The Brainless Box (aka Television Shows)

[Tawmis]

Anyone watch any of these shows?

And might I recommend HUMAN TARGET to everyone when it comes back on (if it gets renewed)?

_____________________________________________

The new fall TV season means plenty of promising new shows — and canceling struggling old ones to make room. As the networks roll out new programs this month at their upfront presentations to advertisers, here's our list of 13 at-risk shows. Many have posted significant ratings declines. Others are expensive to produce, getting old, or just aren't performing as well as their time-slot rivals. Read about the issues each faces and then weigh in on which shows deserve to stay — or go.

Caprica (Fridays at 9/8c, Syfy)
Issues: The heir apparent to Battlestar Galactica hasn't performed at nearly the same level, averaging just 1.1 million viewers over its first nine episodes. (The second half of its first season will air some time later this year). More bad news: Stargate Universe: SGU, its closest relative at the network in subject matter and ratings, has already been renewed for a second season.

Cold Case (Sundays at 10/9c, CBS)
Issues: Although the show pulls in a fairly steady average of 10 million viewers each week, it consistently underperforms in the desirable 18-to-49-year-olds demo. High production costs and the fact that CBS almost canceled it last year make another renewal unlikely.

FlashForward (Thursdays at 8/7c, ABC)
Issues: The show's intriguing concept has failed to deliver much in the way of genuine revelation, which may account for the show's plummeting ratings. Its most recent episode only attracted 5.1 million viewers. The producers' room has a revolving door on it lately, a sign that the show might not be around much longer.

Heroes (Mondays at 9/8c, NBC)
Issues: Season 4 saw this one-time ratings powerhouse hit new lows nearly every week, averaging between 4 million and 5 million viewers an episode. The show is a moneymaker on DVD and in international markets, however, so there's buzz about a truncated fifth season to close the series out.

Human Target (Wednesdays, 8/7c, Fox)
Issues: Male viewers haven't flocked to this graphic novel-based action series in the numbers Fox hoped for, but the show is still winning its time slot, albeit one of the week's least competitive.

Life Unexpected (Mondays at 8/7c, CW)
Issues: Critics love the show, but viewers are more lukewarm. The CW has announced several early renewals (90210, Gossip Girl, Smallville, Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries), but the list conspicuously did not include this midseason addition.

Medium (Fridays at 9/8c, CBS)
Issues: The former NBC drama has been a nice fit in CBS' Friday lineup and consistently wins its timeslot, but after six years, Medium has become pretty expensive. It's not in as dire a position as Cold Case, however, and its survival will likely depend on the strength of CBS' development slate.

Melrose Place (Wednesdays at 9/8c, CW)
Issues: The network ordered up a creative change in direction in the fall that included casting changes, a new showrunner and more Heather Locklear. Thus far, the ratings haven't improved, and it was also left off CW's early-renewals list. Jessica Lucas recently signed on to the NBC pilot Friends with Benefits, which certainly isn't a good sign.

Mercy (Wednesdays at 8/7c, NBC)
Issues: Though it does well with a female demo, it's not a young female demo. Its last new episode attracted 5.5 million viewers, which wasn't enough to win its time slot. A three-week hiatus this month may have hurt its momentum.

Numb3rs (Fridays at 10/9c, CBS)
Issues: The show's episode order was chopped drastically to make way for newcomer Miami Medical. Creatively, the show's season finale felt like a good-bye, and series star David Krumholtz has already landed a gig in Ron Howard's IRS comedy pilot at Fox.

One Tree Hill (Mondays at 8/7c, CW)
Issues: After losing a chunk of its cast this season, the series is showing serious signs of age. However, its average audience of 2.3 million viewers is more devoted than those of other CW shows (including Melrose Place and 90210.)

Trauma (Mondays at 9/8c, NBC)
Issues: This expensive, action-heavy drama has kind of already been canceled once. In October, NBC announced that it would not be ordering any new episodes past the original 13. When the network's late-night schedule imploded, Jay Leno's departure from prime time freed up real estate, and NBC ordered seven more episodes. With its ratings on the decline this spring after a three-month hiatus, the order was cut back to 18; the final episode aired April 26. And that's probably final.

