Should ‘Hart of Dixie’ really be canceled? A discussion

We just caught the ratings for Friday night’s primetime lineup on network TV, and next to “Hart of Dixie” there was a very familiar number: 0.4. This is the 18-49 demographic rating for the series, which is primarily what a network like The CW looks at to determine the show’s future. Sure, there are other factors as well such as ownership or international sales, but this is the thing that tends to make or break a series with few exceptions.

Despite being moved to Friday nights, the series has been remarkably consistent, especially in the face of increased talk that this is the final season. We should note that the promo last night hyped up the season finale as just that and not a series finale, but that has not changed what some of the cast and even the show’s creator have insinuated on social media.

So why shouldn’t the show be canceled? We’ve come up with at least a few compelling reasons.

1. Consider the timeslot – The last CW series to really show a marked improvement in the demo on this particular timeslot, at least in terms of an hour-long scripted show, was “Smallville” during its final season. The same goes for “Supernatural,” which aired at 9:00 p.m. Fridays for a time. This is not an easy timeslot to air a show, especially in the spring as families start to flock outside to enjoy the warmer weather. There’s a reason Fridays used to be known as the TV graveyard. Consider moving a show like “The Originals,” “Jane the Virgin,” or “Reign” to this spot. Would they fare just as well? It’s possible, but not a given. You already know what you have here.

2. Numbers in general – This week, “Reign” was the lowest-rated show on The CW’s lineup with a 0.3, and that was on a Thursday following “The Vampire Diaries.” “Hart of Dixie” has no lead-in, and yet it performed better. It has not lagged that far behind either “The Originals” or “Jane the Virgin” this season, and was even close to “The 100,” a show that aired after “Arrow” for a time and routinely posted 0.5 ratings. “Hart of Dixie” also outperforms “Beauty and the Beast,” and does at least as well as “America’s Next Top Model.” (To be fair, “Reign” and “Beauty and the Beast” are saved in part by their connections to CBS, and The CW wants a mixture of CBS and Warner Bros. shows on the air.)

3. Money – We cannot speak specifically about numbers without knowing the budgets of particular shows, but remember this: “Hart of Dixie” does not require special effects, and nor does it require a vast array of different sets. Your biggest expenses are your cast, crew, and what you spend for filming at a particular location. Superficially, this doesn’t seem like an extremely expensive show.

4. Netflix – We consistently heard over the past year about people catching up on past seasons on Netflix. The fact that ratings have actually improved for season 4 at times over at least the second half of season 3 (when it aired on Fridays) shows that something is working.

5. A pitch-hitter – If none of the explanations about work, consider this: If a new show flops, or you just want to steer clear of putting something new on Fridays, why not go with something established there?

Ultimately, the sad irony here is that “Hart of Dixie” may ultimately just be canceled due to The CW’s success elsewhere, coupled with the aforementioned desire to keep some CBS TV shows around. Many of their biggest hits, including “Arrow,” “The Flash,” “Supernatural,” and “The Vampire Diaries,” are all Warner Bros. shows. We’re sure that Friday night will be a worthy conclusion to the series if the cancellation rumors are true, but we just wish it didn’t have to be.

You can read our review of the series’ penultimate episode now at the link here. Also, sign up to score some further TV updates via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: The CW.)