Cancelled or Renewed TV Shows 2023: CBS, ABC, The CW — View Full List
TV’s nail-biting season has arrived. Although most of the cancellation headlines continue to be focused on the continuing purge at big streamers and premium cablers like Showtime (R.I.P., Ziwe), attention has begun to shift to the beleaguered Big 5 broadcasters as the May upfronts draw closer.
Many in-limbo shows on our 2023 Renewal Scorecard are a lock to return (see: NBC’s #OneChicago and Law & Order troikas and ABC’s Good Doctor, Station 19, The Conners and assorted Rookies), but there are a handful of high-profile series on ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and The CW that remain very much on the bubble.
Take the 21 shows featured below. The fate of each of them are hanging in the balance, and, in several instances, we’d be lying if we said we weren’t a little concerned. (OK, a lot concerned).
Browse the following list, and then hit the comments with an answer to this very important question: Which show(s) are you pulling for most?
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Alaska Daily (ABC)
In its just-concluded debut season, the Hilary Swank-led drama averaged 5.4 million total viewers and a 0.4 demo rating (with Live+7 playback); out of the 10 dramas ABC has aired this TV season, it ranks No. 6 in audience but ties fellow freshman The Company You Keep for last in the demo. Current TVLine Renewal Scorecard prediction: It’s a long-shot for renewal.
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Big Sky (ABC)
While the “live” ratings for the ABC thriller’s third season were decidedly underwhelming, the show remains a monster in delayed viewing. Among total viewers, no current broadcast show nets a bigger DVR bump. Also, Deadline reports that series creator David E. Kelley has informed ABC that he would have a more hands-on role in a potential fourth season. Current TVLine Renewal Scorecard prediction: Could go either way.
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Call Me Kat (Fox)
Speaking of enviable delayed viewing stats, Mayim Bialik and Co. — in their current third season — are enjoying the best DVR bump of any broadcast comedy. Conversely, the sitcom’s 33 percent demo decline represents the biggest season-over-season drop of any Fox show. Current TVLine Renewal Scorecard prediction: It’s a safe bet for renewal.
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The Company You Keep (ABC)
Despite a huge marketing push, the Milo Ventimiglia-led romantic drama has drawn tepid linear and delayed ratings. Current TVLine Renewal Scorecard prediction: Could go either way (but inching closer to “long-shot.”)
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East New York (CBS)
Despite decent ratings, CBS’ freshman procedural is navigating some pesky red tape en route to a possible Season 2. Per Deadline, negotiations between the network and producer Warner Bros. have hit a snag over global streaming rights. Current TVLine Renewal Scorecard prediction: Could go either way.
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Home Economics (ABC)
The good news: Ratings for the ensemble sitcom’s now-wrapped Season 3 held steady. The worrisome news: ABC had the option to expand Season 3 from 13 to a full season’s 22 episodes but declined to exercise it. EP Michael Colton remains hopeful. “We’re planning to come back,” he recently told TVLine. “We have a lot more stories to tell.” Current TVLine Renewal Scorecard prediction: Could go either way.
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Not Dead Yet (ABC)
Gina Rodriguez’ freshman comedy is doing OK in the ratings as it enters the homestretch of its rookie season. The question is: Will OK be enough to get the show to a second season. Current TVLine Renewal Scorecard prediction: Could go either way.
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S.W.A.T. (CBS)
The procedural, which TVLine readers recently named the bubble show they most want to see renewed, is averaging 6.8 million total viewers and a 0.7 demo rating (with Live+7 playback) — up in viewers and off just a tenth in the demo compared to its Season 5 tallies. Out of the 14 dramas that CBS has aired this TV season, it ranks No. 10 in total audience but is in a five-way tie for third in the demo, trailing only Fire Country and FBI. “S.W.A.T. right now is the No. 3 show, I think, or tied for third, for CBS in the demo,” EP Shawn Ryan recently noted to THR. “There’s no reason why the show shouldn’t be picked up other than the economics of the business are changing, and CBS and [lead producer] Sony [Pictures Television] will or will not figure out a way to economically make a seventh season work.” Current TVLine Renewal Scorecard prediction: Could go either way.
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True Lies (CBS)
Here’s the cold hard truth: The small screen adaptation of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s big screen smash has been DOA in the ratings. In its current debut season, it ranks as CBS’ least-watched, lowest-rated scripted program. Current TVLine Renewal Scorecard prediction: It’s a long-shot for renewal.
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Will Trent (ABC)
Ten episodes into its inaugural 13-episode season, the rookie drama, with a 0.6 demo rating, ranks No. 4 among all new broadcast series (tied with the already renewed So Help Me Todd at CBS and Quantum Leap at NBC. Current TVLine Renewal Scorecard prediction: It’s a safe bet for renewal.
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NBC Comedies
The network’s true bubble show roster primarily consists of the under-the-radar and very much in-limbo comedies Lopez vs. Lopez, American Auto, Grand Crew and Young Rock. Current TVLine Renewal Scorecard prediction for all four: Could go either way.
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And then there’s The CW…
What’s left? The in-transition (and freshly golf obsessed) CW has seven shows still in-limbo: All American: Homecoming, Gotham Knights, Kung Fu, Superman & Lois, Walker, Walker Independence and The Winchesters. Given that the OG All American is currently the only scripted CW show confirmed to return next fall, we suspect the network’s new owners are going to want to hang on to its sister series Homecoming and thus keep their successful Monday one-two punch intact. TVLine’s Renewal Scorecard similarly views Superman & Lois and Walker as safe-ish bets, while Kung Fu could go either way. That leaves Gotham Knights, Walker Independence and The Winchesters in solid “long-shot” territory.