Bubble Bustin’ Thursday (or Wednesday)

bubble burstThursday night actually saw some high drama – and I’m not talking about the NFL draft.

ABC decided to announce the programs it picked up and renew existing shows – creating a little bit of drama of their own on Texas A&M QB Johnny Manizel’s big night.

Fans of several shows – notably Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD – were forced to wait – just like Manizel did – on their fate. As ABC announced renewals on Twitter one by one – Once Upon A Time, Modern Family, Revenge etc., they wondered if ABC could really pull the plug on the action-adventure series.

But at the end of the day, SHIELD was picked up for a 2nd season (and Johnny Manizel – after sliding to 22nd in the draft – was picked by the Cleveland Browns.)

ABC also gave a vote of confidence to The Goldbergs for a second season, but in a rather shady move, canceled Trophy Wife and Mixology overnight in the cover of darkness.

This is the time of year, of course – the week before the network upfronts –  where the major broadcast networks renew (or cancel) bubble shows and finalize pilot pickups.

Decisions on the fate several shows were actually decided before Thursday:

– On Wednesday, Fox made its final decisions on pick ups and cancellations. The network canceled a trio of comedies: the critically acclaimed Enlisted and Surviving Jack, and Dads. Fox also declined to pick up Rake for another season. Among the pickups include hip-hop drama Empire (which is set in New York but shot in Chicago), and Batman prequel Gotham, which has to be one of the most anticipated series in quite some time.

Fox also picked up dramas Red Band Society, Backstrom, and Hieroglyph. Red Band Society is co-produced by ABC Studios and Amblin TV.

– Also on Wednesday, The CW pulled the plug on freshmen series The Tomorrow People and Star-Crossed, and sophomore series The Carrie Diaries. The CW also passed on pilot Identity and the planned Chicago-based Supernatural spinoff, whose stand-alone pilot aired weeks ago and was not well-received (I knew the idea of Mayor Rahm Emanuel as a monster wouldn’t fly, given he’s one in real life.) CW did pick up four pilots to series: Flash, iZombie, Messengers, and Jane The Virgin (more on those when CW holds its upfront presentation next week.)

CW renewed , and Beauty & The Beast.

T Dog Media will have more renewals, cancellations, and pickups in the next post titled Bubble Bustin’ Friday.

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