As the line for what defines a broadcast hit and a miss continues to erode, the networks are increasingly showing a willingness to be patient with rookie shows as they look to better understand delayed viewing and how streaming plays a role in a program’s total viewership.
It’s with that in mind that the five broadcast networks have largely assembled their primetime scripted schedules for the 2020-21 television season. Amid the frenzy of pilot season, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and The CW consider ownership, international sales and a show’s long tail of delayed viewing across multiple platforms as they make their decisions about which shows live to tell another story and which, well, won’t.
The 2020-21 broadcast season will be anything but traditional. After the novel coronavirus pandemic halted production and brought many scripted series to an early close, the broadcast networks have given a vote of confidence to a number of bubble shows as they look to keep marketing and production costs in check amid an unstable economy and limit the need to launch pricey promotional campaigns for new series. Pilot season 2020 was also disrupted as only one of the nearly 80 comedies and dramas was able to complete production. With an unclear sense of timing on when cameras can begin rolling again, the broadcast networks thus far have picked up very few new series as most “fall” schedules are filled with acquisitions designed to allow productions the time needed to get back on track (whenever that may be).
In keeping with tradition, here’s The Hollywood Reporter‘s handy guide to help keep track of what’s coming back, what’s canceled and what’s been added to the 2020-21 schedule at ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and The CW.
(Key: Renewed shows in bold; ownership by in-house studio designated with an asterisk; additional episode orders noted. Current status followed by our reporting.)
Veteran shows
A Million Little Things*: renewed for season three
Agents of SHIELD*: ended after seven seasons
American Housewife* (single-cam): renewed for season five
Black-ish* (single-cam): renewed for season seven
Bless This Mess*: canceled after two seasons
The Conners (Carsey-Werner, multicam): renewed for season three
Fresh Off the Boat* (20th, single-cam): ended with season six
The Goldbergs (Sony, single-cam): renewed for season eight
The Good Doctor (Sony/ABC Studios): renewed for season four
Grey’s Anatomy*: renewed for season 17
How to Get Away With Murder*: ended after six seasons
Modern Family* (20th, single-cam): ended after 11 seasons
The Rookie*: renewed for season three
Schooled (Sony/ABC Studios, single-cam): canceled after two seasons
Single Parents* (single-cam): canceled after two seasons
Station 19*: renewed for season four
Freshman shows
The Baker and the Beauty (ABC Studios/UTV): canceled
Emergence (ABC Studios): canceled
For Life (Sony/ABC Studios): renewed for season two
Mixed-ish* (single-cam): renewed for season two
Reef Break*: summer drama was canceled
Stumptown*: renewed for season two and canceled amid pandemic issues
United We Fall (Sony/ABC Studios, multicam): canceled
New shows
Big Sky (A+E/ABC Studios)
Call Your Mother (multicam, Sony TV)
Home Economics (single-cam, ABCS/Lionsgate TV)
Rebel (ABCS/Sony)
Veteran shows
Blue Bloods*: renewed for season 11
Bull*: renewed for season five
Criminal Minds (ABCS/CBSTVS): ended after 15 seasons
Elementary*: ended after seven seasons
FBI (Universal TV/CBSTVS): renewed for season three
God Friended Me (WBTV): canceled after two seasons
Hawaii Five-0*: ended with season 10
Madam Secretary*: ended after six seasons
MacGyver*: renewed for season five
Magnum P.I.*: renewed for season three
Man With a Plan*: canceled after four seasons
Mom (WBTV, multicam): renewed for season eight
NCIS*: renewed for season 18
NCIS: Los Angeles*: renewed for season 12
NCIS: New Orleans*: renewed for season seven
The Neighborhood* (multicam): renewed for season three
SEAL Team*: renewed for season four
SWAT (SPT/CBSTVS): renewed for season four
Young Sheldon (WBTV, single-cam): renewed for season four
Freshman shows
Evil*: renewed for season two
FBI: Most Wanted (UTV, CBSTVS): renewed for season two
