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The summer TV season is over but USA Network is yet to make renewal decisions on all of its series. While some are no-brainers, like Burn Notice, whose producers are already negotiating an extension of the lease on their production facilities in Miami, Suits, Royal Pains, White Collar and Covert Affairs. And then there are the question marks, Necessary Roughness, Fairly Legal and Common Law. (Veteran Psych is on a different airing schedule.)
I hear at least one of them, freshman Common Law, is not likely to continue. USA has let the options on the cast, led by Michael Ealy and Warren Kole. Additionally, Craig Sweeny, executive producer/showrunner on the first season, has moved on, joining CBS’ new drama Elementary as an executive producer. Sweeney is under an overall deal at CBS TV Studios, which produces Common Law, and it is technically possible for him to return if there is a second season, but USA will also have to negotiate new deals with the cast, something considered highly unlikely. Common Law, about cops (Michael Ealy, Warren Kole) ordered into counseling, debuted in May to 2.48 million viewers. Its freshman season, which aired on Fridays, has averaged a little over 2 million viewers with a 0.6 18-49 rating to rank as the lowest-rated scripted series currently on USA.
The odds for sophomores Fairly Legal, which narrowly escaped cancellation after Season 1 with a total revamp, and Necessary Roughness, are considered 50-50. The praised Political Animals was introduced as a limited series, and, given its soft ratings, it is unclear whether another cycle is on the table.
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Fairly Legal is their worst show that USA has! It shouldnt have been given a second season! I am so sad to hear about Common Law. I really liked that show. It was on Fridays! They really need to give it a second season to see how it does, that was pretty good for Friday on cable. They better keep Necessary Roughness.
Did you even watch the second season? It was a completely different show with far better writing and overall production value.
“Did you even watch the second season?”
Yeah, cuz in order to have an opinion of a show you have to watch every shitty episode it airs…
Really? I find that most people commenting on these boards usually have an opinion based on nothing. Kudos to you for actually watching everything before leveling an opinion.
I thought the first season of Fairly Legal had promise but the immaturity of Kate was annoying. I tuned in for season 2 but instead of fixing it, they paired her with Ben who was equally immature. Most of the time, it was like watching two self-centered kids in the sandbox.
They revamped it but only succeeded in bringing it down even more.
true dat
i loved burn notice for the first 2 or 3 seasons. since then, i only watch enough to verify that it still sucks. here is my suggestion for reviving it: michael’s three mates are killed, and he sets out for justice.
I know! I just started watching Common Law and it was amazing! I hope it’s renewed they have to give it a second chance!!
you are so right, fairly legal sucks and i LOVEEEE common love, especially Warren Cole
They HAVEE to put it back on air!!!!!
Yeah, Fairly Legal really sucks. I could only watch the first three episodes before I felt myself losing brain cells watching it.
Common Law is a much, much better show and I love it. If it doesn’t get renewed, I will be very upset.
The show won’t be missed. It was awful. Maybe Michael Ealy can go back to staring in good TV shows like sleeper cell. He has the talent he just needs the right role.
Agreed about Ealy and SLEEPER CELL. He’s a solid guy and deserved better than this tired and tepid presmise and hackneyed sitcom writing. An episode called In-Laws vs. Outlaws was truly putrid and the last one I watched.
He needs to take a couple year off from TV unless their some really good guest/reoccurring roles that comes his way and focus on features. Sleeper Cell was so authentic and diverse back when Showtime was whole lot riskier. Now their post 9/11 show Homeland is really good. It just does not have the diversity that Sleepercell had. Starz is trying to break into quality TV programming and they have a decent show in Boss. Maybe someone over their will realize how valuable an asset Miachel Ealy is.
“… they have a decent show in Boss”
Boss is one of the best shows on the air!
If Starz can continue in this direction, along with picking up more viewers… Starz will be the new force.
Boss is that good.
I can’t believe there is so many people in the world who don’t know a good show when they see it. If everything isn’t base around sex, drugs, and alcohol now days its just now worth giving a chance. I think its rediculous. Common Law was by far the best show I have ever seen played on USA Network. Everything else is the same show with a different name.
