May is always rough month for TV fans, but this year wasn’t the bloodbath viewers have come to expect. Many TV networks are being a little less trigger-happy with cancellations as upfronts were canceled amidst the global health crisis. However, some shows still didn’t survive the season.

ABC one of the biggest cancellation lists this month with four cuts. Their comedies all had strong lead-ins, but the newer sitcoms just couldn’t hold that audience. Thus, lower ratings killed these shows.

  • “Single Parents,” a single-camera sitcom about a group of solo parents and their elementary school children starring Leighton Meester (“Gossip Girl”) and Taran Killam (“Saturday Night Live”), was cancelled after two seasons and a cliffhanger finale. It aired after “Modern Family.”
  • “Bless This Mess,” a single-camera comedy about a city couple moving to the Midwest, aired after “The Connors.” The Lake Bell (“Man Up”) and Dax Shepard (“CHiPS”) show was axed after two seasons.
  • “Schooled,” the “Goldbergs” spinoff about Lainey Lewis (AJ Michalka) as a young teacher, didn’t make it despite airing after its sister show.
  • “Emergence,” the sci-fi drama about a police chief (Allison Tolman) who takes in a young child with no memory, ended after just 13 episodes.
Canceled TV shows
"Single Parents" was among the handful of shows canceled in May. ABC/Richard Cartwright

Earlier in the 2019-20 TV season, the alphabet network axed “Grand Hotel,” “Kids Say the Darndest Things” and “Reef Break.”

CBS renewed 23 shows, but not everything made the cut. The Eye network canceled three freshman shows, all of which had well-known female leads, plus a veteran sitcom starring a "Friends" alum.

  • “Carol’s Second Act,” a multi-camera sitcom about a 50-year-old medical student played by Patricia Heaton (“Everybody Loves Raymond”), was canned. It premiered in September.
  • “Broke,” a multi-camera sitcom about an estranged sisters who reunite after one loses her money, was also canceled. The comedy, starring Pauley Perrette (“NCIS”), only premiered in April. The series finale will air in June.
  • “Tommy,” a police drama starring Edie Falco (“Nurse Jackie”), was axed after premiering in February.
  • “Man With A Plan” was the only non-freshman show canceled. The Matt LeBlanc (“Friends”) comedy ended with its fourth season.

CBS canceled “God Friended Me” and “Hawaii 5-0” earlier in the year.

Fox had a lighter month when it comes to 2020 TV cancelations. They only ousted one show in May.

  • “Outmatched,” the multi-camera family comedy about average parents (Maggie Lawson and Jason Biggs) with genius children in Atlantic City, was canceled after just 10 episodes.

The freshman drama “Deputy” was canceled in April, and prior to that, "Almost Family," "BH90210" and "Flirty Dancing" were terminated at Fox.

The CW, once again, did not cancel any TV series. They renewed their entire lineup, with the exception of shows that decided to retire like “The 100” and “Supernatural,” which will both come to an end later this year.

Meanwhile, NBC didn’t cancel any TV shows this month. Unfortunately, that isn’t good news because they haven’t issued renewals for everything either. “The InBetween” and “Sunnyside” were canceled earlier this season, but the network has a long list of shows that have unknown futures. Fans are still waiting to find out if NBC will cancel or renew these shows: “America’s Got Talent: The Champions,” “Bluff City Law,” “Council of Dads,” “Indebted,” “Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector,” “Little Big Shots,” “Manifest,” “Perfect Harmony,” “The Voice,” “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.”

Meanwhile, cable also had a few TV cancellations. USA Network axed “The Purge” and “Treadstone” while CBS All Access canceled “Tell Me A Story.”

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