Twenty new TV shows have debuted across the five English-language broadcast networks thus far this season — to very varying degrees of success. Not all of them can be insta-hits: For every “Manifest” there is an “I Feel Bad,” unfortunately.
TheWrap has identified six freshmen series that are already in danger of being canceled — before or after their initial runs even end. Sorry ABC, you’re the twofer.
See what’s already on the bad side of the bubble (you know, if bubbles weren’t perfect spheres) below.
Series: “All American”
Net: The CW
Order: 13 episodes + 5 scripts
18-49 rating: 0.2
Viewers: 647,000
NFL alum Spencer Paysinger has a cool life story and the critics dig his biographical show — but viewers aren’t exactly blitzing their televisions to tune in. A “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes got the CW football series a backorder of five scripts. But scripts aren’t episodes. This one could be a late-season pick up, or it could get cut.
Series: “Happy Together”
Net: CBS
Order: 13 episodes
18-49 rating: 1.0
Viewers: 5.5 million
More like “sad together” — are we right? Damon Wayans Jr. is always one of the hottest free agents of pilot season, but that doesn’t mean the projects he picks are always winners. We’ll soon see how much an upcoming guest turn from his real-life dad can help things out here. (Probably not much, to be honest.)
Series: “Rel”
Net: Fox
Order: 13
18-49 rating: 1.1*
Viewers: 2.8 million*
*Boosted by post-NFL double-header preview
Don’t be fooled by the 1.1 demo rating, which would be fine for a Fox sitcom on Sunday nights. That number is skewed by the network having previewed Lil’ Rel Howery’s comedy immediately after an NFL doubleheader. Who would have thought that a sitcom starring Sinbad in 2018 wouldn’t resonate with viewers?
Series: “I Feel Bad”
Net: NBC
Order: 13
18-49 rating: 0.9
Viewers: 3.7 million
You should “feel bad” with these ratings, NBC. To be fair to the network, it kind of has to pick up anything Amy Poehler is pushing, right? “I Feel Bad” has the worst reviews of the scripted series on the list, with a 23 percent critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Series: “Dancing With the Stars: Juniors”
Net: ABC
Order: 10 episodes
18-49 rating: 0.8
Viewers: 5.4 million
“Dancing With the Stars: Juniors” is no “Dancing With the Stars.” While this one does OK in viewers, the latest “DWTS” spinoff is not living up to the pedigree of the show that birthed it. Assume this one will be one and done like the “Athletes” edition.
Series: “The Alec Baldwin Show”
Net: ABC
Order: 9 episodes
18-49 rating: 0.3
Viewers: 2 million
If coffee is for closers only, Alec Baldwin will need to get his caffeine fix elsewhere. “The Alec Baldwin Show” is a disaster. This one is surely getting fired by ABC, and it will be a mission of mercy.