Freshman Scorecard. As always, these are ordered by my opinion of best to worst chance for survival. Premiering in March are The Real O'Neals (ABC, March 2), The Family (ABC, March 3), Of Kings and Prophets (ABC, March 8), Little Big Shots (NBC, March 13), Crowded (NBC, March 15), Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (CBS, March 16), Heartbreaker (NBC, March 22), The Catch (ABC, March 24), and Rush Hour (CBS, March 31). Past March scorecards:  2015     2014     2013     2012     2011 ABC Quantico - ABC loves their buzzy dramas and this is it but we'll see how it comes back in the ratings this week. Also, the Paul Lee firing could play a role but I'd still be shocked if this doesn't return. 80% Dr. Ken - It's waned some since the start of the new year but I still like its chances for a second season. There are bigger problems on ABC than the Friday 8pm slot. 75% Bachelor Live - Seems very possible to come back next winter ...

Here is my February Freshman Scorecard. As always, these are ordered from my opinion of best to worst chance for survival. There is nothing premiering in February but we may get a couple renewals or cancellations, we'll see! Past February scorecards:  2015     2014     2013     2012     2011 ABC Quantico - ABC seems pretty set on making this work considering they reran two episodes of it through most Sundays in December and January. ItCBS would take an epic collapse to not get renewed and it may even have a better shot with The Family coming in as a lead-in when it returns in March. 80% Dr. Ken - This still seems to have the best chance of anything that has followed Last Man Standing so far, but it has sagged a bit in the ratings lately. I still think it's done enough to get a second season. 75% Bachelor Live - I can definitely see this being a January filler to be paired with The Bachelor again next season. 70% The Muppets - This...

Here is the December Freshman Scorecard. As always, these shows are ranked by network from best to worst chance for survival. Premiering this month are The Great Holiday Baking Show (ABC), Superstore (NBC) (both shows premiered last night but this scorecard was finished before getting their ratings), and Telenovela (NBC, December 6). Premiering in January are Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life (FOX, January 3), Bordertown (FOX, January 3), Bachelor Live (ABC, January 4), My Diet is Better Than Yours (ABC, January 7), Angel From Hell (CBS, January 7), Shades of Blue (NBC, January 7), Second Chance (FOX, January 13), The X-Files (FOX, January 24), Lucifer (FOX, January 25), and You, Me, and the End of the World (NBC, January 28). Past December scorecards:  2014     2013     2012     2011     2010 ABC Dr. Ken - Still performing quite admirably on Friday. It has been one of the biggest surprises this season in my opinion. 85% Quanti...

Here is my November Freshman Scorecard. As always, each show is ranked by network and best to worst chance for survival. Chicago Med will join the list in time for December's scorecard and we'll have a much better idea about midseason plans for the network. Past November scorecards:  2014     2013     2012     2011     2010 ABC Dr. Ken - This has been quite a surprise on Friday nights. Despite being trashed by critics, it has proven to be the best companion to Last Man Standing yet. Who would have guessed? 80% Quantico - Quantico was surprisingly strong out of the gate but it has lost a little steam since both in terms of buzz and ratings. I'm just not convinced in the long run that it will pan out but I still think its chances are OK. 60% The Muppets - It got its order extended for three more episodes but was never planned as a full season. Still, it started as one of the biggest new fall shows and is now barely ahead of Dr. Ken in...

Here is the the first entry in the Freshman Scorecard for 2015-16. Each network is ranked from best to worst chance for survival as well as what I perceive its percent chance to survive. For November, I'll be able to add Code Black, Dr. Ken, Truth Be Told, Supergirl, and Wicked City . October is always difficult because shows are so new but here we go. Past October scorecards:  2014     2013     2012     2011     2010 ABC The Muppets - It's week two drop was brutal but I'm still fairly confident this would hold on well enough through the fall to get a renewal. 70% Quantico - It had a surprisingly strong debut and is probably one more good week away from being a high priority for ABC. I'm just a bit skeptical still because of the serialized nature and tough timeslot. 65% Blood & Oil - The closest thing to DOA besides Minority Report . It's lackluster debut coupled with a lot on the bench and not a ton of needs for ABC means ...

Here is the Freshman Scorecard for April. As always, these are ranked from best to worst chance for survival. By the time the May scorecard rolls around, we can add A.D. and American Odyssey to the list and we'll be awfully close to upfronts! Past April scorecards:  2014     2013     2012     2011 ABC How to Get Away with Murder - Ended its season in February but sure to come back as the shortened seasons is because of Viola Davis' contract. 99% Black-ish - The other sure bet to come back. Who knows where but I wouldn't be surprised to see it return to Wednesdays at 9:30pm. 99% Fresh Off the Boat - It has continued to drop but I think it built up enough goodwill early on to get a second season. They need to open up a second family comedy block somewhere. 75% Secrets and Lies - It had a very weak debut but it hasn't totally died on Sunday nights. It's arguably done better than expected in recent weeks in a difficult slot and that might give ...

Here is my Freshman Scorecard for March. As always, these are ranked from best to worst chance of survival. Premiering over the next month are  Secrets & Lies,  American Crime, and Moment of Truth  on ABC, Battle Creek and CSI: Cyber on CBS, One Big Happy on NBC, and The Last Man on Earth on FOX. Past March scorecards:  2014     2013     2012     2011 ABC How to Get Away with Murder - A sure thing for renewal. TGIT has been a dominant force this season. 99% Black-ish - After a strong start, it took a hit against Empire but has leveled off lately. It'll surely come back, but will ABC put it on a different night? 98% Fresh Off the Boat - It's looking really good for ABC's new Tuesday comedy. It's been the biggest self-starter in a difficult slot in awhile and has some positive buzz. Even if it slips some in the weeks to come, I think it's done enough to get a renewal. 80% Cristela - The success of Fresh Off the Boat probabl...