It's a positive ABC Renew/Cancel this week, as two shows improve their footing as we head into the closing weeks of the season. Plus, the ABC Renew/Cancel March Madness continues with four shows advancing!
Analysis to come.
CBS closes the door on another season of scripted predictions, handing out a renewal and two cancellations since our last update. Keep reading for my thoughts on what their recent decisions mean for the network's future.
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| Photo Credit: Fox |
Below are the March 28th Fox renew/cancel predictions for the 2025-26 television season. The table embedded includes the Adults 18-49 ratings average of each program. The "Y2Y (year-to-year) Change" column compares a show's current average to its average from the previous season.
There is just one more Universal Basic Guys episode left to air before the show's second season comes to a close. And while the sophomore comedy has had the sharpest year-to-year decline of the network's non-reality offerings, it will likely remain the second highest-rated scripted series on the Fox network. Much of that has to do with the multiple direct NFL lead-ins it has received, but Fox's decision to keep providing it with such help signals that they are invested in its success. On nights without a boost, its performance has been a mixed bag. It went as low as a 0.13 rating on February 22nd, barely retaining more than half of its Family Guy lead-in on the night in question. But a more recent performance against the Oscars (0.16 and 73% retention) does not seem nearly as catastrophic. Basic Guys has already been renewed for a third season, so it will be back regardless, but it will eventually have to stand on its own. Based on the data presented, the chances of it being able to do so are slim.
But before Basic Guys can air its finale, Fox has to finish airing The Faithful, a miniseries that will conclude on April 5th. In its debut, the event program managed a modest 0.17 rating, a number that puts it on par with the latest episode of American Dad!. Since the show was billed as a "limited series" from the start, its fate has already been determined, so a prediction does not need to be assigned to it.
The day after The Faithful premiered, Memory of a Killer rose to a 0.15 rating, up slightly from the week prior. The freshman drama has slowly been rising after dealing with some harsh declines, and it had a higher peak on Hulu this week than both Best Medicine and Doc. Because of this, it is still a likely renewal.
| The TV Ratings Guide | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Extracted | Memory of a Killer | ||
| Tues | Best Medicine | Doc | ||
| Wed | The Masked Singer | Fear Factor: House of Fear | ||
| Thurs | Next Level Chef | Animal Control | Going Dutch | |
| Fri | Fox Sports | |||
| Sun | The Faithful | |||
On finale night, Fear Factor: House of Fear (0.28, +0.06) surged on Fox, matching a sinking Masked Singer (0.28, -0.03) in the process. On CBS, reality staple Survivor (0.93, -0.03), America's Culinary Cup (0.27, -0.03), and Hollywood Squares (0.12, -0.03) were all down a little from last week. ABC's Scrubs (0.45, +0.01), The Greatest Average American (0.19, +0.01), and Shark Tank (0.16, +0.01) all gained a hundredth apiece, but Abbott Elementary (0.34, -0.04) declined. NBC aired repeats of Chicago Med (0.20), Chicago Fire (0.19), and Chicago PD (0.20). Police 24/7 (0.05, -0.03) slipped on the CW. Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.
Hello. I am Tommie and I’m always curious about failures and shows that went south (sometimes literally). Fox’s 1992-93 season is particular for many reasons, but among those is that they were trying to massively expand – going from four nights to seven. Good luck, Chuck!
Either way, here’s one of the shows Fox tried on their schedule to expand.
The Heights (1992)
Fox dramas Best Medicine (0.20, -0.03) and Doc (0.15, -0.06) both dropped to their previously-set series lows after a week off. On CBS, NCIS (0.35, +0.08), NCIS: Origins (0.25, +0.03), and NCIS: Sydney (0.16, +0.01) were all up, but the gains decreased in size as the evening progressed. Will Trent (0.30, +0.03), High Potential (0.28, +0.03), and RJ Decker (0.15, +0.02) bounced back on ABC. NBA on NBC (0.37) led the way in the Adults 18-49 demographic. WWE NXT (0.08, +0.01) rose slightly on the CW.
This week on the NBC Renew/Cancel, I take another look at NBC's reformed Monday night lineup, including positive news for a new comedy and further thoughts on the future prospects of a long-valued veteran reality staple.
Though American Idol (0.41, 0.00) matched last week's rating, ABC drama The Rookie (0.19, -0.03) fell to its previously-set low. The Neighborhood (0.34, -0.08), DMV (0.26, -0.01), and FBI (0.33, -0.02) all declined on CBS, but CIA (0.20, +0.01) ticked up. NBC's St. Denis Medical (0.28, -0.10) and Reggie Dinkins (0.25, -0.07) plummeted, while The Voice (0.23, -0.02) had a more subtle drop. Memory of a Killer (0.15, +0.01) inched up on Fox, even as its Extracted lead-in (0.21, -0.03) slipped. On the CW, Wild Cards (0.04, -0.01) ticked down. Key: (R) = repeat.
