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TV: What shows will stay and what will go
This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2008, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Now is the time we all should be thinking about what network television executives are doing behind closed doors - besides creating another "So You Think You Can Survive Better Than a Star Apprentice." This month is when programmers for the four big broadcast networks figure out which of their series stay and which ones go based on the strength of their ratings over the last seven months. Here's a breakdown of where some of your favorite shows stand as of this month before executives announce their new fall schedules in May.

Back to You (Fox)

* Status: Bubble

* Why: It's hard to let go of a sitcom starring top comedy stars Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton, even if the ratings aren't that great.

Boston Legal (ABC)

* Status: Bubble

* Why: Reportedly, the cast is expensive to maintain. Only so-so ratings in its Tuesday night slot. But it is one of ABC's few prestige shows.

Cane (CBS)

* Status: Likely cancelled

* Why: Because a family that harvests sugar cane just isn't that interesting.

Canterbury's Law (Fox)

* Status: Likely cancelled

* Why: I don't know, maybe because it sucked?

* Cashmere Mafia (ABC)

* Status: Likely cancelled

* Why: Television viewers can barely handle one show like "Sex and the City," and that apparently is the already-renewed "Lipstick Jungle" on NBC.

Cavemen (ABC)

* Status: Likely cancelled

* Why: Do we need a reason? Let's just thank our lucky stars.

Eli Stone (ABC)

* Status: Bubble

* Why: Didn't exactly light ABC's schedule on fire during its run.

Moonlight (CBS)

* Status: Bubble

* Why: Hmmm. Already used the "sucks" reason. Let's just say there's enough blood left in this tired vampire series to possibly keep it running one more season.

New Amsterdam (Fox)

* Status: Bubble

* Why: Personally, I hope this one is cancelled. The show's ideas, like its aging character, are a bit long in the tooth.

The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS)

* Status: Bubble

* Why: It's part of the network's solid Monday night comedy lineup. But it doesn't do near the numbers of "Two and a Half Men."

Reaper (CW)

* Status: Bubble

* Why: A good show with lukewarm ratings. Really depends on whether CW executives like the show enough - despite its numbers - to give it another chance.

Women's Murder Club (ABC)

* Status: Bubble

* Why: Ratings. But it's still one of the worst crime dramas on television despite a decent cast.

And all the rest...

Most of next season's returning series have been decided. Check the list below for those whose fate is already sealed.

But just because your favorite series is about to be axed doesn't mean you can't do something about it. Thanks to the Internet, fans' voices can be heard more than ever.

Last year, fans of "Jericho" inundated CBS' corporate offices with peanuts (a reference to a line in the finale) in an effort that brought the show back for one more - albeit short - season.

This year, fans of the vampire series "Moonlight" are staging blood drives at the local Red Cross. The best way to try and save your show is to search for organized campaigns already underway.

The status of other series:

 

Already or likely to be renewed:

ABC

The Bachelor

Brothers & Sisters

Dancing With the Stars

Desperate Housewives

Dirty Sexy Money

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

Grey's Anatomy

Lost

Wife Swap

Pushing Daisies

Private Practice

Samantha Who?

Scrubs (moved from NBC)

Supernanny

Ugly Betty

CBS

The Amazing Race

Big Brother

Cold Case

Criminal Minds

CSI

CSI: Miami

CSI: NY

Ghost Whisperer

NCIS

Numbers

Two and a Half Men

The Big Bang Theory

Without a Trace

Survivor

NBC

30 Rock

American Gladiators

The Apprentice

Biggest Loser

Chuck

Deal or No Deal

Friday Night Lights

Heroes

Law & Order

Life

Lipstick Jungle

Medium

My Name is Earl

The Office

Fox

American Dad

American Idol

America's Most Wanted

Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?

Bones

Cops

Family Guy

Hell's Kitchen

House

Kitchen Nightmares

King of the Hill

Prison Break

The Simpsons

Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles

CW

America's Next Top Model

Everybody Hates Chris

Gossip Girl

One Tree Hill

Smallville

Supernatural

Already or Likely Cancelled

ABC

October Road

CBS

Kid Nation

Jericho

Viva Laughlin

Welcome to the Captain

NBC

Amnesia

Bionic Woman

Journeyman

Las Vegas

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

My Dad is Better Than Your Dad

One vs. 100

Singing Bee

Fox

K-Ville

The Return of Jezebel James

CW

CW Now

Life is Wild

Online Nation

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