Fox Cancels: Breaking In, The Chicago Code, Human Target, Lie to Me and Traffic Light

[Cobb]

Fox has canceled (won’t renew for next season) comedy Breaking In which is not a huge surprise, but certainly much more of a surprise than the cancellation of Human Target. In today’s Fox “oddsmakers” post, Bill had Breaking In slightly more likely to be renewed than canceled, and I had it slightly more likely to be canceled than renewed. The Christian Slater jinx lives on.

 

Neither one of us had any real hope for Human Target. I gave it a one in ten chance, and Bill gave it a one in four chance.

 

Fox has also made several new series pickups tonight, including JJ Abrams Alcatraz and Bones spinoff The Finder, as well as The New Girl, and I Hate My Teenage Daughter.

 

Update: Fox has also canceled The Chicago Code.

 

Update 2: Fox has also canceled Traffic Light.

 

Update 3: Fox has also canceled Lie To Me.

No! I really enjoyed Human Target and The Chicago Code.

[fish7718]

As long as they keep my House

[Jenneral]

The Chicago Code was awful. Not surprised there.

[Dash]

Dammit I was hoping Lie To Me would last another season.

[htown11]

Lie To Me was really the only show I watched on Fox I really don't like anything they air. I usually stick to the big three for sitcoms.

[Sun Tzu]

Damn, I'm surprised Lie To Me got cancelled. It was the only show I watched out of those that got cancelled.

 

I'm sad now

[Dash]

Didn't realize there were so many Lie To Me fans, very underrated show imo. Anyways as much as I hate to admit it all 5 shows were pretty mediocre viewers/product wise and this move paves the way for new blood. Smart move by Fox.

 

Fox is brutally clear-cutting under-performing shows from its lineup, cancelling five series tonight in order to make room for new shows next fall: "Human Target" was shot down for a third season, Christian Slater is now 0 for 3 as a TV series lead because "Breaking In" was dumped, "The Chicago Code" and "Lie to Me" were just taken out and "Traffic Light" was switched off.

 

The moves represent an aggressive stance by Fox, which is declining to sink any further investment in modestly performing titles and opting to gamble on fresh shows instead.

 

"Human Target" was finally axed after undergoing a trip back to the drawing board. Though the show was considerably revamped for this season, the actioner struggled to gain ground in the ratings.

 

EW.com: 'Idol' boosts 'Human Target', 'Minute' surprises

 

"Target" averaged 7.6 million viewers and a 2.2 rating in adults 18-49 this season, including DVR use, but was down from its first season average of 2.9. "Lie to Me" is also gone -- it averaged exactly the same as "Target," and dropped the same amount from last season.

 

Fox also pink-slipped "Breaking In," the freshman comedy about a security team that starred Slater. The show averaged a healthy 2.9 in the ratings due to a strong premiere, but more recent episodes fell off considerably despite following "American Idol."

 

Fellow post-"Idol" freshman straggler "Traffic Light" is also gone.

 

And bummer for Jennifer Beals: Her freshman cop drama "The Chicago Code" was also cancelled.

 

Creator Shawn Ryan retweeted the news and wrote: "Dammit."

 

The cancellations come on the heels of Fox giving a series orders to "Bones" spin-off "The Finder" and to J.J. Abrams' new prison mystery drama "Alcatraz." The network also picked up two new comedies starring Zooey Deschanel and Jaime Pressly.

 

http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/TV/05/11/fox.cancels.shows.ew/