Will ‘Major Crimes’ be renewed for season 6?
We’re in the midst of a little bit of a hiatus when it comes to “Major Crimes” airing on TNT, and with that in mind, we do think that the timing is probably about right to pose a question we’ve been curious about for several weeks now: Are we getting closer to finding out precisely what the future of this show is going to be?
On the surface, it really does seem like a sure thing that we’d get to see more of the series. It’s the most-watched drama on the network now that “Rizzoli & Isles” is over, it has a dedicated following online, and it has really great staying power given that it’s the sort of series you can air at any time and it doesn’t take a whole lot of effort to get people hooked on watching it. Other than the “Hindsight” and “White Lies” arcs, the majority of the episodes stand on their own two feet. There’s really no reason for the network not to renew the show.
Even when you look at the show’s year-to-year ratings, they’re pretty solid. Overall, the show’s averaging close to a 0.5 rating in the 18-49 demographic this season, and is down slightly more than 10% year-to-year in the demo. That’s not too bad when consider that the majority of the scripted shows this summer saw declines of more than 20%.
We do understand that TNT is working to establish a different identity for itself beyond crime shows, and with “Rizzoli & Isles” and “Murder in the First” both off the air, we’re even further away from the network that this was four or five years ago. Maybe this change in format is one of the reasons for a delay in terms of a renewal, but we don’t think it’ll be an issue in the end. After all, the network still loves this show enough to give it more than 20+ episodes, a rarity for any scripted drama on cable.
In looking at all of the data, the past viewing patterns, and also that this show is really one of the last ambassadors of an era slightly gone by on TNT, we do think more “Major Crimes” will be coming. It’s mostly a matter of when.
Do you want to see the show renewed? Let us know in either the comments or the poll below.
Want to get some other news when it comes to “Major Crimes,” especially when it comes to casting news? then be sure to head over to the link here now! (Photo: TNT.)
Insurgent
November 21, 2016 @ 10:40 am
I don’t get it. There is no reason “Major Crimes” should NOT be renewed. Period. It’s long overdue!
Naomi B.
November 20, 2016 @ 8:37 pm
This question should be a no-brainer. Unfortunately, I don’t trust TNT as far as I can throw them. I wonder if they were shooting for bankruptcy protection when they allowed Reilly to take the helm and run the network into the toilet, which the process seems to have been sped up since his inception. I have never seen the sugar coating of out and out failure as I have seen from this network. If Major Crimes wasn’t in the middle of it, it would be HYSTERICAL! Business cases would be written about the downfall of this network in every business school in the world!
I am hoping the new consultants they hired will put an end to it. On that note, they should have them reporting to Levy…not Reilly. Reilly has shown his inability to be objective and strategic when his ego is in question. When I read the data on the pretty small difference in female viewers between MC and AK, I just shook my head.
I still wholeheartedly believe it is heading for renewal and in a better position than before. TNT is really in trouble with Animal Kingdom and now the flop known as Good Behavior. Unless they are looking to crash it and just rebuild from a complete collapse, I can’t see them cancelling it. Plus, they can build off it and get that male viewership in something built off MC:SOB which would be targeted towards males anyway with the storylines.
quinquin
November 21, 2016 @ 7:51 am
“I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books.”
Let’s just hope that the executives at TNT draw the same conclusions from the numbers and decide in favor of a renewal. If they don’t?! Well, I’m just a viewer with only a few hours of spare time and I don’t feel obligated to watch anything I don’t like just because it’s on TNT.
To make me watch needs excellent writing, producing, and acting. Major Crimes considerably raised the bars there. So it won’t be easy to replace it. BUT there are a lot of books out there I need to read, a number of movies worth watching and more than 80 episodes of Major Crimes waiting to be rewatched.
Insurgent
November 21, 2016 @ 10:51 am
Actually, I’m looking forward to watch a lot more “Major Crimes”. We’ll get the back 8 episodes of season 5, that’s a given, and as for season 6: #RenewMajorCrimes.
Naomi B.
November 21, 2016 @ 9:58 pm
I can’t help it. I have been in the strategy world for decades and this network just makes me scratch my head. Granted, I am not in the same sector, but the general concept of growth, turnaround and strategy is pretty universal. Numbers don’t lie. I see a sugar coating and a pissing off of a pretty loyal base that has me questioning if I am living in a parallel universe. This network has a couple of shows that I am interested in, but I will be the first to say that No Major Crimes=No TNT EVER AGAIN for me.
quinquin
November 23, 2016 @ 6:58 am
Turners out, business policy at TNT’s is apparently more exciting and creative than some of their shows… ;-)))
I guess we’ll know any time soon about Major Crimes. I think I read somewhere that shooting of the back 8 episodes of season 5 has begun weeks ago. At least somebody should know by now how the season will end. Either with a series finale (which I DO NOT HOPE) or with some groundwork for stories further to unfold in season 6.