Sure this is a matter of personal taste, but I think USA’s development slate has jumped the shark in the last few years, I guess they wanted to evolve their style but lost their way. Personally I attribute this to the departure/lessened influence of Bonnie Hammer, but that’s just a wild guess on my part.
Burn Notice has already lost touch with its original spirit with a very implausible and strained 6th season, both White Collar and Covert Affairs are also showing the same signs. Common Law is the first USA show I found so grating I switched off 40 minutes into the pilot.
Worst case, by 2013 or 14 they will have exhausted appeal from all their earlier hits, without anything new to shore them up. I promise if that turns out to be true, I won’t ask you for the dime you bet.
Also can I just say, the reason the shows’ change of tone is so disappointing to me is because Monk was one of very few 2000s shows that got this just right. Serious geeks or mystery fans will say Monk is all fluff and no substance, but it was extraordinarily consistent fluff throughout 8 seasons with little deviation or from the formula. If you tuned in to watch it for what it was, you almost always got it. Not every show needs to “evolve”.
It’s just not right to make certain USA shows “excessively dark”, but this year they’re all headed that way.
Amen. They came damn close to ruining Suits this season by going so dark and dramatic, and sucking all the fun out of it.
People are always bagging on Network TV while lauding the Cable offerings. Well, this is the problem with Cable shows. They have great premises, but they aren’t sustainable. Monk was (I didn’t watch, but respected the critics that did), ditto Psych. But the rest of the cable shows just aren’t sustainable over 88 episodes. And that is where the money is for producing TVs.
I liked Common Law. But it was flawed. The cast was huge, thanks to the therapy group. And the therapy thing got tired, quickly. Had they just been an odd/couple detective partnership, it would have worked.
I think they realized it, and set up S2 well, but I get the consternation by the Net.
Too bad. It was a pretty decent show.
Necessary Roughness and Fairly Legal are two shows i didn’t watch but i really enjoyed common law. It needs to be on a different night. oh well at least we had one season.
They better not get rid of Necessary Roughness!
Common law was unwatchable. A good test pattern is more entertaining. Next is Common Law.
Time for USA to move on.
The episodes of Common Law that I saw were amazing. I hope they can negotiate another season. Love that show.
They have got to consider the fact that Political Animals was up against Breaking Bad and The Newsroom, right?
Exactly. “Political Animals” was put up against heavy-hitters. It didn’t stand a chance going against “Breaking Bad” and “The Newsroom”. It’s a great show and deserves another season and different time-slot! After all it’s gonna bring USA some awards recognition that USA so badly wants. I’m sure Sigourney Weaver’s gonna take Drama Actress Golden Globe for it. Renew it already, USA!
Loved Common Law.
Not shocked nor surprised by this development. Didn’t think Common Law was that good and was the weakest of the procedurals USA had on the air. Sure, Political Animals was worse, but after seeing the treatment USA gave this show (moving it from Thursday in the Spring, to Friday in the Summer) not surprised it suffered. Writing was weak, no quirk to the show, unlike other USA Network shows. I’m just crossing my fingers on Suits, which is the best show on USA Network and, well, Fairly Legal as I am a fan of that show.
Are you FREAKIN’ KIDDING ME!!! Common Law ROCKS! Ealy and Kole are hilarious! It’s fun and funny. USA is stupid if they don’t give a second shot. The only other good scripted program on that network is SUITS.
Common Law is a terrific show, what a great concept!! It is great to have a detective show that adds such humor!!
Political Animals however, is a total disgrace on so many levels!!!!
I completely agree with you…….. Common Law is an amazing show and I will be really upset if they dont bring back!!!
I have to admit, I didn’t really care for any of the shows that are on the fence or about to be cancelled. I don’t think USA does good female lead shows. I don’t know why. It’s too bad because I like all the actors. My favorite of their new shows is Suits. I still like White Collar and Burn Notice. The other hits are okay too.
Not a bad show..better than Fairly Legal. Necessary Roughness was good for about 10 episodes and has been pretty awful since, wouldn’t be surprised if its gone as well.
