Fox cuts episode order for ‘Dads’ season 1; cancellation now likelier than ever

Is the end here for Fox’s “Dads” before the end of its first full season? We’re not going to go that far; however, the network confirmed today that the show is seeing its first-season episode order officially reduced from 22 (which was first planned) down to 19.

The major reason for this seems to be more of a scheduling ploy by Fox. The show will air until February 11, and then make way for “Glee” to move to the night a little later in the month. “Glee” itself is moving to Tuesdays as a way to boost its own ratings, and while we feel like the network would probably like to see it canceled at this point with the numbers that it is pulling in, they have no choice. After all, the show has already been renewed for its sixth and final season.

“Dads” started off weak in the ratings despite having Seth MacFarlane as an executive producer and Seth Green as a star, and it has yet to improve. Our general rule is that the lowest-rated show on a night of comedy is almost almost going to be canceled unless the four are all huge hits, and thanks to negative reviews, this will be an easy show to cut. We do still feel like “The Mindy Project” does catch a ton of breaks thanks to its loyal fans, but it does (to be fair) draw slightly higher ratings.

The only hope for “Dads” is that either the rest of the comedies on the schedule all start to completely fall apart, or it does build its ratings somehow over the next several weeks, when there may not be as much competition on TV. Our prediction? Go ahead and stick a fork in it: Fox isn’t going to give a green light for a second season of a show with terrible ratings, and also one that critics around the country hate.

Stay tuned, as we’ll have more on this show’s fate as soon as it becomes available.

Photo: Fox