An example of the Disney-owned network's corporate synergy, the fantasy drama from Lostscribes Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz has continued to deliver in its second season, anchoring Sundays with an average 2.7 rating among adults 18-49 and nearly 9 million viewers.
Scandal
The Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn political thriller broke out in its sophomore season, hitting a series high during Thursday's hour. The fast-paced series from Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes has become the water-cooler show of the season thanks to a dedicated cast live-tweeting new and "vintage" episodes that helped capture new viewers including Oprah Winfrey, who dedicated an hour of Oprah's Next Chapter to the series about a fixer and her doomed romance with the president.
Community
The beleaguered cult favorite will continue on for a fifth season. The news comes after the Thursday comedy wrapped its fourth season, even year-over-year with a 1.3 rating in the advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demographic and tying American Idol among adults 18-34.
Nashville
The Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere country music soap opened the season with high expectations thanks to an impressive cast and pedigree including Oscar winner Callie Khouri (Thelma & Louise). Adding Boss' Dee Johnson as showrunner ahead of its October bow, the series launched big with 9 million viewers and a 2.8 ratings among adults 18-49 — topping CBS' CSI and rookies Chicago Fire and Arrow, but down year-over-year compared with last year's Wednesday at 10 p.m. occupant, Revenge.
Castle
The Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic procedural from ABC Studios is a sturdy performer for the network on Monday nights opposite increased competition this season from NBC's breakout drama Revolution and CBS' reliable Hawaii Five-O, both of which were previously renewed for the 2013-14 schedule.
Revenge
The Emily VanCamp soap will continue on for a third season after producer ABC Studios inked Sunil Nayar to a new two-year overall deal to take over as showrunner for series creator Mike Kelley, who parted ways with the series in April.
Grey’s Anatomy
The medical drama from Shonda Rhimes remains ABC's top scripted drama and after its core cast booked two-year deals last year, Grey's Anatomy will continue on for its 10th season.
Modern Family
While the series has been eclipsed as broadcast TV's No. 1 scripted comedy by CBS' The Big Bang Theory, the 20th Television entry from co-creators/co-showrunners Steve Levitan and Christopher Lloyd continues to be the crowned jewel of comedy for the network.
The Middle
The Patricia Heaton-led comedy has continued to be a solid performer for the network on Wednesdays, averaging a 2.3 rating in the key adults 18-49 measure. While it lacks the critical acclaim and water-cooler chatter of its counterparts, the Warner Bros. Television-produced comedy has served as a steady lead-in for the Disney-owned network's Wednesday comedy block, boosting the fortunes for second-year effort Suburgatory, and locking up a fifth-season renewal.
Suburgatory
The family comedy will be back for a third season after producer Warner Bros. Television inked creator Emily Kapnek to a two-year overall dealto continue on as showrunner. The Jane Levy and Jeremy Sisto series has been a solid performer on Wednesdays, averaging 2.1 in the demo and 6 million viewers as ABC continues to court families on the night with The Middle, Modern Family and freshman comedy The Neighbors.
Last Man Standing
ABC's "TGIF" comedy block, with the Tim Allen starrer Last Man Standing launching the night, continued to be a decent performer for ABC on Fridays and will continue for a third season. While the family comedy from 20th Television is down year-over-year, the series — which received an early five-episode pickup this year — continues to lure a broader audience to ABC. Its second-season finale in March was just shy of its first-year performance, finishing with a respectable 1.6 in the demo.
Parks and Recreation
The Amy Poehler ensemble about a rag-tag group of government employees was considered NBC's only slam-dunk comedy and will return to the schedule for its sixth season. The Thursday comedy has proven a launching pad for its cast, with co-stars Nick Offerman, Aziz Ansari, Rashida Jones and Chris Pratt all inking deals for films, book deals, comedy tours and more. While the series has never been a ratings power for the network, it continues to generate positive reviews and be an awards season magnet for Poehler.
Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds, starring Joe Mantegna and Thomas Gibson, has averaged 15 million total viewers and a 3.0 rating in the ad-coveted adults 18-49 demographic. The series will return for its ninth season after inking new deals with stars. Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler, Kristen Vangsness and A.J. Cook co-star. Erica Messer also recently re-upped with ABC Studios to continue on as showrunner.
