ABC renews ‘Last Man Standing’ for Season 5

It's become a little game that ABC plays each spring. In a big burst, the network renews nearly all of its shows and then leaves “Last Man Standing” to sweat it out for a renewal a day or two later.

On one hand, it might be considered mean. On the other hand, by doing it this way, “Last Man Standing” gets a separate renewal story all to itself each year.

As it ever was, so it is again: Two days after ABC issued every other one of its renewals, “Last Man Standing” has been picked up for a fifth season.

In its fourth season, and its third season on Friday nights, “Last Man Standing” averaged 6.8 million viewers and a 1.3 rating among adults 18-49. That's not bad for a comedy with no lead-in on a vicious night, as “Last Man Standing” generally beat CBS' “The Amazing Race” for their shared half-hour. Including Live+7 figures, the “Last Man Standing” audience goes up to 8.5 million viewers.

Unfortunately, while “Last Man Standing” has been a success for ABC on Friday, it hasn't seeded any successes as a lead-in. “Malibu Country,” “The Neighbors” and “Cristela” all failed to hold enough of the “Last Man Standing” audience to earn second seasons. 

We'll see what ABC pairs with “Last Man Standing” next season when the network announces its full roster on Tuesday (May 12) morning.

And I believe I made it through this entire story without typing “Last Man on Earth” a single time. Or did I?

BubbleWatch 2015 Gallery Updated With All The Announced Renewals & Cancellations.

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