Spring is almost here and that means that the Upfronts–when the broadcast networks present their schedules for the upcoming season to advertisers–are just around the corner. This is the time of year when the broadcasters, as well as the cable nets, start reviewing their lineups for under-performing shows as they hammer out their schedules for next season. We have already had several cancellation announcements over the last few weeks and I expect more (along with some renewal announcements) as we march towards May. Following is the Upfront schedule for the broadcast networks and their partners (you can see the full schedule for all networks at this link):
NBCUniversal, Monday morning May 11th
Fox Corp., Monday afternoon May 11th
ABC / Disney, Tuesday afternoon May 12th
WarnerMedia, Wednesday morning May 13th
ViacomCBS, Wednesday afternoon May 13th
The CW, Thursday morning May 14th
The networks should have their schedules set by the time they make their Upfront presentations on the dates above which will include renewals, cancellations, and new pickups. The cable channels should be making announcements over the next couple of months as well and the streaming services will likely also take the oportunity to get in some breaking news.
We know that all of The CW’s genre entries are safe as that network made its yearly blanket renewal announcement in January (The 100 and Supernatural are wrapping up this season, though). There are several other shows that have been renewed as well such as Star Trek: Picard (CBSAA), See (Apple TV+), The Mandalorian (Disney+), Evil (CBS) and more (you can see a full list of this season’s renewals at this link).
Below is the list of shows that have already been cancelled this season as well as those still waiting to hear word on their fate. Some of the shows below are currently on track for renewal, but for some of the others, fans may want to make a Call to Action on the social networks to bring more attention to them and possibly help them stick around for another year or more (it worked for Lucifer and The Expanse). And be sure to stay tuned to CancelledSciFi.com and the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site over the next couple of months to keep up with all the breaking news and updates.
Links below are to the show pages on this site with series details, ratings info (where available), and more.
>Keep up with the ratings developments and the status of all the currently airing sci fi and fantasy shows with our Weekly Roundup posts.
Cancelled This Season:
Daybreak (Netflix, Status – Cancelled): This was a rare Netflix entry not to get a second season, though we just might start seeing more of that as this streamer keeps dumping shows on us with little notice and minimal promotion.
Impulse (YouTube, Status – Cancelled): This show found itself on the wrong streaming service at the wrong time as YouTube has shifted its original programming strategy away from more costly dramas. The producers have tried to shop it around but have found no buyers so far.
The Magicians (Syfy, Status – Cancelled): Syfy’s five-season wall holds as this show will end with its fifth year. Apparently the producers had an inkling of what was coming and it sounds like they plan on wrapping up most of the show’s storylines by season end.
Runaways (Hulu, Status – Cancelled): This show found itself on the wrong side of corporate politics as the Marvel TV division was closed down which resulted in almost all of the projects that started there getting the ax. But it is still possible that these and some of the other Marvel TV characters could return on Disney+ in the coming years.
>Keep up with all the currently airing sci fi and fantasy shows with our Sci Fi TV Schedule and follow our Weekly Listings for a rundown of the shows airing in the current week.
Shows Facing an Uncertain Fate:
[Update: The production shutdowns due to the Coronavirus may actually work to the advantage of some of the Bubble shows. More on that at this link.]
Altered Carbon (Netflix, Status – Renewal Possible): Word is that this one almost did not make it to a second season, and Netflix has been in the cancelling business of late. Perhaps Anthony Mackie’s presence will revive interest in the show, though, and allow it to stick around for at least one more year.
Castlevania (Netflix, Status – Renewal Possible): Netflix has tended to cap off its shows around the third or fourth season mark, so it is possible that this series could be ending with its currently streaming third season or it may get one more year.
Dispatches from Elsewhere (AMC, Status – On the Bubble): This show debuted with okay ratings when it had The Walking Dead as its lead-in, but dropped notably when it shifted to Monday nights. Unless AMC has significant international financing keeping it afloat, consider this one very much On the Bubble.
Emergence (ABC, Status – Cancellation Likely): This is one of ABC’s lowest-rated shows this season and the early gains it was seeing from delayed-viewing faded as the show wrapped up its first year. A strong show of support from fans might help it, but it surely seems headed to cancellation at this point.
