A puzzling CW season reaches its end this week, as final renewal and cancellation decisions are expected to be announced for the network's six remaining series. Keep reading for my final calls on a slew of tossups as the future of The CW remains in doubt.
4400: Despite The CW's long history of renewing everything, this show never really felt like it had all that much of a chance, even before the network's sale was announced. It didn't seem to take off in any meaningful way, and it still has not. It's not available on streaming, suggesting that The CW has all but given up on the show. It didn't receive a backorder either, meaning it's been off the air for nearly three months now. There are virtually no signs that suggest this show has any chance of returning, and it seems guaranteed to be canceled. Chance of renewal: 10%
All American: Homecoming: The spinoff of The CW's highest-rated series, Homecoming has not been as strong as its parent series, but it remains a strong 9 o'clock performer for The CW, rating as their #1 series in the hour. How much first-run ratings actually matter to the CW remains a question, however. This is a network that canceled Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow while renewing Nancy Drew, a show with half the 18-49 average as those two. It's all about money, and I don't know anything regarding the financials for Homecoming. That's why I'm downgrading my prediction, because it's hard to be too certain in this era of the CW. It clearly deserves a renewal, but I can't rule out an undeserved cancellation. Chance of renewal: 65%
Charmed: I've gone back and forth on whether Charmed will return or not, and any time I was previously prepared to downgrade it, something convinced me not to. However, I keep returning to my gut feeling that Charmed has not exactly charmed The CW into giving it another season. Something is telling me that it's about to be canceled. Ratings are indeed low, and the show seems far from being a priority for The CW, given that they prioritized the former summer reality series Penn & Teller: Fool Us over it by giving it a fall time slot instead and only gave Charmed thirteen episodes this season. While I saw it being on the bubble going into the season, not being included in the initial mass renewal gave me true doubts about its renewal, and I'm now predicting a cancellation. Chance of renewal: 40%
Dynasty: It's used to being one of the lowest-rated shows on The CW, but now, that truly puts it in danger. Yes, Nancy Drew did get a renewal despite ratings that are nearly as low as Dynasty's, but I think Dynasty would have been renewed by now if it The CW was truly intent on renewing it. It's not like they were waiting for ratings data for it, given that they've known what a flop it was for multiple seasons. With the CW sale putting a lot of shows in danger, perennial ratings underperformer Dynasty may have finally found itself on the wrong side of rock bottom. Chance of renewal: 45%
Legacies: Before today, I would remained relatively confident that The CW would renew Legacies, given the long history of its franchise on the network. But I'm starting to have my doubts. The CW randomly announced today that the show's upcoming episodes have been delayed by nearly a month, with the show's season finale moved from May 26th to June 16th. The finale will also be written by series creator Julie Plec, the first episode she has written in multiple seasons, which may be a sign that the show is getting ready to wrap up, and is bringing its creator back to write its end. So I am highly conflicted here, but I have to make a call one way or another, and I feel that the odds of a renewal are slightly higher than the odds of cancelation. With two Warner Brothers shows already canceled, I could see the remaining ones all being renewed. While I think Legacies is the WB show most likely to be canceled, I am currently betting on it being renewed, though I'm not confident in it. Chance of renewal: 51%
Naomi: A few weeks back, it was said that, of the four DC projects in contention for airing on The CW next season (not counting the two already-renewed series, the Flash and Superman & Lois), only two would make it to next season. Since then, both Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow were canceled. While I anticipated the cancellation of Legends of Tomorrow, I probably would've bet that Batwoman would be renewed over Naomi. While Naomi could still be canceled, I think that the other two DC shows being canceled while it is left alive is a very good sign for its future. I'd be surprised if The CW canceled an outright majority of its remaining DC properties in a single season, and so I am estimating that Naomi will make it to a second season. Chance of renewal: 60%
What do you think of my predictions? What are your predictions? Let me know in the comments and vote in the poll of the week!
