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IT’S SPRING, which means it’s time for us to revisit that annual ritual known as the “Scrubs” Renewal Discussion. After NBC finally cut it loose last year, you’ve got to give credit to Zach Braff and company for surviving the transplant to ABC. By our lights, the show has gotten even funnier. Still, it seems that Quick-Edit Comedies (from “Arrested Development” to “30 Rock”) are doomed never to make it really big, and “Scrubs” is no different, pulling a meager 5 million viewers per episode. According to TV Series Finale, the show’s stars have made it clear that the next season, if it happens, would be the last. And ABC execs know that those 5 million viewers are faithful – which these days may be the only defense against an unstoppable “American Idol.” Will the patient survive? Trade with caution in perhaps the toughest renewal market this year.

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TAKING A CUE from “24,” new CBS drama “Harper’s Island” promises to tell a complete story over its season cycle. But instead of the season ending with Jack Bauer again saving the world by dubious means, “Harper’s Island” will resolve a murder mystery by its season-ending 13th episode. The rest is unoriginal but comforting: a) people visit country-house on an island for a wedding, b) people die, indeed one every episode. That makes the show a mix of “Clue” and, well, “Friday the 13th.” In one way, it’s a laudable attempt to bring horror to the small screen. But while niche fans will be pleased, we’re not sure regular folk are hoping to see, as in one example, someone being run through a ship’s propeller. Five episodes? Probably, but this is one big gamble in a tough 10 p.m. slot – and renewal will be another question altogether.

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VARIETY LISTS “CHUCK” as one of many sophomore shows facing an early expiration. And the show’s creators should be grateful it hasn’t happened already – fellow sophs include the canceled “Pushing Daisies,” “Lipstick Jungle,” and “Dirty Sexy Money.” For our part, we can’t figure out why “Chuck” isn’t drawing bigger numbers, averaging only 6.7 million viewers per episode this season. What gives? The show combines a labyrinthine CIA-conspiracy plot, almost reminiscent of “Alias,” with big-box slacker humor, vaguely reminiscent of … “40 Year Old Virgin.” Any show that can pull of that mixture deserves a look (as does similarly themed “Reaper” on The CW). We’re fans – and we think NBC execs are as well. Look for them to give the show a green light for its third and probably final season.

SEE THE “KINGS” RENEWAL MARKET

NBC CAN’T CATCH a break these days. With “Kings” they put out a critically praised show worthy of a cult following. In particular you could see the network building on its mini-hit “Battlestar Galactica,” offering a high-brow sci-fi premise, as well as raw, hand-held realism. Heck: they even use funny words (instead of saying “frak” they talk as if they’re in the Bible story that inspired the series). “Awesome!” you’re saying. “Uh: no,” said America. According to TV Series Finale, the drama drew but 5.9 million viewers, although the blog also reports that NBC execs still have some hope for the series. Our bet is that “Kings,” sadly, will be dethroned.

SEE THE “FRINGE” RENEWAL MARKET

“FRINGE” STARTED OUT as the must-see show of the fall, an edgier version of the “X-Files” that would addict us all to Tuesday nights in a way we haven’t seen since “Must See TV.” Didn’t happen. Then again, it’s not a disaster either. For a show about the unpredictable, viewership patterns have been remarkably erratic, spiking to 13 million for the second episode, dwindling to a low of 7.7 million in November, then leaping back to 12.7 in February. Ultimately we think the show has missed its chance to grab the public’s attention and become another “Lost,” but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a respectable mid-level performer with more advertising potential than a typical crime procedural. Thus we predict that the “Fringe” will escape unsinged, and the conspiracy mystery will continue to unfold next year.