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.
Keep the show!!!
I love this show
Bad decision! I really enjoyed Lie to Me. They did kind of mess up with the second season with having the FBI too involved, but I enjoyed the first and third and would’ve continued to watch the fourth. It was the only show I watched on Fox other than Fringe.
I’m considering boycotting Fox… Lie to me* is ******* awesome, how do you cancel a show like that? Seriously?
Can LTM push to get picked up on a cable network, or on Showtime or HBO, or another network that actually shows real programming and has 3 hours of prime time? Don’t give up!
I have already spewed my hatred of the programming idiots at FOX for cancelling Chicago Code; same vitriol should be recorded here. This was a very cool show; always entertaining and sometimes, ya learned something.
I LOVED this show! They left EVERYthing open!! What about Lightman and Jillian? Stupid fox.
That sucks! My favorite show – next to Friday Night Lights, also axed – it seems shows that require an audience with depth and insight are not valued as much as crap .
Well there goes 1/5th of my TV.
Leverage got renewed.
Big bang theory got renewed
Dexter got renewed
South park got renewed
My favourite show, was lie to me 🙁
That is horrible news. I feel I discovered the series a little too late but maybe it’ll get picked up by TNT. It seems like thier kind of show.
first off you should let them have their 13 eps anyways.. you renewed it for 13 eps so give it to the FOX let them have a last chance at least dang.
I only bother to turn on the TV for Lie to Me, House, and sometimes Idol. The rest is junk. I will really miss Lie to Me. It was my favorite!
Just an incredibly poor judgement. “Lie to Me” was/is a thinking persons show. I found most episodes very entertaining. Gillian’s character was being developed with more depth… I could go on and on… But alas, Fox’s bad decision will stand.
Yes…That was my show. Man I looked forward to watching it every week and when I woukd miss it I would dvr it…Dawg!
This is incredibly disappointing. Lie To Me was my second favorite show behind House and I was really looking forward to the next installment. I think the cable ratings system is slightly outdated since it doesn’t seem to include people like me who watch shows primarily over the internet.
🙁
Bad mistake cancelling “Lie To Me’, “The Chicago Code” and “Human Target”, three of the most entertaining shows on the Fox Network. Based on what I see replacing them, I will be watching another network in the future. Fox, you bite the big one on this.