Sometimes the truth hurts — especially when it comes to television ratings. After three seasons, FOX has cancelled Lie to Me.
Starring Tim Roth, Lie to Me revolves around Cal Lightman and members of The Lightman Group. They’re a team of specialists who help law enforcement agencies uncover the truth by using applied psychology. Others in the cast include Kelli Williams, Brendan Hines, Monica Raymund, Hayley McFarland, and Mekhi Phifer.
Last season, Lie to Me averaged a 2.9 rating in the all-important 18-49 demographic and 8.03 million total viewers. That was down from season one and the series found itself on the bubble for renewal. FOX ended up giving the TV series another chance and renewed it for 13 episodes.
Unfortunately, season three didn’t perform nearly as well as season two. It premiered last October to a 2.1 rating in the demo and 5.86 million. Viewership eroded in subsequent weeks and FOX declined to give the show a full season order. Lie to Me then hit a new series low in January, registering a meager 1.5 rating and 5.43 million viewers.
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In its final weeks on the air, viewers seemed to rally behind it and Lie to Me had its best ratings of the season — a 2.5 in the demo and 7.67 million.
Though the ratings had come way down, FOX execs claimed that they still valued the TV series and saw it as a solid utility player. Showrunner Alex Cary said, “Fox has been very clear with us — they know what the show is, they know what it can do. [The ratings bump] shows that people will come watch the show.”
Now, after three seasons on the air, the series is over. FOX has officially cancelled Lie to Me after 48 episodes. All of the installments have aired. Though there are too few episodes for a traditional syndication package, the first two seasons have already been released on DVD.
What do you think? Should Lie to Me have been renewed for season four?
Image courtesy FOX.
Yes I loved it. I cried when it was cancelled.
Bring it back please!!!!
No I think they to bring it back everybody in our household loved it. Please bring it back
I have been rewatching the show (just started season 3) & it’s a shame it wasn’t renewed.
Great premise that ran out of gas. This one never seemed to find a CSI/NCIS sort of Groove. Was it a procedural? Was it a drama? Was it crime-of-the-week? Was it overarching story? It dabbled in all these. Tim Roth’s “tics” became more exaggerated and cartoonish (as others said….he went from Jekyll to ALL Hyde…), and Gillian, Loker, Torres all just seemed to get played out and couldn’t evolve. It was also VERY of-its-time. This was when America was coming to terms with what it had become after Patriot Act, after the Financial Meltdown of 2008-2009. To me, if they… Read more »
Last show of season three was great. It opened the door to a new character who was a gritty streetwise kid, with a kid of his own. It opened the door, finally, for Cal and Jillian to have a relationship. Strengthen the minor character rolls in future episodes. The writers really needed to improve. There is so much there. I have been waiting forever to see reruns. Finally came out on Amazon. Paid for all three seasons. Never did that before for any show!!!!!
Honestly, I think it would have been great to add another season. If they added different more “important” cases to season 4, I think they would have gotten their ratings back. It really was a great show.
I think Season 3 had worst ratings because the characters personality changed. Lightman went from Dr Jekyll to Mr.Hide with some cruel lines (like the deaf girl), incoherent follies, and an exaggerated dark past.
The chapters with his ex-wife were confusing. Too much Jennifer Beals! Lightman seemed to lose his ethics, despising Gillian as well. And an eternally adolescent girl …
Anyway, the writers screwed up.