Fox Renew/Cancel #4: ’Bless the Harts’ Is Still a Likely Renewal

Predictions for 11/27/20

Credit: Fox/Seat42F

Here are the latest renew/cancel predictions for the Fox network. Two shows have fallen even further since the last update on November 13th while the Sunday animation block has thrived with the help of football boosts. New sitcom 'Call Me Kat' and the final season of 'Last Man Standing' will enter the chart after they premiere on January 3, 2021.

Bless the Harts: On paper, it definitely seems like sophomore sitcom 'Bless the Harts' has reached the end of the road. 'Harts' is currently down 32% from last year and averages a paltry 0.58 A18-49 rating. Not only is the animated series the lowest-rated of the 'Animation Domination' lineup but it also boasts the sharpest year-to-year decline. Despite all that, the series remains in relatively good shape to nab a third season. While its ratings have fallen, it hasn't gotten much weaker than it was in season one. For instance, the November 15th installment notched a 0.7 18-49 rating, six-tenths below its football-inflated 'Simpsons' lead-in (1.3). In comparison, an episode that aired on November 10, 2019 posted a 0.8 rating despite 'Simpsons' pulling a much stronger 1.8. When stacked up against each other, the 2020 performance actually seems healthier than the 2019 one.

Of course, 'Harts' has also fallen to disastrous new lows, hitting a 0.3 on October 4th and never rising above a 0.4 rating on nights without NFL help. Although those numbers are indeed terrible, 'Duncanville' was renewed in the spring with similar ratings and animated series 'The Great North' has been renewed before even debuting. Fox seems hell-bent on expanding its animation library, even it means carrying around duds like 'Harts'. While 'Bless the Harts' is no lock for renewal, it's more likely than not to stick around for another season. Status: LIKELY RENEWAL

Filthy Rich & Next: 'Filthy Rich' and 'Next' somehow managed to reach new lows, the two disappointing newbies each garnered a pathetic 0.2 A18-49 rating for their second-to-last and latest episodes respectively. With both programs already canceled, 'Filthy Rich' will be airing its final episode on November 30th and 'Next' will close out on the 22nd of December. It goes without saying that the Fox network will hope to have better luck with scripted originals in the new year. Status: CANCELLED

The Simpsons: With the help of back-to-back football lead-ins, 'The Simpsons' now averages a sturdy 1.13 A18-49 rating. This means that America's favorite yellow family is the third highest-rated scripted series and the #1 comedy on broadcast television. Of course, those numbers are hardly as impressive as they sound given that 4 of the 7 episodes that have aired this year had an NFL postgame show leading directly into it. Take away the football-inflated installments and 'Simpsons' drops down to a measly 0.55 A18-49 average, less than half of its current one. Even then, a 0.55 average would be considered passable by today's bleak broadcast standards. With that said, the series is in no real danger and is strong enough to hold its own. The show's creative well may have run dry but the sitcom still has some life left in the ratings department. Status: CERTAIN RENEWAL

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