Decision time is approaching

One way to end an alien invasion: cancellation

During the week of May 17th, the major broadcast networks will announce their fall primetime schedules, at which point they will also reveal the fates of any existing shows that haven't yet been renewed or canceled. Many programs -- from first-year hits like Modern Family to veterans such as Survivor -- have already received word that they'll be back in the fall, while others (like Fox's 24 and ABC's Ugly Betty) are officially ending this season. But that leaves a number of programs in limbo over the next few weeks as they await an official announcement.

ABC's biggest bubble shows are sci-fi serials V and FlashForward, while the uncertainty at CBS chiefly revolves around its comedy lineup, which could see a shakeup in the fall. At Fox, Human Target and Lie to Me face uncertain futures, while the fate of the CW's new Life Unexpected is the biggest mystery there. (Many experts believe that Life is competing against One Tree Hill for the network's final open slot.) NBC's major question mark is Heroes, which recently completed its most poorly-rated season to date and seems unlikely to return. Fellow Monday night series Chuck looked like a sure thing for renewal after its strong start this year, but has been shedding viewers over the past month and now could be in trouble.

Below is a our latest scorecard listing the current status of all primetime programs on the five major broadcast networks. You can also read about current (and previous) fan campaigns to save these and other network shows.

Current status of all network primetime shows

Key to show status:
= Officially renewed = Officially canceled or series ending this year = In limbo; no official announcement yet

ABC Primetime Programs, 2009-2010 Season

Status	Show	Notes
	20/20	Very likely to return for a 29th season
	AFV America's Funniest Home Videos	Could return for a 21st season
	The Bachelor	Very likely to be renewed
	Better Off Ted	Almost certain to be canceled; 2 more eps may air at some point
	Brothers & Sisters	Renewed for a 5th season
	Castle	Renewed for a 22-episode 3rd season
	Cougar Town	Renewed for a 2nd season
	Dancing with the Stars	Extremely likely to be renewed
	The Deep End	Almost certain to be canceled; 1 episode never aired
	Desperate Housewives	Extremely likely to be renewed
	Eastwick	Canceled
	Extreme Makeover: Home Edition	Will probably come back for an 8th season
	FlashForward	Very likely to be canceled; has performed poorly since returning
	The Forgotten	Almost certain to be canceled; 2 episodes left to air at some point
	Grey's Anatomy	Very likely to be renewed
	Hank	Canceled; 5 episodes have yet to air
	Happy Town	Yet to premiere (series debuts April 28th)
	Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution	Uncertain; ratings falling, but does OK in timeslot
	Lost	Series concludes May 23rd
	The Middle	Renewed for a 2nd season
	Modern Family	Renewed for a 2nd season
	Private Practice	Likely to be renewed
	Romantically Challenged	Too soon to tell; new series premiered Monday to mediocre ratings
	Scrubs	Unofficially canceled; Zach Braff (but not ABC) announced end
	Shark Tank	Uncertain; didn't do great, but is cheap to make
	SuperNanny	Could return
	Ugly Betty	Canceled; series finale aired April 14th
	V	Cancellation possible; a return depends on ratings of remaining eps
	Wife Swap	Too soon to tell; season debut was in early April

CBS Primetime Programs, 2009-2010 Season

Status	Show	Notes
	48 Hours Mystery	Can't see why this wouldn't return
	60 Minutes	Extremely likely to be renewed
	Accidentally On Purpose	Cancellation possible; unlikely that all bubble sitcoms will return
	The Amazing Race	17th cycle will air during 2010-11 season
	The Big Bang Theory	Will return for a 4th season
	Cold Case	Very likely to be canceled; next episode may be its last
	Criminal Minds	Very likely to be renewed
	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	Extremely likely to be renewed
	CSI: Miami	Extremely likely to be renewed
	CSI: New York	Likely to return, although it is the lowest rated of the CSI franchises
	Gary Unmarried	Cancellation possible; unlikely that all bubble sitcoms will return
	Ghost Whisperer	Could return; ratings aren't great, but good enough for Fridays
	The Good Wife	Already renewed for a 2nd season
	How I Met Your Mother	Renewed for a 6th season
	Medium	Cancellation possible, but syndication profits mean it could return
	The Mentalist	Very likely to be renewed
	Miami Medical	Almost certain to be canceled; started low and is dropping fast
	NCIS	Extremely likely to be renewed
	NCIS: Los Angeles	Already renewed for a 2nd season
	The New Adventures Of Old Christine	Cancellation possible; unlikely that all bubble sitcoms will return
	Numb3rs	Almost certain to be canceled; has likely aired its final episode
	Rules Of Engagement	Likely to be renewed
	Survivor	Renewed for a 21st and 22nd season, both to air during 2010-11
	Two And A Half Men	Renewed for 2 additional seasons, but will Charlie Sheen be back?
	Undercover Boss	Already renewed for a 2nd season
	Three Rivers	Canceled

