This evening, FOX is airing the final episode of Lie to Me’s third season. Will the series be back for a fourth season or will it be cancelled? The answer may have a lot to do with how well the show performs tonight.
Last season, Lie to Me averaged a 2.9 rating in the all-important 18-49 demographic and 8.03 million total viewers. This season has been a different story. The series hasn’t been performing nearly as well and FOX declined to give the series an order for the back nine, leaving the season at 13 installments. That’s often a sign that the network has given up on a series and will just use up what they have left.
So far this season, Lie to Me ranks near the bottom on the list of FOX’s scripted shows, averaged a 1.9 rating in the demo and 5.75 million viewers. On January 10th, a pair of episodes averaged a 1.6 in the demo and 5.46 million viewers. Based on those numbers you could be pretty sure that the show’s fate was sealed.
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But then, the next week, Lie to Me registered a 20% gain in the demo. Last week, it saw an astounding 39% gain — moving up to a 2.5 rating and 7.67 million viewers. That represents a season high for the drama. If the series can sustain that rating tonight, it could be encouraging enough for FOX execs to greenlight a fourth season.
Despite the low ratings, the producers certainly don’t feel like the network has given up on Lie to Me. In a recent interview, 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.”
Cary also indicated that tonight’s finale goes to the heart of Lightman and Foster and their strong emotional bond. He noted, “We’re very happy with it. We think it will make the fans only more hungry for a season four.”
What do you think? Will Lie to Me be back for season four or will it be cancelled? Will you be satisfied if this is the end?
We love this show in Latin America and FOX will be a dork if they cancel LTM. I agree with that post that says that Kelli Williams’ performance on the season finale was outstanding. She really delivered.
The characters are amazing and I love the Cal and Gillian relationship as well as the relationship of Cal with his daughter.
Lie to me was my favorite program . It was differet from the typical bang bang shows and the cast was great . I really hope the show will return.
I love this series as well. It is one of the few good shows on TV. Why on earth they would cancel this is beyond me? I was also unaware that last week was the season finale. I hope they bring it back!!!!!
My wife and I rarely even watch TV, but Lie To Me has been a show that we have really enjoyed. It is a fascinating idea and Tim Roth is the perfect actor to pull off Lightman. We really hope the show is renewed.
Lie to me is certainly one of the best, most intelligently written shows on the air…it will be a crime is they take it off the air….few shows are so interesting!
First Firefly. Now Lie to Me? Fox, what *are* you thinking?
Lie to Me is one of the most interesting and thought-provoking shows on television. Fox has ticked alot of viewers off with it’s abbreviated seasons, doubling up on episodes, and bumping the schedule around. I mean, who knew it was the season finale? I didn’t know until I realized Chicago Code (which I will be watching) was filling the slot for the next few weeks. Bring Lie to Me back in the fall and keep the schedule on track and you will find it does better than expected.
It’s a best show I’ve ever seen.
Love this show! Bring it back!!
I love this show, but Fox has a long history of bumping shows around so they can say the ratings are poor (Because we can’t find the shows where they should be to watch them) then canceling the shows because the fans get confused about when they are supposed to be on. I hope they don’t cancel this show, as it is one of the few that actually makes you think. I mean most shows I can tell you who done it by the first 2 minutes in. This show has actually suprised me, and I LOVE that. But it… Read more »
I love “Lie to me” it is a really well done series. I really hope they do a season 4 and with more than just 13 episodes! I end up watching it on Hulu every week….I wonder if they have a way of counting the number of people who watch that way?
If FOX cancels LIE TO ME it will just prove to me that they are truely out of touch with thier viewers. Remember Firefly? Please FOX keep it. Every time I get into a show on the network they kill it. I guess that is why I gave up on free tv a while ago.
Once again, how pathetic Fox would be to cancel this show. What? 5.9 million people don’t matter. What about the people who would catch on after and buy the box set, or download via itunes the complete series. But if they are stupid enough to just cancel the show, those people won’t do anything the such. Someone needs to give hollywood the shake. And kick them down a knotch!
Very disappointing if the show is cancelled. Kelli Williams’ turn last night was Emmy-worth. With the end of Medium we will be runing our of shows we search for if there are schdule interruptions. The father/daughter relationship in this show is the best scripted on television.
My husband and I love this show so much!! It would be very dissappointing if it did not come back for another season, as it is one of the only shows we watch religiously! I agree with previous postings, the show air times were not advertised well and the scheduling was hard to keep up with. This seems like something the Fox needs to do better. The show is great!!