Facing the Axe: Fringe, Alcatraz and Ringer

ATV Today predicts which shows in America we believe will be axed including Ringer, The River, Alcatraz and Nikita.

The fate of many shows in America still hang in the balance with their fans waiting patiently – or not so in some cases – to find if the series will be back next year or has been consigned to the scrap heat.

Several shows have already been formally cancelled such as Terra Nova – which for a brief while looked like it could move to Netflix. Charlie’s Angels, The Playboy Club and Prime Suspect have all been cancelled as well as Pan Am is all but formally cancelled.

In this feature ATV Today predicts which shows we believe will be axed by their respective broadcaster – based on ratings on and other issues. Just because we pick a series doesn’t mean we want to see it axed but means going by the data out there we think it will be….

Sarah Michelle Gellar’s CW drama Ringer is the first show on our list. The series opened promisingly but recent episodes have seen ratings decline to 1 million viewers and regardless of what it’s DVR figures may be that’s a bad figure. The CW has noticeably struggled in the ratings this mean with all of its shows underperforming but that will not save Ringer. The fact it stars SMG may just help it survive but going by ratings alone it’s a goner.

The CW also has three other shows which could very well be cancelled; Gossip Girl, Nikita and Hart of Dixie. Despite Gossip Girl’s poor performance this year it is most likely out of the three to return – but for a sixth and final season. For some time now the possibility of a final season for the teeny drama has been raised and that looks likely to be its fate. Out of Nikita and Hart of Dixie we’d say that Nikita is slightly more likely to be axed and Hart of Dixie more likely to be given a second chance.

ABC‘s new paranormal series The River has not been performed as well at it would have liked – in fact that’s an understatement. The River‘s ratings have been low – too low to survive on ABC. However, there are some rumours that Netflix may be interested in picking up the series so The River may yet survive. Courtney Cox comedy Cougar Town has also suffered, again, from the ratings and ABC is unlikely to give it another chance. Dana Delany and Jeri Ryan drama Body of Proof hasn’t had a brilliant second season ratings rise but the fact it does well oversea’s may save it, some predict it will be axed but the drama isn’t dead yet.

CBS has already renewed 18 shows and although Two and a Half Men wasn’t on that list BUT it will be renewed once a deal is worked out. CSI was on the list but spin-offs CSI: NY and CSI: Miami were not and several experts are predicting one will be cancelled and one will be renewed. We agree with that line of thinking – one of the CSI shows will be cancelled and to be honest we are lining towards CSI: NY as the most likely to be dropped. CBS will also likely cancel A Gifted Man because of its poor performance so far.

Fox revived Breaking In – to everyone’s surprise – but it looks set to heading straight back to cancellation again and a second revival isn’t going to happen. J.J Abrams’ Alcatraz and Fringe both face uncertain futures. The debate over whether Fox will renew Fringe for another season or not continues and to be fair even though its figures say it should be cancelled its impossible to say which way Fox will go. A final season renewal of Fringe is the most likely outcome if indeed Fox does renew the series. But Fox has already admitted it loses money on Fringe and the ratings continue to fall; logically therefore Fringe should be dead but its survived certain death before. As for Alcatraz; it will be cancelled too. It didn’t perform well and Fox’s worry will be that trend would continue in the second series.

NBC has had a rough season with Prime Suspect, The Playboy Club and Free Agents all falling at the first hurdle with only Grimm and Smash really providing any joy for the broadcaster. NBC is likely to renew most of its other shows though comedy Bent may as well be cancelled now – it’s low ratings have sealed its fate. Harry’s Law on the other hand is a different kettle of fish; it has a low 18-49 ratings but its total ratings aren’t actually that bad. It is, admittedly, the 18-49 figures that usually matter and probably will in its case but Harry’s Law shouldn’t be written off just yet.

Our most likely contenders for the axe out of all the shows covered are; Ringer, Nikita, The River, Cougar Town, Breaking In, Alcatraz and Bent.

Fringe, CSI NY and Harry’s Law are more likely to be cancelled than renewed but we’re not quite ready to write them off completely just yet.