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.
They should air new seasons on him or Netflix that where everyone would love this show or it it to late lol
Discovered this show in my speech communications class and it is truly a gem that i hope gets a reboot in 2019
Just discovered this show 2/16/2019. Love Love LOVE this show. I’m on season 2 and will be buying season 3 very soon. So sad, the show was cancelled. Would love to see it come back in 2019. Great idea for a show. Great cast. Interesting story ideas. I learn something new every time I watch. Please bring it back.
Maybe it wasn’t advertised as much as it should have been. Fox only seems to advertise the prime time shows like NCIS and bull . Gutted that it’s been cancelled.
Maybe its wasn’t advertised as well as it should have been. I had no idea the new series had been aired. Fox only ever seems to show trailers for its prime time shows like NCIS and bull ( not that I’m complaining as i like both ) but you get my drift. I loved lie to me.
Maybe time for season 4, 2019 and people still want more lie to me!
What a bad decision by Fox. Seems to be a great show. Did Fox lie about the ratings because of the politics involved when it was cancelled?
Well, very sorry about the cancelled episodes, far better than the juvenile drivel we generally
get dished up, and called entertainment.
Amazing show. Should definitely be re-newed
Best show!! Should not have been cancelled.
I defiantly think the show was a winner and should have been continued. It was interesting, sometimes humorous , often gripping and best of all different from all other shows on TV!!! Police, investigative and reality shows are a dime a dozen. This was a bit of all of that put together. Bad decision by Fox to cut it.
I loved the series, how can it be left on a clifhanger at least make a good ending to it.
This is definetely one of the most unique TV series. It was not very good decision to cancel it. I understand all those numbers but it may be caused by many other things (for example timming, maybe better script,….). I believe the show has potential for being very popular. If writers have no power or fantasy to create new scenarios they should be replaced by others. It’s so many ways how it’s possible to create new stories in this series.
I found this series on Amazon and just paid $10 for season 2. What was fox thinking cancelling a series starring Tim Roth? Grownups like to watch tv, too.
I want my show back! Tim Roth and all the crew were great!change the writers!