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 show: Pure genius. Absolutely need a fourth season.
WHY DID YOU END IT I WANTED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED TO CAL AND GILLIAN!!!!! I love this show I stay up late watching this show and I’ve cryed!!!!
🙁 Was really looking forward to season 4
Loved this show even took up studying some of the stuff on it in my spare time love it!!!! Never should have been cancelled!! Loved roths performance as cal really made the character
Lie to me was a great TV show. I guess the TV owners were afraid of the consequences that everybody would have been a face reader after watching the show. After all I never understood why they wrote at the beginning of the show that “this is a fictional story and is not true!” I learned a lot from the show. Tim Roth and the rest of the cast were great. No..they were absolutely awesome. Funny how stupid TV shows like Seinfeld, Nash and Frasier and etc…get top rating but Lie to me gets lower rating. I think people just… Read more »
Definitely agree 100% they are morons for not continuing the story
Lie to me should have been reviewed for season four since they did not finish the relationship story between cal and Gillian You never actually get to see how the light man group stops and I personally think it should have had a more dramatic ending with either cal dying or them getting rid of the light man group it would make more sense I think fox is just being too irrational
They should definitely renew it! The ending of season three was a terrible place to kill it. They should at least have one more season to wrap it up. Its a great show.
I really enjoyed all three seasons and was totally disappointed there would be no season four.I got into all the characters and felt the story lines were good.Tim Roth played Cal Lightman really well and made his character something to remember .Shall miss watching this and will be a while before I find something as good
I had never heard of Lie to Me before Netflix grabbed it. If another network scooped it up, I’ll bet it would rally!
We loved it. Like another twist on The Mentalist, which we also enjoyed, but with a totally different character.
I am truly disappointed about the cancellation of the show. It is so hard to find tv shows with substance nowadays and Lie To Me is one of the very few shows with it.
Truly disaapointing 🙁
My husband and I love this show, I agree that one more final season should be made.
They should make another season, even if its only one more as a final season! Loved it!
I wait for season 4 !!! Romania expects Season 4 !!!! GIVE ME 🙂
I, till now, had still been waiting for season 4 to begin. I had NO idea it was cancelled! I think by farrrrrr it was the best show ive seen next to Sherlock Holmes and Pretty Little Liars. I agree with previous comments that the reason why there were not many viewers was brcause of the lack of advertising. I live in London and I nill ads. Damn you stupid Fox people. The name really does suit you guys.
Im all for a petition!
I have never even heard of this show until I ran across it on netflix! I watch American Idol on Fox every season and some other shows here and there but I believe this is ONE OF THE BEST TV SERIES I have seem in a while! Love it! I believe the ratings were low because no one knew about the show! As soon as I found it on Netflix with a brief description I was intrigued and have bing watch since! I. Blame Fox for the ratings for not advertising the show! Brilliant show, acting and plot so I… Read more »