by Hannah Benson, ’15
It’s the season of crushing disappointment and interminable joy. One by one, television networks are releasing their renewal scorecards after the 2013-14 television season. Some shows remain “on the bubble” (for those of you who haven’t spent the last few weeks obsessively Googling your favorites, that means its future is still uncertain). Networks were particularly harsh on freshmen shows this year. Only 13 of the 47 new series introduced this season by major networks will be returning next year.
Most of the networks’ choices this time around were predictable——for example, FOX choosing to save New Girl over Raising Hope despite the former’s decline in quality——but there were still some surprises. The X Factor was cancelled due to Simon Cowell’s return to the original UK version. American Idol, however, was renewed for a fourteenth season despite its significant ratings drop.
Last year, FOX’s Glee was renewed for a sixth and final season, though many believe the show has long since declined. FOX’s freshman sitcom, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, was a critical success. The network has paired it with its floundering Seth MacFarlane-helmed show Dads in an effort to keep the latter afloat, but widespread criticism and pathetic ratings made it difficult to justify a renewal. While Brooklyn was renewed for a second season, Dads was recently cancelled. Along with it went fellow freshman sitcoms Surviving Jack and Enlisted.
Pitch Perfect star Rebel Wilson was rumored to pitch a reboot for her sinking sitcom, Super Fun Night, to ABC. However, the network recently declared her sitcom cancelled. ABC announced its first batch of renewals and cancellations on May 8. The first shows to go were freshman comedies Trophy Wife and Mixology.
Popular Netflix drama Orange is the New Black has been renewed through season three. Another Netflix hit, House of Cards, has been renewed for a third season. Unfortunately for fans, this season will not launch until mid-2015 due to a tax conflict between its producers and the state of Maryland.
NBC’s Community——which boasts rave reviews and a devoted online fanbase but has never attracted mainstream attention——was cancelled after five seasons. Amy Poehler’s sitcom, Parks and Recreation, was renewed for a seventh and final season. NBC decided to save on-the-bubble drama Parenthood for an abbreviated sixth and final season.
After the series finale of CBS hit How I Met Your Mother, the network has chosen 2 Broke Girls to fill its time slot.
Image caption:Melissa Fumero, Andy Samberg and Andre Braugher as Amy Santiago, Jake Peralta and Raymond Holt on FOX’s renewed freshman sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine. The show was one of only 13 renewed freshman efforts.
Image by Vulture.com