V (Tuesdays at 10/9c, ABC)
Issues: The show's Olympics-mandated hiatus seems to have hurt its momentum. Though critics like the show's new episodes, it's getting killed by The Good Wife in its timeslot. Lately, NBC's Parenthood is beating it as well.

Have your favorites made the cut? See the list below and check back often for the latest renewal/cancellation news:

RENEWED

30 Rock (NBC)
90210 (CW)
The Amazing Race (CBS)
American Dad (Fox)
America's Next Top Model (CW)
The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Bones (Fox)
Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
Castle (ABC)
The Cleveland Show (Fox)
Community (NBC)
Cougar Town (ABC)
Family Guy (Fox)
Friday Night Lights (NBC)
Fringe (Fox)
Glee (Fox)
Gossip Girl (CW)
The Good Wife (CBS)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
The Middle (ABC)
Modern Family (ABC)
NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS)
The Office (NBC)
Parenthood (NBC)
Parks and Recreation (NBC)
The Simpsons (Fox)
Smallville (CW)
Supernatural (CW)
Survivor (CBS)
Two and a Half Men (CBS)
The Vampire Diaries (CW)

LOOKING GOOD

Accidentally on Purpose (CBS)
American Idol (Fox)
The Bachelor (ABC)
The Biggest Loser (NBC)
Celebrity Apprentice (NBC)
Chuck (NBC)
Criminal Minds (CBS)
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS)
CSI: Miami (CBS)
CSI: NY (CBS)
Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
Desperate Housewives (ABC)
Gary Unmarried (CBS)
Ghost Whisperer (CBS)
Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
House (Fox)
Human Target (Fox)
Law & Order (NBC)
Law & Order: SVU (NBC)
Lie to Me (Fox)
Medium (CBS)
The Mentalist (CBS)
NCIS (CBS)
New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS)
One Tree Hill (CW)
Private Practice (ABC)
Rules of Engagement (CBS)
V (ABC)

NOT LOOKING SO GOOD

Better Off Ted (ABC)
Cold Case (CBS)
The Deep End (ABC)
FlashForward (ABC)
The Forgotten (ABC)
Heroes (NBC)
Life Unexpected (CW)
Melrose Place (CW)
Mercy (NBC)
Miami Medical (CBS)
Numb3rs (CBS)
Trauma (NBC)

CANCELED/ENDING

24 (Fox)
The Beautiful Life: TBL (CW)
Brothers (Fox)
Dollhouse (Fox)
Eastwick (ABC)
Hank (ABC)
Lost (ABC)
Past Life (Fox)
Scrubs (ABC)
Sons of Tucson (Fox)
Three Rivers (CBS)
'Til Death (Fox)
Ugly Betty (ABC)

[DeadPoolX]

Two shows Maia and I liked to watch are ending this season: Ugly Betty and Lost. At least the latter gets a real ending. UB had a final episode, but it was rushed. There were a lot of loose ends that needed to get tied up.

We'd like to see a 5th season of Heroes. Actually, what we both would like to see is some real character development in that show. Claire's grown up a little, but everyone else has stayed the same. As cool as Claire's dad is, he's had the same MO since the 1st season.

Right now Maia watches True Blood on HBO and we've both given the new Doctor Who a try. I think Maia likes it better than I do. My problem with DW is that I have trouble understanding a British accent. It sounds all garbled to me.

[Datadog]

I just turn on the captions whenever Doctor Who comes on.

The other shows I'm following are Smallville, Glee, The Deadliest Warrior, Simpsons, the remaining episodes of Lost, and now Heroes. I'm glad they get one more season out of Heroes, just to wrap up the twist from last season - although I still find it sad that Heroes never became that big epic series everyone was hoping for. It started out so incredibly strong and then they bogged themselves down with too many characters and too many story-lines. I think they were trying to be more like "Lost" and it backfired on them.

I'm sure a lot of these are good shows, but the problem I have with a lot of serial dramas is that there's practically no memorable episodes. Memorable events, yes, but never episodes since they all seem to blur together. Not to mention you always have to watch them from the beginning - it's hard to recommend them to other people after a few episodes. I think I prefer the episodic format they use in Buffy, Reaper, or Doctor Who, where every episode is unique and easy to jump into, but can still tie into the season's main storyline.

Oh, crap. I was wondering where "Reaper" was on that list, and just found out it was canceled.

