NTSC USER

FOX has officially begun to clear up some space on its 2019-20 programming schedule



Tonight, the network canceled its sophomore superhero drama, “The Gifted,” and its freshman comedy, “Rel.” Both shows were low ratings performers this season, and had been considered likely cancellations for several months leading up to the announcement tonight.

Created by Kevin Barnett, Lil Rel Howery, and Josh Rabinowitz, “Rel” starred Howery in the titular role as a successful comic who tries to put his life back on track after his marriage falls apart.

Throughout its first season, the series averaged just a 0.8 live + same day rating in adults 18-49 with 2.03 million viewers, making it FOX’s second-lowest-rated freshman title of the season, ahead of only the Friday night legal drama, “Proven Innocent.” When FOX opted not to give “Rel” a back order earlier in the season, many took it as a sign of the show’s expected cancellation.

“The Gifted,” however, had less of a straightforward path to cancellation than “Rel.” Created by Matt Nix and produced by Marvel Television, the series took place in a world where mutated humans are treated with distrust and fear, and followed an institute for mutants battling to achieve peaceful co-existence with humanity.

An OK performer in its first season, the series took a noticeable hit in its second year, averaging just a 0.6 L+SD rating among adults 18-49 with 1.95 million viewers, down from its first season’s 1.0 and 3.31 million viewer averages.

“The Gifted” and “Rel” mark FOX’s first scripted cancellations of the season so far. Meanwhile, the network has already renewed several other titles for the 2019-20 season, including “The Resident,” “9-1-1,” “Family Guy,” “Bob’s Burgers,” and “The Simpsons.”