How Is the 2013-2014 TV Season Doing

With only a few weeks left in the current TV season, it is hard to believe that the 2013-2014 TV season is nearly at a close. All of the new and returning shows will be airing their finales over the course of the next three (or so) weeks and the annual network upfront presentations will be made in about three weeks’ time with all of the shows learning their fates.

In the meantime, let’s take a look at how the TV season is doing right now:

NEW DRAMAS:

Black Box – This new ABC medical-based drama, that stars actress Kelly Reilly, debuted on April 24, earning 6.6 million viewers. While that isn’t a stellar rating for a new series, it is moderately decent for a series debuting this late in the season. The series also has a 13-episode order, but no confirmation if there will be more than that.

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland – The ABC spin-off series came to an end on April 3, after earning an average of 3.8 million weekly viewers over its entire 13 episode run. That late episode ended up being a series finale – despite the intention that if there was enough interest, there would be more seasons simply because there just wasn’t enough interest.

Unforgettable – This CBS procedural may not necessarily be a brand new drama, but it is getting a second chance by the network. After being cancelled after its first season back in May 2012, the network made a surprising reversal, bringing the show back for a second season, which was split up between last summer and this spring. The series has also been renewed for a third season that will start airing at the end of June.

Star-Crossed vs. The 100 – Over on The CW, the two new dramas Star-Crossed and The 100 both began their debut seasons late: Star-Crossed in mid-February and The 100 nearly the latter part of March. When comparing the ratings between the two new futuristic dramas, Star-Crossed has average 1.1 million viewers over the 10 episodes it has aired so far with The 100 earning an average of 2.1 million viewers over the 6 episodes is has aired. If the network were only looking at the overall average, The 100 is more likely to be renewed; but it is too close to tell what The CW will decide for sure.

Rake – The FOX drama debuted back on January 23 to 7.1 million viewers but it quickly fell to 4 million viewers or less in a month’s time; and then it was moved to Friday nights. Eventually it was moved to Saturday night to burn off its last two episodes. The series garnered less than 2 million viewers over its last five episodes; and it is easy to surmise that the network will not be bringing it back.

EXISTING DRAMAS:

While most of the renewals have been announced by all of the major networks at this point, there are a number of shows – just as I reported last month – that are still hanging in the balance.

CBS has not renewed The Mentalist; and the latest report is that the folks behind the series have shopped it around to both broadcast and cable networks in case the cancellation axe should fall.

NBC still has made no move to renew five of its current dramas: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Parenthood, Revolution, Hannibal or Dracula. The latter two will, most likely, fall by the wayside while the other three all have a 50/50 chance at renewal.

ABC has not given a renewal order to any of its existing dramas, but just as I reported last month, the network will most likely renew Castle, Scandal and Grey’s Anatomy. However, the fate of Nashville, Revenge and Once Upon a Time are still uncertain.

The CW has yet to decide if they will bring back The Carrie Diaries, Beauty And the Beast and Hart of Dixie. Out of those three shows Beauty And the Beast could MAYBE come back; but if it does, it will be for a shortened season. That, however, is only a guesstimate at this time.

FOX has so few dramas to begin with and all of them have been renewed so there really isn’t anything new to report for them.

As mentioned last month, the upfront presentations by all of the major networks will happen in just a little over three weeks. Here are those dates again:

May 12 – FOX and NBC Upfront Presentations
May 13 – ABC Upfront Presentation
May 14 – CBS Upfront Presentation
May 15 – The CW Upfront Presentation