ABC

ABC placed second among the five broadcast networks in average Metascore for the third consecutive year. But despite launching more new programs that all but one competitor, the network scored positive reviews for just three of its new shows, making for a disappointing 30% success rate.

And it is looking like even those modest critical successes will do the network little good; No Ordinary Family and Detroit 1-8-7 are almost certain to be canceled, and Better With You could very well join them. In fact, of ABC's 10 new shows during the 2010-11 season, only Body of Proof looks likely to stick around for a second season.

The news could be worse, however; thanks to a few solid returning programs, ABC will finish in 3rd place among the five broadcast networks in overall viewership and in the key 18-49 demographic. Still, at this point in the season, ABC has lost 9% of its 18-49 viewers compared to the 2009-10 season, according to industry site TVbytheNumbers.

ABC's New Primetime Shows, 2010-11 Season

	Show (Network)	Genre	Metascore	Users
1	No Ordinary Family	Drama	65	6.3
2	Better With You	Comedy	64	6.5
3	Detroit 1-8-7	Drama	63	7.9
4	Happy Endings	Comedy	57	6.6
5	The Whole Truth *	Drama	56	7.6
6	Body of Proof	Drama	56	5.6
7	Mr. Sunshine	Comedy	54	6.4
8	Off the Map	Drama	49	7.1
9	My Generation *	Drama	43	5.4
--	Skating with the Stars *	Reality Competition	n/a	n/a

* Show has been canceled.

CBS

Though the #1 network in overall viewership had mixed critical success with its new programs during the 2010-11 season, CBS did manage to score positive notices for four of its nine freshman series. That's a big step up over the previous season, when the network had just one well reviewed new show (The Good Wife).

However, as was the case with ABC, CBS may not keep many of these first-year programs on the air for a second season. Hawaii Five-0 and Mike and Molly are certain to return, but we can't say that about any of the other programs listed below, and even the network's highest-scoring new show, the Tom Selleck cop drama Blue Bloods, is in danger despite the lowered expectations accompanying its Friday night timeslot. And even with the "star" power of Paula Abdul, the network failed in its attempt to launch a new entry in the increasingly competitive talent competition genre -- a feat that even NBC seems to have pulled off (with The Voice).

CBS's New Primetime Shows, 2010-11 Season

	Show (Network)	Genre	Metascore	Users
1	Blue Bloods	Drama	70	7.7
2	Hawaii Five-0	Drama/Action	65	7.0
3	The Defenders	Drama	65	7.4
4	Mike and Molly	Comedy	63	6.2
5	Mad Love	Comedy	60	7.2
6	Chaos	Drama/Action/Comedy	49	6.9
7	Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior	Drama	42	4.8
8	$#* ! My Dad Says	Comedy	28	4.4
--	Live to Dance *	Reality Competition	n/a	n/a

* Show has been canceled.

The CW

The CW isn't in danger of shedding its "fifth network" status anytime soon, as it continues to program fewer hours than any other network and trail far behind its competitors in the ratings. (In fact, the CW will finish this season in 6th place, if you include the Spanish-language Univision.) But while it and every other network has lost viewers this season, the CW has so far experienced a smaller percentage drop than its fellow broadcasters.

The network launched only two new scripted series in 2010-11 (down from four during 2009-10), one with generally positive reviews (the movie spinoff Nikita) and one that proved to be more mediocre (cheerleading dramedy Hellcats). Both shows are still on the bubble, with the latter looking unlikely to return.

The CW's New Primetime Shows, 2010-11 Season

	Show (Network)	Genre	Metascore	Users
1	Nikita	Action/Drama	66	6.9
2	Hellcats	Drama/Comedy	51	5.7
3	Shedding for the Wedding	Reality Competition	46	n/a

Fox

The only broadcast network with an average Metascore in the "green" range during 2010-11, Fox also had more positively-reviewed new shows than any other network, with five of its eight first-year series scoring 61 or higher. Last season, by comparison, just two of Fox's six new shows received positive reviews.

Again, however, those reviews don't seem to translate into ratings. The Chicago Code, the best reviewed new show on any broadcast network this season, has yet to crack the ratings code, and appears increasingly unlikely to return next year. The sitcom Traffic Light, another new Fox show getting the green light from critics, is also about to get the ax from the network.

Still, the network scored a modest ratings and critical hit with its new comedy Raising Hope, and Fox will finish the season in first place in the crucial 18-49 demographic -- as it did the previous year -- though it remains behind leader CBS in total viewership.

Fox's New Primetime Shows, 2010-11 Season

	Show (Network)	Genre	Metascore	Users
1	The Chicago Code	Drama	75	6.5
2	Raising Hope	Comedy	75	7.6
3	Lone Star *	Drama	73	7.3
4	Traffic Light	Comedy	63	6.1
5	Million Dollar Money Drop	Game Show	61	6.4
6	Breaking In	Comedy	55	7.7
7	Bob's Burgers	Animation/Comedy	54	5.5
8	Running Wilde *	Comedy	48	6.5

* Show has been canceled.

NBC

Thanks to the departure of The Jay Leno Show, NBC had many hours to fill in its primetime schedule, and fill them it did, with more new programs (13) than any other broadcast network.

Unfortunately, the network seems to have relied on a variety of mediocre -- at best -- series to plug the gaps in its lineup, and the result was the worst average Metascore of any network, as well as another year of low ratings. It was the second time in three years that NBC finished dead last in average Metascore for its first-year shows.

Once known for its comedies, NBC launched only three this season, and all were duds, though there is a small chance that Outsourced could survive to a second season. Of its three well-reviewed new programs (all dramas), Undercovers was canceled almost immediately, Law & Order: Los Angeles was pulled off the air for retooling and has performed poorly since its return, and, barring a miracle, The Event will not be invited back for a second season. Last season, by comparison, NBC launched just two well-reviewed new programs, but both (Community and Parenthood) were successful and will be back for third seasons next year.

It wasn't a complete disaster for NBC in 2010-11, however; the Kathy Bates legal drama Harry's Law has performed well enough in the ratings to make a case for returning next season, and new American Idol competitor The Voice had a strong premiere last week.

Note that two shows that were originally announced as part of NBC's 2010-11 schedule last year -- the anthology series Love Bites and the sitcom Friends with Benefits -- have yet to debut. The former has made it onto the network's summer schedule (beginning June 2nd), while the latter still doesn't have a premiere date. Neither is expected to be part of NBC's 2011-12 schedule.

NBC's New Primetime Shows, 2010-11 Season

	Show (Network)	Genre	Metascore	Users
1	The Event	Drama	67	6.2
2	Law & Order: Los Angeles	Drama	64	5.9
3	Undercovers *	Drama/Action	63	5.9
4	America's Next Great Restaurant	Reality Competition	58	4.6
5	The Voice	Reality Competition	55	8.4
6	The Cape *	Drama/Action	54	6.7
7	Chase *	Drama	48	6.4
8	Harry's Law	Drama	48	6.9
9	Outsourced	Comedy	46	7.2
10	School Pride	Reality	45	n/a
11	Perfect Couples *	Comedy	43	7.0
12	The Paul Reiser Show *	Comedy	38	4.4
13	Outlaw *	Drama	36	3.4

* Show has been canceled.

What are your favorites?

What are your picks for the best and worst new shows of the 2010-11 season? What did the critics get right and wrong when first assessing these new programs? Let us know in the comments section below.