7 Bubble Shows We're Worried About
Here's a little good news about our latest renewal update: Not a single CW series is in danger of getting cancelled. Earlier this month, the network handed very early pickups to its entire lineup for the 2020-21 season. But the remaining four broadcast nets have yet to follow The CW's lead, which means a dozen-plus series on ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC remain vulnerable ahead of May's upfront announcements. Here are the seven programs we're most worried about.
Stumptown
STUMPTOWN
The Jan. 15 episode sank to series lows, with 2.5 million total viewers and a 0.4 demo rating. Stumptown's saving grace could come in delayed viewing, which is where the Cobie Smolders-led action-dramedy really flexes its muscle.
Single Parents
SINGLE PARENTS
On the plus side, the sophomore ABC sitcom is pulling in roughly the same ratings as black-ish. On the downside, it has shed 20 percent of its modest Season 1 audience. Hopefully, Alphabet network execs will choose to focus on the plus side when they decide the series' fate in May.
Emergence
EMERGENCE
The heavily serialized ABC thriller's linear ratings are, simply put, frightening, with its penultimate episode delivering fewer than 2 million viewers while clutching onto its season low, a 0.3 rating, in the demo.
All Rise
ALL RISE
The additional episode order, after just five outings, was encouraging, but the numbers remain concerning: The legal drama stands as CBS lowest-rated freshman series.
The Resident
THE RESIDENT
Although performing modestly better than its Tuesday time slot predecessor The Gifted (R.I.P.), Fox's medical drama is down 19 percent vs. its Season 2 performance (when it was paired on Mondays with the buzzy 9-1-1). Fox entertainment president Michael Thorn says no decision has been made about a fourth season. Creatively speaking, "It's having its best season yet," the exec told TVLine, before lamenting: "I wish the show got more recognition."
Perfect Harmony
PERFECT HARMONY
NBC's freshman comedy came out of its fall run as the network's second lowest-rated series (behind the already cancelled Sunnyside). Even more worrisome, the sitcom's penultimate episode dipped to a new demo low (of 0.3) while drawing just 1.35 million live viewers, its smallest audience ever. Not much to sing about.
The Rookie
THE ROOKIE
While the Nathan Fillion procedural is "only" off 13 percent vs. its, um, rookie season, the series has been struggling to generate much buzz in its strange, new Sunday perch, where it caps a night of reality-TV.