Bad News for Four Kings

[Ronn Harmon]

A Slew of Shows Expected to Be Axed


A biggish number of television shows won't be returning for the fall season. But while networks will be talking up new series in development as well as returning shows at next week's pre-upfront meetings with media buyers, failed shows will be more or less swept under the carpet, Media Life writes. As ratings improve for ABC, shows that might have survived in other seasons are at risk.

Axed shows will likely include ABC's Commander in Chief and NBC's Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Other ABC shows not expected back are rookie series Crumbs, Freddie, and Rodney, as well as - perhaps - one-time hits According to Jim, Hope & Faith and George Lopez. Boston Legal and Bachelor are expected to survive.

Possible shows from CBS to be cancelled include Yes, Dear, King of Queens, and Still Standing. CBS renewed 14 programs this week including all three CSIs, Without a Trace, Two and a Half Men, Numb3rs, Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer, and How I Met Your Mother.

The fates of new CBS sitcoms Out of Practice and Courting Alex are still uncertain. NBC has not yet confirmed which shows will not be returning, but plenty of shows are in trouble, including E-Ring, Four Kings, Fear Factor, Surface, Conviction, and Scrubs. Most of Fox's series are expected to return.

Predicting what shows will be cancelled is a challenge, but a combination of falling ratings, production troubles, and deflated buzz always point to shows in trouble.