[Tawmis]

Oh, crap. I was wondering where "Reaper" was on that list, and just found out it was canceled.

It was. I was VERY disappointed that it got canceled. I absolutely LOVED Reaper. But the bigger guy (who has a lot of similarities to Jack Black) got his own show... don't know if it's aired (and perhaps already tanked) or not.

[DeadPoolX]

I forgot a show that Datadog mentioned: Deadliest Warrior. It's a fun show with some truly awesome weapons, but their methods aren't really all that scientific.

Some of the match-ups don't make sense either. I don't mean in a "they'd never actually meet" sort of way. I mean they don't accurately portray how some of the combatants would fight. The ninja, for instance, would never run up to a warrior in broad daylight and challenge him one-on-one. Ninjas are trained for stealth, assassination and surprise attacks. Take that away and all you're left with is a subpar warrior.

[AndreaDraco]

The shows I'm watching (or that I'll be watching when they'll be back on air) are: Supernatural, True Blood, Lost, Legend of the Seeker, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Brothers & Sisters, Parenthood, Cougar Town, Modern Family, White Collar, The Amazing Race.

I've watched Melrose Place for a time - the first ten episodes or so - but aside from Katie Cassidy (whom I adore after her gig on Supernatural, Season 3 as Ruby) the show was pretty bad, so I dropped it.

The other shows I'm watching have all been renewed, except for Legend of the Seeker which is not looking so good at the moment.

[BBP]

Out of those I currently only watch The Simpsons. That and the news. Meh... Dutch TV... (yawns)

[Datadog]

It was. I was VERY disappointed that it got canceled. I absolutely LOVED Reaper. But the bigger guy (who has a lot of similarities to Jack Black) got his own show... don't know if it's aired (and perhaps already tanked) or not.

Sock was the whole reason to watch the show. He went on to star in "Sons of Tucson" which is already on the canceled list.

It's a fun show with some truly awesome weapons, but their methods aren't really all that scientific.

I thought it was odd myself when they would test out two similar weapons in two different ways. But then it occurred to me that they probably don't air every single test they perform (the show can only be an hour-long) so it's really all in the presentation. Still, you're right - some of their early episodes don't make sense. "Spartan vs Ninja" and "Pirate vs. Knight" in particular. Those really have nothing in common - it's just a really random match-up. And once you have a guy with a gun fighting a guy without a gun, it's pretty one-sided.

I still think they should do fictional character match-ups for Halloween episodes.

[Maiandra]

As DPX mentioned, Ugly Betty was one of our favourite shows and it's being canceled. I loved the humour in that show. It was so over-the-top!

Although I enjoyed Lost, I'm not too upset that it's wrapping up. It was good, but they just have too much going on and too many characters now.

I am sorry that Heroes didn't work out. It was such a good change from what was available on TV before that and I really loved the first two seasons. I'm glad at least to hear that it's supposed to have a chance to wrap up some loose ends.

I'm not sure either way about Doctor Who, at this point. I'll watch it a bit more and see.

I really like True Blood. While I still miss the humour of vampire shows like Angel and Buffy, True Blood has been really well done. I really like Anna Paquin in it.

We actually did start watching V, but never ended up getting back into it after the Olympics. I'm not even sure when it's on anymore. Initially I was pretty interested in it, since I remembered watching the original in the 80s. I'd like to give it another try.

As for less fictional shows, my favourites are The Dog Whisperer, Dogs 101, and Property Virgins. Deadliest Warrior is actually pretty interesting in terms of learning about the weapons and their use, plus seeing what they can do. However, I feel the same way DPX does about some of their ways of comparing them. The posturing of the respective teams gets a bit ridiculous after a while too.

[DeadPoolX]

The worst part of Deadliest Warrior is they missed a perfect opportunity to have "Pirate vs Ninja."

By the way, here are links to full episodes of Dogs 101 and Dealiest Warrior if anyone wants to see them. They're on Animal Planet and Spike.

[MusicallyInspired]

I'm glad Lost is ending. So overhyped. But I don't watch it anymore so I don't know the lates developments. My wife and I love Heroes. Can't understand why everyone says it's going downhill. I mean, it's not the masterpiece it was in the first season, but it surely isn't disappointing. We're currently watching season 4 on the XBox Video Marketplace and loving it. I haven't watched the whole season yet, but if it's not wrapped up I hope season 5 gets a chance. Love the show.

