• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, November 9, 2012

More than half of the 17 new shows launched this fall on the Big Four networks have been given full-season orders, even with just one bona fide hit. NBC’s “Revolution” has been a smash as the most-watched drama in the 18-to-4demo, with a 5.4 average by one metric.

That’s the same rating as “The Voice,” which precedes it on Mondays and has helped give it some steam as a lead-in. After “Revolution,” the next-most successful new series are CBS’s “Elementary” and NBC’s “Go One,” which are well below at a 3.4. Both, however, are among TV’s top-20 scripted series through Nov. 4.

The three shows are among the nine that have been picked up for the season. Surprisingly, ABC has only given a full-season order to “The Neighbors,” which has a 2.2 average. “Nashville,” with a 3.2 among 18- to-49 year-olds and the fourth-highest-rated among new shows, has yet to get the call.

NBC has given orders to four shows -- the latest being “Chicago Fire” -- as its ratings are up 24% this season by one measure. “Go On” was aired in full during the Olympics as a promotion, which may have helped, but “Animal Practice” --  which received the same exposure -- has been dropped. 

Only that show and CBS’s “Made in Jersey” have been canceled so far among freshman series.

“The New Normal” is the fourth show to get an order at NBC, while Fox has ordered “Ben & Kate” and “The Mindy Project” and CBS’ second pick-up is “Vegas.”

CBS tends to stick with shows in an effort to nurture them, but “Made in Jersey’s” 1.1 rating was considered too much of a dud and it was the worst-performing new show in the 18-to-49 demo.