We are heading into the final month of the regular season, and quite a number of sci fi and fantasy shows look like they could succumb to the Peak TV crunch.  But the networks are starting to understand that the old school Nielsen ratings no longer accurately reflect the viewership for their shows,  and that offers an opportunity for fans to step up and show their support in ways that the networks will notice.  Last year we saw NBC’s Timeless saved by a fan campaign that was very active on the social nets and also with digital viewing “rewatch parties”.  We also saw Netflix agree to give Sense8 a finale in response to an outcry from fans over the show’s cancellation.  So it appears that an active and engaged fanbase can influence the networks if they rally together.

Since the vast majority of us are not members of the Nielsen elite, watching live does very little to help out our shows.  But if we are active on the social networks, especially when an episode has its live broadcast, those stats are counted.  Live tweeting along with continued social network activity throughout the week helps get a show trending and brings more attention to it.  I also believe that digital viewing helps because the networks see those numbers without the filter of Nielsen sampling.  And buying the season pass to a show from Amazon, iTunes, etc. could help as well because that goes straight to the bottom line.  I go into more detail on what fans can do to help their shows at our Call to Action page which also includes tips for how to put together a Save My Show campaign.

The finale word on any broadcast network shows should come by mid-May when they have their Upfront presentations with the sponsors and present their 2018-19 schedules.  The dates for each network’s Upfront presentation is below (including the major cable companies), and expect most if not all of the renewal / cancellation announcements for current week shows to occur prior to the meetings.  For the cable shows, announcements could come at any time.

NBC May 14 (Morning)
FOX May 14 (Afternoon)
Disney ABC May 15 (Afternoon)
Turner May 16 (Morning)
CBS May 16 (Afternoon)
The CW May 17 (Afternoon)
NBCU May 17 (Afternoon)

Below is the current list of the shows that could use a Call to Action from fans.  First up are those that are already cancelled or almost certainly headed that direction. Next are those that are On the Bubble followed by a few other shows that could definitely benefit from a boost on the social nets by fans.  If you have an active campaign for any of these shows, let us know in the comments below, on Twitter, or CancelledSciFi [at] Gmail [dot] com and we will include the information and help promote it.

Cancelled or Likely to Be Cancelled

Ash vs. Evil Dead (Starz, Sun 8 PM EST): This horror comedy has now been officially cancelled by Starz.  There is currently an online petition lobbying for a fourth and fifth season and fans should stay active on the social nets in support of this show if they want to see Ash return to fight the Evil Dead.

Beyond (Freeform, Thu 8 PM EST): This show did not have great numbers in its first season and it barely registered with the Nielsens in its second year.  It did seem to have some support on the social nets last season, but I have been seeing next to nothing this year.  Its ratings were below the levels that got Stitchers cancelled last season, and not surprisingly Freeform gave it the ax after its second season.  If there are any fans left, they need to organize if they want to lobby another network or one of the streaming services to pick the show up.

Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency (BBC America, Completed 2nd Season): Despite an online petition that went over 100K signatures and also having this show top our Call to Action poll with just under 4,900 votes, executive producer Arvind Ethan David indicated that they were unable to find it a new home.  Fans have started up a new petition to at least get a finale for the show, and the current campaign effort is focused in that direction.

The Exorcist (FOX, Completed 2nd Season): This show received a surprise renewal last year considering the low viewership it pulled in its first season. But its numbers have been down even further during its second year, FOX Chairman Gary Newman has said that this is “clearly a show that’s on the bubble.” It does have a loyal following that is very active on the social networks, and they need to make a strong push ahead of the May Upfronts, when the networks announce their schedules for the 2018-19 season, if they want this one to stick around for a third year.

Ghost Wars (Syfy, Completed 1st Season): Syfy’s shift toward supernatural-themed shows did not work out too well in Fall as this one and Superstition (see below) struggled mightily to attract viewers in the Peak TV crunch. This one has now been officially cancelled by Syfy, and if it has any sort of fanbase, they need to get active on the social nets RIGHT NOW if they want to lobby another network to pick it up.

The Inhumans (ABC, Completed 1st Season): There’s a lot of hate out there toward this show which I don’t quite get because I have rather enjoyed it. But the ratings were low even for a Friday entry, and all indications are that ABC has this one pegged for cancellation.  Disney could issue an edict for the network to give it a second season, but that does not look too likely at this point. There is a petition out there to save the show, but it has less than five thousand signatures at the moment.  It will take a lot more than that to save this one from the Network Executioner.

Kevin (Probably) Saves the World (ABC, Tue 10 PM EST): This show started out with decent numbers for a Tuesday 10 PM EST entry on ABC. But it  dropped off pretty quickly and then went into schedule spackle mode as the network subjected it to frequent preemptions and used it to fill up an hour here and there.  If fans want it to stick around, they need to get active in supporting it, otherwise Kevin probably will not be able to save his own show.

