Another Fall season is here, and the broadcast networks are unveiling their best and brightest, but I’m not really thrilled with most of the new shows coming out. The question will be whether or not audiences are, and which ones will make it a full season, and which ones will be renewed for a season 2…
CBS…The most boring of the broadcast networks is pretty much staying that way this year, but taking some minimal risks with Mom and Hostages.
The Millers…Not a TV remake of the recent hit We’re the Millers, but an even worse looking sitcom that seems painfully unfunny in the previews. Poor Margo Martindale, if this show gets cancelled, can she go back to the Americans? Odds of a full season: 12-to-1, CBS really wants their new Thursday lineup to work, so they might stick with this a couple episodes longer than they should, but I really don’t see it making it a full season. Of their new shows, it seems like the most likely casualty. Of course, it’s a CBS comedy, so who knows? Odds of a second season: 20-to-1
The Crazy Ones…The Robin Williams/Sarah Michelle Gellar show where the previews seem to make the cast laugh more than they make us laugh. Audiences don’t usually watch a show just because famous faces are on it (as Gellar found out the hard way with Ringer), but CBS won’t want to cancel this show too early in the season since they clearly think getting Williams back to TV is a big draw. I think they’ll prove wrong. Odds of a full season: 8-to-1…Odds of a second season: 15-to-1 (no CBS comedy without a laugh track has made it to season 2 so far, that’s worth remembering).
Mom…Anna Faris as a single mom, but is CBS’s audience a little too conservative for that? Maybe, and there’s also the fact that this show isn’t very good. But it’s from super-producer Chuck Lorre (Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory) who is practically CBS royalty, so they won’t want to alienate him by not at least giving it a shot. Odds of a full season: 7-to-1…Odds of a second season: 9-to-1 (If it can make it to a full season, I would expect this show to get a renewal)
We Are Men…Of any new CBS comedy, this is the one without real stars or a mega-producer supporting it. In other words: it won’t really step on toes if it gets cancelled. Plus, this should really be paired up with Two and a Half Men and Big Bang Theory on Thursday nights while The Millers moves to Mondays. By the time they figure that out, this show likely won’t be around. Odds of a full season: 10-to-1…Odds of a second season: 15-to-1
Hostages…A genuinely exciting looking drama on CBS Mondays. I think it’ll at least finish the first season, but perhaps struggle to get renewed. Plus, it’s the only new drama CBS has for the Fall, so I’m guessing they’d like to see it find a place. Odds of a full season: 4-to-1…Odds of a second season: 8-to-1
ABC…The most new shows of any new network (again), but that also means that most of their shows last year got cancelled. I don’t look for that to change this year.
Back in the Game…I’m not bullish on this show’s chances. It’s only the 40th kids-moving-back-home-with-their-parents comedy in the last couple years, and we see how well all the rest have done. Odds of a full season: 20-to-1…Odds of a second season: 25-to-1
Trophy Wife…Well ABC’s Tuesday night comedies have just been on fire lately (eye roll). Plus, wouldn’t this make more sense paired up with Modern Family? Odds of a full season: 15-to-1…Odds of a second season: 20-to-1
Super Fun Night…Seems like a Happy Endings-esque show from a network that decided to double down on family comedies instead. Could be the odd duck out on a network that no longer believes in this type of show. Plus, shouldn’t this be on Tuesdays instead of family comedy Wednesdays? Odds of a full season: 12-to-1…Odds of a second season: 15-to-1
The Goldbergs…Another show that seems like it should be on Wednesday night instead of Tuesday. However, it’ll receive the benefit of a plum post-Agents of Shield time slot. Odds of a full season: 10-to-1…Odds of a second season: 15-to-1
Betrayal…Of all their new dramas, I think this has the best shot…of getting cancelled. Seems like a generic show and Revenge isn’t exactly the most stable lead-in on Sunday nights. Odds of a full season: 20-to-1…Odds of a second season: 25-to-1
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland…A Once Upon a Time spin-off that will probably survive the season at the very least. Odds of a full season: 5-to-1…Odds of a Second Season: 8-to-1
Lucky 7…A show about lottery winners that looks like a loser, pun most definitely intended. Odds of a full season: 20-to-1…Odds of a Second Season: lol
Marvel’s Agents of Shield…If this thing isn’t a hit, ABC won’t believe it. They’ll literally push this show even if only ten people are watching it, and I’m sure there will be a lot more than ten. Even No Ordinary Family made it to a full season. Odds of a Full Season: Even…Odds of a Second Season: 4-to-1
NBC…A grab-bag lineup that will probably wind up with mixed results. I don’t think all their new shows will flop, but it’s not the strongest lineup either.