All Rise (co-pro with WB): renewed for season two
Bob Hearts Abishola (WB, multicam): renewed for season two
Broke* (multicam): canceled
Carol’s Second Act*: canceled
The Unicorn* (single-cam): renewed for season two
Tommy*: canceled
New shows
Clarice*
The Equalizer (CBSTVS/UTV) for “fall”
B Positive (WBTV, multicam)
United States of Al (WBTV, multicam)
Veteran shows
The 100 (WBTV): ended after seven seasons
All American (WBTV): renewed for season three
Arrow (WBTV): ended after eight seasons
Black Lightning (WBTV): renewed for fourth and final season
Burden of Truth (acquisition): renewed for season three (summer)
Charmed (CBSTV): renewed for season three
Dynasty (CBSTVS): renewed for season four
The Flash (WBTV): renewed for season seven
In the Dark (CBSTV): renewed for season three
Legacies (WBTV): renewed for season three
Legends of Tomorrow (WBTV): renewed for season six
Riverdale (WBTV): renewed for season five
Roswell, New Mexico (WBTV) renewed for season three
Supergirl (WBTV): renewed for sixth and final season
Supernatural (WBTV): ended after season 15
The Outpost (acquisition): renewed for season three
Freshman shows
Batwoman (WB): renewed for season two (Ruby Rose exited)
Katy Keene (WB): canceled
Nancy Drew (CBSTV): renewed for season two
Bulletproof (acquisition, summer); awaiting word on season two
Pandora (acquisition): renewed for season two
Stargirl (DC Universe import): renewed for season two exclusively on The CW
New shows
Kung Fu (WBTV)
Republic of Sarah (CBSTV)
Superman & Lois (WBTV, straight to series) for January
Walker (CBSTV, straight to series) for January
Veteran shows
911 (20th): renewed for season four
Bob’s Burgers (20th): renewed through season 13 (in 2022-23)
Empire (20th): ended with season six
Family Guy (20th): renewed through season 20 (in 2022-23)
Last Man Standing (20th/multicam): renewed for ninth and final season
The Resident (20th): renewed for season four
The Simpsons (20th): renewed for season 32
Freshman shows
Bless the Harts (20th/Fox, animated): renewed for season two
90210 (CBSTV, summer): canceled
911: Lone Star (20th TV) renewed for season two
Almost Family (UTV, Endemol, Fox): canceled
Deputy (eOne, Fox); canceled
Duncanville (20th/UTV/Fox, animated); renewed for season two
Filthy Rich (20th TV, Fox): canceled
The Great North (animated/20th TV, Fox): renewed for season two ahead of 2021 debut
The Moodys (CBSTV, Fox): renewed for season two
Next (20th TV, Fox): canceled
Outmatched (20th TV, Fox/multicamera): canceled
Prodigal Son (WBTV, Fox): renewed for season two
What Just Happened (20th, summer): awaiting word on season two; zero chance
New shows
Call Me Kat (WBTV, multicam)
Fantasy Island (Sony, summer)
Housebroken* (animated)
Veteran shows
The Blacklist (Sony/UTV): renewed for season eight
Blindspot (WBTV): ended with season five
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (single-cam)*: renewed for season eight
Chicago Fire*: renewed for seasons nine, 10 and 11
Chicago Med*: renewed for seasons six, seven and eight
Chicago PD*: renewed for seasons eight, nine and 10
Good Girls*: renewed for season four
The Good Place*: ended after season four
Law & Order: SVU*: renewed for seasons 22, 23 and 24
Manifest (WBTV/UTV): renewed for season three
New Amsterdam*: renewed for seasons three, four and five
Superstore* (single-cam): renewed for sixth and final season
This Is Us (20th): renewed through season six
Will & Grace* (multicam): ended (again) after season 11
Freshman shows
Bluff City Law*: canceled
Council of Dads*: canceled
Indebted (Sony, multicam): canceled
Law & Order: Hate Crimes* (straight to series, 13 episodes): likely moving to Peacock
Lincoln Rhyme (UTV/Sony): canceled
Perfect Harmony (20th TV, single-cam): canceled
Sunnyside* (single-cam): canceled
Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (Lionsgate/UTV): renewed for season two
New shows
Connecting* (single-cam, straight to series): effectively canceled
Debris (drama, co-pro with Legendary/UTV)
The Kenan Show* (single-cam) rolled from last season
Young Rock* (single-cam, straight to series)
Mr. Mayor* (single-cam, straight to series)
Law & Order: Organized Crime* (straight to series) DELAYED
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