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 is quite disappointing. My husband and I LOVED this show. YUP, not much left to watch any more. The reality shows are nothing but drama, contention and arguing. AND REALLY? How many talent competitions can we suffer through? Too bad.
Yes, I think lie to me should get a new season, only other show that worth a damn is Bones, the rest is garbage.
hell yeah! one of the best, sharp,cynical and funny sirial so far. Tim Roth rocks! it just stopped right in the middle of the third season and it’n not rifgt! at least, show us till the end!
I contemplated watching “Lie To Me” when it first aired but somehow never got around to recording it for viewing on a free night. I’ve recently starting watching it on Netflix. I must say that there are only a handful of shows I enjoy: “House”, “Burn Notice”, and now “Lie to Me”. While we have the luxury of watching episodes back-to-back on Netflix; I was all set to record the next season after I had gotten all caught up which is also what I had to do with the aforementioned shows also. Tim Roth, Kelli Williams and the rest of… Read more »
I guess I’m in the minority here because I stopped watching midway through season one. The show started to focus too much on the private lives of the truth specialists and not enough on the clients. Too much of the wrong kind of drama for me.
It made me sad because I really like Tim Roth and Kelli Williams. Hope they go on to better stuff.
This a very sad day to me, I haven’t watch tv for a while due to work, but I did buy season 1 and two, so I am to be blame 🙁 this series has been the best I’ve seen in quite a while, to bad fox only cares about ratings 🙁
This is one of my favorite shows. Please bring it back!
This is typical of Fox, good shows get cancelled and cheap “reality” shows stay on forever! They would rather produce shows that won’t cost them a lot of money than invest in a good quality show that will keep loyal viewers to the show and their network.
I cannot believe this show has been cancelled. I just started watching on Netflix and it’s truly amazing. I have never even thought of rallying behind a show and never posted online before. This is how serious I feel about this show. I’m halfway through season two and plan on watching through season 3 today. fox needs togive this show another chance.
I love Lie to Me you should not cancel it
I freaking loved that show!! I want it back!!
Bring back Lie to Me. It seems that the only shows that stay on appeal to idiots. You actually had a good show with excellent actors and an interesting theme here. Please reconsider.
Lie to me, so far has been one of my favorite shows yet, and I am dying for new episodes, so please, for the love of god, bring back Tim roth and bring back “Lie to me”!!
We started watching the show on Netflix just this last couple of months and love it. We never heard about the show before we found it on Netflix. We have watched every episode that we can get our hands on. We would love to see this great show come back!
I can’t understand why there is so much junk on television right now. It is difficult to find a show that is interesting. Yet, they cancel one of my favorite shows. I could hardly wait until the next season was announced. I would have even watched the reruns which I hate to watch on most programs. Instead I have to choose from a bunch of ‘reality’
junk. So I guess I will give my business to Netflex!