CBS Renew/Cancel Week 26: Stalker, The McCarthys, and Battle Creek Are Certain to be Renewed for Season 10

 

Beyond the TV Grave: Limitless

Welcome to the latest installment of Beyond the TV Grave, where we at the TV Ratings Guide focus on shows that were canceled after airing no less than 5 episodes and no more than 50. In today’s installment, science fiction comedy-drama Limitless grabs the headline as we go through the premise and what led to its untimely cancelation, and we will give a final verdict on whether or not we want to see more. 

Synopsis

Based on the film by the same title, Brian Finch (Jake McDorman) is introduced to the miracle drug NZT-48, which gives him access to every neuron in his brain. 12 hours later, Brian becomes the smartest person in the world and is able to perfectly recall every detail of his life. With the mysterious US Senator Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) providing him with an immunity shot to counteract NZT's deadly side effects, Brian uses his newly enhanced abilities to aid FBI agent Rebecca Harris (Jennifer Carpenter) through cases. The FBI doesn't know about the shot and Brian has to separate from his NZT-48 life and public life. The series also starred Hill Harper and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. 

Scheduling & Cancelation

Even though it was one of CBS’s most promising shows outside of Supergirl, Limitless ultimately was a victim of questionable scheduling. It was placed in the Monday 10pm time slot, a time slot that is historically troubling for newbies not named Hawaii Five-0. It premiered to a 1.9 in the key adults 18-49 demographic, which was a promising start for a CBS newbie. But ratings dropped yet managed to stay fairly consistent around the 1.4-1.5 level through most of the fall. This performance was enough for CBS to give it a full season of 22 episodes. Only a couple of episodes hit 1.3 at the end of the fall. It came back in the winter to a 1.4, then sunk to a low of a 1.1 A18-49 rating, and mostly stayed there. 

CBS canceled the series after one season, ultimately causing fan outcry. But CBS could have made a smarter decision scheduling wise to move it by NCIS instead of having it at 10pm on Monday where it was showing decline. 

Verdict

Honestly, I would have loved to see more of Limitless. CBS made a questionable decision to schedule and leave the show in an undesirable time slot. That and to make things worse, CBS shopped drama Supergirl to the CW, cementing the network’s reputation as the Old People Network. If Limitless was so off-brand, then why did CBS order it and Supergirl? 

You can catch Limitless’s only season on Netflix worldwide. 

CBS Renew/Cancel Watch: 'The Odd Couple' Likely to be Renewed

CBS

Welcome to the CBS Renew/Cancel Watch. All scripted, primetime shows are included in the prediction table below once they have premiered for the season. An analysis of any new prediction changes or observations follows. My current predictions are as of May 6, 2016.

The key to the right indicates which colors are associated with each prediction. The data in the table includes season lows, highs, and averages (Adults 18-49 demo), as well as the year-to-year changes for returning shows that have not already been officially renewed or canceled. These are provided for reasoning with and understanding my predictions. The shows are ordered by their season averages against only other scripted CBS shows.

Rank	Show Title	Season Low / High /Average	Y2Y Change
1	The Big Bang Theory	3.0 / 4.7 / 3.75	-12.8%
2	NCIS	1.9 / 2.7 / 2.20	-8.3%
3	Life in Pieces	1.7 / 2.6 / 2.00	--
4	Criminal Minds	1.5 / 2.2 / 1.79	-28.4%
5	Scorpion	1.5 / 2.2 / 1.77	-23.0%
6	NCIS: New Orleans	1.5 / 2.5 / 1.75	-16.7%
7	Mom	1.5 / 1.8 / 1.67	-27.4%
8	Supergirl	1.3 / 3.1 / 1.67	--
9	2 Broke Girls	1.4 / 1.7 / 1.61	-19.5%
10	The Odd Couple	1.3 / 1.7 / 1.55	-29.5%
11	Mike & Molly	1.3 / 1.7 / 1.52	-22.1%
12	Angel from Hell	1.3 / 1.6 / 1.42	--
13	Limitless	1.1 / 1.9 / 1.35	--
14	Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders	1.2 / 1.6 / 1.33	--
15	NCIS: LA	1.1 / 1.6 / 1.31	-18.1%
16	Code Black	1.0 / 1.5 / 1.26	--
17	Blue Bloods	1.1 / 1.5 / 1.25	-3.8%
18	Madam Secretary	0.9 / 2.0 / 1.21	-16.0%
19	Person of Interest	- / 1.2 / 1.20	-21.6%
20	Hawaii Five-0	1.0 / 1.4 / 1.13	-5.8%
21	The Good Wife	0.9 / 1.4 / 1.04	-13.3%
22	Elementary	0.7 / 1.2 / 0.97	-25.4%
23	Rush Hour	0.8 / 1.1 / 0.93	--
24	CSI: Cyber	0.7 / 1.1 / 0.91	-35.0%

