
Here at TVLine, we often focus on giving you the scoop on what will happen on your favorite shows. But once a year each fall, we get to speculating on what might happen.
On Sept. 30 of last year, the TVLine staff tendered nearly 20 predictions about the 2024-25 TV season, which just came to a close.
So, more than eight months later, the question is: How did we do?
In the list below, you can revisit, as originally published, our forecasts for broadcast, cable and streaming series, including our prognostications about storylines, potential crossovers, scheduling decisions and renewals. Beneath each prediction, we have noted the actual outcome, along with a running “accuracy” rate. Typically, we wind up in the 27% to 30% range. But this year….
The Doctors Are Still In
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Here at TVLine, we often focus on giving you the scoop on what will happen on your favorite shows. But once a year each fall, we get to speculating on what might happen.
On Sept. 30 of last year, the TVLine staff tendered nearly 20 predictions about the 2024-25 TV season, which just came to a close.
So, more than eight months later, the question is: How did we do?
In the list below, you can revisit, as originally published, our forecasts for broadcast, cable and streaming series, including our prognostications about storylines, potential crossovers, scheduling decisions and renewals. Beneath each prediction, we have noted the actual outcome, along with a running “accuracy” rate. Typically, we wind up in the 27% to 30% range. But this year….
The Doctors Are Still In
PREDICTION: Grey’s Anatomy will realize the error of its ways and “find” the budget to keep on Midori Francis (Mika), Jake Borelli (Levi), or both.
OUTCOME: Thought neither actor has been re-signed, Borelli did make a comeback so that Schmitt could officiate at Jo and Link’s wedding.
SCORE SO FAR: 0-for-1
Hi… and Bye
PREDICTION: Netflix will renew Heartstopper for a fourth and final season to wrap up its love stories before freeing rising stars Kit Connor and Joe Locke of their annual commitment.
OUTCOME: In April, the streamer announced that the series would conclude with a movie (which just this month started production). Feels like we deserve partial credit here.
SCORE SO FAR: 0.5-for-2
Elsbeth, Part 1
PREDICTION: With Evil now over, Michael Emerson will guest-star on wife Carrie Preston’s Elsbeth, midway through Season 2.
OUTCOME: Emerson didn’t merely guest-star; he at midseason debuted in the recurring role of Judge Crawford, who to the very end of the season proved to be a thorn in Elsbeth’s side. Score!
SCORE SO FAR: 1.5-for-3
Elsbeth, Part 2
PREDICTION: CBS will stage a crossover between its Thursday-night lawyers Elsbeth and Matlock.
OUTCOME: Such a crossover has yet to happen, but both New York City-set shows have been renewed, and still neighbor each other on Thursday nights….
SCORE SO FAR: 1.5-for-4
A Surprise Yellowstone Death
PREDICTION: We all expect Yellowstone to kill off John. And no one will be shocked if Jamie meets his maker, too. But who has “Monica dies” on their Fall 2024 bingo card? Us, that’s who.
OUTCOME: Both John and Jamie were introduced to their makers. But Kelsey Asbille’s Monica got a happy new beginning with husband Kayce and son Tate.
SCORE SO FAR: 1.5-for-5
Rescue: HI-Surf Benched for Super Bowl
PREDICTION: Although it pre-selected Rescue: HI-Surf for the post-Super Bowl slot back in May [2024], Fox will change course and plug a different show in the coveted time slot upon the release of its midseason schedule later this fall.
OUTCOME: On Nov. 18, Fox stripped low-rated HI-Surf of its post-Super Bowl slot and gave it to the Rob Lowe-hosted game show The Floor. Touchdown, TVLine!
SCORE SO FAR: 2.5-for-6
Georgie & Mandy’s First Vote of Confidence
PREDICTION: CBS’ Young Sheldon spinoff, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, will be the first freshman series of the 2024-25 season to land a back-nine order, bringing its Season 1 haul to 22 episodes. (Other would-be contenders — CBS’ Matlock and Fox’s Rescue: HI-Surf — are close to completing, or have already completed, production on their 18- and 19-episode orders, respectively.)
OUTCOME: The Young Sheldon spinoff was not only the first freshman series to land a back order, but the only freshman series to secure a back-nine order. (Aside from the Chicagos, FBIs, S.W.A.T. and Ghosts, it was the only scripted original on broadcast to air a 22-episode order.)
SCORE SO FAR: 3.5-for-7
Daryl Dixon Gets Nostalgic
PREDICTION: Like The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live did with Gabriel, Daryl Dixon will find a way to sneak in an appearance by a character from the OG series (besides Carol, of course).
OUTCOME: While high on psychoactive bat guano — and no, we’re not making that up — Carol hallucinated her daughter Sophia, who died back in Season 2 of the mothership.
