Dozens of TV Shows Cancelled as Networks Clean House

Did your favorite show make the cut? Scroll through the gallery

It’s house-cleaning time for the major networks as the cancellation ax falls in order to make for new additions in the fall. Some shows, such as NBC’s “State of Affairs” and “Constantine,” have been off the air so long that it feels they’d already been cancelled. But the formal notice falls just as hard even when if it is long expected.

Among the big four networks, NBC got out the largest broom on Friday, a sign of the struggle it had this year with new series. “Marry Me,” “About a Boy,” “One Big Happy” joined earlier casualties “A to Z” and “Bad Judge.”

Cancelled TV Shows 2015: What’s Not Returning to Primetime

: THE MINDY PROJECT: Mindy (Mindy Kaling) has a mishap while shopping for healthy food in the “Danny Castellano Is My Nutritionist” episode of THE MINDY PROJECT airing Tuesday, Feb. 24 (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2015 Adam Taylor/FOX

: THE TASTE – “Finale” – It’s all come down to this. The search for America’s Best Undiscovered Cook sees only five cooks remaining in “The Taste” kitchen, and the mentors give their final group challenge — creating Saints and Sinners-inspired dishes representing two very opposite ideas and culinary concepts. The final three will then battle one last time creating their perfect three course meal – all within two hours – and in front of a live studio audience that includes some familiar faces from this season. Chef and Restaurateur Jonathan Waxman is guest judge on the Season Three finale episode of “The Taste,” THURSDAY, JANUARY 22 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET) on ABC. (ABC/Ron Tom) BENJAMIN BURKE, TRISTEN EPPS, GABE KENNEDY

: THE MINDY PROJECT: Mindy (Mindy Kaling, L) learns a lesson after Danny (Chris Messina, R) becomes frustrated with her chronic tardiness in the “Caramel Princess Time” episode of THE MINDY PROJECT airing Tuesday, Nov. 4 (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2014 Isabella Vosmikova/FOX

: The Messengers — “Pilot” — Image MES100f_0640 — Pictured: Diogo Morgado as The Man — Photo: Ursula Coyote/The CW — © 2014 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved

: STATE OF AFFAIRS — “Deadcheck” Episode 113 — Pictured: Katherine Heigl as Charleston Tucker — (Photo by: Ben Cohen/NBC)

: “Secrets and Lies” — After the Mayor is victimized by a stalker, the TAU must determine if he is being harassed by one of his angry constituents or if a scandalous secret from his past is coming back to haunt him, on STALKER Wednesday, Jan. 14 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Pictured left to right: Maggie Q and Dylan McDermott Photo: Cliff Lipson/CBS ÃÂ©2014 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

: REVENGE – “Burn” – After Victoria is attacked, she takes matters into her own hands, while Emily is forced to come to terms with what she really wants, on “Revenge,” SUNDAY, APRIL 19 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/Richard Cartwright) EMILY VANCAMP

: RESURRECTION – “Unearth” – The Langstons, especially Sheriff Fred, are forced to confront secrets from their past they’d rather leave buried when Bellamy pushes to have Jacob’s tomb exhumed. Maggie agrees to help Bellamy in his investigation, and Pastor Tom reaches out to Jacob, his childhood friend. The Richards family adjusts to Caleb’s return, the second for Arcadia. But unlike Jacob, Caleb claims he has no memory of his death, on “Resurrection,” SUNDAY, MARCH 16 (9:00-10:01 p.m. ET) on the ABC Television Network. – (ABC/Guy D’Alema) FRANCES FISHER, OMAR EPPS

: ONE BIG HAPPY — Pilot — Pictured: (l-r) Elisha Cuthbert as Lizzy, Kelly Brook as Prudence — (Photo by: Eric McCandless/NBC)

: MARRY ME — “Dead Me” Episode 114 — Pictured: (l-r) Ken Marino as Jake, Casey Wilson as Annie — (Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBC)

: Hart of Dixie — “The Butterstick Tab” — Image Number: HA407a_0204b.jpg — Pictured (L-R): Rachel Bilson as Dr. Zoe Hart and Cress Williams as Lavon — Photo: Patrick Wymore/The CW — ÃÂ© 2014 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

