Fall 2013 wasn’t a spectacular season for new television programming. Some interesting concepts launched this year, like the true story of two 1950s-era sex researchers in pursuit of a zipped-up science in Showtime’s “Masters of Sex,” but for every “Masters” there was yet another version of a modern family, a CW show with far too many pencil-slim brunettes or an NBC sitcom that’s clearly causing the execs to run around the office breaking things. Meanwhile, familiar faces like Robin Williams, Michael J. Fox, Rebel Wilson and Sean Hayes made their way onto the small screen with mixed results.
With Netflix, DVR and On Demand changing how we watch TV, networks are desperate to maintain viewership and yet much of this season’s material didn’t stand a chance. Luckily, old favorites with significant audience bases will return in 2014 to liven up an otherwise unexciting television season. Read below for the shows that checked out early, the ones that are holding on by the white-knuckled fingers of their networks and the ones that you should be watching if you aren’t already.
Another one bites the dust
‘Tis the season for cancellations. Longtime favorites and awkward newcomers are both at the axe as networks plan out 2014. After two seasons, Lifetime’s “The Client List” was cancelled. NBC’s brand new shows “Ironside” and “Welcome to the Family” were cancelled, and CBS pulled “We Are Men” after just two episodes. ABC dropped “Lucky 7,” the show about seven co-workers who all win the lottery, as well as “Back in the Game.”
Though not a cancellation, NBC pulled a cringe-worthy wild card by quietly putting veteran sitcom “Parks and Recreation” on hiatus. Only four episodes of the season will take place in November, slating the show’s eventual return to Jan. 9, 2014. Why the odd shuffle? It was NBC’s attempt to revive the low-rated “Sean Saves the World” by replacing “Parks” with more popular runs of “The Voice,” football and “SNL” in hopes that viewers would stick around for “Sean.”
Hanging in there
The veteran actors are the ones with the most tremulous shows this season. Besides “Sean Saves the World,” Robin Williams’ “The Crazy Ones” on CBS has been signed on to a full season, but may not make it to a second. Critics had mixed feelings about NBC’s “The Michael J. Fox Show,” which feels stiff and clunky while keeping its charismatic star on a short leash. Rebel Wilson’s “Super Fun Night” on ABC was torn apart by critics, but Wilson’s fans hold strong, giving the show decent ratings; general consensus is that while the show may not be super fun, the star always is. ABC renewed “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “The Goldbergs” and “Trophy Wife” for full seasons, all with mediocre ratings at this time. Surprising the critics, Fox renewed stinker “Dads.”
The hits won’t stop
Showtime renewed veteran “Homeland” and racy newbie, “Masters of Sex” for another season, doling out 12-episode runs to both. Fox has a lot of faith in their Tuesday night, renewing Andy Samberg newcomer cop sitcom “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” for a full season and also awarding it and “New Girl” the coveted post-Super Bowl spot. Fox also signed on “Sleepy Hollow” for a second season.
In the most unsurprising announcement of fall, AMC renewed “The Walking Dead” for its fifth season, the record-breaking zombie drama still maintaining its coveted number one spot for viewers ages 18 – 49. FX’s creeptastic hit “American Horror Story” was renewed for a fourth season. “It’s like a mini-horror story every week and each season tells a different story,” says first-year graphic design graduate student Jasmine Banks. “The current season, ‘Coven,’ might be tied with the first season as my favorite. Having Kathy Bates and Angela Basset as rivals this season is definitely a bonus.”
Coming soon
NBC scheduled the return of fan favorite “Community” for Thursday Jan. 2, 2014. The network shocked fans when they renewed for a whole season and brought back on creator Dan Harmon. And guess which funny ladies signed on for a two-year stint as hosts of the Golden Globes? That’s right, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will take the stage in 2014 and 2015.