Person of Interest premiered on Tuesday night to a 1.2 rating in the demo, which was slightly up from the Limitless finale last week (1.1). CBS announced the drama's fifth season as its last in March, so it reflects as canceled (or ended) in the table.
Criminal Minds has reportedly been renewed for a 12th season, which leaves about 33 percent of CBS's 2015-16 slate yet to be decided either way. The CBS staple is the network's #2 drama and #4 show overall with a 1.79 seasonal average to date, so there was little reason to believe it couldn't work out the necessary licensing issues with ABC Studios to return for another season.
The Odd Couple is defying the overwhelmingly pessimistic odds I had for it heading into its second season, as it has averaged an OK 1.55 to date, hitting a couple of 1.6's and 1.7's in recent episodes after premiering to a 1.5. That average is just barely below fellow returning comedies Mom (1.67) and 2 Broke Girls (1.61), as well as above the six-and-done Mike & Molly (1.52) and canceled newbie Angel From Hell (1.42). Given that it is the network's #10 show, already had a first season of 12 episodes, is owned by CBS, stars Matthew Perry, fits the network's comfortable multicam mold, and is seemingly working moderately well in this midseason/burnoff-ish strategy with some episodes airing on Thursdays and some on Mondays until the season is done, I think it stands a comfortable chance for renewal. Of course, it has The Big Bang Theory for a lead-in and is still down a sizable 29.5 percent year-to-year, but CBS's standards are a bit lower for comedy these days, especially with TBBT likely to be on the way out in the next few seasons. CBS had too many comedies ordered last season to fit them all in strategically, especially with Supergirl occupying a historical comedy hour on Mondays, which essentially forced Mike & Molly out and didn't give Angel From Hell much of a chance to grow. CBS could hypothetically duplicate that scenario next season, with 2 Broke Girls acting as the Mike & Molly throwaway, and they could always burn off The Odd Couple in midseason/summer should the situation present itself where they have a successful freshman batch and don't need it. There are a lot of possibilities, if CBS is willing to invest in more episodes. At this point, I think the show has given a fighting effort in its second season and will likely be renewed for another 10-13 episodes as upfronts are nearing. 

CBS Renew/Cancel Watch: 'Rush Hour' Certain to be Canceled

Welcome to the CBS Renew/Cancel Watch. All scripted, primetime shows are included in the prediction table below once they have premiered for the season. An analysis of any new prediction changes or observations follows. My current predictions are as of April 1, 2016.

The key to the right indicates which colors are associated with each prediction. The data in the table includes season lows, highs, and averages (Adults 18-49 demo), as well as the year-to-year changes for returning shows that have not already been officially renewed or canceled. These are provided for reasoning with and understanding my predictions. The shows are ordered by their season averages against only other scripted CBS shows.

Rank	Show Title	Season Low / High /Average	Y2Y Change
1	The Big Bang Theory	--	--
2	NCIS	2.0 / 2.7 / 2.24	-6.7%
3	Life in Pieces	1.7 / 2.6 / 2.00	--
4	Scorpion	1.5 / 2.2 / 1.80	-21.7%
5	Criminal Minds	1.5 / 2.2 / 1.79	-28.4%
6	NCIS: New Orleans	1.5 / 2.5 / 1.75	-16.7%
7	Supergirl	1.3 / 3.1 / 1.71	--
8	Mom	1.5 / 1.8 / 1.69	-26.5%
9	2 Broke Girls	1.5 / 1.7 / 1.63	-18.5%
10	Mike & Molly	1.6 / 1.7 / 1.62	-16.9%
11	Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders	1.3 / 1.6 / 1.47	--
12	Angel from Hell	1.3 / 1.6 / 1.42	--
13	Limitless	1.1 / 1.9 / 1.39	--
14	NCIS: LA	1.1 / 1.6 / 1.33	-16.9%
15	Madam Secretary	1.0 / 2.0 / 1.26	-12.5%
16	Code Black	1.0 / 1.5 / 1.26	--
17	Blue Bloods	1.1 / 1.5 / 1.25	-3.8%
18	Hawaii Five-0	1.0 / 1.4 / 1.14	-5.0%
19	Rush Hour	- / 1.1 / 1.10	--
20	The Good Wife	0.9 / 1.4 / 1.05	-11.7%
21	Elementary	0.8 / 1.2 / 1.02	-21.5%
22	CSI: Cyber	0.7 / 1.1 / 0.91	-35.0%