I thought I heard that House wasn't doing well at all lately. I guess it picked itself up or something. My wife likes Medium, but she likes Ghost Whisperer more so I don't know what they'll think of that.

We're also big Stargate fans, but SGU consistently proves itself unworthy of our attention. I may have been interested in one episode and even that was not nearly as good as anything SG1 or Atlantis put out (they should really be working on that Atlantis movie, incidentally). I watch sci-fi for sci-fi not for drama. There's barely anything in SGU that has to do with sci-fi.

[Jules]

Anyone watch any of these shows?

And might I recommend HUMAN TARGET to everyone when it comes back on (if it gets renewed)?

_____________________________________________

The new fall TV season means plenty of promising new shows — and canceling struggling old ones to make room. As the networks roll out new programs this month at their upfront presentations to advertisers, here's our list of 13 at-risk shows. Many have posted significant ratings declines. Others are expensive to produce, getting old, or just aren't performing as well as their time-slot rivals. Read about the issues each faces and then weigh in on which shows deserve to stay — or go.

Caprica (Fridays at 9/8c, Syfy)
Issues: The heir apparent to Battlestar Galactica hasn't performed at nearly the same level, averaging just 1.1 million viewers over its first nine episodes. (The second half of its first season will air some time later this year). More bad news: Stargate Universe: SGU, its closest relative at the network in subject matter and ratings, has already been renewed for a second season.

Cold Case (Sundays at 10/9c, CBS)
Issues: Although the show pulls in a fairly steady average of 10 million viewers each week, it consistently underperforms in the desirable 18-to-49-year-olds demo. High production costs and the fact that CBS almost canceled it last year make another renewal unlikely.

FlashForward (Thursdays at 8/7c, ABC)
Issues: The show's intriguing concept has failed to deliver much in the way of genuine revelation, which may account for the show's plummeting ratings. Its most recent episode only attracted 5.1 million viewers. The producers' room has a revolving door on it lately, a sign that the show might not be around much longer.

Heroes (Mondays at 9/8c, NBC)
Issues: Season 4 saw this one-time ratings powerhouse hit new lows nearly every week, averaging between 4 million and 5 million viewers an episode. The show is a moneymaker on DVD and in international markets, however, so there's buzz about a truncated fifth season to close the series out.

Human Target (Wednesdays, 8/7c, Fox)
Issues: Male viewers haven't flocked to this graphic novel-based action series in the numbers Fox hoped for, but the show is still winning its time slot, albeit one of the week's least competitive.

Life Unexpected (Mondays at 8/7c, CW)
Issues: Critics love the show, but viewers are more lukewarm. The CW has announced several early renewals (90210, Gossip Girl, Smallville, Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries), but the list conspicuously did not include this midseason addition.

Medium (Fridays at 9/8c, CBS)
Issues: The former NBC drama has been a nice fit in CBS' Friday lineup and consistently wins its timeslot, but after six years, Medium has become pretty expensive. It's not in as dire a position as Cold Case, however, and its survival will likely depend on the strength of CBS' development slate.

Melrose Place (Wednesdays at 9/8c, CW)
Issues: The network ordered up a creative change in direction in the fall that included casting changes, a new showrunner and more Heather Locklear. Thus far, the ratings haven't improved, and it was also left off CW's early-renewals list. Jessica Lucas recently signed on to the NBC pilot Friends with Benefits, which certainly isn't a good sign.

Mercy (Wednesdays at 8/7c, NBC)
Issues: Though it does well with a female demo, it's not a young female demo. Its last new episode attracted 5.5 million viewers, which wasn't enough to win its time slot. A three-week hiatus this month may have hurt its momentum.

Numb3rs (Fridays at 10/9c, CBS)
Issues: The show's episode order was chopped drastically to make way for newcomer Miami Medical. Creatively, the show's season finale felt like a good-bye, and series star David Krumholtz has already landed a gig in Ron Howard's IRS comedy pilot at Fox.

One Tree Hill (Mondays at 8/7c, CW)
Issues: After losing a chunk of its cast this season, the series is showing serious signs of age. However, its average audience of 2.3 million viewers is more devoted than those of other CW shows (including Melrose Place and 90210.)