The Purge (USA, Status – On the Bubble): The ratings for this show dropped notably in its second season and there has been no word on its fate since it wrapped up in December. Scripted series are struggling on the basic cable channels these days and this one could find itself caught up in a purge of original programming.
Watchmen (HBO, Status – Renewal Possible): Showrunner Damon Lindelof has claimed that he only planned one season of this show, but he did leave things open for HBO to carry it on without him. It was a hit with critics, but not in the ratings, so the network execs may decide they are happy with just the one season.
>Follow our Sci Fi TV Top 5 column for the top sci fi TV stories each week.
Currently Trending Towards Renewal:
Amazing Stories (Apple, Status – Renewal Possible): So far, the fledgling Apple TV+ has renewed most of its original series, so consider this one to have a decent chance of coming back for a second season.
Castle Rock (Hulu, Status – Renewal Possible): This show has been well-received by fans and critics, but there has been no word on the show’s fate since wrapping up its second season in December. But I still consider a third season to be a good bet at this point.
The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance (Netflix, Status – Renewal Possible): This show has been well-recieved thus far (currently holding an 86% Fresh Rating and 94% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes) and has a decent chance of returning for a second season if the creative team wish to continue the story.
Devs (Hulu, Status – Renewal Possible): This show is being billed as a “limited series”, but if it has a large enough audience in its first season, it could get extended to a second year or more.
I Am Not Okay With This (Netflix, Status – Renewal Possible): As with any Netflix original series, this show has a decent chance of sticking around for a second season. But don’t expect an extended run because the streamer tends to cap off its shows around the third season.
Locke and Key (Netflix, Status – Renewal Possible): This show has been well-received so far and there are rumors that the streaming service has given a greenlight for a second and possibly third season. So consider it likely this one will stick around for a few years.
MacGyver (CBS, Status – Renewal Possible): This show has returned with numbers that are good for a CBS drama, especially one that airs on Fridays. At this point it appears to be on track for a fifth season renewal.
Manifest (NBC, Status – Renewal Possible): The same-day numbers are down for this show in its second season, even with powerhouse The Voice as its lead-in. But it continues to be a top-performer in delayed-viewing, so it has a decent chance of sticking around for a third season.
October Faction (Netflix, Status – Renewal Possible): This is another Netflix series that arrived with little notice, but that streamer tends to give its shows at least a second season renewal, so it has a chance of sticking around for another year.
Primal (ADSW, Status – Renewal Possible): The Fall numbers for this animated series were good for a basic cable entry and it has a new set of episodes due out this Spring. Consider a second season renewal to be a good bet at this point.
Project Blue Book (History, Status – Renewal Possible): This show has returned down from its first season, but it is still doing well for a basic cable entry, especially in total viewers which is important to older-skewing History Channel. At this point, it appears to be on track for a third season renewal.
V-Wars (Netflix, Status – Renewal Possible): Yet another Netflix original that could stick around for another year or so, but will likely cap off around its third or fourth season as is typical of the streamer.
Kind of a shame to see “The Magicians” going, but it was one of the last things i bothered tuning in to SyFy for, and I’ll take the excuse to distance myself further from SyFy for its consistent cancellation of anything I’ve enjoyed there. I was lukewarm toward it for the first season or so, but once the cast started finding their chemistry, the show really started working for me.
I’ve also been enjoying “Dispatches from Elsewhere” – it’s been a nice, upbeat, thoughtful change of pace from the rather dreary and almost mean-spirited genre fare we’ve been getting lately, reminding me in a lot of ways of shows like the sorely-missed “The Librarians”. I guess I can see where “Dispatches from Elsewhere” just wouldn’t catch on with many mainstream viewers, but I’m hoping AMC finds a way to keep the show rolling a little longer.
(I wish I could find something supportive to say about the rest of the canceled/uncertain shows, but they really haven’t made much of an impression on me… I was only interested in the misguided “The Watchmen”, and it did grow on me by the end after taking a pretty big gamble with the story it was trying to tell, but it didn’t quite recover enough for me to complain if it doesn’t survive – I’m not sure I could see it recovering any of the audience that jumped ship on it early on.)