Where Are They Now?: 'Blacklist,' 'Crazy Ones,' and 'SHIELD' After the Thrill Has Gone

The beginning of the new TV season is so exciting! So many new shows! So many new possibilities! So many potential new hits! We all tune in, eager to discover the Next Big Thing, and we're quick to anoint the new shows that we think will change the television landscape in the years to come.

Then, before we know it, winter is here, and we just want something to entertain us through the dark, cold days. In the icy season, it's hard to remember why we were so excited in the fall, and by the time spring rolls around, many of the shows we were so excited about in September don't seem so exciting any more. With that in mind, let's take a look at how last fall's big sensations have fared through the winter.

The three biggest debuts of last fall were those of "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." on ABC, "The Crazy Ones" on CBS, and "The Blacklist" on NBC. Of the three, none have managed to maintain their audiences over the course of the season.

"The Black List" has come closest. Its premiere episode achieved a total viewership of 12.6 million and 3.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic. Its most recent episode, which aired on Mar. 3, pulled in 11.1 million viewers and a 2.7 in the 18-49 group. That's a drop of 12% and 29% respectively.

That's better than "The Crazy Ones." The Robin Williams sitcom was the top comedy debut of the season; its premiere drew 15.6 total viewers and a 4.0 in the 18-49 group. Its latest episode, on Feb. 27, attracted 7.42 total viewers and got a 2.7 rating in the 18-49 group. That's a fall-off of 52% in total viewership and 32% among younger viewers.

Even those numbers don't measure up to the downfall of "Agents of SHIELD." Joss Whedon's "Avengers" tie-in series had the splashiest debut of any new series this season. Its premiere captured an audience of 12.12 million total viewers and an impressive 4.7 rating in the 18-49 group. Since then it's been all downhill, and several of the most recent episodes have set new series low marks for ratings. The most recent new episode, which aired on Mar. 4, drew 5.5 million total viewers and got a 1.8 rating in the 18-49 group. That's a worrisome drop of 55% in total viewership and a horrifying slide of 62% among younger viewers.

ABC seems committed to "Agents," though, probably because it's a marketing vehicle for upcoming Marvel-based theatrical releases. "The Crazy Ones" is on shakier ground; its ratings seem to have stabilized, and it has a reasonable chance of making it to next season. Of the three, only "The Blacklist" is in no danger at all; on the strength of stabilized ratings and strong DVR performance, it got a second-season renewal way back in December.