So Help Me Todd Is Not Preparing for Possible Cancellation
So Help Me Todd may need some assistance securing a Season 3.
Per fresh intel from our sister pub Deadline, CBS‘ Marcia Gay Harden-Skylar Astin drama — which is set to conclude its truncated second season next month — is in “grave danger” of getting cancelled due to low ratings. It’s one of two CBS series heavily on the bubble, joining CSI: Vegas.
If CBS does end up pulling the plug on the legal procedural, fans will not be treated to a satisfying wrap-up. Sources tell TVLine that the Season 2 finale — which will air immediately following Young Sheldon‘s two-episode swan song on May 16 — ends on a big cliffhanger.
So Help Me Todd emerged as something of a sleeper hit when it launched on CBS in Fall 2022. Ratings have tapered off in Season 2, with last week’s episode drawing a still-decent-by-broadcast-standards 4.3 million Live+Same Day viewers (down slightly from Season 2’s 4.6 million).
Other CBS series awaiting word on their fate: NCIS: Hawai’i, Elsbeth and The Equalizer. All three are currently safe bets to return. (TVLine’s 2024 Renewal Scorecard has the latest pickup/cancellation buzz.)
CBS declined to comment for this story.
Not all of us watch shows the first few nights they are posted. I usually wait and binge a few at a time. This is a great show and I hope CBS can see the views from those of us delayed watchers.
They do look at delayed ratings, and according to a longer article on Deadline SHMT is near the bottom for delayed viewing for CBS shows.
Delayed viewing, while nice, does not bring in money to the network. How may commercials do you watch when you are viewing a program on delay? Live viewing is what most of the networks are most concerned about as it means folks are watching the commercials, which are the things that actually help to pay for the program you enjoy. If you want to save a show, watch it live.
And this is why live TV is dying. Not saying that streaming is perfect by any means because shows quickly get cancelled there as well… But network tv should be relying on delayed viewing more than they are because that IS how most people are watching tv now.
I LOVE THIS SHOW! PLEASE RENEW “ SHOW HELP ME TODD” It’s SO UNIQUE!!!!!
I AGREE!!
So Help Me Todd is a great show. It gives us entertainment made up of drama and comedy. It should be given another year to build an audience. It is very disappointing to learn it has been canceled.
Excellent show, well written, funny…but…CBS is notorious for bad decisions but I hope it gets more seasons.
Aren’t they all?
Reason #1 for low ratings is likely the NETWORK’S FAULT!!
They have to start understanding viewers in the days of streaming and binge-watching. You lose people when you air a few episodes in consecutive weeks, then have repeats, then another new episode, then another repeat… This is a great show that is very watchable without having to stoop to violence or sexual content. There are so few shows on network TV that fit that bill.
Although in this case. It’s not completely the network’s fault. They only had 10 episodes to program. They did not want to be finished by April. They wanted to string it out until May. All the networks programming is doing, a few, and then reruns, and returns. I really do hope it continues next season. Although I have not been happy with the story about the firm’s struggles. And the underhanded motives that might be at play. But still, the show is fun and deserves more time, and more episodes next season.
It also sounds because CBS has SO many shows, either because of longevity, or because they have been kicked to next season. They will have to make tough decisions.
You are correct
None of this stopped people from watching Fire Country, S.W.A.T and so on. That’s a cop out.
💯
Agree! It is the networks fault for judging by ancient standards. And, commercials take half of a shows time. I don’t have to watch it all to know what the commercial is selling.
Please CBS don’t cancel your better show!! We need more! So Help Me Todd is amazing and don’t deserve a cliffhanger!
#RenewSoHelpMeTodd #SaveSoHelpMeTodd
Spread the word…
So help me Todd is funny and a show I love watching and relaxing to. Ellsbeth is annoying . I remember her from the good wife didn’t like her then. Don’t understand how fire country is so popular. Seems to be repeating same dark dingy setting, super mom fire person, nothing earthshaking.
I dearly hope for Vegas and Hawaii to get renewed. I’m not sure about Todd since I don’t watch it. Sorry.
