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 agree with everyone who said this is one of the best shows on TV. I am very hard to please when it comes to weekly series TV shows but this one has me hooked. I think they have a home-run with this show no matter what the numbers show. Its a much welcome relief from all the other ‘immoral, reality trash’ that today’s TV is infested with. I really hope fox does the right thing here. I hope they realize that you DON’T have to put out junk new shows every year to try to get viewers. … Guess… Read more »
This is one of the best shows I’ve ever watched. I totally agree with Libby. The whole concept of the show is fantastic as well as the actors and characters. This series should not be canceled. It would be such a loss. AMERICAN IDOL?! You’ve got to be kidding me!
This is one of the best shows on TV (one of the few worth watching) and the only one I’m actually disappointed if I miss it because I’m not going to be around and forget to set my recorder. It is different from all of the other crime and medical shows. It is innovative and the lead characters were cast well. It would be a mistake to cancel this show. I’m so tired of all the garbage that’s on TV. I hope Fox will make a smart decision and keep this show in the line-up. Please, no more useless, boring… Read more »
Lie to Me: Best Show on TV. Would I lie to you, discriminating, intellectual viewers?
Let’s use word-of-mouth in the meantime and communicate with the network to show our support.
Don’t you dare cancel this bright, great show. A great blend of characters and personal relationships to follow. Come on powers that be, it works!!!!!
This is the best show ever made. I’ve noticed that if I like a show it tends to cancel. Let me count the shows that have been cancelled. Not only is this show great but it would make a fabulous reality TV show. They should get a real scientist to do this work with people. I have always felt I could read people this way and this show is so validating! I wonder if the persons who make decisions to let this show flounder are doing so because they are worried people will start reading them too well? lol The… Read more »
this a show for thinking adults, and savvy teens. we all watch together, and love the humor, and the drama.
house and lie to me, our two fav shows.
Lie to me is different then any other crime drama I’ve ever seen, and that is what makes it so great. I hope they keep it around for a long long time.
This show has the best character seen in a VERY long time and seriously hope this show is NOT canceled.
fox should cancel this silly scripted show and put another hour of American Idol in it’s place.
I am thrilled to watch this show, brilliant acting, mix of professionalism, humor, realistic drama, some non-gratuitous violence and sexual tension. Tim Roth and Kelli Williams really carry this show, yet the supporting cast are awesome and reminds me what made MASH successful. Monica, Brendan (loved white lies), Hayley (great kid), Mekhi, and yes even Jennifer Beals make the shows exciting to watch. Much like Perry Mason you knew in the end Dr. Cal Lightman breaks the case wide open. The show “The Whole Truth” was an awesome twist with Clara (Melissa George) so very hot…. Sharon Stone like but… Read more »
Nope, cancel and bring something new.
Aww come on!!! Why are all MY fave shows always cancelled?? Ugly Betty, Samantha Who?, FlashFoward, and now Lie To Me?? WTF! Why don’t they cancel the **** on tv, like The Hills, Gossip Girl, True Blood, stupid teenager shows like that. No, they have to cancel some of the best shows around. Who cares about ratings? Who cares about the few people that don’t watch this stuff. Who cares if LTM isn’t the #1 show in America. That shouldn’t matter! There’s enough people out there that love it. Piss me off. I’m so sick of these stupid stations cancelling… Read more »
lie to me is quality immediate ratings are nothing to go by … Vertigo has a slow build up. lie to me is a brilliant idea, and tim roth is in a class by himself, and all the shows I have seen are a class above other shows, better than House , better than CSI … believe me it’s a smart programme for smart people whose opinion counts.
I LOVE lie to me. It’s a brilliant smart show. I really hope that they keep it on air!
My husband and U absolutely LOVE this show! It would be such a shame to have it canceled so soon when it’s just taking off… We recently showed it to a couple of friends and they are waiting for the next season to come out! Please reconsider and I truly believe, like many others (comments above) that people will take a liking to it- it’ll catch on.