Sci Fi TV Network Scorecard 2022: FX, Freeform, and TNT

Network Scorecard: Scoring the networks based on their history of airing and supporting sci fi and fantasy television shows.

The basic cable channels have aired their fair share of scripted sci fi and fantasy shows with AMC and Syfy taking the lead in genre programming over the past ten years. But several other cable networks have put out some notable entries and should at least get a mention in this scorecard process. The USA Network has been active with scripted originals but has tended to avoid sci fi entries so it will not be considered here.  And while BBC America did have Orphan Black, it has put out very few originals beyond that, so it will not get its own scorecard either. But FX, TNT, and Freeform/ABC Family have had several notable entries over the past ten years, and it is worth taking a quick look at each of those cable nets.

FX

FX got its start in the mid-90s and became a player in the scripted programming game in the ’00s. It does not put out too much in the way of originals each season, but it has an ongoing slate and has put out some notable genre entries over the past decade. American Horror Story arrived in the 2011-12 season and now counts as one of the longest-running genre shows of all time. FX also currently has the supernatural comedy What We Do in the Shadows on its schedule and it put out the highly-acclaimed Legion a few years back. It is also associated with shows like Devs and the AHS spin-off American Horror Stories which are part of the FX on Hulu banner, but I count those more as Hulu entries because they run exclusively on that streamer.

I give FX a score of 3 on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being the highest), the same as last year. It does not put out very many sci fi/fantasy shows, but of the four that have aired on the network over the past ten years, none have faced a quick cancellation. Legion wrapped up after three seasons, but that one was not built for a long run anyway and was at least given the chance to wrap up its storylines. The Strain went for four seasons with a conclusion, and both American Horror Story and What We Do in the Shadows are still active and have been renewed for future seasons.  Plus it currently has an Alien TV series in the works which is tentatively set to premiere at some point in 2023 and it is not shying away from scripted output like many of the other basic cable channels are these days.

FX New Scripted Programming Since the 2010-11 Season

Note: American Horror Story has been renewed through its thirteenth season, though I am only counting up to its next season here. What We Do in the Shadows has been renewed through its sixth season.

Freeform

The Disney-owned Freeform was previously ABC Family and changed its name in 2016. It is basically The CW of the cable networks–referring to the pre-buyout CW–as it tends to skew its shows to a young adult audience and supernatural dramas are common among its genre entries. Even back when it was ABC Family it put out shows of interest to sci fi/fantasy fans (including 2007’s delightful but short-lived The Middleman), and with the change to Freeform it added even more genre entries to its slate. Interest in these will vary based on the demographic you find yourself in, but shows like Shadowhunters, Stitchers, and Motherland Fort Salem have managed to build up loyal followings (even if they did not last long).

I keeping Freeform’s score at 2 ½ on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being the highest). It puts out its share of genre entries, though mostly YA-focused supernatural dramas and several of those have stuck around for multiple season runs. But then they all tend to cap off by the third season mark, and some were cancelled without much of a resolution (Stitchers, Siren). If you like the offerings from The CW in years past, especially the non-Arrow-verse shows, you will probably enjoy the genre entries from Freeform and the network does have more on the way. Just don’t expect them to stick around nearly as long as those on The CW.

Freeform/ABC Family New Scripted Programming Since the 2010-11 Season

TNT

TNT is part of the Turner networks and it is the sister station to TBS, and it focused more on dramas with its scripted output (whereas TBS had more in the way of comedies).  With the merger of Warner Bros. and Discovery, though, both networks have backed out of scripted programming (as we are seeing with many of the cable channels), so this is more of a post-mortem.   TNT had its share of sci fi/fantasy shows over the years including the final season of Bablyon 5, the fan-favorite Witchblade, and Falling Skies. The network has not had many genre entries over the past ten years, but it is currently airing the sci fi series Snowpiercer which will be wrapping up with its upcoming fourth season.  It did have some shows of interest to sci fi fans in the development pipeline, but those will be looking for new homes now.

I am dropping TNT’s score to a 2 on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being the highest).  Last year it was at 2 ½, but I am docking it half a star for exiting the scripted programming business.  The cabler never did put out a lot in the way of sci fi TV, but three of the four genre entries released since the 2010-11 season went at least four seasons, so it was supportive of its shows.  But with the network no longer adding scripted originals to its lineup, there is now one less linear channel available for sci fi shows to find a home.

TNT New Scripted Programming Since the 2010-11 Season

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