CBS has dropped the cancellation axe on 5 freshman shows that were added just last year.
After picking up five new drama series and two new comedy series yesterday, CBS has canceled 5 shows including The Crazy Ones which featured the return of Robin Williams, Hostages, Friends with Better Lives, Bad Teacher and Intelligence.
The only three shows to make it into the second season are The Millers, Mom, and The Mentalist.
The demise of Intelligence and the long-forgotten Hostages was fully expected as neither made a mark in the Monday 10 PM time slot though there was some argument made about procedural Intelligence. Friends With Better Lives, which had been envisioned as a potential successor toHow I Met Your Mother and launched behind the series finale of the long-running CBS comedy, had a shot at a renewal and had supporters at CBS. I hear producer 20th TV may shop it elsewhere. For Bad Teacher, the cancellation comes only three episodes into its run. The comedy, based on the hit movie, exceeded ratings expectations in its debut but dropped off in Episodes 2 and 3. Still, some thought CBS would wait until after the upfronts to make a decision on its future to give it more time [Deadline].
A lot of these shows faced poor ratings despite a big and popular cast. The series The Crazy Ones, featured legendary comic Robin Williams and was thought to be a big hit for the CBS Network last year. However, audiences could not connect with the series and CBS decided to choose a new show rather than stick with a mediocre one.