If logic applied to television then a show that gets good reviews and high viewership numbers, or at least one of the two, will likely be renewed by the network or streaming service. But as fans know all too well, sometimes shows that are seemingly doing well get the ax, leading to fan campaigns urging for it to be brought back. It's happened with shows like Sense8, Manifest, One Day at a Time, GLOW, and many others.
In some cases, however, the opposite happens. A show that isn't watched by many people, gets mostly bad reviews, or causes a lot of negative chatter, is announced to be coming back, leaving viewers scratching their heads.
And Just Like That (2021-)
Fans were sure that Sex And the City revival/sequel series, there were also questions given that only three of the four main characters returned.
With a combination of writing trying to make the show into something it wasn't and cringeworthy storylines, the show did not strike a chord with fans. They were happy to bury it as a failed attempt at the revival of an iconic franchise. So, HBO Max shocked viewers when the streamer announced that a season 2 is forthcoming. In fact, it was so unexpected that there were many And Just Like That.
Call Me Kat (2021-)
Call Me Kat has pretty dismal reviews on all of the top review aggregator sites, including IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, where critics on the latter call the show "shouty" and "shrieky" and "more jarring than charming." The story about a woman who uses the money her parents set aside for a wedding to open a cat café instead seemed quirky and strange, but had promise.
It may be the star power of Mayim Bialik, Cheyenne Jackson, and Leslie Jordan that gave Fox the courage to say it was worth another shot in hopes that the sitcom picks up steam for its second season.
The Orville (2017-)
Fans expected The Orville to do well simply because Seth MacFarlane, the powerhouse behind shows like Family Guy and American Dad!, both created and stars in it. But the sci-fi comedy-drama, which is a sort of parody of Star Trek, seemed like a show that would be funny for a season then peter out.
On the contrary, not only was The Orville renewed for a second season, but a third season will also be released by Hulu in summer 2022.
Space Force (2020-)
Fans love Steve Carrell and the concept of poking fun with a workplace comedy about the United States Space Force. The show, which features a talented cast that also includes John Malkovich, Ben Schwartz, and Lisa Kudrow, centers on Carrell's character, General Mark R. Naird, who is tasked with serving as the first Chief of Space Operations. Except he has no idea what the department is supposed to accomplish and what he's supposed to do.
funny moments from Space Force season 2. But with season 1 having been received so poorly, with critics saying it offered an "uneven blend of earnestness and satire," according to Rotten Tomatoes, it was surprising the show even made it to a second season.
Billions (2016-)
Billions is a wonderful cat-and-mouse game between U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades and billionaire hedge fund manager Bobby "Axe" Axelrod. But when Bobby left the show at the end of season 5, fans didn't have high hopes. Still, the show returned for a sixth season with a new primary antagonist in Mike Prince.
While aggregate reviews haven't been devised yet for season 6, the overall sentiment is that Prince does not prove to be as compelling a character as Axelrod. So that makes it even more surprising that the show has been renewed for a seventh season.
Fuller House (2016-2020)
Fans viewed this sequel series as a fun way to look back and revel in the nostalgia of the original '80s sitcom. The first season of Fuller House came out of the gate as expected with the same level of corniness, complete with an unbelievable storyline for DJ that mimicked her father's plight almost identically.
So, it surprised everyone when Fuller House not only got renewed for a second season, but lasted for a total of 5. It seems fans were all for the nostalgia and were happy to relive the cheesy moments, throwback references, and quirky characters after all.
The Blacklist (2013-)
With Elizabeth Keen (spoiler alert) now dead and the cat seemingly out of the bag as to Red's relationship with her, the big mystery that surrounded the show through its entire run is pretty much solved. And regardless of whatever parts of it aren't, fans have grown tired of the suspense.
So when one of the most heartbreaking moments on The Blacklist - complete with a two-year time jump, fans were shocked. But even more so when, in February 2022, NBC confirmed that the James Spader-led crime thriller would be coming back for a season 10 as well.
How I Met Your Father (2022-)
Another show with high hopes, How I Met Your Mother. But reviews haven't been kind to the Hulu original spin-off series. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the show has an under 60% rating by both critics and audiences, with the critic consensus being that the attempts at using the original show's formula for a new audience amounts to a "painful slog."
So, the fact the show was renewed for a second season has fans wondering if it's worth sticking with to see the story develop further.
Ghosts (2021-)
No one expected the silly CBS sitcom about a couple who moves into a new house haunted by ghosts that the wife begins to see and hear would last beyond a single season. The show didn't just get renewed, however, it was also very well received by viewers and critics, alike.
With a 95% Rotten Tomatoes critic rating, Ghosts is praised for the cast, wit, and "softly spooky viewing." Fans love the quirky personalities of the ghosts from different time periods – from a Wall Street trader to a hippie and a Prohibition-era jazz singer. Samantha's interactions with them following her near-death accident are hilarious. The fact that her husband Jay can't see or hear them adds to the humor. The show was a big surprise hit that fans never suspected would be renewed.
Chuck (2007-2012)
It's tough to imagine that a show as successful as Chuck, which aired for five seasons and helped catapult the careers of Zachary Levi and Yvonne Strahovski, was almost canceled. But indeed, it was clear that NBC was considering dropping the show.
Saving the show from cancellation actually took some clever and coordinated fan action to convince the network otherwise. According to Chuck, which had lots of twists and turns that needed to be resolved, renewed for its second season. The story then continued to take off from there.