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.
Sorry about the “Anonymous” moniker. I work in the media business so have to use it. I love this show. Lie to Me is smart, witty and has unique characters. I enjoy watching Tim Roth and the rest of this fine cast work. And … I get the added bonus of learning when someone is lying to me. Who wouldn’t want to know that? It’s a very exotic and fascinating science. I’m assuming some decent research goes into each episode. Please don’t kill this show. Give it one more season and some promotion and I’ll bet it’ll come up in… Read more »
Cancel it. I’ve seen one episode; that was enough. Honestly, it was so terrible, I puked all over my television while I had uncontrollable bowel movements.
KEEP IT… its a great show!
This will become everyone’s MUST SEE and CAN’T MISS favorite. Tim Roth is a formidable actor who doesn’t appear to act: He’s amazing. The writing is superb.
If you want to get a clue how to read people by their expressions, their body language and their incongruous mind and body, WATCH THIS.
I’d like to see all previous shows on DVD. LIE TO ME is terrific. Let’s support it by word-of-mouth.
Diana
This is the best thing on tv!!! I’ll have no faith in network television left.
Lie to me is the only show my friends and family make a point of watching.
Give it a chance…people are catching on.
The problem is that everytime these broadcast stations get a good show going, they start to show re-runs and that is where they lose viewers. This is a good show, but if you run 2 new episodes and then run 3 re-runs right after, nobody is going to watch it. People will lose interest. What ever happen to a full season where you would get new episode for a particular amount of time. Why has that gone away?
Despite low ratings and a declining number of viewers it is still one of the greatest TV series I have ever watched. I just recently heard of the show from a friend and before that had never heard of it. Maybe the problem is a lack of advertisement toward the demographic. Do what you can to save the show!
Keep the Show! Its a great show and makes you think about things! I know its all fake, but how it relates to real stuff cracks me up. My brother and I call eachother watching the show to discuss it! We also laugh and joke around when we’re together and we see someone “playing with their hands” or shaking their head yes when they say no
please DONT cancel it.I love this show!
We’re in the same boat as Jeff. We recommend the show to everyone and hate having to wait a week for a new one. It’s finally a drama that isn’t just another stupid twist on cops or lawyers.
This is virtually the only television series I watch with regularity. Roth is casted perfectly. I recommend it all my friends, and it has led me to the work of Paul Eckman. A perfect blend of drama and science.
Please don’t cancel this show! My boyfriend and I literally have TV dates to watch this show!!! We even invite other people who like this show to watch with us.
Love this show… KEEP IT!! One of the best shows I have seen in a while!
KEEP IT! It’s my favorite show on TV. Please don’t cancel. Lie to Me is the new 24. I LOVE the show!
PLEASE DONT CANCEL THIS SHOW!