Keep or Cut? Vote on the Fate of Almost Human, Beast, Community and 25 Other 'Bubble' Shows
ALMOST HUMAN, Fox
THE CASE FOR KEEPING | Kennex and Dorian, hands down. The growing friendship between the detective and his android is the futuristic drama’s most compelling component.
THE CASE FOR CUTTING | The network’s decision to air the first season out of order, coupled with too few payoffs on the mythology (where’s Kennex’s lady? what’s going on over the wall?), created a disconnect that doesn’t exactly have us clamoring for a second go.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, The CW
THE CASE FOR KEEPING | The indisputable Kristin Kreuk/Jay Ryan chemistry. Sendhil Ramamurthy’s Gabe is positioned as a decent enough foil, especially if he ever beasts out again. They’ve been doing cute stuff with JT and Tess.
THE CASE FOR CUTTING | One-and-a-half seasons in and the storylines/obstacles already feel repetitive, employing the ol’ The Man Behind The Man Behind The Man Behind Muirfield trope. And, yikes, those ratings.
THE CARRIE DIARIES, The CW
THE CASE FOR KEEPING | It might be set in the ’80s, but The Carrie Diaries provides a thoroughly charming, surprisingly candid insight to the trials and tribulations of the modern teenager. Leading lady AnnaSophia Robb is a revelation, and the coming-out arc of Brendan Dooling’s gay teenager Walt was heartbreakingly beautiful. Plus, the introduction of a young Samantha Jones and Carrie’s graduation/move to New York City at the end of Season 2 hint at a whole new world of stories to tell.
THE CASE FOR CUTTING | The Season 2 finale provided a clear and satisfying end point for our characters (especially since we know that new roomies Carrie and Samantha, at least, go on to have further, bawdier adventures via Sex and the City). And despite our affection for the show, we’re not sure we’ll miss two-dimensional supporting characters like Mouse, Maggie and Dorrit in the event of a cancellation.
COMMUNITY, NBC
THE CASE FOR KEEPING | With Dan Harmon back at the helm, the show is as consistent as ever (meaning superior to the gas-leak year if not 100-percent reliably funny). Also, Jonathan Banks’ Professor Hickey is a solid replacement for whatshisname, and the ratings are on par with renewed lead-out Parks and Recreation.
THE CASE FOR CUTTING | Did Harmon’s “reboot,” successful as it was, realistically only buy the show another season of storylines?
THE CRAZY ONES, CBS
THE CASE FOR KEEPING | Not only does The Crazy Ones feature an excellent ensemble cast, but it’s also the only CBS comedy without a laugh track and/or an endless cycle of penis jokes. (Also, James Wolk should be on at least one show at all times.)
THE CASE FOR CUTTING | Robin Williams’ return to the small screen has been a welcome nostalgia trip, but his high-energy, screwball humor isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
DADS, Fox
THE CASE FOR KEEPING | It’s got a great cast. Seth Green? Giovanni Ribisi? Martin Mull? All winners in our book.
THE CASE FOR CUTTING | Dads aims for the lowest common denominator with every lame,
offensive joke. On a network known for smart comedies like New Girl
and The Mindy Project, Dads sticks out like sore, unfunny thumb.
ENLISTED, Fox
THE CASE FOR KEEPING | This military sitcom takes a serious subject and makes it lighthearted and funny thanks to the Hill trio – tough Pete, sarcastic Derrick and moronic Randy. And most importantly, who can resist a man in a uniform?
THE CASE FOR CUTTING | While Enlisted delivers some laughs, the incompetence of this group of soldiers may be a little too overwhelming – not to mention unbelievable. Perhaps an honorable discharge is in order.
THE GOLDBERGS, ABC
THE CASE FOR KEEPING | Unlike a lot of other family sitcoms, the nostalgic ’80s comedy is full of heart, but never at the expense of laughs. Plus, we need more of Wendi McLendon-Covey’s hilarious performance as the overbearing smother of the clan.
THE CASE FOR CUTTING | You can’t live in the past forever.
HART OF DIXIE, The CW
THE CASE FOR KEEPING | On a network filled with vampire and supernatural dramas, Dixie's quaint small town setting is a breath of fresh air. Plus, we are still anxiously waiting for Zoe and Wade to act on their obvious sexual tension and rekindle their romance!
THE CASE FOR CUTTING | Season 3 has taken a turn for the worst thanks to Zoe's writer boyfriend Joel (Yawn) who only emphasizes how boring this show has become. With old storylines and unbelievable over-the-top town events, Bluebell may need to be wiped off the map. (And this time not by town rival Fillmore.)
MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D., ABC
THE CASE FOR KEEPING | After launching as little more than a glossy procedural with cool toys, recent episodes such as “T.R.A.C.K.S.” and the one involving a Asgardian clash have better showcased the show’s potential to offer something… “super.”
THE CASE FOR CUTTING | The ratings, while stabilized, probably aren’t commensurate with ABC’s investment. And save for Coulson, May and possibly Fitz and/or Simmons, the characters haven’t solidly clicked with audiences.
THE MENTALIST, CBS
THE CASE FOR KEEPING | With Red John out of the way, the series has been able to focus on week-to-week crimesolving — albeit in a new town, for a new employer and amidst a couple of new faces (and now minus two familiar ones).
THE CASE FOR CUTTING | CBS’ modus operandi seems to be to send an aging procedural to the oft-time-delayed Sundays-at-10 time slot to wither on the vine for a season or two, so The Mentalist’s time may be up. And while it’s entertaining to see Cho mentor the FBI’s young tech geek, Fischer isn’t clicking with viewers and Rockmond Dunbar’s Abbott has had little to do.
NASHVILLE, ABC
THE CASE FOR KEEPING | Now that Deacon’s back on the wagon and Rayna’s divorce is final – and they’ve worked through the reveal that Maddie is his kid — a third season would be the perfect time for the singing soul mates to reunite.
THE CASE FOR CUTTING | A surplus of secondary characters means the show has gotten away from its strongest asset: the love/hate rivalry between Rayna Jaymes and Juliette Barnes.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND, ABC
UPDATE: CANCELLED
THE CASE FOR CUTTING | In nearly every aspect, from story to style, this spin-off feels like the neglected stepchild of its parent series. It’s hard not to compare the two, and it’ll be even harder to convince ABC that both shows are worth keeping.
PARENTHOOD, NBC
THE CASE FOR KEEPING | With most of today’s TV landscape riddled with special effects and the supernatural, Parenthood is a breath of fresh air that simply celebrates the importance of family — no superpowers required.
THE CASE FOR CUTTING | There’s hardly a dull moment for the big Braverman clan, but this season’s repetitive storylines (including the constant search for Sarah’s One True Love) run the risk of going stale.
REVOLUTION, NBC
THE CASE FOR KEEPING | Season 2 successfully fleshed out (and dirtied up) the post-blackout world, sending its heroes to different terrains, and introduced some promising new cast members in Monroe’s son Connor (played by Mat Vairo) and Rachel’s dad Gene (Stephen Collins). We even like Charlie now!
THE CASE FOR CUTTING | The unrelenting bleakness has gotten difficult to watch, and the disparate storylines, with their different enemies, have slowed down the show’s pace.
STAR-CROSSED, The CW
THE CASE FOR KEEPING | Star-Crossed does a great job of balancing its alien mythology with its teen melodrama, and the result is a fairly complex show about acceptance. Besides, after carrying 90210 on his shirtless back for five seasons, The CW owes Matt Lanter.
THE CASE FOR CUTTING | That said, how many shows about forbidden supernatural love does one network really need?
SUBURGATORY, ABC
THE CASE FOR KEEPING | The absurdly heightened supporting characters (Dallas, Dalia, Sheila, Fred) that populate Chatswin continue to deliver enormous, Emmy-worthy laughs, and the show’s writers seem only to have scratched the surface of sending up Stepford-y suburban tropes.
THE CASE FOR CUTTING | With Tessa (Jane Levy) approaching graduation and George (Jeremy Sisto) no longer romantically entangled with Dallas, the Altman family’s reasons for not returning to NYC seem a tad flimsy. And if we’re being completely honest, the absence of Alan Tudyk, Rex Lee and Parker Young still stings a third of the way into Season 3.
THE TOMORROW PEOPLE, The CW
THE CASE FOR KEEPING | After a so-so pilot, the newbie drama has been surprisingly forthcoming with answers and twists for a first-year show.
THE CASE FOR CUTTING | There’s a design flaw: The ridiculously charming John ought to be the main character. Maybe it’s time to set Luke Mitchell free so he can find his star vehicle.
TROPHY WIFE, ABC
THE CASE FOR KEEPING | Trophy Wife’s humor is what initially drew us in, but its heart is what got us hooked. And if that’s not enough to convince you, we’ve got one word to push you over the edge: Burt! That child is a straight-up revelation.
THE CASE FOR CUTTING | There are zero reasons to cut Trophy Wife. We consulted with scientists, elected officials and philosophers from all corners of the globe and there are just zero reasons.