
If you’re a ratings junkie, then you can probably follow the ratings trends and spot which shows are likely to be renewed for additional seasons, and which are likely to get the sh*tcan. If you’ve never checked it out, you should also look in on TVByTheNumbers, which does the ratings math and keeps up with the trends for you. Each week, they go through each show on the network schedule and assign it a category based on its renewal chances. It’s almost never wrong. During my weekly run-through, I highlighted 10 shows — five likely to be renewed, and five likely to canceled — to discuss below. I will also note that, though it’s only aired one episode, Fox’s new show, The Following (which I had some issues with) had strong ratings in the demo, and if it holds, it’s assured a second season.
Renewed
Parks and Recreation (NBC) — Parks and Recreation saw a season high last week, and although those ratings were not that high, it’s the only sitcom on NBC with an upward trend, which means that it’s the only sitcom almost certain to be renewed.
Parenthood (NBC) — The season finale was last night, and the ratings have held steady since last year. Unless there’s a unexpectedly huge crop of great pilots with huge ratings potential, Parenthood looks very good for renewal. Even showrunner Jason Katims expects to see it back next year.
Elementary (CBS) — I didn’t like the pilot very much, and stopped watching assuming it would become another procedural, “Sherlock Holmes” in name only. However, ratings have held very high, and I understand from many folks (including Josh) that the show has not only improved, it’s actually good. With the Super Bowl lead in, Elementary is a lock for a second season.
Scandal (ABC) — I know it’s not in the Warming Glow wheelhouse, but Scandal is addictively good, and television viewers are starting to come around to that, as ratings for the show — which stars Kerry Washington and Joshua Malina — have been rising. Barring a late season melt-down, it’s virtually assured renewal.
Raising Hope (Fox) — I’m not really sure why because the ratings have not been that strong, but TVByTheNumbers has Raising Hope in the solid renewal category, in all liklihood because it does well for its time slot and because, at the very least, ratings have held solid. It doesn’t hurt, either, that it’s nearing enough episodes for syndication.

Canceled
1600 Penn — Bad ratings, no buzz, and the fact that viewers outright loathe the sitcom suggests that 1600 Penn is almost certainly going to be canceled.
Happy Endings (ABC)– As much as we’d like for it not to be true, the ratings are only slightly better than the now canceled Don’t Trust the B—- in Apt. 23, so unless there is a solid trend upwards when the show airs back-to-back episodes in February, it’s probably safe to assume that this season will be its last.
Vegas (CBS) — After a very strong start to the season, the Dennis Quaid drama has been hemorrhaging viewers (I bailed after two episodes), and on a network that expects more from its dramas, Vegas is facing almost certain cancelation.
Ben and Kate (Fox) — Fox has been ordered a lot of comedy pilots, and with Ben and Kate the lowest rated sitcom on the big four networks, there’s almost zero chance that the show will see a second season, which is a damned shame because it’s adorable.
Deception (NBC) — The new drama on Monday nights — filling in during Revolution’s hiatus — has not taken off. Ratings are trending downward, and it doesn’t look good for renewal, which is really not a problem.
(Source: TVByTheNumbers)



Happyu endings totally needs a TBS rebirth like Cougarton got.
Cougar Town, Happy Endings, and a Harmon-run Community on TBS. MAKE IT HAPPEN.
I’ve been telling everybody I know to watch Happy Endings and Ben & Kate. This is depressing.
I worry about P&R without its old Thursday night companions, too.
I cosign on this post. Why oh why is my sense of humor so much better than the rest of America’s?!
Looks like Ben and Kate have already gotten the hook. Too bad.
Ben and Kate’s already cancelled.
[www.avclub.com]
Dustin is a goddamned soothsayer!
[insidetv.ew.com]
That’s a damn shame, I was really liking Ben and Kate.
I wish there was a show that could be broad enough for the idiots but good enough for me to like. There is no reason Happy Endings, which is much better than Community, should be getting the axe.
Two and A Parks Community
I swear by all things holy if you ever say anything is much better than Community again, I will find you and I will cut you.
I kind of like it.
When you say “much better” do you mean “much more accessible”? Because if not, you are wrong.
Heresy. Community is the better show.
I watch 9 of these shows. It’s gotten to the point that I watch enough TV to break even on these lists.
I have 9 Vegas’ on my DVR I was saving for a rainy day… or perfect weather afternoon… (I watch a lot of TV). Might be hitting delete all when I get home today. Happy Endings should totally get Cougartowned. Think ‘ol Waynes is second guessing leaving his role as coach on New Girl? He would have killed it in either one, that dude’s going places
was just saying that about Damon a couple of nights ago. He was great in the pilot. And speaking of what-ifs, I wonder if Ben and Kate would have been any better with Abby Elliott as Kate?
Dustin have you watched The Following yet? Your thoughts (if not already published somewhere here on the info superhighway) are appreciated.
Please don’t kill Happy Endings!
Ben and Kate ending is sad. I never watched it live, but it’s always part of my Sunday evening TV marathon on Hulu. I know pretty much everyone here immediately hated 1600 Penn before the show even premiered, but I thought it was pretty good. A little retooling, maybe the inclusion of a talking dog that only the President can hear, and it could have been a great successor to 30 Rock.
Dustin read your following write up. I agree on some points, but I think the point of the lighthouse in the cell was that it WAS left to lead Kev in Bacon there so the dude could turn himself back in.
Man, am I in the wrong room. The only thing I even occascionally catch from that list is Parks & Rec. But then I’m more of a drama guy than a sitcom guy.