Why not watch it because then you’ll probably want it to stay too? :-)
If you don’t watch it, don’t weigh in. You only add to the fans chances of losing a beloved program
Thank you! So annoying when people do that.
So help me Todd is an entertaining show with a great cast! Look forward to seeing it weekly! PLEASE save it!
NCIS Hawaii is another great show! Not crazy about LL Cool being on it now. Vanessa does a wonderful job, especially as the first female lead on NCIS franchise!
Elizbeth is a breath of fresh air that I’ve enjoyed since the first episode!
All the shows I like getting cancelled! Very disappointed that junk like the housewives stays on and these get the ax!
PLEASE DO NOT CANCEL “SO HELP ME TODD” WE ARE SO TIRED OF CRIME AND MURDER!!!! WHY CAN’T WE HAVE SOME FUN AND LAUGHTER THAT. PLEASE,PLEASE LET “SO HELP ME TODD” IT MADE THURS. NIGHTS ENJOYABLE! NOW YOUVE TAKEN THAT AWAY……
.
I watched the first season, and I thought it was ok at best. It’s far from a series you will binge, but more of one you will watch if you were bored.
Why…. WHY… would SHMT writers and producers choose to end on a cliffhanger knowing they suffer poor ratings and have a seemingly low chance for renewal? Did no one learn anything from the CW’s Legacies series finale/cliffhanger debacle? It’s not fair to the fans who DO watch their shows.
Uugh. I meant “Legends of Tomorrow”, not “Legacies”. It was so disappointing to have no resolution to LOT.
Nobody watched Legends of Tomorrow, therefore no one learnt a thing
They probably did not think they would be considered to be on the bubble. After how last season went. This has not been a traditional year, as they had to make plans for the season without really seeing how the season was going in terms of ratings.
I agree. LoT was disappointing but the situation is not the same given LoT knew CW was getting a huge shake-up. I hate that it might end on a cliffhanger but they didn’t have the same kind of notice. Perhaps if they had been able to begin in fall and saw the ratings, they would have done it differently, but we can’t say for sure.
—-
Speaking of the CW, it’s a shame they have such limited budgets because this would go perfectly with the ‘blue sky’ type of dramas they seem to be going for these days.
CBS had my attention for the entire Thursday night lineup. I can’t believeCBS is removing So Help Me Todd from that lineup!! I love that show. Seems that if a show doesn’t have lots of violence it gets dropped. There’s enough violence in the world today and Thursday night was a welcome escape.
Todd is original and fresh in comparison with all the Eye’s clones, spinoffs, and veteran/aging series. It’s a great lead out to sitcoms, and it partners well with Elsbeth (another winner). It’s also well acted and a smart light mystery. Please don’t cancel!!!
I LOVE So help me Todd!! Please renew this show!!!! It’s such an original show!
I love so help me Todd! It’s light and comedic but has splash of drama. It’s a refreshing change to the usual by the book cop/lawyer procedurals. It pairs well with Elsbeth too. I am rooting for it to be renewed. 2 seasons is just not enough.
For the most part, SHMT is an hour long comedy. CBS should convert it into a 30 min single cam and hold it for midseason. If it works, they’ll have a leg up on creating another comedy block for the following season.
I LOVE So Help Me Todd!!! Please don’t cancel! Find a different time slot!!
I just started watching this last week. It reminds of Psych with less pop culture references.
Yeah it reminds me of Psych too. That and Monk.
Todd reminds me a little of Chuck Bartowski. Hope the show makes it.
I LOVE Psych! I agree with your perspective so much. The dynamics of paren-son are fantastic as well as the observational skills. It’s a wonderful dramedy and I think the network does a pitiful job in marketing this show.
I’m not surprised. It was a good show last year but the writing sucks this year!
Keep the show and fire the show runner. This season went off the rails with the law firm having financial trouble and the evil black rival who has virtually nothing to do and adds nothing to the show. This is usually 3rd season crap. Skylar Astin is super adorable and we always love Marcia Gay Harden. The chemistry is amazing and the show is well written (around the bad circumstances the show runner has put them in)
Please don’t cancel this show! We don’t all need 12 different versions of NCIS, etc. Networks are flooded with two many franchises, game shows and reality shows. It’s enough already. This is a simple, light hearted, fun show. I look forward to it each week!
