Many months ago, last September, I predicted the success of every new broadcast network series. Unfortunately for me, I feel that predictions are cop outs unless they’re reassessed later on. Let’s take a look back, and see what went right, and mostly what went wrong, with some hindsight thoughts about why I picked the shows, or whether I regret the picks. These picks were made before I saw the first episodes, so they were primarily based on some combination of network, trailers, descriptions, promotion, general buzz, and some good old fashioned gut feeling.
I originally predicted one of three outcomes for every new series – 13 or less episodes (13-), 14 or more, but not renewed (14+), or Renewal. We’ll break it down by network. Links to my original predictions will be attached to each network name.
666 Park Avenue
My pick: 13-
Reality: 13-
It’s nice to start with a correct pick! This is probably why I chose to go through the networks in alphabetical order. This was a guess; I would have said I was less than 50% confident in this outcome.
Last Resort
My pick: 14+
Reality: 13-
Last Resort had a good premise, a strong cast, a heralded creator in Shawn Ryan, and was one of the best, if not the best, fall network debut. I hoped my guess was conservative, but it wasn’t. I don’t think this was a terrible pick.
The Neighbors
My pick: 14+
Reality: Renewal
Honestly, I think I was generous and this should have been a 13- call. In the biggest “Huh?” decision of this year, The Neighbors was renewed. This is one of those times where I insist I was right and ABC was wrong. Sometimes reality gets it wrong.
Nashville
My pick: Renewal
Reality: Renewal
I felt pretty good about this pick. There are a couple of series every year the networks really push hard, and Nashville was one of them, plus it was actually pretty good, if not quite as good as it could have been. I took the smart money and the smart money won.
Malibu
My pick: 13-
Reality: 14+
This one actually got a small additional episode pick up before being cancelled. In a post-Last Man Standing world, you can’t doubt any ABC comedy no matter how lousy, but I’m not too annoyed with myself here. Acceptable loss.
Made in Jersey
My pick: 13-
Reality: 13-
Probably the easiest single pick of the year. It’s CBS, so you never know what will get some eyeballs, but that also means the standards for expected number of viewers was high. No drama seems as obviously cancellable as Made in Jersey this year.
Partners
My pick: 14+
Reality: 13-
Was I delusional? What planet was I living on that I didn’t immediately give this 13-? To be fair, I hadn’t seen the awful pilot at that point, but come on. I think I overrated the CBS effect, because I can’t think of another explanation.
Vegas
My pick: Renewal
Reality: 14+
This one was cancelled, but I’m still happy with my call. Although it isn’t horseshoes or hand grenades, so coming close doesn’t really count, this show could have been renewed, and I feel perfectly fine with my prediction.
Elementary
My pick: Renewal
Reality: Renewal
If I had seen the pilot I would have been even more confident, and I’m not sure how obvious this was as a hit before the year started. I think this was a smart pick, but not as crazily obvious as it seems now by any means.
Emily Owens, M.D.
My pick: Renewal
Reality: 13-
So I screwed up the CW bad, real bad, and two out of three picks I actually feel bad about. I wouldn’t have picked renewal if this was on any other network but the CW, and thinking back I understand my logic that this fit their brand real well (the somewhat similar Hart of Dixie is going into a third season next fall) but I still should have erred away from renewal.
Arrow
My pick: 14+
Reality: Renewal
For what it’s worth, I didn’t think it was going to get quickly cancelled, but I blame myself for underrating the superhero appeal from a network that broadcast 10 seasons of Smallville. If I judged this after the pilot, I’d like to think I would have changed my mind but I can’t be sure.
Beauty and the Beast
My pick: 14+
Reality: Renewal
The only pierce of my 0-for-3 CW record I’m not particularly ashamed of. It wasn’t very good, and definitely seemed third in the pecking order to me after Emily Owens and Arrow and I figured the network wouldn’t renew three shows. Not a crazy guess.
The Mindy Project
My pick: Renewal
Reality: Renewal
The comedy equivalent of Nashville. Lots of buzz, general critical like, if not quite love, and push from the network. A smart bet, and a correct one.
Ben and Kate
My pick: Renewal
Reality: 14+
I’m not angry about this pick, only the fact that Ben and Kate wasn’t given more of a chance. It was probably better than Mindy, and though I’m glad at least one of them was picked up, this is the show I’m probably most bummed about not getting a second season this year.
The Mob Doctor
My pick: 13-
Reality: 13-
One of the easier guesses for 13-. Not a ton of promotion, everything just reeked of not trying that hard and not caring very much about this wholly mediocre show.
Go On
My pick: 14+
Reality: 14+
Hey there, I nailed this one exactly. I bet on Perry’s star and heavy promotion extending the series, but attention fading later on, and that’s exactly what happened. It got okay but not great reviews, and it wasn’t enough even on NBC.
Animal Practice
My pick: 13-
Reality: 13-
Probably the easiest comedy call of the year. Come on, did anyone actually think this was going to last?
Chicago Fire
My pick: Renewal
Reality: Renewal
My best arbitrarily guess of the year. I had no idea what to make of this show and it was a little bit of an under-the-radar surprise for NBC. If only Omar Epps could star in a show on CBS, all three initial House assistants could be starring in shows on Fox’s rivals (Jesse Spencer here, Jennifer Morrison on ABC’s Once Upon a Time).
Guys With Kids
My pick: 13-
Reality: 14+
Until I just looked this up, I didn’t realize this got a small additional episode order. Why, I’m not sure, it’s produced by Jimmy Fallon and was advertised as such and that’s the only reason I could imagine this lousy show having a chance.
The New Normal
My pick: Renewal
Reality: 14+
I’m fine with getting this one wrong. Ryan Murphy’s been hot of late with Glee and American Horror Story, and considering NBC renewed Smash, I thought the buzz and hot start might be enough to carry the show to another season even with a sharp decline in interest. Oh well.
Revolution:
My pick: Renewal
Reality: Renewal
I screwed up Terra Nova last year, but NBC, like Fox for that show, put a lot of money, time and promotion into this show, and it actually got surprisingly good initial ratings even as the show got worse. A pleasant surprise for NBC, that, like Smash, last year, I could easily see fading and being cancelled after its second season.
Television, the Drug of the Nation 
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