Every year, there are some heartbreaking cancellations when it comes to broadcast TV. We love our shows, but we know that the networks have to make space to bring in something new.
The linear ratings are usually the tell-tale sign of a TV show being canceled. While there are other factors that go into it, such as the budget, if the TV shows aren’t getting enough eyes on the series live, then the advertisers don’t want to pay the networks. This leads to a lower budget availability, and then to cancellation.
We’re not including any shows that haven’t premiered yet in 2026, as even though there are some we’re already worried about, it’s not fair to say they could be canceled until the viewing figures come in. All these shows are those from the fall 2025 schedule, and we’re concerned.
Brilliant Minds
I hate putting Brilliant Minds on the list because I love it so much, but it’s at the bottom of the linear ratings out of all NBC shows. That puts it immediately at risk of being canceled.
On top of that, the series just isn’t quite what it was in the first season, and losing the Core Four interns has caused that issue. There’s more focus on the mystery of Dr. Wolf at Hudson Oaks than there is on the patients and the interns. However, the last two episodes of 2025 got back to the heart of the series, and maybe there is hope that we’ll see more of that in 2026, and it will pull the linear ratings up. I just doubt it will.
Stumble
Sticking with NBC, there is a comedy that I’m worried about, despite loving it. Look, if you’re not watching Stumble, then you need to. It’s more than a mockmentary about a cheer squad. This series has heart, and it has one of the best married couples on TV with Courteney and Boon!
The problem is the audience isn’t there. It’s a Friday night comedy, which doesn’t help, and I do think this would have been better paired with St. Denis Medical on Mondays rather than with Happy’s Place on Fridays. The good news is NBC is trying to find the audience, putting reruns on throughout January and February on Mondays while airing new episodes on Fridays. So, tune in!
Watson
We move over to CBS, which has two shows on the list as well. The first is the sophomore series Watson. While the first season was renewed, it didn’t quite have the audience expected for it to go through. It was one of those on the bubble, and now it remains there. The downside with season 2 is that the linear ratings have dropped considerably.
It’s at the bottom of the CBS shows in the linear ratings. On top of that, CBS is moving it when it returns in 2026 into what really is now considered the “death slot” of TV. It’s moving to Sundays at 10/9c, which doesn’t bode well for its success.
NCIS: Sydney
While CBS would love to make a night of the NCIS franchise, there is one series that’s probably going to be canceled in 2026. It’s all about NCIS: Sydney, which remains at the bottom of the list of watched shows on the network, and in a way, that’s not surprising considering it went from a midseason series for two seasons to a fall series for season 3.
The show doesn’t have a lot of chatter about it on social media either. It’s also a joint venture with Australia and was originally intended to be a streaming show. Maybe that’s the way to save it: move it to streaming where it was supposed to go in the first place. Maybe we could have NCIS: Hawaii back? No?
Murder in a Small Town
Out of all the FOX shows, it’s Murder in a Small Town that sits in a dangerous position for 2026. To make it worse for the murder mystery show, it won’t air new episodes in the new year to see if it could tick up. Now, granted, the total viewers has gone up, but the demo rating has dropped by 11%, according to TV Series Finale.
Another marker against this is that it’s a Canadian show. If the Canadians decide to cancel it, FOX doesn’t really get a say, unless it wants to pick up the full cost of production itself. Showrunner Ian Weir would like to see a third season, and it’s clear with the cliffhanger that it’s needed, but I’m not too certain that it will happen.
These are gut feelings. Sometimes, I’ve been wrong, but most of the time, the ratings tell us everything we need to know.