One season shy of the 88-episode mark needed for syndication, the Maggie Q starrer from Warner Bros. Television has a small but vocal base of dedicated fans to the tune of 1.1 million viewers on Fridays and 0.3 in the adults 18-49 metric. As with several other of the CW's series, Nikita has a strong afterlife on Hulu, where it continues to bring in new eyeballs for the youth-skewing network. The series will continue on for a fourth season. Noted showrunner Craig Silverstein on Twitter after the news broke Thursday: "Nikita will return but not for a full season. We can promise an incredible finish though!"
The Carrie Diaries
The heralded Sex and the City prequel from Amy B. Harris arrived for a midseason bow with much fanfare but the AnnaSophia Robb '80s-set series didn't make the splash the network had hoped for. Despite praise from critics, the 13-episode effort ended its run averaging a 0.4 rating among adults 18-49 and 1.1 million total viewers. However, thanks to the CW's five-year, $75 million Hulu deal, Carrie will continue on for a second season.
‘Two and a Half Men’
Chuck Lorre's Two and a Half Men will return for its 11th season after stars Jon Cryer and Ashton Kutcher inked new one-year deals with studio Warner Bros. Television. Co-star Angus T. Jones, who has been vocal about his desire to attend college following season 10, will likely recur. His character, Jake, enlisted in the military during season 10, often appearing via Skype.
‘Beauty and the Beast’
Beauty and the Beast has carved out a loyal audience in the plum post-Vampire Diaries slot on Thursdays at 9 p.m. The Kristin Kreuk and Jay Ryan starrer earned the People's Choice Award for favorite new drama. The series sees a 45 percent ratings bump among women 18-34 when counting seven days of DVR growth. It will be back for a second season.
‘Hart of Dixie’
Created by Leila Gerstein, Hart of Dixie has been a decent ratings performer for The CW as a kick-off to Tuesday nights in its current second season. Although the Southern-set medical drama, led by Rachel Bilson, has remained under the radar for its two-season run, the network has several holes to fill for the 2013-14 season following numerous cancellations (Cult, Emily Owens M.D.), with veteran shows also coming to an end (90210, Gossip Girl). More importantly, Hart of Dixie continues to be one of the network's best performing series on Hulu, which is becoming an increasingly valuable platform as the CW courts its key 18-34 demographic. Its online performance also helped propel the series to a second season order last year. It will be back for a third season.
‘Chicago Fire’
Chicago Fire has proved a solid performer for NBC on Wednesdays, where it recently topped CBS' veteran procedural CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and remains neck-and-neck with ABC competition Nashville. From SVU producer Dick Wolf, NBC is also mulling a potential spinoff centering on the Chicago police department. For his part, Wolf also has a half-hour comedy in contention — comedy Girlfriend in a Coma, which was pushed off-cycle after difficulties finding a replacement for star Christina Ricci. It will be back for a second season.
‘Grimm’
Supernatural procedural Grimm has proven a sturdy performer for NBC on Fridays at 9 p.m., averaging nearly 3.2 million in the demo — the network's fourth-best drama and behind only Revolution, rookie Chicago Fire and Parenthood in the metric. The series hails from Universal Television and Sean Hayes' Hazy Mills Productions, the latter of which also has a scripted drama pilot in contention for fall as well as the upcoming Jane Lynch-hosted unscripted offering Hollywood Game Night, both via his overall deal with the studio. It will be back for a third season.
‘Law & Order: SVU’
Dick Wolf's lone survivor of the once sprawling Law & Order franchise, SVU, has averaged a 2.1 rating with adults 18-49 in its Wednesday time slot. Heading into its 15th season, the show is not the juggernaut it once but remains a consistent performer on a night that has been problematic for NBC.
‘Parenthood’
Critical darling Parenthood will return for a fifth season. The perennial bubble show proved its worth this past season on Tuesday nights, where the network struggled to find a replacement after the Jason Katims ensemble wrapped its abbreviated 15-episode run. Ending early to allow room for the second and expanded season of Smash, the Broadway drama tanked in its return and was banished to Saturdays. Reality dating series Ready for Love followed in the slot and was canceled after two episodes. Like Grimm, Revolution, Chicago Fire and SVU, Parenthood — which comes with a pricey and sizable cast — will be back for a full season of 22 episodes.
‘Revolution’
From J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot and Warner Bros. TV, Revolution ranks as NBC's top scripted drama across all of primetime — averaging more than 6 million viewers in the advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demographic. The series will be back for a second season.
