25 Bubble Shows: Which Ones Should Be Saved?

Is the case closed on Castle? Will Revenge be murdered? Will viewers follow The Following to its demise?

It's time for the broadcast networks to decide which shows to cut and which ones to bring back in the fall, and undoubtedly, some of your favorites are in jeopardy. But now's your chance to show some support!

Below, we've listed 25 shows that are in danger of getting the axe, as well as the pros and cons for keeping or killing each one of them. Once you've heard all our arguments, vote for which shows you think most deserve to be saved. Be sure to also tell us why in the comments!


About a Boy

Tuesdays at 9:30pm on NBC

THE GOOD NEWS: NBC has a soft spot for creator Jason Katims, whose shows Friday Night Lights and Parenthood defied the cancellation odds more than a few times. Also, NBC has basically no comedy brand right now and might want to hold on to a familiar show or two as it rebuilds.

THE BAD NEWS: About a Boy's second season is averaging just 3.5 million viewers and a 1.03 in the 18-to-49 demo, making it NBC's lowest-rated series that's yet to be canceled. (By comparison, it's down almost 50 percent in both measures from a year ago, when its post-The Voice timeslot made it NBC's highest-rated sitcom.) And given that NBC already trimmed two episodes from its order and star Minnie Driver isn't feeling particularly hopeful, the writing may be on the wall.


American Crime

Thursdays at 10pm on ABC

THE GOOD NEWS: ABC really wants American Crime to succeed, heavily promoting the show and slotting it in a coveted #TGIT berth. Since it's technically a limited series, ABC might just let it finish its run, but there is the possibility that the network could produce another season with a new story and call it an anthology. It has a stellar pedigree, thanks to stars Felicity Huffman and Timothy Hutton and, as the ads constantly remind us, 12 Years a Slave's Oscar-winning screenwriter John Ridley. After a 30 percent freefall in its second week, ratings have finally plateaued around 5.5 million and a 1.2.

THE BAD NEWS: Those numbers are well below what How to Get Away With Murder did in the same timeslot in the fall.


Backstrom

Thursdays at 9pm on Fox

THE GOOD NEWS: Creatively, the show is a nice companion for Fox stalwart Bones—which, like Backstrom, was created by Hart Hanson. And even though its modest audience (4.3 million, 1.12 in the 18-to-49 demo) is about half of what the show premiered to, its viewership has remained consistent.

THE BAD NEWS: It's Fox's lowest-rated drama series that's still on the air. The episodes of Backstrom that have aired since Bones returned and became its lead-in have been its lowest-rated yet.


Battle Creek

Sundays at 10pm on CBS

THE GOOD NEWS: This Vince Gilligan-David Shore collaboration has great behind-the-camera auspices, and series stars Josh Duhamel and Dean Winters make a compelling pair of non-buddy cops. Plus: It's a refreshingly different take on the police procedurals that dominate CBS's lineup.

THE BAD NEWS: It seems CBS's audience doesn't care for fresh takes. With a season average of 6.7 million viewers and a 0.8 in the 18-to-48 demo, Battle Creek is CBS's lowest-rated drama. Even with the star power attached, we don't expect the show to receive much mercy.


Castle

Mondays at 10pm on ABC

THE GOOD NEWS: The charming procedural is important to ABC, and we can't see the network giving it the axe without allowing the show to give its loyal fans a proper ending.

THE BAD NEWS: The show's seventh season seems to be losing creative steam... and its audience isn't far behind. The drama is down about 15 percent in both total viewers (8.5 million) and in the 18-to-49 demo (1.6) from its most-watched season a year ago. Perhaps most alarming, while star Nathan Fillion has signed on to return should the show be renewed for Season 8, Stana Katic and showrunner David Amann have not. Could Castle even exist without Kate Beckett?


NEXT: Constantine, Cristela, CSI, CSI: Cyber, and The Following

PREVIOUSLY: About a Boy, American Crime, Backstrom, Battle Creek, and Castle


Constantine

Fridays at 8pm on NBC

THE GOOD NEWS: Comic book stories are all the rage right now, and Constantine might have more brand recognition than any of the dramas NBC has in development. Plus: Its Friday timeslot might give it a little latitude, ratings-wise.