The Faithful: Women of the Bible (0.17) had a lackluster debut on Fox, but it still grew significantly from its Saints lead-in (0.04). On CBS, a massive March Madness lead-in (2.61) gave newsmagazine staple 60 Minutes (0.69, +0.17) a sizable boost. Marshals (0.46, +0.01) and Tracker (0.37, +0.02) were also up, but Watson (0.16, -0.04) slipped. On ABC, the broadcast preview of Love Overboard (0.11) fell behind a repeat of American Idol (0.15). NBA on NBC (0.38) was down from last week. The CW aired the 2002 film Men in Black II (0.02). Key: (R) = repeat.
CBS's March Madness coverage (1.18) rebounded and helped 48 Hours (0.31, +0.18) soar to a higher level than usual. NHL on ABC (0.26) paled in comparison, but it was still well above MLS on Fox (0.06). NBC aired The Super Mario Bros. Movie (0.19) and a repeat of Saturday Night Live (0.22). The CW went with I Am Raquel Welch (0.03). Key: (R) = repeat.
On ABC, Celebrity Jeopardy! (0.31, -0.01) ticked down, but 20/20 (0.27, +0.07) surged. NBC sitcom Happy's Place (0.22, -0.03) slipped, and Dateline (0.15, -0.07) plummeted. March Madness coverage (0.55/0.61) was significantly lower than yesterday on CBS. Fox aired repeats of Doc (0.08) and Best Medicine (0.06). Remarkable Women (0.01) underwhelmed on the CW. Key: (R) = repeat.
CBS's March Madness coverage (1.13) topped the 8 p.m. hour but was down from last year. On ABC, 9-1-1 (0.31, +0.01) and 9-1-1: Nashville (0.24, +0.02) ticked up, but Grey's Anatomy (0.20, -0.02) was down at ten. NBC aired repeats of Law & Order (0.19), SVU (0.19), and The Hunting Party (0.10). On Fox, Next Level Chef (0.24, +0.01) rose slightly. The CW aired encores of Scrabble (0.05) and Trivial Pursuit (0.06). Key: (R) = repeat.
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| Photo Credit: Fox |
The Simpsons: This season, The Simpsons ended with a 0.46 Adults 18-49 ratings average, up markedly from last year's 0.35. This outcome isn't a complete shock, as the shortened episode order caused it to miss the spring months entirely, a time when it usually struggles. But the series also just seemed stronger overall, ending with a 0.29 rating for the second-half of its one-hour season finale. That more than doubles its finale from the previous season, a paltry 0.13. It is unclear if it would have remained in such good shape if it had to air in April or May, but its improved performance is worth mentioning nonetheless.
Memory of a Killer: After its NFL-fueled debut, Memory of a Killer began its Monday run with a solid 0.22 rating, but the audience erosion did not stop there. It shed half of that promising time slot debut less than a month later, sinking to a measly 0.11 on February 23. It has since recovered slightly, most recently ticking up to a 0.14, but it has been made abundantly clear that Adults 18-49 ratings are not Memory's strong suit. Still, there continues to be a decent amount of interest in the show on Hulu, and Fox renewed Alert in 2024 with similar ratings. Memory of a Killer remains a likely renewal, but it is on shakier ground than before.
Animal Control: Fox renewed live-action sitcom Animal Control for a fifth season in late February. This serves as a correct prediction for The TV Ratings Guide, as the series was listed as a "certain renewal" prior to the announcement. Unlike last year when it didn't receive a pickup until May, things felt fairly straightforward for Animal Control this time around. The deal with Netflix clearly bolstered its chances of returning, and Fox's decision to air the season premiere after an NFL game made it clear that they still hold the series in high regard.
Best Medicine: Best Medicine was renewed in early March, marking another correct prediction for The TV Ratings Guide. This renewal comes as no surprise, as the series has been a consistently solid Adults 18-49 ratings performer despite its soft post-NFL launch.
Doc: Doc was recently renewed for a third season. This was a correct prediction for The TV Ratings Guide, since the series has been a "certain renewal" since September.
Going Dutch: Going Dutch is in a difficult place. It was not renewed alongside comedy companion Animal Control like it was last year, and nothing about its ratings or streaming performance is particularly impressive. But as a whole, its ratings are about the same as they were when Fox renewed it in 2025, and being filmed in Ireland likely keeps costs down. For now, Going Dutch is still a likely renewal, but that could change in the coming weeks.
The FOX Renew/Cancel March Madness tournament returns this week. This four-week voting event, inspired by the NCAA bracket tournament, allows readers the chance to vote for their favorite programs on the various broadcast networks. In 2025, Rescue: HI-Surf was crowned the winner, taking nearly 74% of the vote in the final match! But HI-Surf is no more, so a new champion must emerge. Vote in the polls below to ensure that the shows you enjoy advance to the next round!
| The TV Ratings Guide | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Extracted | Memory of a Killer | ||
| Tues | Best Medicine | Doc | ||
| Wed | The Masked Singer | Fear Factor: House of Fear | ||
| Thurs | Next Level Chef | Animal Control | Going Dutch | |
| Fri | Fox Sports | |||
| Sun | Family Guy | Universal Basic Guys | American Dad! | Family Guy |
