By Lynette Rice, Entertainment Weekly
March 2, 2010 3:28 p.m. EST

(Entertainment Weekly) — Sci-fi dramas like ABC’s “FlashForward” may have a tough time attracting new viewers when it returns with originals on March 18.

The freshman drama lost 43 percent of its viewers last fall while the network’s “V” was down 35 percent over four airings. (It also doesn’t help that “FlashForward” is on its third show runner now that co-creator/executive producer David Goyer has decided to leave the show to focus on his film career).

So it’s hardly surprising that none of the Big Four nets have a sci-fi show in development for the 2010-11 season (ABC’s superheroes pilot “No Ordinary Family” starring “The Shield’s” Michael Chiklis comes close).

At least the ABC-owned “FlashForward” (unlike the Warner Bros. owned “V”) has an ace in the hole: It does well in the UK, Italy and Spain, and the robust international sales could sway the network to pick up the Joseph Fiennes series for another season.

ABC may not make a decision on “FlashForward” and “V,” which returns March 30, until right before its upfront presentation in New York this May.

Several ABC dramas, in fact, have yet to receive pickups for another season, though “Desperate Housewives,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Private Practice” and “Brothers and Sisters” are slam dunks.

Comedies like “Cougar Town,” “The Middle” and “Modern Family” have already been picked up, while shows like “Ugly Betty” have already been cancelled.

Long shots include “Better Off Ted,” “The Deep End,” “Scrubs” and “The Forgotten.”