‘Glee’
Fox handed out a two-season renewal for musical dramedy Glee, bringing the series through its sixth year and 2015. In its divisive fourth season, story lines have been split between McKinley and New York, with co-creator Ryan Murphy noting he was planning big changes to the series for next year. "What we're going to do with the show is very different," he said of the idea of an entirely New York-set location. "Not everybody will go to New York, because I think that's really unrealistic. I really like this season, and I liked going back and forth, but I would really like at one point for a huge chunk of them to stay in one location, which we'll probably do next year."
The Big Bang Theory, CBS
The Big Bang Theory was locked up through its seventh season when the CBS comedy received a three-season renewal in January 2011. The series, thanks in part to syndicated repeats on TBS, has rocketed into the stratosphere this season, topping 20 million total viewers and under new showrunner Steve Molaro become TV's No. 1 scripted comedy.
New Girl, Fox
Fox attempted to launch a Tuesday night comedy block this season, with Zooey Deschanel starrer New Girl set as the anchor. While the block fizzled by spring, New Girl continues to be a draw among core demos for the network, earning a third-season renewal in March. New Girl ranks as the No. 1 comedy among Fox's target women 18-34 demo.
The Vampire Diaries, CW
The Vampire Diaries has proven to be one of the CW's most reliable and buzzed-about scripted efforts. Thus far in its fourth season, the drama — starring Nina Dobrev, Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley — has hovered around 2.85 million viewers. The Vampire Diaries' significance is not lost on the network, as it has become a launching-pad for new shows like The Secret Circle and Beauty and the Beast. The CW is also banking on a backdoor pilot from showrunner Julie Plec that will air in late April to kick off a potential spinoff.
How I Met Your Mother, CBS
Following protracted negotiations with its ensemble cast, CBS' Monday staple How I Met Your Mother will wrap its run with a ninth and final season, meaning viewers finally will get to meet the titular mother and future bride of Ted (Josh Radnor), whose identity has been teased since the series launched in 2005.
American Dad, Fox
Seth MacFarlane's American Dad has been a Sunday staple for the network. The renewal takes the animated series into its eighth season.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation will continue on for a 14th season — with regulars Ted Danson and Elisabeth Shue — when it returns in September. In its 13th season, CSI regularly wins its Wednesdays at 10 p.m. slot in total viewers (averaging 11.85 million), the advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demographic (2.9) and adults 25-54 (3.8). The global property also recently earned the International TV Audience Award as the most-watched show in the world for the third year running and fifth time in seven years.
Arrow, CW
Adapted from the long-running DC Comics series, the CW's Arrow has become a breakout hit for the network. The Stephen Amell starrer from showrunner Greg Berlanti launched big for the network in October — where it premiered away from the typical September clutter of premiere week — to a 1.3 rating in the advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demographic and 4.14 million viewers. The opening marked the network's best premiere since The Vampire Diaries and its most-watched telecast in three years.
America’s Next Top Model, CW
America's Next Top Model will see a massive change when it returns for its 20th cycle on the CW: male models. The Tyra Banks-hosted series will for the first time add male models to its ranks. The series will bypass a spring edition and shift from airing twice a year to purely a spring edition. The franchise, which dates back to the former UPN network, ranks among the CW's highest-rated properties.
Bob’s Burgers, Fox
“We love Bob’s. We are really proud of the way the show has grown over the past three seasons – without losing the unique voice at its core – and we know that the best is yet to come for Bob's Burgers and its fans,” Fox Broadcasting Co. entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly said of the series when he renewed it for a fourth season in October.
NCIS, CBS
After renewing star Mark Harmon's contract for an additional year, CBS' NCIS will return for an 11th season. Ten seasons in, NCIS recently hit several ratings milestones. In addition to pulling in its biggest audience ever, it now ranks as TV's most-watched program with an average 21.48 million tuning in this season. That even puts it ahead of NBC's Sunday Night Football. NCIS, up 7 percent over last year, also is averaging a 4.2 rating with adults 18-49. Widely successful abroad, NCIS is licensed in more than 200 markets.
Family Guy, Fox
While Family Guy will return for its 11th season, creator Seth MacFarlanetold THR that part of him wanted the series to end. "Part of me thinks that Family Guy should have already ended. I think seven seasons is about the right life span for a TV series. I talk to the fans, and in a way I'm kind of secretly hoping for them to say we're done with it. There are plenty of people who say the show is kind of over the hill … but still the vast majority go pale in the face when I mention the possibility."
