FX cancels Lights Out, FOX renews Fringe

Both Fox Entertainment Group channels, FX and FOX announced important renewal decisions yesterday.  

Lights Out, FX's critically acclaimed but low-rated series about retired boxer Patrick "Lights" Leary's return to the ring. This comes less than four months after FX canceled Terriers, a PI show in much the same position as Lights Out.

Fringe, FOX's science fiction show about the Fringe division, was placed on Friday nights after underperforming on Thursdays, and received considerably lower ratings. Still, the series was renewed for a complete 22-episode season (and I'm guessing there will be budget cuts).

NBC renews Community, Parks and Recreation, and The Office

NBC renewed three of their Thursday comedies. While Parks and Recreation and The Office have been doing well, Community has averaged only 2.1 18-49 adults, according to the press release, but it's a reflection on the sad state of NBC.

It's worth noting that NBC has not renewed Outsourced or Perfect Couples, both of which have been struggling even relative to NBC shows. 30 Rock was already renewed last year.

NBC reduces The Cape's order to ten episodes

According to Deadline, The Cape has had its order reduced from 13 to 10, and since it is almost done with the tenth episode, production is stopping soon. With steadily declining ratings, this move doesn't come as a surprise, and cancellation is on the horizon.

Syfy renews Sanctuary

Sanctuary was renewed for a fourth season consisting of 13 episodes airing in fall 2010. That's down from the 20 episodes of the third season, but still on par with the first and second.

NBC keeps Parenthood in 10 PM Tuesday slot, holds LOLA

With Harry's Law premiering with decent ratings last night, NBC is now leaving Parenthood on Tuesday instead of moving it to Monday starting March 10. However, it leaves, LOLA, which would have taken Parenthood's slot, without a spot in the schedule. Given the recent casting shakeups, LOLA is on shaky ground right now, so anything could happen.

ABC renews The Middle, Cougar Town, Modern Family, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Castle

ABC renewed its Wednesday comedy lineup--minus Better With You--the Thursday medical lineup, and Castle. If there's something to be mildly surprised about, it would be that both Castle and Cougar Town were renewed early while Desperate Housewives, which is a sure renewal, was not.

Stargate Universe cancelled

Syfy cancelled Stargate Universe after consistently getting lower than expected ratings. I can't say I'm surprised or disappointed. There were a few good episodes before the midseason finale, but for the most part, it's been an incredibly frustrating ride with the writers unable to take chances even when the opportunity presented itself.

FX cancels Terriers

As everyone expected, FX dropped the hammer on Terriers, following the season finale last week. No one can really complain since Terriers was nowhere close to being a viable show on FX, averaging less than a million viewers the entire season and far fewer as the season progressed. All in all, it must be disappointing for FX to see such a promising show unwatched. Pin in on bad marketing, the wacky dog, or going off brand, as Tim Goodman suggests, Terriers badly missed the mark.

NBC cuts Chase order from 22 to 18

I was initally surprised when NBC gave Chase the back 9 a few months ago since it had much lower ratings than other shows given extra episodes and it wasn't showing signs of improving ratings.

Now, NBC has backtracked, seeing as Chase has only done worse since then, and as the Hollywood Reporter reports, Chase will get 4 less episodes than planned.

It's also worth noting that Chase is moving to Wednesday, 9 PM for the midseason.