The Librarians (TNT, Completed 4th Season):  TNT is going through a shift in network strategy and that left this show in the lurch after it wrapped up its fourth year.  Series creator Dean Devlin is shopping this one around and a strong show of support on the social networks could definitely help him with those efforts.

The Shannara Chronicles (Spike, Completed 2nd Season): Spike (now the Paramount Network) cancelled this show as expected.  Its studio is currently shopping it around to other venues, but there has been no word on that in a while which is not a good sign.  This one has shown some notable support on the social nets and made it to the Number 5 spot in our Call to Action poll. Those fans need to band together and make a strong push to help efforts to get another network to pick it up.

Superstition (Syfy, Completed 1st Season): As with Ghost Wars (see above), Syfy’s new supernatural-themed shows did quite poorly in Fall. Superstition barely registered in the ratings and the network did very little to promote it. This one certainly seems to be headed to the Network Executioner, but maybe fans–if there are any–could make a last-ditch effort to save it?

On the Bubble

Agents of SHIELD (ABC, Fri 9 PM EST): The numbers are down for this show in its fifth season, which is not surprising considering it has moved to Fridays.  And the show’s writers have indicated that they are approaching the season finale as if it could also be the series finale. The claim that they have more stories for the agents should Disney decide to keep this one on the schedule, but they may not happen unless fans make a strong show of support for a sixth season.

The Crossing (ABC, Mon 10 PM EST): This show has gotten off to a slow start, and I don’t expect its numbers to show any improvement as we head toward season end. If it has developed any fans in its short time on the air, they need to start making some noise on the social nets.

Falling Water (USA, Sat 10 PM EST): This show returned down in its second season, though the Saturday scheduling and running several episodes against the Olympics probably has something to do with that.  It has an exclusive streaming deal with Amazon that helped it get the second year renewal, so an additional push from the fans could possibly carry it to a third season.

Ghosted (FOX, Sun 8:30 PM EST): Like Son of Zorn last year, this show’s numbers are inflated by football bleed-over and FOX execs are well aware of that. But it is also less expensive than that cancelled animation-live action hybrid show was. However, Ghosted brought in a new showrunner for the second half of its first season and it has become a ghost on the schedule as it appears it is getting pushed to a Summer burn-off run.  Things look grim for this one, so if fans want this one to stick around, they need to get active in supporting it right now.

Legion (FX, Tue 10 PM EST):  This show has returned for its second season with numbers that are down by over half from its first year.  FOX owns the series, so that helps it out, but they need to know that people are following this one and a show of support on the social networks could definitely help it out.

The Last Man on Earth (FOX, Sun 9:30 PM EST): FOX Chairman Gary Newman has said this show is On the Bubble, but then it has pretty much lived there since its first season.  One more year gets it to a syndication friendly count of episodes, so I believe the odds are in its favor.  But fans should definitely mobilize to assure that this one sticks around for at least one more year.

Shadowhunters (Freeform, Tue 8 PM EST): This show just returned for its third season and its numbers are down notably from last year.  I know it has a very loyal fanbase that is active on the social networks and they should get to work calling attention to it to hopefully help its ratings.

Timeless (NBC, Sun 10 PM EST): The numbers have continued to slip for this show in its second season (with no help from NBC due to a poor lead-in), and I currently have it On the Bubble. If fans mount an effort like they did last year, that could be enough to get this one another season, but they need to get active RIGHT NOW!

Could Use Some Support

The Expanse (Syfy, Wed 9 PM EST): This show had decent numbers for its third season debut, but then it dropped notably after that.  It’s not necessarily in trouble yet, but since Syfy does not own the show, the network only makes money from the advertising during live broadcasts.  Fans need to take to the social networks to bring attention to this one and hopefully help bolster the audience.

Gotham (FOX, Thu 8 PM EST): This show’s numbers have not been great this year in the Thursday timeslot, and it dropped to series low levels just recently.  Network Chairman Gary Newman has said they would like to bring the show back for a fifth season, but they may reconsider if the numbers remain low.  Any additional seasons are just padding to the syndication package at this point, so some fan support might help to keep it around for another year.

iZombie (CW, Mon 9 PM EST): The numbers are low for this show and have been for quite a while.  But if The CW follows its usual trends then it will keep this one around at least one more season to get it to a binge-worthy 70 episodes.  Fan support could go a long way to making that a reality.

Lucifer (FOX, Mon 8 PM EST): This show is not quite in the syndication stretch and its numbers have not been great in its third year.  Still, I would think that FOX would be leaning toward a renewal nod. Fans are currently lobbying hard for this one, so any additional support to that effort can only help its chances at this point.