Ratings Roundup Week of April 16, 2017

The big news for FOX last week was the announcement of another mini-series of The X-Files planned for the 2017-18 season. Looking at the failure of so many freshman series for the network this season (anyone even remember The Exorcist at this point?) it's no real surprise FOX wanted something guaranteed to bring in viewers next season. Expect to see the ten episode new season sometime in January 2018 as it fills the schedule hole left by another ratings casualty. The other item of note is that a rerun of Lethal Weapon scored much higher in the same time slot as You the Jury. How long will FOX let the reality show go before it's quietly removed?

TheCW had another repeat filled schedule last week, iZombie and a special being the only new programming for the network. New episodes for CW programs start again next week just in time for May sweeps.

ABC may have found success in two freshman shows: comedy American Housewife and drama Designated Survivor. Both shows have done well for the network and both should see a renewal notice in the next two weeks. American Crime rose a tick last week, but no where near enough to convince someone it should get another season. Once Upon A Time also tumbled, enough that any renewal could be in doubt.

Even though NCIS had one of its lowest ratings weeks in the history of the show, it was still enough to be the highest rated scripted program for CBS last week. This is why the procedural is still around after fourteen years and will be around for at least a few more. 2 Broke Girls wrapped its season last week, and its renewal is again in question. It squeaked a pass last year, will it be able to do it again? Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders and The Great Indoors are the only other question marks remaining of the scripted shows on The Eye as Training Day and Elementary are canceled, they just doesn't know it yet.

NBC saw the return of The Blacklist last week. The James Spader drama returned with numbers about where it left off and should see a renewal notice in a couple of weeks. Trial & Error is most likely done, however. The program did OK in the ratings, however the rate the network burned through the episodes and the fact the finale was aired late at night were both signs of a lack of confidence on the network's part. Don't expect to see any more of the courtroom comedy.

Renewal announcements should start in the next two weeks, all assuming of course the AMPTP and WGA can come to an agreement. Several writers and show-runners were on Twitter last week stating their intention to vote to allow the WGA to call a strike. If the Writer's Guild does get the votes for a strike call, that doesn't mean a strike will actually happen, but it does give the guild leverage in the last few days of negotiations to try and hash out a contract everyone can live with.

So far networks have not stated what, if any, plans they have for programming, including fall schedule announcements, if a strike should occur. The current WGA contract expires 1 May 2017.