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.
I think this show LIE TO ME is unique, educational, and totally entertaining! I don’t watch much TV, ended up downloading the first season off of NETFLICKS, and BOOM! My boyfriend and i couldn’t stop watching it! IN less than a week we had downloaded all 13 episodes and wanting more more more. I don’t get it……..all i can say is that I do believe Dr. “Cal” is on to something , the show has been well thought out, the actors are unique, and I love the political correlations it makes (just like they did in Boston Legal) which was… Read more »
Do not cancel this show, it’s very interesting, and exciting to watch!
This is definitely a great show, which should not be canceled. There should be SOME shows that are not for the hundreds of millions but for just a few million – those who enjoy good writing, fresh, clever ideas and good acting.
Let’s hope the sponsors realize it’s not just the ratings. This show could be at the top with a little push from Fox. We know it’s great; please Fox, support it and spread the word.
Diana
I just started watching this show and it is my favorite. Smart, witty, so well-cast. PLEASE don’t cancel this.
I really like Lie to Me…… My coworkers and I watch it late at night on FOX on demand website and can not wait for the next episode. The placement of noted figures whos pictures show expressions match the liers on the show is very amusing tho polititons might not be as amused as the rest of America. I wonder if they also look at the web veiwing statistics….. Maybe they should reschedule the show to go against weaker compeditors… build the following and then play with fire by trying to compete with a higher ratings show. It may be… Read more »
please don’t cancel the show!!!
Why do the shows “I” like end up in the dumpster?
I was thrilled I’d actually have a show I found interesting in the summer lineup
You want to dump something? Dump “The Good Guys” idiotic humor must pull in the ratings over something that really stimulates your brain..
This is one of the most sophisticated and brainy shows on TV.
Please use good judgment, FOX, and publicize it. You might be surprised how many fans are out here watching every episode. Great acting, and who can’t use a little knowledge of body language. Great writing too.
PLEASE don’t cancel this show!!!! I love this show and its characters. My husband watches very few tv series, but this is about the ONLY one he really looks forward to watching!! Why must the good shows get the ax when there are so many others that really deserve to be axed???
To remove a show with brilliant writing would only epitomize the disregard television execs have for the public desire to watch shows. This is the first show I have seen that stacks up to the original writing of The West Wing by Aaron Sorkin. This is the type of television that will still be interesting to watch years from now. More pertinent storylines , perhaps another familiar face (as what CSI has done with Lawrence Fishburne) and people will come around. Sometimes it’s not just the essence of a show that people want but what that show will evolve into.… Read more »
This is the only show that I faithfully watch. It is always fresh and inventive. I don’t know how your rating system works, but it appears to be flawed.
Lie to Me is my favorite show on television because it never fails to amaze me. It’s pure entertainment that never gets old. Cancelling this show would be a big mistake.
ARGGH! Why does any good interesting show I love gets cancelled. Fox has treated this show shabbily, making it difficult to find, putting in on a looong hiatus. Naturally since this show is actually GOOD and ORIGINAL, and NOT idiotic, it’s in danger. By all means we need to continue to cater to the lowest common denominator. One more good reason to kill my TV.
I love the characters in this show, I care what happens to them. Most of all, I am fascinated with the character development, best of any show on TV.
You guys always cancel shows that my family likes. Your rating are crazy. We couldn’t wait until June for the series to return. I quess that I’ll be watching another channel this fall. Then we won’t have to worry about you cancelling something that we watch.