Though its performance hasn’t been stellar, FOX has finally ordered a full season of Lie to Me. What does this mean for the sophomore drama’s future?
Lie to Me follows Dr. Cal Lightman (Tim Roth), a human lie detector, and his team of experts who help law officials solve their most difficult cases. The cast also includes Kelli Williams, Brendan Hines, Mekhi Phifer, and Monica Raymund.
The dramatic series is currently in a plum spot on the FOX schedule, sitting behind successful House on Monday nights. Unfortunately, it doesn’t hold onto much of the Hugh Laurie show’s audience. This past week, for example, House was first in the 18-49 demographic (4.6) and second in total viewers (11.95 million), opposite the Dancing with the Stars finals. Lie to Me shed 40% of the lead-in audience in both areas, attracting a 2.7 and 7.16 million.
Despite the so-so ratings performance, FOX has finally given the drama a full season and ordered nine additional installments. The decision comes several weeks after the decision to order more episodes of other shows like Glee and The Cleveland Show.
It will be some time before viewers see these episodes of Lie to Me however. The drama will be leaving the airwaves in mid-January, making way for the return of 24. FOX has indicated that Lie to Me will return at some point in the spring.
Unfortunately, the full season order is more likely of an indication that FOX anticipates they’ll be needing more original programming than their being satisfied with Lie to Me’s performance. What’s more, the show being put on hiatus isn’t likely to help the ratings.
At this point, Lie to Me looks like it will be firmly “on the bubble” come May. A third season isn’t assured and the show’s future will likely be decided by the strengths or weaknesses of FOX’s pilots for the 2010-11 season.
What do you think? Is Lie to Me worth watching or do you think FOX could do better? Would you move it to another night rather than put it on hiatus?
Image courtesy FOX.
Keep it on! Intelligent and different for sure! My only complaint (and several friends said the same) Dr. Lightman’s accent and speech patterns are hard to hear/understand. We always turn it up to catch all he says and that’s a pain! Bring it back!!!
Lie to Me would fit in any week night spot its got what it takes to keep its audience. Wonderful show. Its the Networks fault that shows sometimes fail. They listen to ratings groups, which by and large dont know what they are talking about. I was a ratings bunny at one stage and told them to forget it take the tech stuff away. A lot of time I have to record the show and watch it later due to business commitments and just as I am getting hooked on a show they rip it off and replace it with… Read more »
Gotta give the show a chance to build an audience in a set time and hour. Find a slot it will do well in. First couple seasons of 24 weren’t that stellar ratings-wise either as I recall.
My husband and I watch Lie To Me religiously! We love it. I was upset when ABC canceled Samantha Who, my favorite comedy. I can’t lose my favorite drama too! Lie To Me is a fantastic show. In fact I am going through withdrawals right now while it is not on.
LEAVE IT ON!!!! Leave it right after House because those are my 2 favorite shows! (Well, along with The Mentalist which I also am afraid will be leaving soon 🙁 )
I hope they don’t take this off the air or move the time slot or anything…I think it is perfect right where it is!!! I miss it terribly right now!
Wendy you bring up a terriffic show ….Shark. I miss that one. My husband and I too were shocked it got cancelled. But it makes sense. Its a drama … NOT A CHEAP REALITY SHOW.
I love this show!!! PLEASE don’t take it off the air all the good show always get cancelled and then you are just left with awful shows like stupid 24 which needs to stop in my opinion. I hate that 24 got Lie to Me’s spot. Please keep this show
Our whole family enjoys watching Lie to Me. We are disappointed that it is on hiatus!!! We hardly ever watch a series, but we haven’t missed a single Lie to Me and have watched them online also.We agree with others, place the show at a set night and time and leave it there and it will go up in the ratings.
I love this show too! I used to love House but I’ve had enough of that already…and enough CSI and enough of the Mentalist (what happened with their writing there??? yuk), but.this show is amazing and I think it’s fascinating, Tim Roth is incredible, the rest of the cast pales in comparison though… I can’t believe they are thinking of cancelling it, figures…every show my husband and I decide we love gets axed…the last one was Jericho, oh and the one with James Woods in it as the lawyer-loved that one too! Anyhow, I sure hope they keep this one… Read more »
Love Lie To Me!!!!!!!!!!! Please do not remove it for so long…
I absolutely love Lie To Me, Tim Roth is a phenomenal actor and I think it should be brought back as soon as possible.
I really enjoy this show. Lie to me has alot of good science behind it that makes it very interesting. I agree that it should be moved to another night instead of being put on a hiatus.
I also hope that the hiatus doesn’t last too much longer, since I have purchased the first season and have watched it (and the online episodes) a few times already while waiting for new episodes to come out.
I Love the show… I have been waiting for it to begin again and I am sad to hear it won’t be back until Spring! Bummer!
Please move Lie to Me to another night; do not remove it!!
I agree with Terry. I’ve fallen in love with this show and watch it every night with my mom. We’re both quite angry that it’s disappeared — it was what we looked forward to for a whole week. It’s an amazing show. I love the facts that they give. My mom loves the stories. There’s a little bit of everything thrown in there for different people to enjoy. I think that if they quit swapping the show out, or making it go every couple of weeks on occasion, more people would be happy to watch it. I also purchased the… Read more »