Network performance

The five major broadcast networks launched six fewer programs than they did last fall—21 new shows this year, compared to 2011's 27—and the result was a slight overall uptick in average Metascore. Those 21 new programs combined to average 56 this fall, up two points from the average of 54 for last fall's freshman class. Ten of this year's 21 newcomers earned positive reviews from critics, making for a nearly 48% success rate, up from 2011's 44% rate. And just three new networks shows received truly terrible reviews, half the number of lousy shows that viewers were subjected to the previous fall.

Out of the five broadcast networks, ABC had the most positively reviewed programs and the highest average Metascore, a reversal for the network from the past few fall seasons. There was also some good news at the last-place CW, whose Arrow 72 was just the network's second positively reviewed new fall series over the past four years. (Arrow is also the CW's highest-scoring new series in five years.) NBC, however, had the worst success rate with critics, earning solid reviews for just two of its six freshman series. Here's how the networks compared this fall and in fall seasons past:

Broadcast Network Comparison, New Fall Shows by Year

	2012		2011		2010		2009
	Avg	Shows	Avg	Shows	Avg	Shows	Avg	Shows
	60		53		58		60
	Rank:		Rank:		Rank:		Rank:
	59		55		65		62
	Rank:		Rank:		Rank:		Rank:
	55		58		58		58
	Rank:		Rank:		Rank:		Rank:
	54		55		52		53
	Rank:		Rank:		Rank:		Rank:
	51		47		59		49
	Rank:		Rank:		Rank:		Rank:

Averages are of Metascores for new primetime shows debuting in the fall of each year. Dots represent each individual new show with colors indicating positive (), mixed (), or negative () reviews from critics.

Best and worst new series

If it seems like there weren't many great shows this fall—well, that's because there weren't. ABC's country music drama Nashville was the season's highest-scoring new program, but, at 84, it was the lowest-scoring first-place fall newcomer since 2008. It was also the only new series to surpass the 81 mark that we consider the minimum for a show to have "universal acclaim" from professional critics. That makes two fall seasons in a row where just one show was able to achieve that mark.

This fall also marked the first time in three years that the highest-scoring new series was on broadcast television rather than cable. The cable networks failed to introduce any programs of note this fall, with Cinemax's little-seen Hunted 68 scoring highest among cable newcomers.

Here's how all the new fall shows ranked with critics:

Metascore Ranking of New Primetime Series - 2012 Fall Season

	Show (Network)	Genre	Metascore	Users
1	Nashville (ABC)	Drama	84	6.6
2	Call The Midwife (PBS)	Drama	80	7.7
3	Last Resort (ABC) 2nd Look reviews	Action, Drama	74	8.0
4	Elementary (CBS) 2nd Look reviews	Drama	73	6.3
5	Arrow (The CW)	Action, Drama	72	8.0
6	The Mindy Project (Fox) 2nd Look reviews	Comedy	69	6.7
7	Hunted (Cinemax)	Action, Drama	68	6.7
8	Vegas (CBS) 2nd Look reviews	Drama	67	6.3
9	Ben & Kate (Fox)	Comedy	67	6.5
10	Go On (NBC) 2nd Look reviews	Comedy	66	n/a
11	Revolution (NBC) 2nd Look reviews	Action, Drama	64	5.4
12	666 Park Avenue (ABC) 2nd Look reviews	Drama, Fantasy	61	7.2
13	Breaking Amish (TLC)	Reality	61	n/a
14	The New Normal (NBC)	Comedy	60	6.0
15	Underemployed (MTV)	Comedy, Drama	55	5.3
16	Chicago Fire (NBC)	Action, Drama	49	4.8
17	Animal Practice (NBC) *	Comedy	48	n/a
18	Emily Owens, M.D. (The CW)	Drama	47	3.3
19	The Houstons: On Our Own (Lifetime)	Reality	43	n/a
20	Made in Jersey (CBS) *	Drama	43	4.3
21	The Mob Doctor (Fox)	Drama	42	3.4
22	The Neighbors (ABC)	Comedy	41	4.3
23	Malibu Country (ABC)	Comedy	41	7.7
24	Guys With Kids (NBC)	Comedy	38	4.5
25	Partners (CBS)	Comedy	37	5.1
26	Beauty and the Beast (The CW)	Drama	34	4.0

* Show has been canceled.
Includes all shows debuting in the U.S. this fall with a minimum of 7 reviews from professional critics as of November 6, 2012. Shows are ranked by Metascore prior to rounding.

What do you think?

What new shows are you enjoying this fall? What did critics get right and wrong? Let us know in the comments section below.