Posted 13 May 2017 - 12:54 PM
Timeless is uncancelled.
Timeless Is Saved! Time-Travel Series Joins Elite Club of Shows Renewed by the Network That Canceled It
The Time Team was clearly behind this move.
Hanh Nguyen
The fans spoke, and at least one network listened.
At first, it didnt seem like any of the new time-travel series were going to make it out of the 2016-2017 season alive. The CWs Frequency was dead, FOX made Making History history, ABCs Time After Time ran out of time, and NBCs Timeless also got the ax this past week.
READ MORE: Renewed or Canceled? Find Out the Fate of Your Favorite TV Show on the Bubble
But then, a broadcast miracle happened. On Saturday, NBC reversed course on history and decided to renew Timeless for a second season made up of 10 episodes that is expected to air in 2018.
Timeless joins the coveted ranks of other shows that have also been resurrected by the very same network that killed it, including Unforgettable (CBS), Designing Women (CBS), Family Guy (FOX), Jericho (CBS), Breaking In (FOX), and 24 (FOX). The more common way a show has come back these days is if another network or streaming service steps in (such as how The Killing moved to Netflix and Friday Night Lights went to DirecTV) or the current age of revivals that has brought back shows like Prison Break and Gilmore Girls much later, if in slightly different forms.
Timeless hasnt exactly been a ratings giant for NBC. The series premiered to 7.6 million viewers, but dropped steadily ever since. By the time of its Season 1 finale, the show had only averaged 4.6 million viewers over the course of its 16 episodes.
READ MORE: How Timeless Is Creating New World Each Week, From the Alamo to Sinatras Las Vegas
Clearly strong numbers wasnt the reason for bringing back Timeless. Did a butterfly get smushed? Did someone finally succeed in Hitler? Or perhaps James Franco found another time-traveling diner. Were not exactly sure, but The Hollywood Reporter cited a dedicated push from producers at Sony TV, even after the cancellation was announced. Kripke along with co-creator and co-showrunner Shawn Ryan are aiming to make Season 2 even more family-friendly, and the executives at Sony believe Timeless can become a long-running, family-friendly franchise. Sources stated the studio even offered a majority of profits to NBC in order to secure the renewal.
When NBC initially pulled the plug on Timeless on Wednesday, the outcry from fans was swift and loud. But no one was more upset than Ghostbusters star and Saturday Night Live cast member Leslie Jones, who made her feelings known on Twitter.
WTF?! WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO TO KEEP A GOOD SHOW ON TV?! @NBCTimeless was an excellent show!!! Yall making a huge mistake!!!
Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) May 11, 2017
Fortunately, a few days later, Timeless co-creator Eric Kripke was able to share the good news that it was coming back.
The #TimeTeam went back 3 days, and changed history. @nbc picked us up for 10 episodes. Seriously. Airs next summer. #TimelessRenewed pic.twitter.com/SDkeShlByL
Eric Kripke (@therealKripke) May 13, 2017
On Timeless, the Time Team, consisting of historian Lucy Preston (Abigail Spencer), Delta Force operative Wyatt Logan (Matt Lanter) and scientist Rufus Carlin (Malcolm Barrett) travel back in time to pursue a rogue NSA asset who steals a time machine with the intent to change American history. In addition to fixing his interference, they also deal with issues of race, gender and politics throughout the centuries.
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I'm not even sure what happened there. 
