TV Feature: What Will Happen to Your Favorite 2013 Network TV Shows

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NBC

We can officially call this the feast or famine network. They feasted on the success of the Olympics, “The Voice,” and the pushes they gave to new shows like “Go On” and “Revolution.” When they’re not on and through the rest of the schedule? It’s brutal. As I often say on WGN when listeners call in, “they can’t cancel everything.” The problem is that using this “lesser evil” concept to predict renewals and cancellations can be brutal. Let’s start with what we do know.

We shall never see “Do No Harm,” “Deception,” or “Animal Practice” again. “30 Rock” and “The Office” are over, two hits for a network deeply deprived of new comedy smashes, which means there’s no WAY they don’t renew “Parks and Recreation,” their best option left for comedy in several key demos. It can’t JUST be “Parks” though. So what are the other comedies they renew?

Hannibal Photo credit: NBC

Hold on. We’re getting ahead. As expected, NBC already renewed reliable performers “Grimm,” “Parenthood,” and “Law & Order: SVU,” while also giving “Revolution” and “Chicago Fire” second chances to find bigger audiences.

It leaves a whopping 10 shows for potential renewal or cancellation although several of the choices are obvious. “Smash” was ostensibly canceled when it was shuffled off to Saturdays to burn off remaining episodes. It’s not coming back. The only cast member remaining on “Up All Night” is the baby. That show’s done. “1600 Penn” and “Guys with Kids” get ratings so low that they would have been canceled already on most networks. And, as mentioned, Leslie Knope and the Pawnee gang are coming back.

With those obvious choices, we can cut the NBC bubble list in half, down to 5 — “Hannibal,” “Community,” “Go On,” “Whitney,” and “The New Normal.” Based on what else is going to be on the Fall schedule, I think they renew two of the comedies and my gut says that they’ll be “Community” and “Go On,” the former staying on Thursday nights and the latter airing right after it as a solid lead-in to “Parks” (with a new comedy after). “Whitney” could be that show instead or could be saved as a mid-season replacement. “The New Normal” is gone.

And what of “Hannibal”? I’ve said before and I’ll say it again — if a show as good as “Hannibal” can’t survive on network TV, the people who write quality drama will give up on doing so for the big five. I think NBC knows this and the uptick last week in the key 18-49 demo along with raves across the board will keep “Hannibal” alive. If it gets canceled, NBC may as well stop trying to produce original dramas altogether and SOMEBODY there has to realize that fact. If it is renewed, it’s probably held till midseason. Just renew it. Don’t make me beg.

Predicted NBC Renewals:

“Community”
“Go On”
“Hannibal” (mid-season)
“Parks and Recreation”

Predicted NBC Cancellations:

“1600 Penn”
“Guys with Kids”
“The New Normal”
“Smash”
“Up All Night”
“Whitney” (maybe with the allowance that it could return mid-season)

Predicted Moves:

“Parks and Recreation” slides into the slot occupied by Dunder Mifflin for years and “Go On” serves as a quality lead-in, hopefully building an audience in the process. Watch it. It’s pretty good.