On 3/25, CBS renewed Scorpion, NCIS: New Orleans, Mom, 2 Broke Girls, NCIS: LA, Madam Secretary, Blue Bloods, Hawaii Five-0, and Elementary for new seasons. All of these were correctly predicted by The TV Ratings Guide and have been marked as "Already Renewed" in the table.
Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders has been upgraded to "Likely to be Renewed" status this week, as it continues to stay afloat in its first three episodes and slightly overperform in light of the cynical expectations. While it dipped slightly to a 1.3 in its third airing this week, that's still a fairly good result for a 10pm drama in the spring and is still higher than what Code Black averaged in the timeslot. It could be a good international sell for being part of a highly successful and recognizable brand. The Criminal Minds franchise is very lucrative for CBS and this midseason spinoff looks similar to the CSI: Cyber situation from last year, which did well enough in its limited first season to secure a renewal (even if it was sentenced to Sundays at 10). CBS could keep it where it is in the fall and hope it continues to be a solid companion to Criminal Minds, plug a hole on Sundays with it like CSI: Cyber temporarily did, or order more episodes for midseason. The network didn't have the greatest luck with new dramas this season. It's possible they are willing to settle for a familiar formula in the meanwhile and hope their next round does better. We'll see how it continues to rate in the coming weeks.
Rush Hour premiered to a weak 1.1 rating on Thursday. CBS doesn't own it. It's the fourth lowest-rated show on the network after just one episode. There's no incentive to entertain it as a legitimate contender for renewal with many healthier options available to CBS. It's "Certain to be Canceled." 

CBS Renew/Cancel Watch: 'Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders' Has a Solid Sampling

CBS

Welcome to the CBS Renew/Cancel Watch. All scripted, primetime shows are included in the prediction table below once they have premiered for the season. An analysis of any new prediction changes or observations follows. My current predictions are as of March 20, 2016.

The key to the right indicates which colors are associated with each prediction. The data in the table includes season lows, highs, and averages (Adults 18-49 demo), as well as the year-to-year changes for returning shows that have not already been officially renewed or canceled. These are provided for reasoning with and understanding my predictions. The shows are ordered by their season averages against only other scripted CBS shows.

Rank	Show Title	Season Low / High /Average	Y2Y Change
1	The Big Bang Theory	--	--
2	NCIS	2.0 / 2.7 / 2.26	-5.8%
3	Life in Pieces	1.8 / 2.6 / 2.02	--
4	Scorpion	1.5 / 2.2 / 1.82	-20.9%
5	Criminal Minds	1.5 / 2.0 / 1.77	-29.2%
6	NCIS: New Orleans	1.5 / 2.5 / 1.75	-16.7%
7	Supergirl	1.3 / 3.1 / 1.74	--
8	Mom	1.5 / 1.8 / 1.69	-26.5%
9	2 Broke Girls	1.5 / 1.7 / 1.63	-18.5%
10	Mike & Molly	1.6 / 1.7 / 1.62	-16.9%
11	Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders	- / 1.6 / 1.60	--
12	Angel from Hell	1.3 / 1.6 / 1.42	--
13	Limitless	1.1 / 1.9 / 1.39	--
14	NCIS: LA	1.1 / 1.6 / 1.34	-16.3%
15	Madam Secretary	1.0 / 2.0 / 1.28	-11.1%
16	Code Black	1.0 / 1.5 / 1.26	--
17	Blue Bloods	1.1 / 1.5 / 1.25	-3.8%
18	Hawaii Five-0	1.0 / 1.4 / 1.14	-5.0%
19	The Good Wife	0.9 / 1.4 / 1.06	-11.7%
20	Elementary	0.8 / 1.2 / 1.04	-20.0%
21	CSI: Cyber	0.7 / 1.1 / 0.91	-35.0%

Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders premiered to a solid 1.6 rating in the demo this week. While that's not of breakout-hit caliber, it's not a lazy effort by any means for what is easily CBS's highest rated 10pm scripted airing since NCIS: LA (1.6) on February 8, 2016. This result is 10 percent higher than Code Black's series premiere and season high (1.5), 33 percent higher than Code Black's season finale in February (1.2), and 60 percent above the special airing of CSI: Cyber (1.0) in the hour last week. The retention was a solid ~85 percent behind the Criminal Minds mothership. It's safe to say that this was a pretty OK result for a spinoff that had its share of low projections leading up to its premiere. The real test will be how it holds up in the coming weeks. Until more indicative data points are available, this one is destined for the bubble. Sadly for Code Black, the newest CBS drama entry didn't go down in flames in its first airing, which makes it a contender for renewal in the already-tight race.
What's your take on the Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders premiere numbers and its chances for renewal? Does Code Black still stand a chance with a decently-rated new show in the market and its 18 episodes slowly fading from the network and public's memory? Share your thoughts below.