CBS’s aerial crime-fighting saga “Magnum, PI” and ABC’s soap drama “A Million Little Things” led USA TODAY’s 25th annual Save Our Show poll.
Nearly 70,000 votes polled in an April poll showed that the two plays from the fourth season were the clear favorites among fans hoping for another run. This year, 24 endangered network TV series were polled. Nearly half of voters (49%) want “Magnum” back — a remake of Tom Selleck’s 1980 series starring Jay Hernandez — while only 14% voted to cancel it. And “Millions,” a perennial “on the bubble” series, was liked by 33%, with 17% opting to say goodbye. (The remaining percentage of voters didn’t care either way.)
Other top-performing series in this year’s poll were ABC’s “Big Sky” (with 30% endorsement), Chuck Lorre’s two CBS sitcoms – “United States of Al” (with 29% voting to keep it) and “B Positive” (27% said yes) – and Mayim Bialik’s Fox comedy “Call Me Cat” (27%).
In contrast, “Cat” was also included in the show Most Wanted (22% said so), echoing last year’s polarized results. ABC’s “The Conners” earned the largest percentage of “drop” votes, as 31% want the sitcom — a sequel to “Roseanne,” now without its former star — gone. Others in favor of joining the denial pile include “Young Rock,” NBC’s Dwayne Johnson origin story; and The CW’s “Charmed.”
Those with the least support were lesser-known shows like the Fox drama “Our Kind of People,” which wrapped its new season in January, and the midseason mockumentary “Welcome To” with NBC’s “Grand Crew” and The CW’s “Naomi.” Flash”.
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Six of the 24 series were also in the 2021 election, including NBC’s “Cannon”. And two DC Comics-inspired shows in the poll — The CW’s “Batwoman” and “Legends of Tomorrow” — were canceled last week. (Check the status of all your favorite broadcast series here.)
Broadcast networks are weighing the fate of these series this month as they prepare to announce fall schedules to advertisers ahead of the ad-sales season. Although a potential replacement series will not be ready at all times, networks are contractually obligated to renew shows by June 30, when returning shows with actors and writers usually end.
Recent winners have mixed track records: 2021 and 2020 Save Our Show champ, NBC’s musical drama “Zoe’s Extraordinary Playlist” was canceled last spring but later saved by the Roku channel, which ended the series. To stream a holiday movie. CBS gave the 2019 winner “Madame Secretary” a final 10-episode run that fell, and NBC renewed the “Timeless” winner in 2017 and 2018, first for a second season and later, a wrap-up. Film.
