Almost Human

Community

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

The Blacklist

The Following

    It’s that time of the year again where us television aficionados either rejoice or become depressed as a result of the major networks’ decisions to either cancel our favorite shows or renew them for a new season. Of course, long-running popular shows such as The Simpsons (25 seasons), CSI (15 seasons) and The Big Bang Theory (7 seasons) are pretty much guaranteed a renewal, but a lot of beloved shows aren’t assured a spot simply because it’s a great production; the show needs great ratings as well. Look to the cult popularity of the show Firefly that was tragically cancelled after one amazing season as an example of a great series that should have lasted longer. The five major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and the CW) have already made their decision on a lot of shows this year, but the fate of about half of the programs on network television right now is up in the air. I want to share with you a handful of amazing network series still in their infancy that have either already been renewed or have a possibility of being renewed. Maybe bringing a spotlight to these shows will gain a good enough audience for the networks to renew them! A boy can dream! Please keep in mind that although this is a family magazine, the content in some of these programs is suitable for adults only, so please do apt research before introducing a show to the children!

Shows likely to be CANCELLED

Almost Human
Network: FOX
Genre: Science-fiction, Crime drama
Current seasons: 1
    Gaining much popularity playing Captain Kirk’s best friend and Chief Medical Officer Leonard H. “Bones” McCoy in the two latest Star Trek films, Karl Urban now runs the show as Detective John Kennex. Taking place in 2048, technology has improved significantly, but sadly so has crime. To combat this spike in illegal activity, every human police officer is paired with a humanlike android. Kennex understandably is not too fond of these androids, since he and his human partner were previously critically injured from an ambush; only to be deemed to have a low chance of survival by an android officer and left to die. Kennex’s partner succumbed to his wounds, but he ended up surviving the attack, only to later be forcibly paired with an android partner. The episodes have been aired out of order, but most plotlines are self-contained in each episode, so it seems to not have such a terrible consequence. Furthermore, people are faulting the self-contained episodes for a lack of the show’s popularity. However, it is a fun an interesting futuristic world that’s worth a try.

 

Community
Network: NBC
Genre: Comedy
Current seasons: 5
    Another year; another possible Community cancellation. Yes, it has lasted five seasons, but the show has been on thin ice since the premier of its pilot. But fans will never want to see the show go. Starring a diverse group of community college students (including a narcissist lawyer poser, nerd who has way too much going on inside his head, former high school athletic star, single mother in her 30s, quirky Jewish girl, elderly bitter man and a girl who Britta’s everything up) who form a study group and eventually build a close relationship with one another. The show is hilarious and off the wall as each shenanigan the group gets into becomes even more ridiculous; but sadly not enough people watch it according to the networks. It has only survived by a large vocal fanbase, but we don’t know how long that will suffice.

 

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Network: ABC
Genre: Superhero, Action/adventure
Current seasons: 1
    Taking place in the same universe as the recent Marvel movies such as The Avengers and Iron Man, this series follows an elite group of field agents from the policing organization in charge of all the otherworldly events going on around us. Don’t get too excited, as big name characters such as The Hulk and Thor have yet to appear, but we have had some special guest appearances including the organization’s most badass agent, Nick Fury (played by Samuel L. Jackson). Although the storyline is often separate from the films, they do intertwine at some points. The show has some classic Joss Weedon (producer) humor, quality action and amazing special effects.

Shows already RENEWED

Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Genre: Comedy
Current seasons: 1
    Set in the fictional 99th Precinct of the New York City Police Department, we follow the high jinks of these officers as their captain (Andre Braugher of Homocide: Life on the Street) tries to gain normalcy with his stone cold demeanor. Starring Andy Samberg from Saturday Night Live fame and other comedic greats such as Terry Crews (the jacked guy from the Old Spice commercials), this show contains the definition of stupid humor, but I can’t help but keep watching every hilarious episode.

The Blacklist
Genre: Crime drama
Current seasons: 1
    This is James Spader’s next television gig since his role as new branch manager Robert California in The Office, and while the two men are similar, boy is one more sinister than the other. Spader plays Raymond “Red” Reddington, a fugitive who was once a government agent. Reddington turns himself into the FBI so they can work together to rid the world of high profile criminals. However, this is only on the condition that he works exclusively with rookie agent Elizabeth Keen (played by newcomer Megan Boone).  This series includes twists and turns, intense drama and more information each episode of why Reddington is so endeared by Keen, all while the FBI crosses each fugitive off Reddington’s list of most dangerous criminals, known as The Blacklist.

 

The Following
Genre: Psychological thriller, Drama
Current seasons: 2
    Cult-like thought of disallowing music and dancing are the least of Kevin Bacon’s problems as FBI agent Ryan Hardy. After retiring from the FBI, Hardy is pulled back into the organization to re-capture escaped serial killer Joe Carroll (played by James Purefoy of BBC’s Rome). Since Carroll’s escape, he has earned many followers to become the leader of a cult full of radical killers. The show is violent and sometimes frightening, but there are some great twists and it will be hard to turn the TV off once you’ve started watching.