Week 30: NBC Sitcoms, As Usual, Are A Mess

NBC’s sitcoms have been low rated compared to their dramas for quite some time. This season is no exception. The four not yet renewed sitcoms are pitifully rated: American Auto (70% of NBC’s 2023 scripted average), Lopez v Lopez (63%), Young Rock (59%), Grand Crew (39%!).

Still, I’m only reasonably confident predicting Grand Crew as likely canceled. Cancellation of third season shows, like Young Rock, is rare, no matter the ratings. American Auto was renewed last season with 76% of NBC’s average rating. Is 70% this season that much worse? Lopez v Lopez relative ratings are terrible, but they’re better than Grand Crew’s last season (61%).

Some have suggested that NBC is giving its low rated sitcoms 2 years at a minimum. Last season’s decisions followed that theory. That would argue for American Auto cancellation and Lopez v Lopez renewal. But, is one season a trend?

In last week’s news: Everyone on The Resident was fired, confirming the obvious cancellation given that the sets had already been sold.

Predictions/Status:

All predictions are for renewal for the 2023-24 broadcast season, or cancellation by the end of the 2022-23 broadcast season.

ABC

Likely Canceled by May, 2023

• Alaska Daily, lowest rated of ABC’s scripted shows

• The Company You Keep, lowest rated of ABC’s spring rookie dramas

Likely Renewed for ’23-‘24

• Big Sky, season 3 shows likely renewed even with low ratings

• Home Economics, season 3 shows likely renewed even with low ratings

• Not Dead Yet

• Station 19, season 6 shows at risk due to likely salary renegotiation

• The Conners

• The Good Doctor, season 6 shows at risk due to likely salary renegotiation

• The Rookie

• The Rookie: Feds

• Will Trent, borderline ratings for a rookie

Renewed for ’23-‘24

• Abbott Elementary

• Grey’s Anatomy

Ending in '22-'23

• A Million Little Things, renanceled*

• The Goldbergs, canceled

Dumped to Summer ‘23, dead

• The Wonder Years

CBS

Likely Canceled by May, 2023

• True Lies, CBS’s lowest rated scripted show

Likely Renewed for ’23-‘24

• East New York, ratings are fine, could WB ownership be the holdup? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

• SWAT, SWAT is in the "if you can make it cheap enough, we'll renew it" negotiation dance with CBS. I have no way to predict the outcome accurately, so I default to likely renewal.

Renewed for ’23-‘24

• Blue Bloods

• Bob Hearts Abishola

• CSI: Vegas

• Equalizer

• Ghosts

• FBI

• FBI: International

• FBI: Most Wanted

• Fire Country

• NCIS

• NCIS: Hawaii

• So Help Me Todd

• Young Sheldon

• The Neighborhood

Ending in '22-'23

• NCIS:LA, canceled

CW

🤷 What’s up with CW predictions?

Nexstar purchased 75% of the CW network in 2022. CBS & WB now own just 12.5% of the network each.

Nexstar has a deal obligating them to carry CBS & WB shows on the CW for the 2022-23 season. Nexstar can renew the deal at its option on an annual basis and carry CBS/WB shows longer, but what it will do is anyone’s guess.

• All American: Homecoming

• Coroner

• Family Law

• Gotham Knights

• Kung Fu

• Professionals

• Superman & Lois

• The Winchesters

• Walker

• Walker Independence

Renewed for ’23-‘24

• All American

Ending in '22-'23

• Nancy Drew, renanceled*

• Riverdale, renanceled*

• Stargirl, canceled

• The Flash, renanceled*

Fox

Likely Renewed for ’23-‘24

• 9-1-1

• 9-1-1 Lonestar

• Animal Control

• Call Me Kat, season 3 shows likely renewed even with terrible ratings

• Fantasy Island, this could be renewed for either the regular season or summer

• Welcome to Flatch, terrible ratings, but being a cheap international co-production saved it last season and might again

Renewed

• Accused, renewed through ‘23-’24

• Alert: Missing Persons Unit, renewed through ‘23-’24

• Krapopolis, renewed through ‘25-’26

• Grimsburg, renewed through ‘23-’24

• Bob’s Burgers, renewed through ‘24-’25

• Family Guy, renewed through ‘24-’25

• Simpsons, renewed through ‘24-’25

• The Cleaning Lady, renewed through ‘23-’24

• The Great North, renewed through ‘23-’24

Ending in '22-'23

• Monarch, canceled

• The Resident, canceled

NBC

Likely Canceled by May, 2023

• Grand Crew, lowest rated NBC scripted show

Likely Renewed for ’23-‘24

• American Auto, in danger if NBC is canning their low rated sitcoms after 2 seasons

• Chicago PD, renewed 4/10

• Chicago Med, renewed 4/10

• Chicago Fire, renewed 4/10

• Law & Order, renewed 4/10

• Law & Order: OC, renewed 4/10

• Law & Order: SVU, ancient dramas always at risk, depends on the syndication deal, renewed 4/10

• Lopez v. Lopez, terrible ratings, but NBC may be giving its low rated sitcoms 2 seasons to fail

• Young Rock, season 3 shows likely renewed even with low ratings

Renewed for ’23-‘24

• Chicago PD

• Chicago Med

• Chicago Fire

• La Brea, likely renanceled*

• Law & Order

• Law & Order: OC

• Law & Order: SVU

• Magnum, PI

• Night Court

• Quantum Leap

Ending in '22-'23

• New Amsterdam, renanceled*

• The Blacklist, renanceled*

The Reaper’s running prediction tally this season: 28-2

• Right: Monarch, Quantum Leap, Fire Country, Abbott Elementary, Ghosts, The Neighborhood, Bob Hearts Abishola, Bob’s Burgers, Family Guy, Simpsons, La Brea, The Cleaning Lady, Night Court, NCIS, NCIS:Hawaii, CSI:Vegas, The Goldbergs, Accused, Alert: Missing Persons Unit, Grey’s Anatomy, Blue Bloods, The Resident, Chicago Med, Chicago PD, Chicago Fire, Law & Order, Law & Order: OC, Law & Order: SVU

• Wrong: NCIS:LA, So Help Me Todd

*Renanceled = it was announced that the show’s next season will be its final one, before that final season began.

How Can You Follow The Reaper?

• Twitter (the best way!) Daily TV ratings during the broadcast season, chatter & links to weekly predictions.

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