Supernatural, CW
The CW's longest-running show on the schedule, Supernatural moved from its Friday time slot this season as a lead-out for rookie breakout Arrow, and the move has proven beneficial, with an uptick in viewership from when it followed Nikita. The renewal brings Supernatural into its ninth season.
Raising Hope, Fox
Fox renewed Tuesday comedy Raising Hope for a fourth season, with creator Greg Garcia — who signed a multiple-year overall deal with CBS Television Studios — exiting his role as showrunner. Longtime EP Mike Mariano will take over at the helm of the Martha Plimpton starrer.
The Following, Fox
The serial killer drama from The Vampire Diaries' Kevin Williamson will return for a second round of 15 episodes. Starring Kevin Bacon, The Following proved one of few breakouts in an otherwise dismal midseason, with other freshman broadcast entries premiering to epically low numbers. After only six airings, The Following is already the No. 2 broadcast drama and the No. 3 drama over all this season once the full week's ratings are factored in.
The Mindy Project, Fox
Written by and starring Mindy Kaling, Fox's The Mindy Project will be back for a second season, following a creative reboot midway through its freshman run that also featured a handful of cast departures. The series ranks as the No. 1 new comedy of the season among women 18-34 — Fox's key demo.
The Simpsons, Fox
The longest-running scripted primetime series in U.S. TV history, Fox's The Simpsons earned a two-season renewal in October 2011, bringing it through its record 25th season.
The X Factor, Fox
Simon Cowell's The X Factor will be back for a third season on Fox, though the judges' table may look considerably different considering Britney Spears and L.A. Reid — and potentially others — have already confirmed their departures.
Bones, Fox
Fox gave an early ninth-season renewal to Bones in January, working out new deals for stars Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz. While Bones' ratings may have taken a hit since moving from Thursdays to Mondays, the show remains a consistent ratings performer.
2 Broke Girls, CBS
Beth Behrs and Kat Dennings will return as the titular duo for a third season on CBS after their cupcake business launched and fizzled during season two of the Monday night comedy.
48 Hours, CBS
Saturday's No. 1 non-sports program will return for a 27th season come fall.
60 Minutes, CBS
With its March renewal, 60 Minutes — television's No. 1 newsmagazine — will continue for an impressive 46th season.
Blue Bloods, CBS
Tom Selleck's Friday staple Blue Bloods will be back on the case in 2013-14 with its fourth season pickup.
Elementary, CBS
Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu will continue to investigate the weird and bizarre as Sherlock Holmes and Watson on CBS' Elementary, which after ranking as the season's most-watched freshman show, will be back for a second season.
Hawaii Five-0, CBS
The reboot of the original series continues to be a sturdy performer for CBS on Mondays at 10, earning it a fourth season.
Mike and Molly
With its fourth season renewal, CBS' Melissa McCarthy vehicle guarantees showrunner Chuck Lorre will have at least two series on the air as The Big Bang Theory's seventh season was locked up in 2011. CBS and studio Warner Bros. Television are still in talks to bring Two and a Half Men back for an 11th season, and the prolific producer could add a fourth show if his comedy pilot Moms earns a green-light.
NCIS: LA, CBS
NCIS: LA will return with a fifth season, joining CBS' flagship series on the network's fall schedule. Additionally, the LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell starrer may score its own spinoff as NCIS: Red is in contention for the network's 2013-14 schedule as well.
Person of Interest, CBS
In its second season, Person of Interest ranks as the fastest-growing show on network TV — earning an easy third-season renewal.
The Good Wife, CBS
The network's critical darling The Good Wife will be back for a fifth season.
The Mentalist, CBS
Simon Baker procedural The Mentalist continues to chug along for CBS, scoring a sixth-season pickup.
Undercover Boss, CBS
Emmy winner Undercover Boss will see a fifth season on CBS, which has used the unscripted entry on Fridays.
The Amazing Race, CBS
Emmy champion The Amazing Race crossed the finish line for an impressive 23rd season on CBS.
Survivor, CBS
Survivor continues to rank as one of the network's most valuable reality offerings, pulling in a 27th season pickup in March.
“We’re so proud of Bryan’s vision for a show that is richly textured, psychologically complex, and very compelling,” NBC entertainment president Jennifer Salke said of the decision to renew Bryan Fuller's Hannibal for a second season. “There are many great stories still to be told.”