Cancellation Watch: Status updates for the sci fi and fantasy shows on the broadcast networks, cable channels, and streaming services as well as breaking news on the currently airing, returning, and upcoming genre entries.
Status Updates
Good Omens (Prime Video, Completed 2nd Season, Renewal Possible): Amazon has not confirmed the status of its supernatural dramedy Good Omens yet, but there are some strong indications that it could be headed to a third season according to Deadline. The options for series leads Michael Sheen and David Tennant have been picked up by the streamer suggesting that a third season will be going into production once the actor’s strike has been resolved. Showrunner Douglas Mackinnon will be departing, but Neil Gaiman will still be onboard writing and guiding the show. An official renewal announcement has not been made yet, but that could happen once the strike is resolved.
The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix, Streaming 1st Season, Mini-Series): This horror series premiered at Number 2 in the Netflix Top 10 with 52 million hours viewed across 6.3 million households then improved to Number 1 in its second week with 65 million hours viewed across 7.9 million households. It is intended as a mini-series, but there is a chance that creator Mike Flanagan planned on more Poe-related shows to follow. He has since departed to Amazon, though, so it seems unlikely that will happen.
Bodies (Netflix, Streaming 1st Season, Mini-Series): This time-bending show landed in the Netflix Top 10 at Number 3 for the week of its series premiere, pulling in a decent 42 million hours of viewing across 5.5 million households. It was billed as a limited series, but the final moments tease a possible continuation. However, writer Paul Tomalin has claimed that it was pitched to Netflix as a “one and done” series with no plans for a second season. Should it continue to perform well in viewership, though, the streamer might be interested in revisiting that decision.
Fear the Walking Dead (AMC, Airing 8th Season, Final Season): This TWD spin-off returned with the first of its final episodes on Sunday night and posted a 0.10 rating based on same-day viewing to the 18-49 demographic with 542K total viewers. That is actually up a bit from the average for the first half of its eighth season which is quite impressive considering the competition on the night. The show will wrap up its eight-year run on November 19th.
Quantum Leap (NBC, Airing 2nd Season, Renewal Possible): The same-day ratings for this show improved slightly for its third Season 2 episode and it is performing on par with other dramas on the network. It is also likely making up some slack with digital viewing on Peacock, so this one remains on track for a potential third-season renewal.
Cancellation/Renewal Score:
Amazon’s The Boys spin-off Gen V received the greenlight for a second season last week adding one more show to the renewal column this year. Also, as mentioned above, Netflix’s Bodies will be counted as a mini-series so I have made that adjustment to its status. The current score for the season is eleven renewed sci fi and fantasy shows (39% of shows tracked) vs. three cancelled and ending (11%). Below are the season’s numbers, and you can see the list of shows and keep up with the score throughout the week at our Cancellation Watch Page.
| Show Count | 28 | ||
| Cancelled | 2 | 7.1% | |
| Ending | 1 | 3.6% | 10.7% |
| Renewed | 11 | 39.3% | |
| On the Bubble | 2 | 7.1% | |
| Renewal Possible | 12 | 42.9% | |
| Mini-Series | 2 |
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Follow our Sci Fi TV Schedule for all the currently airing and upcoming sci fi and fantasy television shows, and you can see the premieres for all the upcoming genre entries at this link.