Trauma (Mondays at 9/8c, NBC)
Issues: This expensive, action-heavy drama has kind of already been canceled once. In October, NBC announced that it would not be ordering any new episodes past the original 13. When the network's late-night schedule imploded, Jay Leno's departure from prime time freed up real estate, and NBC ordered seven more episodes. With its ratings on the decline this spring after a three-month hiatus, the order was cut back to 18; the final episode aired April 26. And that's probably final.

V (Tuesdays at 10/9c, ABC)
Issues: The show's Olympics-mandated hiatus seems to have hurt its momentum. Though critics like the show's new episodes, it's getting killed by The Good Wife in its timeslot. Lately, NBC's Parenthood is beating it as well.

Have your favorites made the cut? See the list below and check back often for the latest renewal/cancellation news:

RENEWED

30 Rock (NBC)
90210 (CW)
The Amazing Race (CBS)
American Dad (Fox)
America's Next Top Model (CW)
The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Bones (Fox)
Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
Castle (ABC)
The Cleveland Show (Fox)
Community (NBC)
Cougar Town (ABC)
Family Guy (Fox)
Friday Night Lights (NBC)
Fringe (Fox)
Glee (Fox)
Gossip Girl (CW)
The Good Wife (CBS)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
The Middle (ABC)
Modern Family (ABC)
NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS)
The Office (NBC)
Parenthood (NBC)
Parks and Recreation (NBC)
The Simpsons (Fox)
Smallville (CW)
Supernatural (CW)
Survivor (CBS)
Two and a Half Men (CBS)
The Vampire Diaries (CW)

LOOKING GOOD

Accidentally on Purpose (CBS)
American Idol (Fox)
The Bachelor (ABC)
The Biggest Loser (NBC)
Celebrity Apprentice (NBC)
Chuck (NBC)
Criminal Minds (CBS)
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS)
CSI: Miami (CBS)
CSI: NY (CBS)
Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
Desperate Housewives (ABC)
Gary Unmarried (CBS)
Ghost Whisperer (CBS)
Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
House (Fox)
Human Target (Fox)
Law & Order (NBC)
Law & Order: SVU (NBC)
Lie to Me (Fox)
Medium (CBS)
The Mentalist (CBS)
NCIS (CBS)
New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS)
One Tree Hill (CW)
Private Practice (ABC)
Rules of Engagement (CBS)
V (ABC)

NOT LOOKING SO GOOD

Better Off Ted (ABC)
Cold Case (CBS)
The Deep End (ABC)
FlashForward (ABC)
The Forgotten (ABC)
Heroes (NBC)
Life Unexpected (CW)
Melrose Place (CW)
Mercy (NBC)
Miami Medical (CBS)
Numb3rs (CBS)
Trauma (NBC)

CANCELED/ENDING

24 (Fox)
The Beautiful Life: TBL (CW)
Brothers (Fox)
Dollhouse (Fox)
Eastwick (ABC)
Hank (ABC)
Lost (ABC)
Past Life (Fox)
Scrubs (ABC)
Sons of Tucson (Fox)
Three Rivers (CBS)
'Til Death (Fox)
Ugly Betty (ABC)

You watch ALL of those shows??

[Collector]

You watch ALL of those shows??

I agree

[Tawmis]

The other shows I'm watching have all been renewed, except for Legend of the Seeker which is not looking so good at the moment.

Already confirmed as canceled.

[Tawmis]

@Jules & Collector:

Gods, no. I was copying and pasting the article, as it was, to post it here and have some discussion about good and bad television shows, what's being renewed, what's being canceled.

The main shows I watch:
America's Next Top Model (Watch this one with Amiee every blue moon - there's a girl on there I am cheering for - Raina)

The Big Bang Theory - Best comedy series out there!

Bones - I heart this show!

Castle - Awesome writing!

Modern Family - Watch this every blue moon with Amiee. Hilarious show, just not always in the mood to watch it when she does.

Supernatural - The best show in the world. Ever.

Celebrity Apprentice - Watching this season because Bret Michaels is on it.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - Every blue moon with Amiee.

Human Target - Such an awesome show. Every "action junkie guy" should be watching this show. Seriously.

FlashForward - Watch this frequently with Amiee.

24

Dollhouse - Over now, already.


There might be a few more that are slipping my mind, but I think that's it?