Cancellation Watch Hit List: Braindead is Still Likely to Be Cancelled, Stitchers and Wayward Pines Remain On the Bubble

You can find the latest edition of the Hit List at this link

The Summer season is winding down now with the official start of the Fall season only a month away (you can get a preview of that at this link) and there are still a few shows currently airing or recently ended awaiting word on their fate. The Hit List (which replaces the Power Rankings) stack ranks all the currently airing and returning shows based on how likely they are to continue for another season and it also includes the most recent cancellations. I have comments on the shows in the category sections below and you can also click on the links in the table to go to the show pages to see season to date ratings and status updates.

The Cancellation Watch Hit List August 2016:

You can see the July Hit List at this link.

Cancelled/Ending: Joining this group since the last Hit List is FOX’s Houdini & Doyle. But that was expected as it was previously in the Cancellation Likely category based on its low ratings in the U.S. and poor performance overseas. Also, Play Station Network’s Powers joined the cancelled ranks as that streaming service decided to part ways with the superhero show after two seasons (apparently leaving it on somewhat of a cliffhanger).

On the Bubble: Syfy’s Wynonna Earp survived Bubble status from the last Hit List, but Freeform’s Stitchers and FOX’s Wayward Pines are still here. The latter show had to go several months before learning of its second season renewal last year. But the chances of a third season of Stitchers seem to be slipping the longer Freeform waits to make an announcement.

Renewal Possible: The Last Ship and Zoo moved up into the renewed categories, but most the other shows in this category have stayed put since the last Hit List. I previously had Syfy’s Dark Matter and Killjoys pretty close to bubble status due to their ratings slump, but their numbers have improved some the last few weeks. Plus, I believe that the partnership with the Canadian Space Channel will help them to survive into a third season.

Renewal Likely: Netflix’s Daredevil was renewed as expected since the last Hit List and now I am moving Stranger Things into this category. That series has received much praise and apparently drawn plenty of viewers. Plus, Netflix has renewed pretty much all of its shows for at least a second season, so no reason to believe they would stop that trend with this one. The X-Files is still waiting for the behind-the-scenes negotiations to wrap up, but that one will almost certainly be back for another revival season.

Renewed but Struggling: CBS did renew sophomore series Zoo despite its ratings drop-off, but I have a hard time seeing that one survive past its third year if its numbers continue to slip next Summer. Syfy’s Wynonna Earp got the renewal nod, but it could join other Syfy’s two-season-and-done entries like Helix and Dominion if it does not build its audience when it returns. And the CW has confirmed that Vampire Diaries will be heading into its final year this coming season as expected.

Renewed: Joining this category since the last Hit List is Daredevil (Netflix), The Last Ship (TNT), and Mr. Robot (USA). For those last two, don’t be surprised if they wrap up around their fourth or fifth season because that has been about the norm for mid-to-low-rated cable genre entries of late.

Unassailable: With Fear the Walking Dead returning at series low levels this past Sunday, its unassailable status is looking a bit iffy. But it is still one of the top rated scripted shows on cable, and I don’t think it is in any immediate danger. It would not surprise me, though, if they decided to wrap it up (and maybe try a different spin-off) around its fifth season.

Metric Definitions:

Hit List Status: Category indicating the show’s cancellation/renewal prospects.

Cancelled/Ending: This includes cancelled shows from the current season as shows that are in or headed into their final seasons.  Mini-series that have wrapped their runs will be included here as well.

Cancellation Likely: These shows have seriously underperformed in their current season and appear surely headed to cancellation.

On the Bubble: These shows have delivered moderately low numbers which could put their renewal chances in jeopardy.

Renewal Possible: These shows may not be top performers, but are currently doing well enough that renewal looks like a decent possibility.

Renewal Likely: These shows have performed well enough so far in their current season that a renewal seems almost assured.

Renewed but Struggling:  This category captures those shows that have received a renewal notice, but they struggled in their current seasons and could likely be facing cancellation when they return.

Renewed: These shows performed well enough in their latest season to receive the renewal nod and should continue for another season if they hold steady.

Unassailable: These are the shows that face no chance of cancellation in their current/upcoming season and likely beyond that as well.

Cancellation Alert: My prediction of the likelihood that a show will get cancelled (which are more granular than theHit List Status above). From least to most likely the statuses are Low, Moderate, Medium, Elevated, and High.

StD Rating: Season to date average for the rating metric tracked above.

Net Avg:  The season to date average rating for the network for non-sports, non-special, non-repeat programming.  This data is available for the broadcast networks only.

Live+7 Rtg: The season to date average rating based on the Live+7 delayed viewing numbers for the days that data is available.