Season (television)
Newer broadcast television series are often ordered (funded) for just the first 10 to 13 episodes. This is done to see if there is audience interest. If a series is popular, the network places a "back nine order" and the season is completed to the regular 20 to 26 episodes. A series that is already popular will normally have a full-season order at the start of the season. A midseason replacement is a series of usually 10 to 13 episodes. They are used to take the place of an original series that was not "picked up" for a full season because it was not well liked by the audience. A "series finale" is the last episode of the series before the program is no longer produced.