I am embarrassed to admit, Suzanne, that I did not think that we still relied on the Nielson ratings. I just looked for info and see that less than .05% of households are hooked up. Rigged would be the wrong word for sure. Apocryphal fits. I can't believe we rely on Nielson. Yet it should be better than the Russian television ratings system. I hear Steven Segal is kicking ass over there right now.

@Steve S. - I'm having a rough day and reading the comment about The Americans' renewal actually made me laugh out loud! So thanks - and thanks for the support
I can tell you Neilsen keeps track of the audio that actually plays. For them, the shows recorded don't matter for ratings unless they are watched with volume within 72 hours. They have their own equipment so that allows them to bypass cable companies and also to register via volume anything streaming on registered devices.
I have been interested in ratings since I got one of those letters with a dollar in it from Armitron ratings when I was in college. (Are they still around or did I just date myself) It was much simpler then...

How They Do The Ratings is a very good topic and highly relevant here @Suzanne. They are tens of ways people watch shows and many people wait for things like word-of-mouth recommendations before even start. There is an interest in ratings for sponsors (commercials and funding) but how accurate can they be? Cable companies must provide a lot of the data but tell me who has a cable company whose software isn't buggy? The FCC was going to require that cable boxes not be required (apps for various devices instead) but Trump winning means the FCC is under different leadership so who knows if those changes are still in the works. Maybe the system is rigged anyway? :). Hmmm . I'm not really laughing, or joking. The only thing I won't do is blame it on Putin and Trump. Yet. I'm good with an investigating Russia on this at the first real evidence. Hmmmm, the Americans keeps getting renewed.

Not upset about this one...It was just "OK" to me. I for sure still have better shows on my DVR that I need to get to.

Wow! There are some really awesome points made in this board. I don't follow all of the behind the scenes. Stuff so ideally appreciate getting that info here. I don't know if Mike intentionally answered my - Where would Eyewitness go?- or just happened to, but I love those ideas.
As for USA, I have been confused for years. It was probably more years ago than I realize, but I use to be able to count on USA for quality shows that have a good comic edge. TNT reliably gave me good, serious dramas. I still record everything both networks gives me but watching the shows is a whole different issue. I still can't figure out how Rush got cancelled, but my big issue is the way ratings are gathered in the first place.
I actually called Neilsen to confirm that only live + 3 days DVR still counts. Live?? How many shows do people actually watch live. No wonder sports, reality, and awards shows make the top 20. They are things people are more likely to watch live. Anything after 3 days is recorded "for statistical purposes." I would love to know how many people EVER watch any given episode of a show with a continuing storyline vs. How many people EVER watch any given episode of a popular procedural. Please give me at least a month if not more.
I have actually tried to watch a few new shows within the 3 days, but that just isn't the way I enjoy TV. When was the last time the ratings system adapted? My guess would be whenever they added those 3 DVR days. I'd love to know how long ago that was... I look forward to the time that ratings adapt to the way most people watch TV. It somehow seems wrong that the viewer should have to do the adapting. Isn't that the purpose of a ratings company?

Both Colony and Mr Robot I stopped watching even though I've recorded all of them. I watched all of season 1 of Robot but it's overrated and now I'm too far behind to want to pick up at start of season 2. I couldn't watch all of season 1 of Colony. I like the good (girls and) guys (whoever they are), but the evil empire was frankly too stupid. I need to delete it from my tivo, even though it's not all bad.

I've only watched more than half of Shooter but it's good because Ryan Philippe is good. I believe he is producing it too. I see some Burn Notice in it which I liked. The weakness of it is what everyone says. We've seen it all before. Unfortunately, that is true with more things that we watch than not.

Graceland lasted a few seasons. It did not get a quick cancel. I liked it but I think it was slightly lucky to get the renewals it did. But if compared to the run that something like Royal Pain(?) got, Graceland should stiil be running.

@Suzanne- I replied on Good Behavior page.
Yeah, Complications was cancelled like about two episodes in. A quick boot. Since the gang threats on the good doc were preposterous, I completely understood the cancellation. But I got through the worst of it and then focused on the more sane parts. I agree that most of the rest was worthy. But they pretty much concluded the story. As if the production invested only in one season. The frantic pace is something that couldn't continue as well without eventually being ridiculous itself. So I don't know what could have been next. I wonder if Mike and me were the only ones watching it. But I am with him in that I would have welcomed a renewal to see what they came up with.

It surprises me that the main networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and CW) have learned their lesson on cancelling shows without giving time for an audience to grow. While this main networks still occasionally mess up and cancel something too soon, they are NOT anything like before, 2016 showed they were being very cautious and listened to the audience for how they felt about So many GREAT shows just didn't get the chance to prove they were popular and would have produced a great fan base.
Now it is CABLE that is being weird, particular Syfy and USA. Now Syfy surprised me that they started to make strange cancellations; However USA for the past two years have made HORRIBLE decisions that ended up leaving them with not enough shows! So they had to resort to picking up a show that had thrice been cancelled. "Motive" was a quick pickup by USA that showed they OBVIOUSLY made grave mistakes on cancellations.
"Complications" particularly was a VERY BAD DECISION TO CANCEL. It was cancelled about four months before they had to pick up something immediately. Now had USA waited and thought about "Complications" needs at least six months to decide if they should cancel it.
USA made the MORONIC mistake of immediately cancelling it after the first season along with "Graceland". "Complications" ended on 8/13/15 & was cancelled 8/28/15, believing some newer shows coming up would bring better ratings and failed to do so. If they had just waited til after xmas or even just renewed it for ONE more season of 10 episodes. USA made the same mistake as the five major networks and didn't let all the VOD, Internet, and other places offering Season 1, to show how large the fan base and ALSO the RATINGS from CRITICS AND VIEWERS. This show held a HIGH RATINGS MARK from viewers and critics! INTERNATIONAL VIEWERS AND FANS BRINGING EVEN LARGER RATINGS & FANBASE.
"Graceland" and "Complications" were cancelled so quickly, USA realized they made a HUGE mistake and with "Eyewitness" being cancelled over "Shooter" or "Colony" also a BIG mistake. They are tanking their network.
"Shooter" based off a movie, is going to continue to play out the same story without an end and fresh new season. "Colony" is being kept because they don't know what the hell they are doing, so save "Mr Robot" and "Colony" for spots. "Shooter" is ok, but compared to "Eyewitness" which easily could play out within the small town with different storylines of eyewitnesses including crimes outside the Sheriff's jurisdiction, allowing for great stories of keeping the eyewitness "safe" by using her small town to harbor the eyewitnesses from violent crimes as well as her assisting with other crimes bringing in a multitude of new angles, story and crimes while the storyline of her marriage and then wanting to possibly adopt their foster son. His life also continuing and growing within the other seasons.
"Complications" had a great story, loved Gretchen and most of the actors roles. Once the gang situation ended, the stories could come from the thrill the two ended up enjoying in this crazy first season. Possibly seeking out other avenues to engage with constantly placing their lives and loved ones in harms way while protecting and threatening injustice & corrupt officials or groups.
Hopefully soon USA realizes what the hell they have done to their network and STOP cancelling great shows!
"Complications" had the almost exact ratings as "Shooter" it had more viewers than "Colony" or "Mr Robot", this is why USA needs to wait, it was only 10 episodes and two weeks later cancelled. The 1.44 million viewers should have been enough to USA to at least give a second season, but they thought their other shows were going to shine. They were wrong, "Complications" shined and viewers for "Eyewitness" probably also deserved at least a second season.
WAKE UP USA!!