I think this may mean that Jason O’Mara is the male equivalent of Summer Glau…
Despite the fact that the “cancelled” list outnumbers the “renewed” list in terms of shows I care about, that banner pic makes me feel like everything will be all right.
I’m trying desperately to not hate this website by association.
This has been a rough week for me on the TV front. First Wedding Band, then Don’t Trust The Bitch, now Happy Endings. Only way it could get worse would be if the TV itself fell off the wall and broke.
No, the only way it could get worse would be if this was the reason the TV fell off the wall and broke:
[filmdrunk.uproxx.com]
Indeed. Carnies…
RE: Elementary —
It’s actually a lot better than I thought it would be, especially after reading the synopsis here last summer.
The lead male is a little off-putting, but he’s supposed to be. Lucy Liu is still the Hottest Angel and can act enough to carry the role (she’s actually kind of the lead character, with Holmes as the foil). Plots are CBS-preposterous, but not in the annoying L&O/CSI way.
Not DVR material, but we turn in at 10 anyway, and it’s entertaining enough to keep me awake while the missus drifts off to sweet dreams about me.
On the lists, I only watch Parks and Recreation, Happy Endings, and 1600 Penn (I like it shut up). I’ve been told I should give Elementary a try, but if it doesn’t have Benedict Cumberbatch, I don’t give a damn.
So you have very discerning taste when it comes to your Sherlock Holmes inspired show, yet 1600 Penn is ok? Do you understand humor as a means for providing amusement?
I never claimed that my tastes make sense.
I’ve been hate watching Elementary and I’ve seen most of the episodes. The last one I saw M. (for Moriarty of course) was actually really frikkin good. I don’t know why they didn’t save that for superbowl sunday. Sidenote: I NEED Happy Endings in my life.
They can’t show the Moriarty episode after the Super Bowl because of the contrast with an even more evil super-villain: CBS closeups on Ray Lewis.
/KSK’ed
Sigh. I’m about to turn my brain off and go back to the Chuck Lorre dreck. It’s the only cancel-proof shows. Why did they have to put Happy Endings up against New Girl and GoOn? Oh well, when the audience for old people shows dies and they start realizing Hulu’s ad revenue potential, maybe smart shows that appeal to technology conscious people will thrive. Or they’ll just keep cancelling my favorite shows and I’ll stop watching TV.
Wait, they named a show Vegas even after that Josh Duhamel turkey Las Vegas stopped stinking the place up?
But….but…..I’m still not over losing ‘Awake’ last season!
Noooooo, not Happy Ending and Ben and Kate
Is B&K really the lowest rated sitcom?
WTF
I hope you’re right about Parks and Rec and Raising Hope but wrong about Happy Endings. Even though this season of Happy Endings hasn’t been the best, it still makes me laugh every week. It sucks that it’s moved around and that it’s up against New Girl (which is far inferior to it and tired quickly, in my opinion) and Go On (which I do like.) Sometimes, I really don’t understand these networks when they decide to pit quirky comedy against quirky comedy against quirky comedy, then wonder why they fail.
This season not the best? Harsh barely, bro.
(I agree, I just really wanted an excuse to use that)
I think you mean Harsh Barley*
How long did you watch New Girl Lizzo? It picked up after the first couple of episodes.
I can’t believe Parks doesn’t do better ratings. I get why Community, and, to a lesser extent, Happy Endings, do shitty ratings, but for the life of me I don’t know why Parks doesn’t pull in Office-level ratings.
Remember when Friends owned the ratings? Who was watching? What are they watching now? Is it because TV’s gotten a lot more fragmented?
Yes, not me, Hulu, yes
Very sad about Ben and Kate & Dont Trust the B… As for Happy Endings, I never got the fuss. Tried it again this year & same response. Meh Sorry to their fans tho.
Very happy re Parenthood, Parks &Rec, and Raising Hope.
I’m resigned to the fact that ABC are colossal pricks and will cancel Happy Endings. Let’s just hope it gets the Cougar Town treatment and finds another life on TBS.
I can’t shut the fuck up fast enough about my love for Happy Endings. Pretty sure I tell at least 5 or 6 people a day to watch that damn show. WHY WON’T YOU LISTEN TO ME, LADY WHO WAS JUST CROSSING THE STREET?!?!
NBC can’t even do bland, mediocre dreck right.
So, if Vegas does end up getting cancelled that would free up Michael Chiklis for a spot on SOA or Justified.
I’m not as sure about Parks & Rec getting renewed as they are. They’re clearly trying to wrap up all the plot threads this season, which suggests to me that the writers have reason to believe this could be the last season.
nuuuuu!
not Ben and Kate
Is Community good…or is just everything so bad on TV now that even a show that is halfway decent…considered greatness? I call it 30 Rock syndrome. Network television is so abysmally bad that a show like 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, and Community seem like they are really something. In actuality…only Parks and Recreation is somewhat funny and that is despite Amy Poehler, who is painfully unfunny.
I’ve only ever heard of one of those shows. So they’re either all very very bad, or I’m in the wrong part of the internet.
I’m probably most disappointed by hearing that “Happy Endings” will be getting the axe. It’s a funny show with a great ensemble cast and a lot of laughs. I’m not sure what it is up against because I never miss it but I would bet some unReality TV show is getting all the viewers in that time slot.
I’ll be the happiest man on earth when all the unReality TV shows have run their course and the networks get back to quality TV. I’m starting a blog soon to point out all the advertisers of every non-scripted TV shows that are on during primetime. I’ll start with Donald Trump and work my way down to “The Biggest Loser”. I know people that watch TBL and talk about how inspirational it is but I can’t get past the title.
Really hoping Deception DOES NOT get cancelled. Practically all of NBC shows were low ratings this season.. Come on, people!