It’s been about two months since we last covered the U.S. networks’ scripted summer programs, and now that they’ve all debuted — and in some cases already come to abrupt ends– we thought we’d check in on how they fared.
In general, the futures of these shows are mostly unknown or not looking good, with only one series (CBS’ Under the Dome) already renewed for a second season.
- NBC dramedy Camp (distributed internationally by NBCUniversal) bypassed the pilot process and was given a direct-to-series order in January. The show, set on the fictional Camp Little Otter, is full of wacky characters, parents who decompress with gin, teenagers who make mischief and kids who run wild. The 10-episode series is currently on air and the ratings are okay, but not great, seemingly getting lower by the week. The good news: The debut was NBC’s best premiere for a new scripted series this summer (with five million viewers).
- CBS drama Under the Dome (being distributed by CBS Studios) has officially been renewed for a second season, which will air next summer. The 13-episode serialized drama is based on a Stephen King novel about a small town that’s suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an enormous transparent dome. It was the network’s most-watched summer premiere since 2000. The series is averaging about 13.8 million viewers, according to Nielsen numbers provided to the network.
- ABC’s soapy drama Mistresses (distributed by Disney) was first introduced to buyers at last year’s L.A. Screenings and made it to air this May. The series follows four women and their illicit relationships. The premiere episode was a major letdown, but ratings have increased since the premiere. The future of the show is unknown, but many expect it to be cancelled.
- NBC’s comedy Save Me (distributed by Sony Pictures Television) was also first introduced at the 2012 L.A. Screenings. The show, starring Anne Heche, followed a housewife who believes she is a prophet. It premiered on May 23 and ended early, after it’s seventh episode, on June 13.
- Fox’s comedy The Goodwin Games (distributed by Twentieth Century Fox) was also introduced at last year’s L.A. Screenings. From the creators of How I Met Your Mother, the sitcom followed three siblings with very different lives return home after their father’s death and are put through a series of tests and trials to win his inheritance. Though it got a 13-episode order, the show premiered the past May 20 and its seventh and final episode aired on July 1. The winner of the Games was never revealed.
- NBC drama Crossing Lines (distributed by Tandem) follows an elite task force — made up of members across countries that have been handpicked for their special skills — whose job it is to keep international crime down across the European Union. It premiered June 23 to lackluster ratings and mixed reviews. But the ratings seem to be inching upward, so there may be hope for renewal.
- FOX’s Saturday night late-night (11-11:30 p.m.) animated comedy block Animation Domination High-Def premiered this past weekend with Axe Cop and High School USA! According to a press release from Fox, the block scored 0.5 among adults 18-49, up 67 percent from FOX’s prior summer average in the time period. But that number represents half of the 1.1 rating the special primetime ADHD preview brought in on the Sunday prior and is a fraction of what FOX’s more mainstream past late-night shows like MadTV brought in. The FOX block was roughly on par with cable block Adult Swim’s average. (Funny enough, Adult Swim took an ad out during the ADHD broadcast.)
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