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The station has had trouble piloting dramatic series (see: Prime Suspect and The Firm), with the exception of the decades-spanning Law & Order, so it’s not surprising newcomer fantasy series Grimm, building on the station’s strong foundation of police procedurals, would be picked up for another season. Freshman musical-drama Smash was renewed less than two months after its midseason premiere, due to the Midas touch of Steven Spielberg. Reality series The Voice also managed to get another season, but the long-running The Biggest Loser will have to wait for upfronts. The fates of comedies, however, remain unsure, but the critically acclaimed 30 Rock will probably get picked up, especially since it ran a shorter season to accommodate Tina Fey’s pregnancy. Expect the same for The Office, which is basically coasting on the goodwill of previous years. Parks and Recreation and Community, the little comedies that could, are a toss-up: the fan following is strong, but the ratings aren’t. New shows Up All Night and Whitney are on the bubble, but don’t expect the latter to return this fall.
The network isn’t releasing its fall schedule until upfronts, when advertisers pre-purchase ad slots for the fall schedule, but Castle and Modern Family are all but sure bets. Fantasy drama Once Upon A Time will probably find its way back to TV screens as well, being the highest rated new drama of the 2011-2012 season. Newcomer Revenge has been lauded by critics, so expect more beach backstabbing come this fall. As for returning series, Grey’s Anatomy still has some life left in it, as do reality faves Dancing With the Stars and The Bachelor. Things aren’t looking good for Courteney Cox’s Cougar Town, or for freshman comedy GCB, but both newcomer Don’t Trust the B—- In Apartment 23 and Happy Endings shouldn’t be too worried about ending up on ABC’s chopping block. Desperate Housewives is almost done airing its eighth and final season, so get ready to bid farewell to the ladies of Wisteria Lane.
The CW doesn’t win ratings wars, but it has won over a key demographic: young 20-somethings. With that in mind, it was a nice surprise to see Supernatural picked up along with fantasy fave The Vampire Diaries, leaving fellow fantasy series The Secret Circle pondering its fate. In other news, Tyra will continue teaching wannabe models to smize for at least another year on America’s Next Top Model, while ratings-lacking Gossip Girl will most likely get a final season order – if the channel’s signature show isn’t renewed, then 90210 will be the only drama besides The Vampire Diaries afforded a continued run.
But don’t count out the other series just yet: Rachel Bilson’s Hart of Dixie might still have a pulse, along with spy series Nikita. That being said, Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Ringer probably won’t get another season; put a stake in her, she’s done.
CBS completely owns comedy and drama as far as ratings are concerned, so expect to see the bulk of your favorites back for another season. Station stalwarts like CSI, NCIS, How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory all made the cut, along with newcomers like the comedy 2 Broke Girls and the drama Person of Interest. (The CSI spin-offs may only have a year left in them). Strong performers The Good Wife and The Mentalist were picked up, along with reality favorites Survivor and The Amazing Race.
Proving he can carry a series on his own, Ashton Kutcher will also reprise his role as Walden Schmidt on the 10th season of Two and a Half Men. Comedies Rules of Engagement and Rob are both hanging in the balance; it will really come down to how many new comedies CBS is optioning for their fall lineup.
FOX pulls in a good chunk of its viewers with music-based programming, so it’s no surprise the megahit American Idol will be back for a 12th season next January. The similarly structured X Factor will return too; now if only it could find a new host and some judges. And despite the fact half of its main cast is graduating, music machine Glee has been approved for a fourth season.
Critically successful Fringe was granted a final 13-episode run for the fall, while indie darling Zooey Deschanel was given another year to be adorkable on the-not-quite-so-new New Girl. Kiefer Sutherland’s Touch has a good chance of being picked up, but newcomers The Finder and Alcatraz may be cut from the fall schedule.
Dinosaur drama Terra Nova, abandoned mid-season, will join House (currently wrapping up its final season) as one of the shows not returning in the fall.
