Jess's Take: An Uneventful Summer (on Broadcast, but not Cable)

Welcome to the first fall installment of Jess's Take. My editorial series was on hiatus for about a couple of months, so I will recap how this past summer season went.

Blind Item for July Still Hasn't Been Revealed Yet!
Back in July, TVLine posted the Blind Item. This Blind Item was titled: Which Drama Series May Have Already Been Canceled?

The description was:

Was Penny Dreadful‘s recent stealth cancellation the start of a new TV trend?

Rumors are swirling around the biz-ness that a higher-profile drama series perceived to be something of a hit and, like Showtime’s late monster mash-up, still relatively young in age, may be nearing the end of its run. In fact, unbeknownst to the public at large, the show’s current season may be its last.

Fueling the plug-pulling scuttlebutt is word that several of the show’s stars are currently fielding other long-term, series-regular gigs. And while, yes, the new Peak TV era has seen many performers juggle multiple jobs either simultaneously or concurrently (hello, Niecy Nash!), insiders tell TVLine that the size and scope of some of the roles being offered to this program’s cast suggest the end most certainly has to be nigh. - Source: TVLine

Since that Blind Item was posted, The Last Ship and Ray Donovan were renewed and Tyrant, Roadies, and Devious Maids were canceled on cable, but neither of the canceled shows on cable were revealed to be the Blind Item. Mistresses was canceled on broadcast, leaving ABC with no returning scripted summer shows. Talk about a potential PR nightmare! Mistresses also was not the Blind Item.

Guesses left for third season shows are Murder in the First and The Night Shift. Heck, we can throw second season show Wayward Pines into the mix. Any more guesses I'm missing? Let's throw them into the comment section.

CW Down, But Not Out
With Whose Line and Penn & Teller now scoring 0.3s and 0.4s for originals, Masters of Illusion continued to be low and steady at 0.2s and 0.3s on a Friday. The major disappointment: MadTV. It premiered to a 0.3 and has since scored a 0.2 in the past few weeks.

The CW may be down from last summer, but I won't be surprised if Whose Line, Penn & Teller, and Masters of Illusion return, along with some scripted holdovers.

Overall, broadcast summer was mostly uneventful. Broadcast reality shows will continue to dominate and ratings are getting lower on the scripted side. Let's hope another Under the Dome-like success is around the corner.