THE BAD NEWS: Even though NBC held the show back from the series premiere glut, very few viewers ever found it, making it NBC's lowest-rated drama. The 13-episode first season averaged only 3.3 million viewers and a 0.92 in the 18-to-49 demo, losing most of the audience that's loyal to its lead-in, Grimm. And NBC chief Bob Greenblatt didn't exactly express confidence in the series at the recent Television Critics Association winter press tour.


Cristela

Fridays at 8;30pm on ABC

THE GOOD NEWS: When factoring in DVR numbers, the multi-camera comedy averaged around 6 million viewers, a solid improvement from ABC's previous Friday-night ratings dud The Neighbors. And with its focus on family and its diverse cast, it's completely on-brand for ABC comedy.

THE BAD NEWS: ABC would probably like the show to retain more of Last Man Standing's lead-in live audience, and its 18-to-49 demo score (1.0) is the network's worst. Also, Cristela is owned by another studio, which might make ABC less enthused about giving it a chance to grow.


CSI

Sundays at 10pm on CBS

THE GOOD NEWS: The mothership of the biggest TV franchise in the world has outlasted two spin-offs (and just launched a new one). It has always been a reliable player for CBS wherever it lands on the schedule, and its Sundays-at-10pm replacement Battle Creek is performing much worse in that timeslot than CSI did.

THE BAD NEWS: Due in part to erratic scheduling after football games, the show's truncated 15th season only cracked 10 million viewers once, and its season average (8.2 million viewers, 1.3 in the 18-to-49 demo) is down 30 percent from the previous year. Plus: Nearly all of the original cast members have moved on.


CSI: Cyber

Wednesdays at 10pm on CBS

THE GOOD NEWS: As of its early episodes, CSI: Cyber was already averaging better ratings (9 million, 1.6) than the original CSI and previous timeslot holder Stalker. The series premiere also added 4 million viewers in seven-day DVR playback. Plus: CBS might cancel the aging mothership before it would deign to ax the one boasting Academy Award-winner Patricia Arquette.

THE BAD NEWS: The procedural hasn't broken out as a quiet hit like, say, Scorpion. If CBS is feeling stingy and/or loves its development slate, it might hit Ctrl-Alt-Del on Cyber. The network also has a Criminal Minds spin-off in the works, which would pair perfectly with the original series on Wednesday nights.


The Following

Mondays at 9pm on Fox

THE GOOD NEWS: Kevin Williamson's thriller has gotten itself back on track in Season 3 with a retooled storyline after an abysmal, misguided Season 2 that literally saw fans flee by the millions. (Season 2 opened to 11.18 million viewers and ended with 4.8 million.) Fox's lineup is also in dire straits, so the network could be keen to keep one of its more high-profile shows.

THE BAD NEWS: The show's recent improvements might be too little, too late. Season 3 is so far averaging just 3.8 million viewers and a 1.2 rating, and is dropping every week. At this rate, star Kevin Bacon might want out.


NEXT: Forever, Galavant, Hart of Dixie, Marry Me, and Marvel's Agent Carter

PREVIOUSLY: Constantine, Cristela, CSI, CSI: Cyber, and The Following


Forever

Tuesdays at 10pm on ABC

THE GOOD NEWS: Although the show's average live audience (5 million, 1.1 in the 18-to-49 demo) is modest, it routinely adds about 3 million viewers in DVR playback. ABC should also be pleased that the show hasn't completely tanked in a timeslot the network has had trouble with for years.

THE BAD NEWS: Forever still routinely comes in third to the not-so-stiff competition of NBC's Chicago Fire and CBS's Person of Interest. Also, the only ABC drama performing worse is Revenge (read on for its prognosis).


Galavant

Sundays at 8pm on ABC

THE GOOD NEWS: ABC clearly likes the show, and its huge promotional push paid off with strong premiere numbers (7.4 million viewers, 2.0 in the 18-to-49 demo). Its fun, musical approach won critical praise for being unlike anything else on TV, and it did a solid job filling in for Once Upon a Time during the fairy-tale drama's hiatus.

