With the upfronts only a week away, we are now in the thick of things. Over the next five days or so, as the network do final screenings of their pilots, they will reach decisions on how many and which of their bubble shows to keep. Those decisions are expected to come down at the rear end of this week, maybe on Thursday definitely Friday. Will your favourite show make the cut? Or is it a goner? Listed below, by network, you’ll find the latest industry buzz on which shows will be back next year and which shows we will be saying goodbye to. This is the final edition of the Broadcast TV Buzz for 2013 and as such I have pressed my sources over the past three days to get as clear a read as possible on the status of these bubble shows. As this is the final edition, we’ve done away with the various descriptors such as “locks” and “looking good” instead I’ll list below, based on the intel I’m receiving from my sources, whether said shows will be renewed or cancelled. If you can’t find the show you’re looking for below, then chances are that it has already been renewed or cancelled. To check on that, you can use our handy scorecard.
ABC
At the alphabet, the network’s comedy pilots all have strong support, while the drama pilots are more of a mixed bag. That’s driving a cull of underperforming comedy series and seems to be leading to renewals for a couple of the net’s bubble show’s on the drama side. Of course, ABC has yet to renew a single show, but has cancelled five: 666 Park Avenue, Don’t Trust The B—- In Apartment 23, Last Resort, Private Practice and Zero Hour. I now hear that Body Of Proof, Castle, Grey’s Anatomy, Last Man Standing, The Middle, Modern Family, Nashville, The Neighbors, Once Upon A Time, Revenge, Scandal and Suburgatory will all be renewed. While Family Tools, Happy Endings, How To Live With Your Parents (For The Rest of Your Life), Malibu Country and Red Widow will all be cancelled. The only show whose fate I’m dubious about here is Happy Endings – on the off chance that USA Network reaches a deal with Sony and ABC Studios to give the series a fourth season.
CBS
Just the same as every year that I’ve been doing this, CBS is keeping its cards close to its chest when it comes to which pilots are in serious contention for series orders. What little I have been able to glean is this: they are likely to pick up three or four drama pilots and two or three comedy pilots to series. No word on who the solid contenders are, but I’d put money on NCIS: Red getting a spot on the fall schedule. Regardless, that doesn’t change the fate of the network’s remaining bubble shows as I’m still told that Friend Me wont be seeing the light of day and that CSI: NY, Golden Boy, Rules of Engagement and Vegas will all be cancelled. They will join the networks other cancelled shows Made In Jersey and Partners. Word is that Criminal Minds will be back with one insider calling the notion of the series jumping to ABC “nonsense.” The parties involved are confident that the contract issues will be worked out in time for the upfront. If so, Criminal Minds will join 2 Broke Girls, The Big Bang Theory, Blue Bloods, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Elementary, The Good Wife, Hawaii Five-0, How I Met Your Mother, The Mentalist, Mike & Molly, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, Person of Interest and Two And A Half Men, all of which have been renewed for next season.
The CW
At The CW, the network has already given a series order to The Originals, and I hear that The Tomorrow People and Reign both look set to get the nod for series orders. The Selection is also looking good, though I hear support for Oxygen has now fizzled. Given that the network has already cancelled 90210, Cult and Emily Owens & renewed Arrow, Beauty and the Beast, Hart of Dixie, Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries. There is no doubt that The Carrie Diaries will be cancelled. Nikita, on the other hand, has been subject to varying degrees of chatter over the last few days. I hear that the series will be renewed for a fourth season. Nobody has a clear read on the episode, order but there has been increasing talk of late that it will be for 22 episodes rather than the shortened order of 10-13 episodes, which is a notion that has been circulating for quite some time.
Fox
On the pilot side there are a number of high profile contenders at Fox, with Gang Related, in particular, looking like a lock for a series order. The network has already cancelled Ben & Kate & The Mob Doctor and renewed American Dad, Bob’s Burgers, Family Guy, Glee, The Simpsons, The Following, New Girl, The Mindy Project and Raising Hope. The only two shows in question are Touch and The Cleveland Show. From what I hear, it is a foregone conclusion that both will be cancelled in the coming days.
NBC
Finally, over at NBC things are harder to read on the pilot side. There appears to be a lot of pilots, both on the comedy and drama side which are still in contention – which is unusual this late in the game. Blacklist, Believe and About A Boy are amongst the strongest contenders, however. The network has already cancelled Animal Practice, Do No Harm and Next Caller, while having recently renewed Chicago Fire, Grimm, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Parenthood and Revolution. I’m now told that Go On, Guys With Kids, Hannibal and Parks and Recreation will be renewed. While 1600 Penn, Community, Deception, The New Normal, Smash, Up All Night and Whitney will be cancelled.