Necessary Roughness has been the one show that surprises me each episode. I love the cast and think the second season really began to show the strengths of the cast and writers. Callie Thorn and Marc Blucas are stand outs.
I hope to see Warren Kole in another series or movie. He definitely has potential.
I really like Common Law but I didn’t start watching until about the 7th episode. Why? Because they put their time slot Friday nights at 10. Seriously? What normal american age range 18-49 isn’t either out partying or in the bed by then. Its like USA wanted this show to fail. I think the amount of viewers would have been a lot better if they put Common Law on on a “boring day” of the week. What I mean by that is days when people don’t have anything else to do but sit in front the tv, say Sunday or Wednesday/Thursday at 8 then I think it would have been pretty successful, but anywho hope Common Law comes back for another season.
I agree! I loved the show but did not know about it until the 4th or 5th episode. Hope to see it come back!
I agree that Common Law was fun, funny, and plain and simple entertainment. Is it bad for a TV show to be pure entertainment? I enjoyed it. I think being paired with the right USA show would help it. I hope they give it another shot. They should pair it with Fairly Legal which I also think is fun and well written entertainment.
I think USA is doing a fantastic job with developing creative fun ideas. Above all else, TV should be entertaining.
Big fan of Burn Notice, Covert Affairs, and Suits. I hope Fairly Legal returns. It improved this season and Sarah Shahi is a terrific lead.
Someone I with whom I can agree…Burn Notice, Fairly Legal, Suits, Covert Affairs, and White Collar too…all entertaining and fun. If you want “classics,” read a book.
Agreed! Common Law just didn’t hold my interest. I never saw the 1st season of Fairly Legal but thought the 2nd was very entertaining. I’l be disappointed if it doesn’t return, there’s a of of good material to work with between Kate and Ben. Burn Notice is probably the strongest original show on USA.
Burn Notice, what a mess. They need to cancel it. I loved it the first two seasons and it’s been downhill since then. Show has gotten way too convoluted and silly, even for a TV series.
I hope Common Law return and move to another time slot. It’s a fun and very enertainment but the time slot was bad. Hope USA to consider and renew it.
I tried giving Fairly Legal a try and I just couldn’t stand it. The show seemed too formulaic, much like the Glades. Take an attractive actor or actress, make their character a “witty” rebel who loves their job, which is likely a very boring job in real life, but hates to do it like all of the other squares which is what makes it so great.
Granted, this formula is used for a lot of other shows, like Franklin and Bash, Suits, Royal Pains, Psych, et cetera, but those shows either have a great ensemble cast that have great timing and charisma together, excellent writing, or both, and Fairly Legal(and again, the Glades) had neither.
As long as they renew Political Animals I do not care. Any idea when exactly we will know?
Really like COMMON LAW–it needs a better time slot. I hope it’s renewed; both lead actors do a lot with the script they’re given. Had high hopes for FAIRLY LEGAL, but the lead female character is written to be so immature, it’s hard to watch. Actress needs a better vehicle. I’m a fan of WHITE COLLAR, but it’s starting to feel repetitive and tired. Liked Necessary Roughness in the beginning, but it, too, has lost its spark. It seems as if when they need something new, they let Callie Thorne’s character sleep with a different cast member.
I absolutely loved POLITICAL ANIMALS, I so hope they renew it and give it a better time slot that’s less competitive.
When I’m looking for something to watch on TV, USA is my go-to channel. Overall, their shows are very entertaining and their brand is consistent.
Common Law is so bad, it is unbelieveble that USA was able to find a worse show (the Graceland pilot, the most boring pilot to ever exist) for next season.
USA had strayed from it’s succesful formula (Monk, Psych, first 2 seasons of Burn Notice)losing the vibe and the “blue sky” directive the channel had. It’s as if they decided to throw away everything that worked. While Psych maintains its greatness, Covert Affairs despite being dark is fine (but no a must watch) and Suits was on fire this season (despite losing some of its charm early in the season) but Burn Notice has to go – the show has jumped the shark 2-3 season ago and has nothing else to offer.
Necessary Roughness has a good lead and ok writing bet its not very USA, Fairly Legal however was way better in season 2 and should be given a chance.