FOX Renew/Cancel: Animal Control Is In Control + 2025-26 Recap

Fox Corporation, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Below are the September 26th Fox renew/cancel predictions for the 2026-27 television season. The table format will return once each show has at least one data point in the 18-49 demographic.

The Simpsons received a multi-season renewal in 2025, so it is already set to return for next season. No prediction will be assigned to it.

It is rare for a sitcom entering its fifth season to be upgraded to one of the best time slots on the network. This fall, Animal Control will be stationed in the coveted post-Simpsons slot on Sunday nights, a time when the NFL lead-in inflates the lineup's numbers to a cartoonish degree. Such preferential treatment makes Fox's intentions clear, so the series begins as a certain renewal.

Traditionally, a move to an anchor slot would be a vote of confidence by the network. But Universal Basic Guys has not proven itself to be a show that can excel at the top of the hour. In winter 2026, Guys often trailed both its lead-in and lead-out, and being at nine instead of 8:30 means that the NFL's positive impact on its numbers will be reduced. But while it will be dealing with a more challenging set of circumstances, Fox has been quite nurturing to its recent cartoon offerings. And while underwhelming at times, Guys has yet to post an 18-49 rating as low as Grimsburg (0.09 rating on 5/12/24) or Krapopolis (0.07 on 4/19/26). If Fox can continue handing out renewals to those two, then this one can start as a likely renewal.

Grimsburg missed the 2025-26 television season entirely, but it is back to a regular Sunday time slot this season. However, airing at 9:30 means it will receive minimal football help, so its performance among adults 18-49 will be more reflective of its actual strength than the other three. What's working against this one is that it has a low attention score and has been removed from Netflix, but Fox giving it a fall slot for the first time in its career is a positive sign. It is likely to be renewed, but it is far from "certain renewal" territory.

Thanks to a sizable football lead-in, Best Medicine returned with a massive 0.85 rating in the Adults 18-49 demographic. The series was consistently a bright spot in the key demographic last season, and the decision to place the start of its sophomore season after The OT shows Fox is still in its corner. This one is a certain renewal.

The 22-episode season is not as common as it once was, and Doc belongs to a shrinking group of shows still afforded such a luxury. The fact that it maintains such a robust order in 2026 means Fox is highly invested in its success. While its performance in the key demo weakened in season two, it remained solid on the streaming front. This is another certain renewal.

2025-26 Recap

Of the twelve scripted offerings Fox aired in the 2025-26 television season, half were renewed in advance for the 2026-27 season. That left just six to provide predictions for. Of the six, there were five correct predictions and one miss (Going Dutch), resulting in an 83% accuracy score for this column.

The TV Ratings Guide	8:00	8:30	9:00	9:30
Mon	Celebrity Name That Tune		Celebrity Weakest Link
Tues	Best Medicine		Doc
Wed	The Floor		99 to Beat
Thurs	Hell's Kitchen		Special Forces: World's Toughest Test
Fri	Fox Sports
Sun	The Simpsons	Animal Control	Universal Basic Guys	Grimsburg