THE BAD NEWS: The show failed to keep its drop-in audience during its short four-week run, and although its finale bounced back, the season averaged less than 5 million viewers and a 1.3 in the 18-to-49 demo. Its fate may come down to whether ABC develops a better midseason placeholder this development season.


Hart of Dixie

Fridays at 9pm on The CW

THE GOOD NEWS: The drama has a teeny but devoted fan base, so The CW might want to give it one last hurrah (see: Nikita's six-episode final season) or turn it into a summer player like Beauty and the Beast.

THE BAD NEWS: That last hurrah has likely already happened. Creator Leila Gerstein and star Scott Porter have both hinted on Twitter that Season 4, which was cut to 10 episodes to accommodate Rachel Bilson's pregnancy, would be the show's last. Gerstein also crafted the March 27 finale to double as a series-ender, and it absolutely felt like one.


Marry Me

Tuesdays at 9pm on NBC

THE GOOD NEWS: Though an average of 3.8 million viewers and a 1.18 rating doesn't exactly scream "Renew me!," Marry Me is not NBC's lowest-rated comedy (that dubious honor goes to About a Boy). If the network still believes in the show as it did in the fall, when it pulled out all the stops for a post-The Voice, mid-October launch, the sitcom stands the slightest of chances.

THE BAD NEWS: After a promising debut (7.5 million viewers, 2.3 rating), the show's most recent episode, before it was yanked from NBC's schedule for The Voice and Undateable, drew 2.08 million and a 0.7 in February. It has four episodes left to air. Also, series star Casey Wilson and her hubby, Marry Me creator David Caspe, are expecting their first child in May.


Marvel's Agent Carter

Tuesdays at 9pm on ABC

THE GOOD NEWS: This well-reviewed timeslot-warmer actually averaged more viewers than Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been drawing in Season 2. And given that Disney-owned ABC is keen to wave the Marvel flag as much as possible, bringing this one back makes a lot of sense.

THE BAD NEWS: Despite having a slightly larger audience than S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Carter's viewers skewed slightly older. Plus: Does ABC's mystery Marvel project with John Ridley spell doom for Peggy?


NEXT: The Mindy Project, The Mysteries of Laura, Nashville, The Night Shift, and One Big Happy

PREVIOUSLY: Forever, Galavant, Hart of Dixie, Marry Me, and Marvel's Agent Carter


The Mindy Project

Tuesdays at 9:30pm on Fox

THE GOOD NEWS: Mindy Kaling closed out Season 3 with one helluva globetrotting cliffhanger. Fox has always been patient with and supportive of the cult favorite, upping its 15-episode order to 21 this year, and it's not like lead-in New Girl (2.8 million, 1.3) is doing that much better than Mindy (2.3 million, 1.05). If Fox does let it go, the show has a high probability of getting shopped around and picked up somewhere else. Besides, we have to see Mindy give birth, right?

THE BAD NEWS: Its already low ratings have decreased consistently, and only New Girl was recently renewed, bringing the latter to the 100-episode syndication mark, which Mindy won't be near any time soon. Three years might be enough of a college try for Fox.


The Mysteries of Laura

Wednesdays at 8pm on NBC

THE GOOD NEWS: The critically reviled procedural has become a reliable player and self-starter, leading off NBC's Women Crush Wednesdays with an average of 7.8 million viewers, which is better than a lot of the network's old stalwarts and every other new show NBC has launched this year. Plus: Maybe the show can use "Copmom Momcop" as its theme song in Season 2. #neverforget

THE BAD NEWS: Its viewers are older, with a 1.29 rating in the 18-to-49 demographic. Laura might follow the path of Harry's Law, another AARP must-watch that NBC canned after two seasons.


Nashville

Wednesdays at 10pm on ABC

THE GOOD NEWS: The show's average ratings aren't huge (5.3 million viewers, 1.38 in the 18-to-49 demo), but they are consistent. (The show is only 6 percent off from a year ago.) Plus: Giving Nashville a fourth season will qualify it for syndication, which would benefit ABC's bottom line since its studio also produces the show.