CW Primetime Programs, 2009-2010 Season

Status	Show	Notes
	90210	Renewed for a 3rd season
	America's Next Top Model	Will return for at least two additional cycles (the show's 15th and 16th)
	The Beautiful Life	Canceled
	Fly Girls	Cancellation possible; ratings are weighing down high-flying reality show
	Gossip Girl	Renewed for a 4th season
	High Society	Very likely to be canceled; reality show is getting crushed in ratings
	Life Unexpected	Cancellation possible; LUX is the CW's biggest question mark
	Melrose Place	Very likely to be canceled; ratings are low even by CW standards
	One Tree Hill	Some danger; could return despite ratings drop, but not if LUX is renewed
	Smallville	Will return for a 10th (!) season
	Supernatural	Comes back for a 6th season in the fall
	The Vampire Diaries	The CW's biggest hit has already been renewed for a 2nd season

Fox Primetime Programs, 2009-2010 Season

Status	Show	Notes
	24	Canceled, but concept will move to the big screen
	America's Most Wanted	Has been on the air since 1988, and won't be going away anytime soon
	American Dad	Renewed for another season
	American Idol	Will be back for a 10th season next January, but without Simon Cowell
	Bones	Renewed for a 6th season
	Brothers	Will not return for a 2nd season
	The Cleveland Show	Already renewed for a 2nd season
	Cops	Like AMW, this long-running (and profitable) series should stick around even longer
	Dollhouse	Series finale aired in January
	Family Guy	Renewed for another season
	Fringe	No worries this year; it will definitely be back for a 3rd season
	Glee	Already renewed for a 2nd season
	Hell's Kitchen	Will return for two additional cycles next season
	House	Not yet renewed, but it certainly will be
	Human Target	Cancellation possible; first-year action series is helped by 24 cancellation
	Kitchen Nightmares	Coming back for a third season next year
	Lie to Me	Cancellation possible; depends on Fox's needs in fall, and Human Target decision
	Our Little Genius	Had the rare distinction of being canceled without ever broadcasting an episode
	Past Life	Canceled after just 3 episodes; remaining 4 hours to air in May/June
	The Simpsons	Back for a 22nd season in the fall
	Sons of Tucson	Effectively canceled already; has been pulled from schedule, but returns in June
	'Til Death	This 4th season is its last; currently burning off remaining unaired episodes

NBC Primetime Programs, 2009-2010 Season

Status	Show	Notes
	30 Rock	NBC's entire Thursday night comedy block renewed for another year
	The Apprentice	A non-celebrity version will air next season
	The Biggest Loser	A 10th season will begin in the fall
	Chuck	Slight danger; originally a lock for renewal, its ratings have been dropping
	Community	NBC's entire Thursday night comedy block renewed for another year
	Dateline	Long-running newsmagazine will likely be on call in case other shows fail
	Friday Night Lights	A 5th and final season will air on NBC after debuting on DirecTV
	Heroes	Cancellation possible; ratings say cancel but one final season possible
	The Jay Leno Show	We hope Leno bounces back and finds another job
	Law & Order	Cancellation possible, but NBC has holes to fill and few better shows
	Law & Order: SVU	See above.
	The Marriage Ref	Poorly-reviewed, Seinfeld-produced reality show gets 13 additional hours
	Mercy	Very likely to be canceled; first-year series is a poor performer
	Minute to Win It	New game show picked up for 10 additional episodes to air next season
	The Office	NBC's entire Thursday night comedy block renewed for another year
	Parenthood	Renewed for a 2nd season
	Parks & Recreation	NBC's entire Thursday night comedy block renewed for another year
	The Sing-Off	A 2nd competition will air next season
	Trauma	Almost certain to be canceled; eliminating 2 eps this year not a good sign
	Who Do You Think You Are?	An 8-episode 2nd season will air next year

What do you think?

What bubble shows would you like to see return, and which deserve to be canceled? Let us know in the comments section below.