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The CW has cancelled The Secret Circle after one season on the air. The freshman drama was created by Kevin Williamson, who also runs the network's most popular show, The Vampire Diaries. Ratings for The Secret Circle, however, never reached that of its vampire lead-in. Also cancelled by The CW today was Sarah Michelle Gellar's new dramaRinger. Given renewals were Nikita, Gossip Girl, and Hart of Dixie. Click here to view the article

Fox has cancelled freshman drama The Finder, which will air its final episode this Friday, May 11. The series premiered in January as a mid-season replacement on Thursday nights at 9:00pm. After unimpressive ratings over its first seven airings, the network moved the show to Fridays to burn off its remaining six produced episodes. (Source: TV Line) Click here to view the article

Fox has cancelled new drama Alcatraz, which premiered earlier this year in January as a mid-season replacement. The series got off to a solid start in the ratings, but viewership dropped off significantly over the course of its 13 episodes. The show's last four episodes rated a series low 1.6 in the key adults 18-49 demographic, which was clearly not enough for Fox to bring back the series. (Source: TV Line) Click here to view the article

NBC has renewed Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for a fourteenth season. On the air since 1999, SVU has remained a solid performer and key franchise for the beleaguered network. Even with declining viewership after long-time co-star Christopher Meloni left the show, its ratings have stayed strong enough to easily warrant another season. (Source: TV by the Numbers) Click here to view the article

Have you ever wondered how the term "April Fool's" came to be? Well I did alittle research and the results are quite fascinating. Unlike most of the other nonfoolish holidays, the history of April Fool's Day, sometimes called All Fool's Day, is not totally clear. It is not like Halloween, where despite an interesting history, most people just put on Halloween costumes, get candy, and leave it at that. There really wasn't a "first April Fool's Day" that can be pinpointed on the calendar. Some believe it sort of evolved simultaneously in several cultures at the same time, from celebrations involving the first day of spring. The closest point in time that can be identified as the beginning of this tradition was in 1582, in France. Prior to that year, the new year was celebrated for eight days, beginning on March 25. The celebration culminated on April 1. With the reform of the calendar under Charles IX, the Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved to January 1. However, communications being what they were in the days when news traveled by foot, many people did not receive the news for several years. Others, the more obstinate crowd, refused to accept the new calendar and continued to celebrate the new year on April 1. These backward folk were labeled as "fools" by the general populace. They were subject to some ridicule, and were often sent on "fools errands" or were made the butt of other practical jokes. This harassment evolved, over time, into a tradition of prank-playing on the first day of April. The tradition eventually spread to England and Scotland in the eighteenth century. It was later introduced to the American colonies of both the English and French. April Fool's Day thus developed into an international fun fest, so to speak, with different nationalities specializing in their own brand of humor at the expense of their friends and families. In Scotland, for example, April Fool's Day is actually celebrated for two days. The second day is devoted to pranks involving the posterior region of the body. It is called Taily Day. The origin of the "kick me" sign can be traced to this observance. In France and several other European countries, April 1 is often referred to as April Fish. The prank is to stick a paper fish on the back of another person without being noticed. Mexico's counterpart of April Fool's Day is actually observed on December 28. Originally, the day was a sad remembrance of the slaughter of the innocent children by King Herod. It eventually evolved into a lighter commemoration involving pranks and trickery. Pranks performed on April Fool's Day range from the simple, (such as saying, "Your shoe's untied, or I accidentally stepped on your glasses!), to the elaborate. Setting a roommate's alarm clock back an hour is a common gag. Whatever the prank, the trickster usually ends it by yelling to his victim, "April Fool!" Practical jokes are a common practice on April Fool's Day. Sometimes, elaborate practical jokes are played on friends or relatives that last the entire day. The news media even gets involved. For instance, a British short film once shown on April Fool's Day was a fairly detailed documentary about "spaghetti farmers" and how they harvest their crop from the spaghetti trees. April Fool's Day is a "for-fun-only" observance. Nobody is expected to buy gifts or to take their "significant other" out to eat in a fancy restaurant. Nobody gets off work or school. It's simply a fun little holiday, but a holiday on which one must remain forever vigilant, for he may be the next April Fool!

