4 Months Later

It's been nearly four months since the 2012 Fall TV season kicked off, and a lot has happened in that time.NBC unexpectedly rose to prominence, while previously dominating networks FOX and CBS fell, and ABC hit new lows. New shows debuted, some were major successes, and many many others were cancelled. Shows returns from last year with volatile ratings, with many being pre-cancelled (aka airing their "final season"). Here is my network-by-network recap of the happenings this fall:

NBC: I've written a lot about NBC's success in my last post, so Ill focus on the network's shortcomings here. "Animal Practice", which debuted during the Olympics for extra viewers, fell from 12.80 million viewers to 3.68 million viewers before being cancelled. It's replacement, the returning "Whitney", managed just 3.9 in it's latest episode, and is likely to be cancelled later this year as well. Otherwise, "30 Rock" and "The Office" are preforming dismally in their officially final seasons, while "Parks & Recreation" is preforming at new lows, and there aren't many hopes for midseason replacement "Community" to salvage NBC's once glorious and dominant comedy lineup either.

ABC: ABC has cancelled more hours of television than any of the other networks so far this year, with "666 Park Avenue" and critical darling "Last Resort" getting the ax, and "Private Practice" getting the 'final farewell season' treatment (which is another term for cancelled). "Don't Trust The B in Apt 23" and "Happy Endings" are also finding new ratings lows for the network. However, the network has found success in new show "Nashville", the returning "Once Upon A Time" and "Castle", and it's always dominant Thursday night lineup. Unfortunately, ABC is last place among the networks this year.


CBS: The single casualty so far this season on CBS has been "Made in Jersey", of which there was never much confidence in the show, seeing how it was regulated to a Friday night death time slot. "Elementary" premiered well for the network, and while it is maintaining over 10 million viewers weekly, it's leaving much to be desired in the 18-49 male viewership demographic. Other newcomer "Vegas" has been sinking and will not likely last beyond this TV season. All of the returning CBS sitcoms are as dominant as always and will remain for many years to come.

FOX: With "Fringe" in it's final season, "The Mob Doctor" (the intended replacement for "House") already cancelled, the comedy lineup of "Ben and Kate" and "The Mindy Project" not long for this world, "Glee" loosing viewers left and right, and "The X Factor" falling to NBC's "The Voice", FOX has fallen greatly from last year. However, they have reason to look up to the blue sky. In January, they debut mid-season show "The Following" with Kevin Bacon, which was hailed by critics during the summer. Still, one show can't save a network, and FOX has a lot of work to do to regain their viewers again.