Originally used by TvByTheNumbers, the "cancellation bear" is the theory that TV shows are only in real danger of being cancelled if they're the lowest performers, much like the slowest in a group of people would get mauled by a bear.
This lady just called in demanding for a tech to go out to her home tomorrow to fix her internet. The soonest appointment available is in 10 days so i told her that i added her name to the cancellation waitlist just to get her off my line.