: FOREVER – “The Last Death of Henry Morgan” – Henry and Adam have been on a long, unrelenting collision course, which is about to come to a head – possibly bringing about one man’s death – with only Jo standing in the way. Henry and Jo’s murder investigation into a museum worker’s death centers on a priceless missing ancient dagger, which not only ended the life of Julius Caesar, but also killed Adam the first time. Meanwhile, Adam knows that there is something that Henry fears more than death – that Jo might discover his mystery. The two men tangle in a tumultuous game-changing confrontation. But at long last, will Jo finally learn about Henry’s secret? The Season Finale of “Forever” airs TUESDAY, MAY 5 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/Patrick Harbron) IOAN GRUFFUDD

: CONSTANTINE — “Pilot” — Pictured: (l-r) Lucy Griffiths as Liv, Matt Ryan as John Constantine — (Photo by: Quantrell Colbert/NBC)

: “Syruptitious” — FBI Special Agent Milt Chamberlain and Det. Russ Agnew go undercover as distillers to infiltrate Battle Creek’s maple syrup cartels when a murder victim is found to have drowned in the gooey breakfast confection. Meanwhile, Det. Font White goes to war with his medical marijuana dealer, on BATTLE CREEK, Sunday, March 8, 2015 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT), on the CBS Television Network. Pictured left to right: Dean Winters (Det. Russ Agnew) and Josh Duhamel (Special Agent Milton Chamberlain). Photo: Robert Voets/CBS ÃÂ©2014 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

: BACKSTROM: Backstrom (Rainn Wilson) investigates an explosion in his hometown in the “Enemy of Enemies” episode of BACKSTROM airing Thursday, March 5 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Liane Hentscher/FOX

: ABOUT A BOY — “About A Manniversary” Episode 209 — Pictured: (l-r) Benjamin Stockham as Marcus, David Walton as Will Freeman — (Photo by: Isabella Vosmikova/NBC)

On the drama side, “Constantine” and Katherine Heigl’s comeback vehicle, “State of Affairs,” were formally terminated, as was “Allegiance” earlier in the year. The bell is also expected to ring soon for another drama, “American Odyssey.”

NBC was in the same boat that ABC was last year when it scrapped “Suburgatory,” critical darling “Trophy Wife” and a slew of other weak performers.

However, nowadays there are many more options for relocating TV shows if they still have a pulse with some core demo. And now that creatives have easy access to converse with fans via social media, “save this show” efforts can spread like wildfire.

There was instant chatter about “Constantine,” based on the DC Comics “Hellblazer” property, relocating to another network.

Fox’s “The Following” is rumored to be making the digital rounds, but speculation about Hulu making a play is offbase, say sources. The Kevin Bacon starrer came out strong in its first season in 2013 but faded fast in season two and never recovered.

Hulu is in negotiations to rescue “The Mindy Project” from the cancellation heap. Fox opted to pull the plug after three seasons. But reruns of the show starring Mindy Kaling has been a strong performer for Hulu, which licensed the rights from producer Universal TV. That gives Hulu a strong incentive to pick up more episodes. And certainly Universal TV wants to keep going for at least one or two more seasons to bring the total number of episodes produced closer to 100 vs. the 65 or so at this point.

Beyond “Mindy,” the landscape for new comedy series was brutal this season as only a few freshman series went the distance. ABC was the notable exception with “Black-ish” and “Fresh Off the Boat” coming out of the box strong. ABC’s “Cristela,” however, was among the casualties. ABC also threw in the towel quickly last fall on comedies “Selfie” and “Manhattan Love Story.”

ABC dramas “Forever” and “Resurrection” also failed to live up to their titles and came to an end during the past season.

CBS had hard times with first-year laffer “The McCarthys” and “The Millers,” the latter of which got a quick hook last fall only weeks into its second season.

Freshman drama “Battle Creek” came on in midseason with a strong pedigree — it came from showrunner David Shore and “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan — but it wasn’t strong enough to overcome middling ratings.

Fox’s other cancellations this season included “Backstrom,” the offbeat dramedy starring Rainn Wilson, and comedy “Mulaney,” which folded in February. Fox also had the biggest reality flame-out of the year with “Utopia.” The series that sent a group of strangers off onto a ranch to build their own society was envisioned as airing for a full year but managed only a few weeks until the social order crashed.

Culled from Variety