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.
I do understand the rating part, but this is one of the best show that I’ve ever seen before. I’d like to see more episodes in the future. Thanks a lot for this show.
Someone please (crying out loud), we need Lie To Me back on our screens. I beg!!!!
Please bring back lie to me!!!! Cal has to get with Gillian!
This series should be brought back .I was gutted to find out there was no series 4
Okay so, I just finished all I could watch of “Lie to Me” on Hulu and I’ve never been more disappointed about a show not being continued. This is real scientific information in the show. This show lead me to actually research micro expressions as well as study it. This is the best show I have ever watched in my life time. The cast is amazing and everyone plays their part so well. To be completely honest Fox mad a huge mistake not continuing the show. By far the best show that actually has useful information in a fictional story… Read more »
There are 108 pages of people asking for this show to be aired for a fourth season. You should definitely bring it back! Tim Roth played an amazing lead and he was so funny!! Not to mention the suspense. Gosh I wish I could watch the ending of the actual story. Make a movie, bring it back, something! Dont just let it die!!!
110 pages of comments, mate! (as of Oct 16 2019…)
I love Lie to Me!!! I have watched all seasons once already and now watching it again! I cant get enough! I love everything about this show. The actors are great!!! And Tim Roth should win a Grammy for the role he plays in this show. Hes amazing!!! Please make a season 4!!! If I’m the only one who watches it, which I HIGHLY doubt, then so be it! I want it to keep going just like Supernatural, or Grey’s Anatomy, or even the famous ER! Please, I’m begging you to make a new season and keep it going!!!
I’m so gutted this ended how it did. I binged them all on Amazon Prime hoping to find series 4 somewhere else. I feel cheated that there was no conclusion.
I feel it should be brought back even if only to bring the show to an appropriate end.
I really think it should be called back. It’s a wonderful eye catching show. I was hooked like 5 mins in on the first episode, usually takes a couple episodes to get me in. I really feel like the show was cut way to short. Especially leaving it the way it was left. There was no closure to anything. I’m pretty sure that this could have been like a law and order svu type following.
Absolutely gutted that this series ended after only 3 series. I’ve just caught up on a binge watch of the full series and feel really disappointed there’s no series 4. Not sure why it didn’t reach the top ratings but just like Deadwood this series needs a conclusion, if not a new series then a feature length movie like Deadwood is needed.
I want them back! I’d like to see far more episodes than there is now. Why on earth Grey’s Anathomy is lasting, while no less intresting and far more intellectual Lie to me was stopped?
At least I’d like to see one long film with logical ending of the story…
ABSOLUTELY YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes an informative show. Interesting and real sense!!!!!!
I recently cut the cord on cable – went to Roku, You Tube and Netflix, and I am truly delighted with the varied, international, remarkable content. I watched maybe 12 channels on Cable TV (for basic in California, $175 per month with internet.) I could not be more delighted to have You Tube and Netflix, it gives me the international flavour I adore (different countries, cultures and languages.) I remembered the TV program, Lie to Me from 2009 (with Tim Roth, whom I like.) I plugged into Netflix and Roku thinking I would be able to obtain that series –… Read more »
Maybe Fox are being a little too hasty looking at a small domestic audience does not give a very good indication of how popular Lie to Me is on a global stage. Have they taken these figures into consideration. Surely Fox have considered this and selling on to other TV show distributors i:e Netflix and British broadcasters etc. It would be popular I am sure
I watched this show from the start back in 2009 (10 years ago?!) and it still pains me that it ended. Every few years I rewatch the entire 3 seasons and then I’m completely gutted when I ge to the end of season 3. If this show gets rebooted with the same cast, I will die happy. Hey, id even settle for a movie length episode to tie it all up. I think they all deserve a happy ending! Netflix, can you help???