UPDATE, 10:31PM: It’s turning out to be a bloodbath today. Fox just officially cancelled the Rainn Wilson fronted Backstrom. The show, from Hart Hanson, was a soft ratings performer and was not expected to swing a second season renewal. Fox should be given credit for picking the show up after it was initially developed and passed on by CBS.
Developed by Bones creator Hart Hanson, Backstrom is a subversive and comic crime procedural about Detective Lieutenant Everett Backstrom, an unhealthy, offensive, irascible – albeit brilliant – detective who is brought back from exile to run the Portland Police Bureau’s Special Crimes Unit (SCU). The drama series is produced by 20th Century Fox Television and Far Field Productions and stars Rainn Wilson, Genevieve Angelson, Dennis Haysbert, Page Kennedy, Kristoffer Polaha, Beatrice Rosen and Thomas Dekker.
PREVIOUS, 9:49PM: Fox is pulling the plug on The Following. The network has cancelled the Kevin Bacon fronted serial killer drama after airing three seasons of the series. The series finale of The Following is slated to air on Fox on Monday May 18th.
Created by Kevin Williamson, The Following picks up shortly after notorious serial killer Joe Carroll escapes from death row and embarks on a new killing spree, the FBI calls former agent Ryan Hardy to consult on the case. Having since withdrawn from the public eye, Hardy was responsible for Carroll’s capture nine years ago, after Carroll murdered 14 female students on the Virginia college campus where he taught literature. The drama series is produced by Warner Bros. Television and stars Kevin Bacon, James Purefoy, Shawn Ashmore, Jessica Stroup, Zuleikha Robinson and Sam Underwood.
Debuting in 2013, The Following was initially a hit for Fox and drew some 10.4 million viewers for its series premiere. The first season went on to rank as No. 2 broadcast drama and the No. 3 drama overall for the 2013-2014 broadcast season. The ratings slipped marginally in the second season but Fox brass were bullish on its growth potential and order a third season, which premiered this year. Unfortunately, the show suffered a complete ratings collapse this season, with new episode drawing in around 3 million viewers.
This is the first of several expected cancellations at Fox today. The network is expected to officially confirm the cancellation of Mulaney, as well as low-rated freshman entries Weird Loners and Backstrom, which hails from Bones creator Hart Hanson. Gotham, Sleepy Hollow, Empire, The Simpsons, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, New Girl, Bob’s Burgers, The Last Man On Earth and Bones have all been renewed for next season.