SCORE SO FAR: 4.5-for-8
The Penguin Goes Batty
PREDICTION: HBO will very quietly make an edit to The Penguin‘s season finale to include at least a mention, if not a Robert Pattinson-less glimpse, of the Batman.
OUTCOME: Does a flashing of the Bat-Signal count…? Nah, we didn’t think so.
SCORE SO FAR: 4.5-for-9
Only Murders’ Biggest Twist Yet
PREDICTION: Only Murders in the Building‘s Season 4 finale (which drops Tuesday, Oct. 29 [2024]) will of course end with someone else getting killed — only this time, the murder victim will signal that the Hulu whodunit is coming full circle, and will wrap next year with Season 5.
OUTCOME: There was yet another season-ending murder victim (Lester the Doorman), but there is no sign yet that Season 5 will be the whodunnit’s last.
SCORE SO FAR: 4.5-for-10
The 9-1-1-Verse Grows
PREDICTION: With Fox’s 9-1-1: Lone Star coming to a close, 9-1-1 will begin to plant the seeds for a new spinoff on ABC — whether that means setting up a beloved character to make a go of it on their own, or bringing in a major guest star who would eventually lead their own show.
OUTCOME: ABC indeed ordered a third 9-1-1 installment, 9-1-1: Nashville, set to debut this fall — albeit without any familiar faces from the flagship series. Partial credit!
SCORE SO FAR: 5-for-11
Much More Jon Stewart
PREDICTION: Comedy Central will announce a new deal with Jon Stewart that extends his stay on The Daily Show well beyond the presidential election in November.
OUTCOME: That happened barely four weeks after we rendered our forecast!
SCORE SO FAR: 6-for-12
A Brilliant Pairing
PREDICTION: Brilliant Minds‘ Van and Ericka are going to become a thing.
OUTCOME: Van and Ericka did, indeed, have a situationship. And while she eventually broke it off, we don’t think the show’s Van-Ericka-Jacob love triangle is kaput just yet.
SCORE SO FAR: 7-for-13
FBI Loses a Lead
PREDICTION: We only predict this and surely don’t wish it, but it’d seem a none-too-small miracle if this isn’t the final FBI season for either Missy Peregrym or Zeeko Zaki — but not both OGs.
OUTCOME: Both Peregrym and Zaki, thankfully, are still a part of the cast — perhaps because CBS was too busy saving pennies by putting the Most Wanted and International spinoffs out to pasture.
SCORE SO FAR: 7-for-14
Disney+’s Marvel-ous Surprise
PREDICTION: Disney+ will surprise-drop at Christmastime an unannounced, 90-minute Marvel Studios Special Presentation that picks up the Kamala Khan/Kate Bishop bonus scene from The Marvels.
OUTCOME: A new Marvel Studios Special Presentation was announced, in February/well after the holidays — but it will follow Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle aka The Punisher, who returned via Daredevil: Born Again.
SCORE SO FAR: 7-for-15
More OGs on NCIS: Origins
PREDICTION: CBS’ NCIS: Origins will make a passing reference to (but not yet cast) either NCIS: New Orleans‘ Dwayne Pride or NCIS: Los Angeles‘ Hetty Lange.
OUTCOME: Origins thus far has mentioned and cast Young Tobias Fornell and Young Diane, and almost randomly a Young Macy. And while it hasn’t name-checked Pride or Hetty (yet), the NCIS mothership did offer present-day updates on the New Orleans and Los Angeles offices (Hetty included).
SCORE SO FAR: 7-for-16
Doctor Odyssey’s Musical Moment
PREDICTION: Doctor Odyssey will find a reason (karaoke night?) for Grammy winner and Tony Award nominee Phillipa Soo’s character to sing.
OUTCOME: Soo did not get the chance to show off her vocal talents. Her character did, however, admit she considered serenading Max during the Season 1 finale beach party, but ultimately decided against it.
SCORE SO FAR: 7-for-17
Live From New York, It’s SNL Throwbacks!
PREDICTION: Throughout Season 50, Saturday Night Live will work in at least one alumni cameo per week — and not just the usual suspects (e.g. Wiig, Armisen) but some far deeper cuts. (Hey, we’re right so far!)
OUTCOME: Familiar faces showed up now and again throughout Season 50, but not on a purposeful weekly basis.
SCORE SO FAR: 7-for-18
BONUS PREDICTION: Controversy be damned! Dave Chappelle will once again be enlisted to host SNL‘s post-election episode on Saturday, Nov. 9 [2024] — just as he did in 2016 and 2020.
BONUS OUTCOME: Bill Burr actually got the nod for Nov. 9, but Chappelle did return to host (the first episode of 2025).