CBS is having such a good year that they’re increasing their episode orders for some of their most popular shows, according to EW. The orders total 13.5 more hours of programming. In terms of total airtime, that’s the equivalent to ordering a whole new series.
This could mean a few less reruns for viewers… or that the network will be able to dump struggling shows even sooner.
CSI: Miami, How I Met Your Mother, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, and Two and a Half Men have all been given orders for two additional episodes each.
The Big Bang Theory, Criminal Minds, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: NY, The Good Wife, and The Mentalist have each been given one more installment.
What about the rest? Are they in danger of being cancelled? Unless their ratings improve, many of them are.
Accidentally on Purpose — The sitcom just recently received an order for five more episodes. It’s not a full season order but a positive sign considering the show’s mixed ratings history. It could survive to see a second year but don’t expect any more than 18 installments for this season.
Cold Case — Last season, it was a toss-up between this show and Without a Trace. Cold Case won out but CBS execs may be regretting their choice. Last year, Cold Case averaged a 2.68 rating in the demo and 11.8 million viewers. This season, it’s lost much of its audience in the demo (1.94) and fallen to nine million viewers. Unless things turn around, this show will surely be cancelled. Show support page.
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Gary Unmarried — CBS renewed this series last Spring though the ratings didn’t mandate it. In season one, it averaged a 2.2 in the 18-49 demo. This season, Gary’s been averaging the same which isn’t great. It could be cancelled or it could survive if CBS stick with the Wednesday night sitcom block.
Ghost Whisperer — The Friday night drama is way down in the ratings this season. Last season, it averaged a 2.53 in the demo and 10.5 million in total viewers. This year, it’s dropped to a 2.06 rating and 8.36 million. It’s on shaky ground for sure and could be cancelled after this season unless it’s saved to add more episodes to its syndication package. Show support page.
Medium — The Patricia Arquette show was saved last season when NBC cancelled it. The deal happened because the show is co-produced in-house by CBS Television Studios and was making money in syndication. Its Friday night numbers are about the same as Ghost Whisperer’s and isn’t safe from the chopping block either. Show support page.
The New Adventures of Old Christine — CBS renewed this sitcom last Spring but the ratings weren’t great; 2.1 in the 18-49 demo. This season, it’s been averaging a 2.0. It could be cancelled but is co-produced by CBS and is more likely to survive so that there will be enough episodes for syndication.
Numb3rs — This is another Friday night show that’s been struggling this season. CBS has just cut its episode order for the season and it looks like a shoe-in for cancellation. Show support page.
Three Rivers — This Sunday night drama has been struggling in the ratings from the start. It isn’t expected to survive past 13 episodes. Show support page.
What do you think? Are any of the endangered shows worth saving?
Note: Some of the 2008-09 demo ratings listed were initially incorrect and have since been updated.
Image courtesy CBS.
Three Rivers is the only show that deserves a chance for a full season and a second season, as a freshman show with a difficult time slot, competing against football and the World Series. All the other shows have had many seasons with good time slots. Three Rivers and its amazingly talented young actors are brilliant in every episode and through their characters tell incredible, emotional, tender and fascinating stories about the highly skilled surgeons and staff, the organ donors and the recipients. Three Rivers is a diamond in the rough treasure for CBS, unlike all the standard and getting… Read more »
Three Rivers is a great show, with great actors! From episode to episode make it better!
We here in germany looks Three Rivers online now, but i hope we can look it on the german TV sometime? Give Three Rivers a chance!!! It
Why Is Numb3rs Endangered? Here In Branson, Missouri We All Love It. So Does My Cousin In Nevada And Indiana
@Greg: The viewership that is most important to advertisers (which is what pays for a show to be produced) has dropped.
Here in Italy we also look at Three Rivers .. It is a nice telefim .. doesn’t deserve to be deleted .. really .. there are so many other TV series that can be deleted .. So I ask you .. Please don’t delete this telefilm ..
You need to do your homework.
Ghost Whisperer is syndicated on ION Television, WE & Sci-Fi where it is doing well. CBS already gave a full season order to Ghost Whisperer
@Davin Peterson: Yes, CBS has given it a full season order but that doesn’t mean it will automatically be renewed for 2009-10.
Three Rivers is a great show,and it does not deserve the cancellation. The actors are amazing, especially Alex 0’Loughlin.Give it a change!
Three Rivers is an wonderful amazing show. It keeps getting better and better. It definitely deserves more episodes and a second season.
I love Three Rivers! Considering the time slot it has, I hope CBS takes into account all that it has had to contend with. CBS football pushing it on as late as 10:30 EST, with football on NBC at the same time. Then the World Series was on at the same time! Three Rivers is a wonderful show, Alex O’Loughlin is brilliant, and the whole cast is wonderful. The writers give us a perfect balance of all that you could ever want in a TV show; it’s exciting, touching and very funny at times. We have been given clues about… Read more »
Three Rivers is a great show with talented actors who tells stories emotional.A each week is better.Three Rivers deserves a chance.
I love Three Rivers its a refreshing change am so looking forward to next episode CBS give TR and all cast a chance.
I think Three Rivers is an awesome show! I love everything about it from the life saving message it sends to it’s incredibly talented cast and interesting storylines! I so hope that CBS will give this wonderful new show the chance it deserves…
Mentalist, Numbers, and Three Rivers should be saved, all the rest should be shitcaned.
I really like Three Rivers and think it has a great cast and an even greater message. It is like all new shows, it needs to get it legs and I think it is getting better and better.
Three Rivers is a wonderful new show with an appealing cast, lead by the outstanding Alex O’Loughlin, and with heartfelt stories. Each episode has become stronger and I look forward to every Sunday to catch the latest.
The negative press before it even aired did not encourage anyone to watch but it was a pleasant surprise. If given some positive press attention and time, it has the potential of being a good solid perform for CBS.
What’ s going on, things are hard enough, why end good tv, as well as everything else. I live in Ireland, and I have to buy most of my fave programes through amazon!!! How sad is that? The majority of our Tv channels on show about two to three series of each! and to us they end after that. My fave tv programes are: Numb3rs, Criminal Minds and NCIS, and also The Unit, and With Out a Trace, please don’t end another. Please let me know what’s going to end in May, as we hear things about three month late… Read more »