Sean Saves the World…I don’t understand this show at all. It seems so retrograde. NBC is clearly committed to the idea that people want to see Sean Hayes and Michael J. Fox back on Must See Thursdays, but this show seems very weak, and what will they do if no one shows up? Odds of a Full Season: 8-to-1 (even Whitney made it to season 2)…Odds of a Second Season: 15-to-1 (but they seemed to realize most of their mistakes, which is why so many new comedies were slaughtered there last year)
Welcome to the Family…Garbage. And it doesn’t have a single star in it (nope, Mike O’Malley doesn’t count) so they won’t feel the need to make it work if it doesn’t right off the bat, and it won’t. Since I expect NBC new Thursday nights to get creamed by CBS’s comedy Thursdays, this seems like the most obvious casualty. Odds of a full season: 15-to-1…Odds of a Second Season: 20-to-1
The Michael J. Fox Show…No way NBC will cancel this before the first season is up. They won’t risk looking insensitive by yanking it off the air even if the ratings are terrible (most shows on NBC have terrible ratings anyways). Odds of a full season: 3-to-1…Odds of a Second Season: 9-to-1
Ironside…TV remakes almost never work, and very, very few make it to a full season. I don’t expect this to reverse that trend. Odds of a Full Season: 20-to-1…Odds of a Second Season: 30-to-1
Dracula…So dumb-looking it just might work. Vampires are clearly hot right now (half the shows on the CW feature them) and NBC’s expectations for Friday are very low. A post-Grimm time slot just might work out for this drama. Odds of a Full Season: 8-to-1…Odds of a Second Season: 15-to-1
The Blacklist…Their best best for a breakout Fall hit. This show looks exciting, and you can tell it’s getting the heaviest promotional push. They clearly think they’ve got a winner. Odds of a full season: 3-to-1…Odds of a Second Season: 7-to-1
Fox…The strongest lineup of any network, but not a perfect one (Dads)
Dads…Is this the show that finally convinces Fox that not everything out of Seth MacFarlane’s mouth is hilarious? Still, it might survive a couple episodes longer than you’d think just to appease him. [No network will cancel a hit producer’s show until it’s been made clear they have to, hell, look at Simon Cowell’s ratings-dog The X-Factor, which is still on.] Odds of a Full Season: 15-to-1…Odds of a Second Season: 20-to-1
Enlisted…moved to mid-season, and that seems like a no-confidence vote. Odds of a Full season: 20-to-1…Odds of a Second Season: 25-to-1
Brooklyn Nine Nine…Strong-looking. Their best bet for a breakout comedy hit, and nicely paired up on Tuesdays with similarly smart, young-skewing comedies. Odds of a Full Season: 3-to-1…Odds of a Second Season: 6-to-1
[Master Chef Junior really doesn’t count since it’ll largely be used to plug holes in the schedule.]
Sleepy Hollow…We’ll see soon enough (the premiere is tonight) but I’m looking forward to it. Odds of a Full Season: 5-to-1…Odds of a Second Season: 10-to-1
Almost Human…Strong. Odds of a Full Season: 4-to-1…Odds of a Second Season: 8-to-1