SAVE OUR SHOWS Cast your ‘ bubble’ ballot
The ballot box is now open. USA TODAY’s 19th annual Save Our Shows survey asks you to weigh in on which of 26 scripted broadcast series hovering “on the bubble” between renewal and cancellation should survive to see another season.
On this year’s list are two long- running ABC dramas, Castle and perennially endangered Nashville; CSI: Cyber, the lone remnant in the 16- year franchise; and, as usual, several freshmen series either too new to judge or with mediocre ratings, including Fox comedies starring Rob Lowe and John Stamos, which have struggled, and CBS’ Rush Hour remake, which premiered only last week.
As more viewers watch on different platforms and traditional TV ratings decline, the calculus that network programmers use to determine which shows stay or go gets more complicated. ABC’s American Crime and Fox’s The Grinder count programming executives among their most passionate fans but suffer from extremely low ratings. In their favor: Both shows are owned by their networks, so they can benefit from sales to overseas outlets, streaming services and local stations in a way that Nashville and NBC’s The Mysteries of Laura can’t. ( That’s partly what will end CBS’ Person of Interest after a shortened fifth season this summer.)
Also unlikely to return are Marvel’s Agent Carter , an updated version of The Muppets and NBC’s Heroes Reborn. But Fox’s The X- Files sequel is on the bubble for a return in 2017- 18, pending new contracts with David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, and Scream Queens will be back, thanks to Web viewing and the network’s loyalty to producer Ryan Murphy. Other freshman series expected back include Quantico, Supergirl, Life in Pieces, Blindspot and Superstore. Last year, nearly 117,000 fans voted. Does your ballot count? It’s not the only factor, but make your voice heard at saveourshows.usatoday.com.