It's almost decision-making time...
By Eric Goldman
In the next couple of weeks, we'll be getting final decisions on a ton of network TV series and discover what's been renewed and what's been cancelled. Some shows have already had that decision made -- whether the news was good or bad -- but for many others, it will come down to various factors as the networks order new series and decide what shows they want to keep on the schedule alongside them.
Below you'll find the list of shows whose fate is up in the air, while the other pages display the shows definitely not coming back next season, and those that are returning for sure.
Look for frequent updates to this page, as more shows have their fate decided.
Please keep in mind this list is for the broadcast network TV series only -- CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX and CW -- and doesn't apply to cable or streaming shows who don't follow the same September-May TV season and decision-making pattern.
Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed
Agents of SHIELD may not be a ratings powerhouse, but following its move to a later timeslot this season, it's probably returning for another season. After several years on the air, and with so much Disney/Marvel corporate synergy behind it, it's unlikely the show doesn’t at least get the dignity of a proper finale down the line.
Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled
This look at a Tony Stark-esque billionaire genius taking control of a police station and giving the cops high tech gear hasn’t gotten much attention. The show’s creator, Matt Nix, has a new pilot at FOX – tied into the X-Men franchise – that will probably be where his focus (and FOX’s) is next season.
Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled
While tremendously acclaimed, American Crime continues to barely register with viewers. ABC no doubt hoped the positive reviews would turn into higher viewership, but after three seasons, it’s probably the end of the line for the anthology drama series.
Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed
ABC’s new comedy may not get the buzz off many of their other half hour series, but it has a good shot at coming back for a second year.
Current Status: Could Go Either Way
With the show it begat from still doing okay – but no longer the sensation it once was – there hasn’t been many talking about the recently launched spinoff.
Current Status: Could Go Either Way
NBC has had a problem for years maintaining the success of shows that felt like big hits when they aired after The Voice – and history is repeating itself with Blindspot, which fell a lot in its sophomore year.
Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed
The chances of FOX canceling Jake and the gang at the 99 feel slim. Season 5 is looking like a safe bet at this point.
Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled
Shonda Rhimes’ importance to ABC was probably a big reason the network gave a second season to The Catch, but it still hasn’t caught on with viewers like her other series. Rhimes or not, this is probably not getting a third season.
Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled
CBS has high ratings standards and Code Black, while getting a second season, hasn’t been living up to them.
Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled
Maybe some shows aren’t meant to be franchised? Criminal Minds has been a massive hit for CBS for years, but unlike CSI and NCIS, its spinoffs (Beyond Borders is the second) have failed to resonate. While Borders was given a second season, a third will be a struggle to pull off.
Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed
ABC put all their promotional weight behind this Kiefer Sutherland drama, and its look at a low level cabinet member thrust into the presidency. While it was a bit overshadowed by other new series last fall (most notably, the huge success of NBC’s This is Us), Designated Survivor is still doing well enough to likely secure a second season.
Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed
While not quite as secure as the long-running show its paired with, Last Man Standing, Dr. Ken continues to bring in a different audience on Fridays, with its family comedy dynamic, than the hour-long, drama-heavy night tends to provide.
Current Status: Could Go Either Way
Having dropped quite a lot in the ratings since its early days, things are looking pretty shaky for Sherlock Holmes and Watson. On another network, it would feel like Elementary would at least get a shortened final season to wrap the story up, but CBS isn’t known to be so precious about their crime procedurals…
Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled
This long in development reimagining of the Wizard of Oz didn’t get much attention when it finally debuted.
Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled
As The Exorcist’s season built, buzz around it grew, with some noting it turned out to be much stronger than it initially appeared to be. However, that buzz never turned into much in the way of viewership, meaning its future is doubtful.
Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled
The CW’s new take on the story told in the movie of the same name got a bit lost in the shuffle of time travel (or in this case, cross-time communication) series on the air and was notably absent from the network’s large list of early renewals.
Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed
While not the big hit it once looked like it could be, Gotham continues to be a decent enough performer for FOX and is close to securing a renewal for a fourth season.
Current Status: Could Go Either Way
The only new CBS comedy to not get an early renewal, this Joel McHale-fronted series’ fate may come down to the wire based on what new series the network decides to order or not.
Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled
This offbeat look at a woman who begins to see her childhood imaginary friend again was a big swing that was going to need a lot of positive response to fuel it beyond a first season. And it hasn’t gotten that.
Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed
Don’t worry too much, iZombie fans, the well-reviewed series is probably coming back for a fourth season. As always, the network’s dilemma is a lack of real estate, given they only can program ten shows at a time on their more limited schedule, but the CW is also not known for cutting off a multi-year show like this without warning.
Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed
The defiantly quirky comedy continues to be a unique presence on network TV. And while it’s the cult series it was destined to be, Last Man on Earth should probably continue to do its thing for another year.
Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled
Another entry in the “Too many time travel shows” category, Making History boasts a likable star in Adam Pally, but hasn’t garned much attention.
Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed
It's Jess! ...But will she be back for Season 7? It feels like it's probably going to happen, but New Girl's producers still had to craft a season finale that could also function as a series finale just in case.
Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled
Like Frequency, No Tomorrow stands out for not getting an early renewal from the CW. This is a network who measures success very differently than the others, so could something like, say, notable success on Netflix (where the show quickly debuted after its finale, thanks to a new deal with the CW) lead to a semi-surprising renewal? Perhaps… but it still feels like a long shot.
Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled
While The Odd Couple make it to a third season, its relatively weak numbers for a CBS comedy indicate it’s a long shot to come back for a fourth season.
Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed
After five years, Once Upon a Time’s audience has dwindled considerably, and it is possible this is the final year. However, it seems more likely the network brings back the synergistic series. Like Agents of SHIELD, this feels like a show that will probably at least get the consideration to have a pre-announced conclusion rather than an unceremonious, un-definitive ending.
Current Status: Could Go Either Way
With The Vampire Diaries over, it’s possible its spinoff could also come to an end this year as well, especially if the CW orders enough new series that finding a spot for it becomes overly difficult. Still, there's a decent chance the story of the first vampires ever will be back again.
Current Status: Could Go Either Way
There is a notable amount of love for this show from a core fanbase, but whether it’s enough to get it a renewal is a big question.
Current Status: Could Go Either Way
FOX recently renewed The X-Files revival for another season, more than a year after its “first” return season aired. As with that show, actor availability (and deal-making) will no doubt be a big factor in whether or not Prison Break comes back again, though its ratings haven’t been as notable as X-Files either.
Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled
Looking like a hit when it debuted, Quantico has failed to hold on to its early buzz or audience in Season 2.
Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled
An experiment in programming on the mostly-abandoned Saturday schedule, Ransom didn’t do much to overhaul the belief that most audiences simply aren’t interested in new shows on that night.
Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled
Amongst many bigger successes, this sophomore year comedy hasn’t connected for ABC and is probably not coming back for a third year.
Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled
Turning out to be entirely dependent on a strong lead-in for its once-strong numbers, Rosewood would be a surprise renewal at this point.
Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled
Renewed for factors usually reserved for CW series -- including its strong social media presence -- Scream Queens wasn’t nearly as notable on the pop culture landscape in its second year.
Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled
The long break between seasons didn’t help, but this Juliette Lewis-led crime drama (which featured completely different cases and supporting casts in its two seasons) seems like it will come to a quiet ending.
Current Status: Could Go Either Way
This spring entry and its topical look at crime and race relations hasn’t gotten that much buzz, but we're not counting it out quite yet.
Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled
There were many surprised that Sleepy Hollow returned for a fourth season after it lost one of its two central stars. Season 4 gave the show a big overhaul and change in setting, but without the dynamic that originally drew many in, this is probably the end for Ichabod Crane’s modern day adventures.
Current Status: Could Go Either Way
This blend of live-action and animation was always a risk, and hasn't found the audience the network's more traditional animated series have. There's a lot of talent involved on this show, but it remains to be seen if it'll get a second year.
Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed
ABC has gotten good reviews and audience response to this family comedy, which feels at home on its lineup. A second season is close to a lock.
Current Status: Could Go Either Way
In the midst of reboot-mania, this was always an eyebrow-raiser. Not really standing out in the TV action landscape, Taken's run looks to be short.
Current Status: Could Go Either Way
Boasting an impressive pedigree -- Shawn Ryan and Eric Kripke teamed for this series -- Timeless still had the obstacle of being one of oh-so many time travel shows airing concurrently. There's a fandom out there for the show, but is it enough?
Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled
This was already facing a tough road to renewal, but the tragic death of the beloved Bill Paxton seems to have sealed Training Day's fate - barring a dramatic overhaul of the series.
Current Status: Could Go Either Way
NBC's comedic take on the true crime drama hasn't made huge waves, but with the network rebuilding its comedy brand, it's possible they give it another shot - and another case to tackle.
Current Status: Could Go Either Way
CBS pointedly left 2 Broke Girls off their long list of early renewals, even as most of their other veteran comedies were secured for another season. A deal could still be made, but these Girls' fate is more precarious than usual.
Current Status: Could Go Either Way
24: Legacy faced a tougher fight than fellow FOX reboots The X-Files and Prison Break, lacking the central characters -- most notably Jack Bauer -- audiences loved. We'll see if this different attempt at franchise building pays off with a second season.
Continue on for shows that won't be back next season.
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