On this Friday the 13th, NBC’s freshman shows had some seriously bad luck, as medical drama Heartbeat, family comedy Crowded, and Game of Silence, which starred David Lyons and Michael Raymond-James, were all given the cancellation pink slip by the network. In addition, third year comedy Undateable was axed after switching to a live format for this past season.
Heartbeat was originally planned to air on Tuesdays this fall, snagging the coveted post-Voice slot on the schedule. However, star Melissa George’s pregnancy pushed the show to midseason where it could never find a ratings foothold or measure up favorably against previous time slot occupant The Mysteries of Laura. The series, about a surgeon who struggles to balance her personal and professional lives, also starred Dave Annable (Red Band Society) and Shelly Conn (Terra Nova).
Crowded was given the unenviable task of following The Carmichael Show, NBC’s critical darling that doesn’t have much ratings strength despite favorable scheduling. The series, which starred Patrick Warburton (Rules of Engagement) and Carrie Preston (The Good Wife) as parents whose millennial children moved back home, had strong retention from its lead-in, but both comedies slipped noticeably in the past couple of weeks, thereby sealing Crowded‘s fate. Carmichael, meanwhile, has yet to hear its fate, though it’s likely to return.
Originally picked up as part of a package deal with since-departed The Player and The Blacklist, Game of Silence followed a group of childhood friends as they reunited as adults due to tragic circumstances. In addition to Lyons and Raymond-James, the series, based on Turkish drama Suskunlar, also starred Larenz Tate (Rescue Me) and Bre Blair (The Unit).
Produced by Bill Lawrence (Cougar Town), dating comedy Undateable attempted to capitalize on the buzz it garnered from a live episode during its second season by making its entire third season live, as well. However, what buzz that could have been garnered by the move was negated by NBC moving the show to Friday and pairing it with DOA comedy Truth Be Told, meaning that Undateable essentially aired by itself for the entirety of its run. The series, which ends with three short seasons, starred Chris D’Elia (Whitney), Brent Morin (Ground Floor), and Bridgit Mendler (Good Luck Charlie).
NBC is set to reveal its plans for 2016-2017 on Sunday, May 15th. You can check out what KSiteTV thought the network could do next season here.
