One of the most stressful and uncertain times of year for a television aficionado is renewal season. It is the time of year when fans find out whether their favorite new shows have been picked up for another year or will be cast aside, never to be seen again. It is that time of year again, so it is time to take a look back at how this year’s shows have done.
The riskiest time for a new show is always at the end of its first season. Once a show gets past that point, it usually can last at least three or four seasons. There were quite a few new shows this season, ranging from instant classics to lead balloons.
“Silicon Valley,” HBO’s new comedy from Mike Judge is a hilarious look into the world of technology. While the residents of the real Silicon Valley may not have liked the stereotyped portrayal of their lives, clearly the viewers did, as the show was renewed for a second season.
“Surviving Jack” is an amusing look into the atypical parenting of the titular Jack. As a midseason replacement and a live action comedy on Fox, “Jack” had the cards stacked against it from the beginning, and it wasn’t able to overcome the odds. The final episode aired last Thursday, to dismal viewership.
“Mixology” was set in a bar, with the entire season taking place in only a single night. The relationships and mishaps of ten characters are explored. The show’s viewers steadily declined as the season progressed, and ABC decided to pull the plug. The final two episodes will air on May 14 and 21 at 9:30/8:30c on ABC.
HBO’s daring new show, “Looking,” has been called the gay version of “Girls,” but the topic did not generate as much criticism as you might expect. A touching look into the modern life of three gay men living in San Francisco, HBO decided to continue, ordering a second season back in February, two weeks before the season finale.
Finally, one of the latest shows to learn its fate. “Hannibal,” NBC’s retelling of the most sophisticated cannibal in history, entered into its second season with rave reviews from critics and fans alike. With another season confirmed on Friday when NBC renewed it for a full third season, fans will definitely be seeing more from this fascinating drama.
Some of the most popular shows may be obvious renewals, but you can never be sure until it is announced.
There isn’t much uncertainty about “Game of Thrones’” renewal chances. It was renewed for another two full seasons just two days after the season four premiere aired. There is some uncertainty in the content of those seasons, however, as many are worried the show will overtake the books before a new one can be released. Whatever the case may be, fans will get to watch the Westeros fantasy for years to come.
If it were possible for renewal to be even more certain than “Game of Thrones,” “Black Sails” is it. Incredibly, Starz’s new pirate show was renewed for a second season nearly a year ago, a full six months before the show even premiered. While reviews have been mixed, this show is sailing on into the future, though a cancellation mid-season two is still a possibility.
Everyone’s favorite alcoholic spy, “Archer,” had to change his line of work this season as ISIS, the agency for which he worked, was shut down by the government. The change in scenery did nothing to lessen the hilarity of the show, which was picked up for another two seasons. Look forward to new adventures of the ISIS crew for many years.
All good things must come to an end, even for fan favorites such as NBC’s “Community,” whose cancellation was announced this past weekend. A perennial subject in the “will it, won’t it” renewal discussion, the Save Greendale Committee has closed up shop for good, failing to reach the six seasons and a movie that it seemed destined to reach. There is room for hope, however, as Comedy Central has purchased the rights to the shows syndication, which could lead to “Community” jumping to a new network.
Even renewal can be bittersweet, with the newly ordered seasons for “Bones” and “Parks and Recreation” likely being their last.
Whether your show was renewed or cancelled, attention turns away from the spring to the best of last summer as we now move into the summer television season, with all new ups and downs to experience.
