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.
This sucks, one of my favorite shows!
IF FOX DIDNT HAVE BONES…I WOULD BAN WATCHING FOX.
I HATE FOX!
Loved this show. Tim Roth is brilliant. Bad move.
Bad writing. It went from pretty good to worse instead of improving each season.
I hope another network picks it up. It was my favorite show on TV. I am sooo sick of reality shows.
[…] to Me (FOX) NEW The series about the ultra-observant Cal Lightman (Tim Roth) and his team has come to a close after three seasons on the […]
AND HOW THE F**K DID FRINGE GET RENEWED???!!!!! Lie to me, The chicago code and Human Target had it better in the demo!!! Look for yourselves. WHAT THE F**K?? They cancel Lone star after 2 episodes, Past life after 5, don’t even air all the episodes of running wilde. STUPID STUPID F**KING NETWORK!!! F**K FOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! F**K FOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DID I HAPPEN TO MENTION THIS F**K FOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lol well said fcuk fox
Bad move Fox, bad move. Lie To Me was a one of a kind show. I’m sure a network like TNT will appreciate that and pick it up like they did Southland.
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They should have renewed it!!!!!!!!!!! This Sux!!!!!!!!!!!!! I said when they didn’t order a full season if they canceled it I was not gonna start watching a now show on Fox and I meant it. F**K fox!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pretty much the only live-action show I watched on FOX is now gone. FOX is the doomsday network.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! WHY FOX? WHY???? You put the Crapcago Code in this ones place, and you send LTM out in the same garbage bin? Terra Nova better make up for this inexplicable sin you have just commited!
[…] has cancelled a number of series this week and some have been a bit of a surprise. Lie to Me, Human Target, and The Chicago Code were all canned and most had been expecting at least one to […]
Fox sucks, are there any good shows left on that network(House maybe). Hey fox put on another crappy reality show-thanks for adding to the eduction of the people of the country with this crappy line-up.
Thank God. Terrible show and completely implausible. I only lasted one season because I wanted to give it a chance but it seemed like every suspect had a “tell”, ie “he looked down when she looked at him, he’s feeling guilty about something”, and “she bit her lip, that means she’s lying”. Based on these sometimes innocuous gestures( as they may be in real life) the team sets out to get someone. Considering the amount of the lies that are told I found it silly that these four people could tell when someone is lying at lightning speed 100% of… Read more »
I think the creatively impoverished brain trust at Fox hasn’t a clue about what constitutes good programming, and, furthermore, truth be told, the move to cancel Lie To Me, Chicago Code, et al, was, at its heart, utilitarian in that room had to be made for Cowell’s new series.
Just found Lie to Me and I love it. Please bring it back…. I wish you would do a better job of publicizing your programs. I had never heard of it when it was on.