When the season finale of “Alcatraz” was the lowest rated of its run and “The Finder” was banished to Friday nights, the writing was on the wall for both series. On Wednesday night, Fox made it official.
“Alcatraz” and “The Finder” have both been canceled by Fox, joining the recently canceled “Breaking In” and “I Hate My Teenage Daughter.” “Terra Nova” was also canceled earlier this year after it failed to become the blockbuster that Fox had hoped for.
To the surprise of several industry observers, Kiefer Sutherland’s “Touch” was renewed for a second season despite soft ratings. “Touch” is also the only drama that premiered this season to get a second chance on the network.
While Fox has yet to formally unveil its new shows, Deadline is reporting that the Kevin Williamson (“The Vampire Diaries”) serial killer show starring Kevin Bacon has been ordered to series under the name “The Following.” The other drama pickup is called “The Mob Doctor” and it stars Jordana Spiro as a young surgeon who gets sucked into the world of organized crime to save her brother from his gambling debt.
On the comedy front, “The Office” co-star, Mindy Kaling will headline a sitcom called “It’s Messy,” in which Kaling will play a doctor trying to juggle her personal and professional lives. Also on tap for the network is “The Goodwin Games” with Becki Newton and Scott Foley as siblings trying to earn their father’s fortune on his terms and the much buzzed about “Ned Fox Is My Manny,” which may have been renamed “Ben & Kate.” Nat Faxon stars in that show as a man who moves in with his sister to help her raise her daughter.
Fox is expected to formally announce the entire fall lineup later this month.