Lifetime announced today that The Client List has been renewed for a second season. The drama, which stars Jennifer Love Hewitt, has had an impressive start for the network, averaging 2.7 million total viewers per week since its premiere on April 8, 2012. "The Client List represents everything we want to be -- fresh, exciting and original with attitude," said Nancy Dubuc, President and GM of Lifetime Networks. "We love Jennifer and this series, and are equally thrilled that they have connected with our audience, especially as we express our new brand, ‘Your Life. Your Time.’" Season 2 of The Client List is scheduled to premiere in 2013 with 15 new episodes. An exact return date has not yet been announced. Click here to view the article

The CW has announced that The Vampire Diaries has received an early renewal for a fourth season. The undead drama has been one of the network's top series since hitting the airwaves in 2009. Also getting early pick-ups today were 90210 and Supernatural. The three pick-ups leave a number of other shows' fates unknown until The CW's upfront presentation later this month on May 17. Fans of shows like The Secret Circle, Nikita, Ringer, Hart of Dixie, and Gossip Girl will have to wait a little longer to find out which of those series will return for the 2012-2013 season. Click here to view the article

The CW has announced that Supernatural has been renewed for an eighth season. On the air since 2005, the long-running series will be back in 2012-2013 and possibly even longer. There was no word in the network's press release about Season 8 being the show's last. Also renewed by The CW today were The Vampire Diaries and 90210. The trio of pick-ups leaves the fates of a number of other shows up in the air for now, including The Secret Circle, Nikita, Ringer, Hart of Dixie, and Gossip Girl. While not all the preceding shows will be canceled, it is certain that some will be dropped. News on other renewals is expected later this month at the network's upfront presentation that will take place on May 17, 2012. Click here to view the article

Fox has announced that Fringe has been renewed for next season, which will see the series conclude with 13 final episodes. Amidst falling ratings and time slot changes over the years, Fringe has persevered, bolstered by its legion of loyal fans. The final, shortened season of Fringe is a smart way for the network to provide those fans a satisfying end to the series, rather than have the show pulled abruptly from the schedule mid-storyline. Season 4 of Fringe is currently winding down, with three episodes remaining until the finale on Friday, May 11, 2012. The fifth season is scheduled for the 2012-2013 season, but no premiere date has been announced. Click here to view the article

Word is that the remaining episodes Breaking In has produced will air at a later, yet-to-be-determined date. Still, this scheduling change could be the final nail in the Christian Slater comedy&#39;s coffin. Breaking In premiered its first season last April but was met with a similar fate, being cancelled after five episodes. And while Fox eventually decided to give the series another chance, a second revival is not likely in the cards.<br /> <br /> Click here to view the article

Fox has announced that Raising Hope has been renewed for a third season. The offbeat comedy has gained a loyal following over its first two seasons, leading to solid overall ratings in the coveted 18-49 demographic. Before it breaks for the summer, Raising Hope will air a two-part season finale, starting with part one tomorrow night - April 10 - and concluding next week on Tuesday, April 17, 2012. Click here to view the article

NBC has reportedly given Grimm a second season renewal. That is good news for fans of the freshman fantasy drama, given as how other new dramas on the network have not fared as well this season. Shows like The Playboy Club and Prime Suspect have already fallen by the wayside. Grimm, however, has been pulling in solid enough ratings on Friday nights for NBC to give it a shot at another season. Its numbers have also remained rather steady over the course of its run rather than suffering from the ratings decline that many shows see as the season wears on. Grimm's average is hovering around a 1.6 in the adults 18-49 demographic, which isn't bad for a Friday night series. (Source: TV Line) Click here to view the article

CBS has picked up The Mentalist for a fifth season. The announcement came as the network renewed eight other dramas including The Good Wife, Criminal Minds, Person of Interest, CSI, Hawaii Five-0, Blue Bloods, and both installments of NCIS. (Source: TV by the Numbers) Click here to view the article