After being renewed in January 2011, it was expected that season three of Cougar Town would debut in the fall. ABC delayed it until November, then put it off until mid-season and then, cut the episode order and delayed it again. When Cougar Town finally returned, fewer fans seemed to care.
While never a big hit for the alphabet network, Cougar Town had been a decent performer. Season one averaged a 2.9 rating in the prized 18-49 demographic with 7.0 million total viewers.
Last season started strong but the numbers began to fall by mid-season — about the same time as ABC’s renewal. The last episode of season two aired on May 23rd and registered a 2.0 in the demo with 5.0 million viewers.
It was nine months before the start of season three and, while total viewership remained about the same, the demo rating continued to drop. The season started with a 1.8 rating and has fallen to a low of a 1.4 demo.
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This season, Cougar Town has been averaging a 1.6 in the demo with 4.5 million total viewers. On our ABC Ratings Report Card, which measures the network shows’ relative demo performance, the sitcom has a “D” grade. It’s the lowest-rated scripted series on the network and isn’t doing much better than what Charlie’s Angels was getting before it was cancelled.
With ratings like these, Cougar Town would be certain to be cancelled — except for one thing. The show is produced in-house so the company has added incentive to try to keep it going long enough to have enough episodes for syndication. Scrubs, another Bill Lawrence show, was kept alive for two additional seasons because of lucrative syndication deals.
However, at the end of this season, Cougar Town will have just 61 episodes — well short of what’s needed for a syndication package. It seems that ABC would have to renew the show for at least a full season and maybe more. It seems unlikely that they’d do that but it is a possibility.
We’ll know what they’ve decided by mid-May but one thing’s for sure. If Cougar Town is renewed for a fourth season, it will be in spite of the ratings, not because of them.
Wat do you think? Are you still watching Cougar Town or have you given up on it? Do you think that it will be cancelled or renewed for season four?
Image courtesy ABC.
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21 Comments on "Cougar Town: To Be Cancelled or Renewed for Season Four?"
Bring it back. It is a good fun show to watch. Never miss it.
As a single (widowed) mother with two “little ones”, Cougar Town has managed to keep a smile on my face, accompanied by much laughter, with every episode. (During the final episode, I swear I cracked a rib just from laughing so hard…)
PLEASE DON’T CANCEL THIS SHOW! IT BRINGS MUCH TOO MUCH LIGHT & LAUGHTER INTO SO MANY PEOPLE’S LIVES…
Sent from a hugely/devoted fan…
Thank you..
It’s a funny, fast-paced show that should be renewed. The writing and acting is excellent and one of the best things in the tube. ABC would be foolish to let this one go.
[…] I noted here, the ratings for Cougar Town have been so bad that ABC is sure to cancel it later this month […]
Of course it should be renewed, if only the network would quit putting it in time slots it knows it will run rate poorly in!!
I love Cougar Town. The entire ensemble is WONDERFUL. You have to watch carefully, though, because there are so many funny lines and situations.
Please don’t cancel Cougar Town. I think it is a remarkable show.
I love this show and really hope it stays around.
Please save Cougar Town! It is one of the best shows on television!
I really love this show, I think is one of the best I have seen since Friends, It has been improving and it has so much potential for more seasons. Cast is great and there is such much chemestry between them. I know it would be very difficult ABC will decide to keep it but they weren’t fair postponing to air this season, There are so many mediocre shows out there that are still on air. Please just renew it.
I agree, renew it PLEASE!
I love Cougar Town. Please Please renew Cougar Town. It is one of my favorite t.v. show. It is so funny. I love Bill Lawrence’s t.v. shows. They are different from other t.v. shows out there. If the network wouldn’t have postponed Cougar Town until so far in the season the ratings would be higher. I really hope that Cougar Town is renewed. If it’s not I will be so sad.
I love this show…. but I gre weary of waiting this season and have had to catch up via-demand for the past month because I either forget to watch or DVR it. ABC made a very poor choice moving it…… damn ABC
[…] Should Cougar Town be cancelled? […]
I enjoy the show. I hope they will keep it going. However, they need to schedule the show so it can get better ratings. They can’t program it with family comedies, and they can’t jerk the viewers around by leaving it off the schedule for so long that people forget about it.
I like the show, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it got canceled.