PLEASE do NOT cancel So Help Me Todd! It is a fun show that I can watch and enjoy with my 68 yr old mom. We love it!! It is good, clean, funny and I love the cast. Sean and Marcia are amazing. I wish there were more shows like this! CBS, get it “Wright” and keep this show going!!
I love So Help Me Todd, and Elsbeth is a breathe of fresh Air. I admit I record and watch later, but that’s the new trend. Commercials these days are more like infomercials. I like CSI Vegas Too.
I love this show and would hate losing one of the few non-franchise shows on this network. The cast is wonderfully talented and so funny together. Great writing, fun stories and the “same, but different” type of series that brings me many smiles and much laughter.
I hope CBS renews this gem!
Good. Cancel this terrible show.
I get that they had a truncated season because of the strike, but it’s hard to gain any traction when they air one or two episodes and then go on a break. I love this show and I’d be so sad to see it canceled. We need less of the firm’s financials in trouble and Beverly trying to manipulate everyone for no reason and more of the ensemble case-of-the-week hijinks. The episode with Todd in the hospital solving a crime over the phone with his mom was hilarious.
Agreed and that episode was hilarious!!!
I don’t understand why CBS needs 90-minute reality shows and why they use prime time to repeat their series. Also, it makes no sense to renew a series they don’t own that was supposed to end this season and cancel great shows they do own. SHMT is funny, witty, with great performances, so of course CBS cancels it, as if keeping the best shows would be a curse. I hope they reconsider or at least sell the rights to someone who does appreciate it.
The reality shows will likely be reduced to one hour, allowing for extra timeslots. There is no need for them to take up slots, when so many shows need to be programmed.
Matt wrote this in unlikely, but I do hope they will return to the 1-hour format. I hope CBS come to their senses, but if they can’t appreciate such a great show, Todd will be better off on another network, I hope someone picks it up.
I really enjoy So Help Me Todd and I hope it gets renewed. Marcia Gay Harden and Skylar Astin have a wonderful mother and son dynamic.
There is a bitter irony here.
.
The network needs to provide programming that will entice viewers to actually watch, either on the date or streamed for later.
.
The viewers want programming that is not the questionable reality material or those franchises that have over run most of the week’s schedule.
.
The network provides what it thinks the viewers want but the viewers don’t watch.
.
You can almost hear the network programmers banging their collective heads on the nearest wall.
.
Sadly, for those of us who are not interested in all the reality shows or umpteen versions of franchises, what is left is either not worth watching on a regular basis or isn’t interesting enough to entice us to watch.
.
For example, Elspeth has been on my One Of These Days I’ll Watch Lists and I don’t anticipate it moving anytime soon. I don’t miss any episode of NCIS but I don’t watch Hawaii and I gave up on Todd when the bickering became too much to deal with. In my area sports shove regular Sunday night programming off the grid, so there is no incentive to check it out.
.
I understand that programming is a ratings game and the numbers are the only thing that matter. But sometimes it feels like the viewer is the least important part of the equation.
Shorter season has affected the ratings. Plus we the fans are still waiting to see what happens with Todd’s ex and Lindy. No mention of it so far this year.
Also what’s happening with Margaret’s ex and Gus. We’ve only seen Lawrence one this year and and Chet a handful of times.
Format has changed a bit too much this year.
I don’t understand the low ratings, So Help Me Todd is such a great show. I look forward to it each week. Please don’t cancel it!
with the release schedule the ratings are no surprise, the show is amazing, Marcia and Skylar are amazing
So Help Me Todd is my favorite show at the moment. I’ve even watched each episode more than once. I hope that CBS decides to renew it.
Keep investing in this show, it’s worth it. Skylar plays Todd in a likeable charismatic way & Marcia has great chemistry with him. I’m glad I gave the show a chance back when season 1 was airing. I feel like networks still struggle in selecting which shows to cancel and which deserve to be renewed.
I love So Help Me Todd and love Skylar Astin and Marcia Gay Harden together. I laughed so hard at the episode when Todd was in the hospital and solved a murder. I want and need more of So Help Me Todd .