THE BAD NEWS: As has been the case for the past two seasons, the only thing worse than Nashville's modest ratings is a complete lack of buzz. Although ABC has bigger problems in the drama department (see: Revenge, Resurrection), a strong development season could encourage the network to try something new.


The Night Shift

Mondays at 10pm on NBC

THE GOOD NEWS: The medical drama has been grabbing 5.3 million viewers and a 1.3 rating in the 18-to-49 demographic, which isn't that much lower than its Season 1 numbers during the summer last year. And it gives good promo shots.

THE BAD NEWS: Its The Voice lead-in isn't helping it; The Night Shift is shedding half the reality singing show's viewership and ratings points, and is pretty much on par with the surely dead State of Affairs, whose timeslot it took over. NBC is also plotting Chicago Med, a spin-off of Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D., which will probably be a go barring complete disaster.


One Big Happy

Tuesdays at 9:30pm on NBC

THE GOOD NEWS: There isn't a tone of data available for the show since it just premiered in March, but it's still not NBC's worst-performing comedy, despite its 4.4 million viewers and 1.34 average rating. And it actually grew in its third week...

THE BAD NEWS: ...to 3.8 million and a 1.2 rating. With just six episodes in its first season, it doesn't have a lot of time to prove itself. After its 30 percent plummet in Week 2, it's probably one more big drop from cancellation.


NEXT: Resurrection, Revenge, Secrets and Lies, Stalker, and State of Affairs

PREVIOUSLY: The Mindy Project, The Mysteries of Laura, Nashville, The Night Shift, and One Big Happy


Resurrection

Sundays at 9pm on ABC

THE GOOD NEWS: With 4.6 million viewers and a 1.3 average rating, it did better this season than lead-in and one-time hot-shot Revenge.

THE BAD NEWS: Resurrection wasn't DOA when it bowed to 13.9 million viewers in its 2014 debut, but those days are long gone. It's hard to justify keeping a show that shed 10 million viewers in its second season. Plus, midseason replacement Secrets and Lies has been performing better.


Revenge

Sundays at 10pm on ABC

THE GOOD NEWS: Revenge has been an important asset for ABC's female-targeted wheelhouse. It could return for a shortened Season 5 to hit 100 episodes for syndication.

THE BAD NEWS: Putting aside its woeful ratings (4.5 million, 1.2), does anyone want it to continue? The buzz is all but dead, Emily VanCamp wanted it to end last season, and Josh Bowman basically begged to be put out of his misery for a full year before Daniel was killed off.


Secrets and Lies

Sundays at 9pm on ABC

THE GOOD NEWS: The show's average ratings (5.7 million viewers, 1.44 in the 18-to-49 demo) are a marked improvement over those of Resurrection, the series it replaced. And although its numbers have slid since its premiere, they're consistent enough to suggest that the audience is invested in the content. Like American Crime, it's been billed as a limited series but could live on as an anthology with some of the same characters and a new storyline.

THE BAD NEWS: Since it was announced as a limited series, ABC could easily axe the middling drama without losing face. Plus: The show's murdered-child premise is way past its sell-by date.


Stalker

Wednesdays at 10pm on CBS

THE GOOD NEWS: Kevin Williamson's other gore-fest was competitive against NBC's Chicago P.D., garnering 7.7 million viewers and a 1.5 rating. It also remained pretty stable throughout its run, with few major drop-offs. Its remaining three episodes will air on Mondays in May; depending on how they do, they could result in a late renewal for Stalker as a midseason backup or summer show.

THE BAD NEWS: Or CBS could just be burning off those episodes. CSI: Cyber is outperforming Stalker in the Wednesday-at-10pm timeslot. And remember, there's that potential Criminal Minds spin-off, too...


State of Affairs

Mondays at 10pm on NBC

THE GOOD NEWS: Well, it brought Katherine Heigl back to TV!

THE BAD NEWS: The show's late-fall launch failed despite a massive marketing push and its coveted post-The Voice timeslot. Averaging 5.3 million viewers and a 1.26 in the 18-to-49 demo, the show skewed very old and floundered in the timeslot The Blacklist used to dominate.