Naomi B.
November 23, 2016 @ 1:19 pm
“Turners out, business policy at TNT’s is apparently more exciting and creative than some of their shows… ;-)))” Best line in this ENTIRE post!
I just don’t see that they would be filming the finale. I think it would have been stated that this is the last season if they were doing it. This show has the same level of viewers that R&I had. Not like MitF. Plus, still looking at sites like TVLine, they are still saying 6 is a sure thing. I was thinking last night that i wonder if it could that they are waiting for the start of the back 8 to renew to see ratings. We have to remember that it wasn’t renewed for 5 until November 25th last year and a TNT press release wasn’t done until December 15. Still these guys are just irking the living hell out of me. They could be waiting to see how the back 8 perform. It my ever rising level of irritation, I try to remember that this is the ONLY show that TNT gives additional shows to.
It will be interesting to see what these consultants say. I still say that it is not a good thing that they hired these guys for a job Reilly was brought on and the 3 programs he has brought on have been ratings failures. in the corporate world, I have seen this type of strategy in succession planning too though.
BTW…Mike Zara tweeted last week that they just finished filming E16. Tony stated that they break for Christmas on the 21st.
quinquin
November 23, 2016 @ 6:34 pm
“…they are still saying 6 is a sure thing.” – The renewal would be a hell of a Christmas present, wouldn’t it? It would make my holidays. Anyway, I keep my fingers crossed.
Naomi B.
November 23, 2016 @ 7:11 pm
Patrick Munn with TVWise has been in communication with TNT who is saying it should be done by the end of the year.
Matt…just remove this if I can’t put it up here. Sorry if it is against policy. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c27337be572691c4ccdf55390232c7a77407fff6e642ed054eb0cbbaf3ed9e15.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bca3a1e145a4fb69c2f34cbcbf823e67242c3b7a3b294e449d8676add2ceb68b.jpg
Matt Carter
November 23, 2016 @ 7:35 pm
Thanks! We certainly don’t have a problem with having external information in the comments, provided that it adds to the conversation. This certainly does.
quinquin
November 23, 2016 @ 7:50 pm
Thanks. Sounds promising.
Borderbuddies
November 20, 2016 @ 9:49 am
I am really wondering these day, what some business go on. It is successful, well, then lets stop it.. Seems TNT wants to dictate what we are supposed to watch. I hope that doesn’t backfire on them.
Ratings are excellent, so why not carry on?
The audience loves it, great stories, excellent actors. It really is a no brainer… Too bad we are not in charge ;-)
quinquin
November 20, 2016 @ 10:37 am
It should be a no brainer! But brains seem to be a rare stuff these days.
Insurgent
November 21, 2016 @ 10:42 am
I still believe in common sense (though there has been abundant proof against it lately). Therefore I’m confident: Major Crimes will be renewed for a sixth season!
quinquin
November 21, 2016 @ 5:05 pm
Nice thinking there. Thanks for the reassurance. ;-)
quinquin
November 20, 2016 @ 9:37 am
Thanks for rising the question. It should be answered with a clearly audible “YES”. Why? Well, you mentioned most of the reasons. Since it’s predominantly a business, let’s focus on the numbers. The ratings are the best TNT currently can count on. Let’s see what else is there: “The Librarians” and “The Last Ship” garnered total viewers of about 1.9- 2.3, and 1.7 -2.5, respectively with 0.4-0.6 in the 18-49 demo. The new show “Animal Kingdom” in it’s first season attracted 1.1-1.5 Million total viewers with 0.4-0.5 in the demo. The other new contender, “Good Behavior” is only two episodes into it’s first season. These episodes were watched by 0.75 Million viewers with 0.2 in the demo. Both of these shows have been heavily promoted, by the way. Keeping in mind that most shows lose in their sophomore year, these numbers don’t look too promising. For comparison during the summer half of the ongoing fifth season: “Major Crimes” was watched by 3.1-4.1 viewers with 0.4-0.5 in the demo. These numbers were stable compared to season 4 although the show was shifted to a less attractive time slot. Don’t get me started on the +3, +7 and over-all-plattforms numbers… All in all Major Crimes does pretty well, even in the sacred demo the other shows were apparently created for.
Personally, the numbers are of minor importance to me. I just love the show because of it’s rare qualities. It has multifaceted, well developed characters played by accomplished actors, and very well written, intriguing stories (especially the multi-parters you mentioned). You called the show “…one of the last ambassadors of an era slightly gone by on TNT.” I’m afraid you’re right. To me, it’s the only watchable show left on TNT.