Sadly, Lie to Me’s fate is still undecided. The FOX drama was given a full season renewal in November but the network has delayed its return until after the May sweeps period. That’s exactly a show of faith. And now, showrunner Shawn Ryan has jumped ship.
Lie to Me follows Dr. Cal Lightman (Tim Roth), a human lie detector, and his team of experts who help law officials solve their most difficult cases. The cast also includes Kelli Williams, Brendan Hines, Mekhi Phifer, and Monica Raymund.
Last season, Lie to Me had a very healthy series premiere with a 4.9 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 12.37 million viewers. Those numbers slowly melted away though and, by the end of the season, dipped to a low of a 2.3 in the demo and 7.75 million. Despite the decline, FOX renewed Lie to Me for a second season of 13 episodes. Shawn Ryan (The Shield) was brought in as a new showrunner.
Year two kicked off in September to a 2.9 rating and 7.73 million viewers. Though Lie to Me was losing a significant percentage of the House lead-in, FOX gave the series a full season renewal and added nine episodes. Soonafter, Lie to Me hit a new low with a 2.2 rating and 6.64 million viewers.
FOX put the series on hiatus in December and it already looked destined to be on the bubble for a third season renewal.
It was expected that Lie to Me would return before the end of the 2009-10 season but FOX chose instead to hold original episodes until June 7th. That means they won’t air until after the May sweeps period and until after FOX has announced their 2010-11 schedule.
FOX execs could make their decision based on Lie to Me’s existing ratings data. Or, they could wait until after some more original episodes have aired in the lesser-watched summer months. Neither option is likely to put Lie to Me in a very positive light.
Now, it’s been announced that Ryan, the program’s well-respected showrunner, has decided to leave the show. He’s already committed to a new drama he created for FX called Terriers. It also looks likely that FOX will pick up his other new show, Ride Along.
While none of this means that Lie to Me will necessarily be cancelled, it’s certainly not positive news — especially if FOX execs like what they see in Ride Along. Why stick with a show that’s lost Ryan as a showrunner and has been losing viewers when you can pick up Ryan’s new show that’ll get some attention and might do a lot better. FOX may make a decision about season three at the upfronts next Monday or not for a couple months.
Whether Lie to Me is renewed or cancelled, it seems very likely that viewers will still get to see all 12 of the remaining episodes for this season.
What do you think? Does Lie to Me have a good chance of returning for season three? What would you do — keep it or cancel it and go with something new?
Image courtesy FOX.
Lie to me is extremely entertaining, and it doesn’t insult your intelligence like those stupid cartoon shows and unfunny sitcoms and interminal overworked cop shows…
…but, money talks, and the network is obviously making lots of dough with all the junky shows. Tells you something depressing about the mental state of the unwashed masses, if the garbage shows survive, and the smart shows, like Lie to Me, don’t.
I love lie to me its one of the best shows yet. Along with bones. I rather watch lie to me then house any day of the week. Please don’t get ride of it or you’ll be seeing one less viewer on your channel.
I am a die hard fan!!! just caught some comments on facebook, over 2 millions fans and FOX is thinking of cancelling?! I seriously doubt they’d be able to find another show good enough to follow House. PLEASE DON’T CANCEL!
I know that what I’m going to tell you is a little bit irrelevant but is there any case, after almost 4 years, any one, to reconsider to have a season 2 of the Moonlight? I mean please! there is something that can be done about that! there must be someone out there that can. please! at least few episodes to complete the story. things change! maybe this time it will be better, but you will never know it unless you try it! just do it! take the risk!
You can’t cancel Lie To Me!!!! it’s my families favorite show! It’s the best TV show in the world.
This is the only show i watch on fox, whats wrong with them? It’s the best Tv show in years on any channel!
Fow must be completley INSANE to cancel one of the best shows out there, very sad that we have to watch teenage shows and crazy reality shows year after year and good intertainment like this has to be canclled, HIDEOUS!!!!!!
I was just finding out about the lie to me series and watched every one of them. I was really looking forward to the new episode. I feel like a lot if people it was a new favorite along with House and Fringe. Fox is missing the boat.
Keep this, I love this show
Ughhhh! This really upsets me! I LOVE this show “lie to me”…. I look forward for it to start at this time because “house” is over and all the other shows SUCK! Way to go FOX for ruining it!
whant t onow witch rv==tv sereires are goming back for the fall seassom.
I would kie aall names/prodrans. for 2011
thankyou
Oh my gosh. Think the dye is cast and what crazies to cancel this show! One of the best shows on the air. Ive been waiting for the next season and am so disgusted that suits dont have the vision get the value of this program. Smart, positive, hopeful…a cast that makes you feel like your home. So sorry that FOX made such a poor decision.
Why do they always rush to cancel great shows just because they fall in the ratings? Why not give a great show more time instead of just jumping to an unknown so quickly. I and everyone I know, LOVE Lie to Me! Please do not cancel! I’m not starting another new series just to have it pulled about the time I really get interested in it!
I am a DIE HARD “LIE TO ME” FAN.
I watch every week….have Season I & II on DVD and its ONE OF THE BEST PROGRAMS on TV. How can Fox cancel this show???
Tim Roth is a great actor and makes Dr. Lightman a pleasure to watch!!!
FOX WAKE UP & DON’T CANCEL THIS GREAT SHOW!!!!
I agree with you all. Lie To Me is one of the best shows on tv. I’ve heard that Fringe, which has lower numbers than Lie To Me, has been renewed for another season. WTF?! Seriously?! I love House, I love Bones and I love Lie To Me. They are the three shows I most look forward to. Cancelling this show will be a travesty that’s become all to common in the industry these last few years.