‘The Mysteries of Laura’ season 3: The renewal odds for Debra Messing series are…

Tonight, “The Mysteries of Laura” is going to close the door on its latest batch of mysteries, and a second season that as a whole, we would describe as pretty solid. This show is one of those that really listened to concerns that critics and viewers had about season 1, and came back this time with cases that were more complex, and a variety of new ways to challenge its title character (played by Debra Messing).

Did these changes lead to an increase in ratings? Not exactly, but this show is a little bit of a unicorn still when you look at the numbers. If you take out the first few episodes of season 1 (which were inflated just by it being a new series), the season 2 viewing figures are relatively equal to what they were they were with the first batch of episodes. The show’s been consistent, even if that does put it on the lower end of the NBC spectrum.

As for what else the show has going for it, start with a star in Messing who is well-recognized and inherently likable, and is less of a risk than a show with numbers all over the place. To us, this is the perfect pinch-hitter. Even if you don’t renew it with a 15-22 episode order, why not bring it back for 13 and use it as a midseason replacement? You know what sort of numbers it will get, and also around what the quality will be. Maybe the time away could convince a few more people to give it a shot.

For now, we’d say that the show’s chances of coming back are strictly in toss-up territory. As for when we will know for sure, think along the lines of May when NBC has their upfront presentation. It is possible in theory that they will make an announcement before then.

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