The five broadcast networks will announce their 2019-20 schedules in mid-May — which is when we’ll find out what they’ve canceled.
Sometimes we don’t need official announcements. It’s been clear NBC was done with the “I Feel Bad” since weeks before the finale episodes aired in December. And we know NBC will renew “This Is Us” — although it isn’t done working out a deal with Fox, which produces the show.
Oh, wait. Fox sold its TV studio to Disney, so NBC is working that out with the new owners.
Renewals are most often a function of ratings — not just how many people watch, but whether those people are in the 18-49 or 25-54 age demographics advertisers covet. But there are other factors, including:
Does the network own the show? If so, better odds of returning.
If a network owns a show, how well does it sell in overseas markets? That matters, even if U.S. ratings aren’t great.
What do the new pilots look like? Does the network think a new series would do better than what it’s already airing?
And there are intangibles specific to some shows. CBS owns “Bull,” and the ratings are decent. But will a network rocked by #MeToo headlines renew a show that had to pay actress Eliza Dushku $9.5 million to settle her complaints that series star Michael Weatherly sexually harassed her?
It’s also worth pointing out that cancellation isn’t always the end for a show. A year ago, NBC picked up “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” after Fox canceled it; Fox picked up “Last Man Standing” after ABC canceled it. Both have been renewed for next season.
Oh, by the way, NBC owns “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” and Fox owned “Last Man Standing” — until the studio was sold to Disney.
Here’s a look at what we know is coming back, what we know isn’t, and semi-educated guesses about the rest.
(Eric McCandless | Courtesy of ABC) Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, Lecy Goranson and John Goodman in “The Conners.”
ABC
Renewed • “America's Funniest Home Videos,” “The Conners,” “The Good Doctor,” “Modern Family” (final season), “Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (Season 6 begins airing in May; a seventh and final season has been ordered), “A Million Little Things”
Guaranteed to be renewed • “Grey’s Anatomy”
Probably safe • “American Housewife,” “American Idol,” “The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette,” “Bachelor in Paradise,” “Black-ish,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “Fresh Off the Boat,” “The Goldbergs,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” “The Rookie,” “Schooled,” “Shark Tank,” “Speechless,” “Station 19”
On the bubble • “The Kids are Alright,” “Match Game,” “Single Parents”
Probably dead • “The Alec Baldwin Show,” “Child Support,” “Dancing with the Stars Junior,” “The Fix,” “For the People,” “Splitting Up Together”
Canceled • “Take Two”
(Photo: Darren Michaels | Warner Bros.) Sheldon (Iain Armitage) and his mother, Mary (Zoe Perry) on “Young Sheldon.”
CBS
Renewed • “Blue Bloods,” “Criminal Minds” (final season), “FBI,” “God Friended Me,” “Magnum P.I.,” “Mom” (two seasons), “NCIS,” “NCIS Los Angeles,” “NCIS New Orleans,” “The Neighborhood,” “Young Sheldon” (two seasons)
Probably safe • “The Amazing Race,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “MacGyver,” “Man with a Plan,” “SEAL Team,” “Survivor”
On the bubble • “Bull,” “Madam Secretary,” “S.W.A.T.”
Too early to say • “The Code,” “Life in Pieces”
Probably dead • “Fam,” “Happy Together,” “Murphy Brown”
Canceled • “Salvation”
Not coming back • “The Big Bang Theory” (retiring after 12 seasons); “Elementary” (returns for final season in May)
(Justin Lubin | NBC via AP) This image released by NBC shows Kristen Bell as Eleanor, left, and Ted Danson as Michael in a scene from "The Good Place."
NBC
Renewed • “American Ninja Warrior,” “The Blacklist,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago Med,” “Chicago P.D.,” “Ellen's Game of Games,” “Good Girls,” “The Good Place,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Manifest,” “New Amsterdam,” “Superstore,” “Will & Grace”
Guaranteed to be renewed • “This Is Us”
Probably safe • “Titan Games,” “The Voice”
On the bubble • “A.P. Bio,” “Blindspot”
Probably dead • “Abby’s,” “The Enemy Within,” “I Feel Bad,” “The Village”
Canceled • “Marlon,” “Midnight, Texas,” “Reverie,” “Trial & Error”
(Photo courtesy of FOX) After learning that Sideshow Bob (guest voice Kelsey Grammar) is now the chief scientist at a massive chemical engineering company, Lisa also discovers their like-minded appreciation of high-culture in the "The Man Who Grew Too Much" episode of "The Simpsons."
FOX
Renewed • “Bob’s Burgers,” “Family Guy,” “Hell’s Kitchen” (two seasons), “Last Man Standing,” “The Masked Singer,” “9-1-1,” “The Simpsons” (two seasons), “The Resident”
Probably safe • “The Cool Kids,” “Empire,” “The Four,” “Star”
On the bubble • “The Orville”
Probably dead • “Proven Innocent,” “Lethal Weapon,” “The Passage”
Canceled • “The Gifted,” “Love Connection,” “Rel”
Not coming back • “Gotham” is ending after five seasons
(Katie Yu | courtesy of The CW) Jared Padalecki as Sam, Misha Collins as Castiel and Jensen Ackles as Dean in "Supernatural."
THE CW
Renewed • “Arrow” (final season); “Black Lightning,” “Charmed,” “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow,” “Dynasty,” “The Flash,” “Legacies,” “Riverdale,” “Supergirl,” “Supernatural” (final season)
Probably safe • “Roswell, New Mexico”
Probably dead • “All American”
Not coming back • “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” ended after four seasons; “Jane the Virgin” is ending after five seasons; “iZombie’s” final season begins in May
