None of FOX’s new dramas emerged as a ratings winner this season, and as such, there was no question that at least some would land on the chopping block ahead of the 2012-13 scheduling announcement.
News broke Wednesday that two dramas indeed ended up on the wrong end of the ax. FOX has officially canceled low-rated “Alcatraz” and “Bones” spin-off “The Finder.”
Riding the JJ Abrams lineage and an intriguing premise, “Alcatraz” premiered to decent ratings earlier this season. But as the show’s run unfolded, it was simply not appealing enough to keep viewers hooked, especially in an ultra-competitive timeslot on Monday nights.
“The Finder” stumbled out of the gate, never managing to capture the audience that made “Bones” a long-time hit for FOX (it, of course, does not help that “Bones” has long since lost its luster as a ratings force). Save for one surprise ratings uptick after an episode of “American Idol,” it simply was not a successful series.
FOX will, however, be keeping “Touch” around next season. Given the hype and the involvement of Tim Kring and Kiefer Sutherland, “Touch” has to also be considered a ratings disappointment, although it has generally performed steadily leading out of the weakened “American Idol” results show.
