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« Roush Dispatch
The Back Nine: Any Other Keepers?
ABC's Brothers & Sisters has joined the charmed, and so far rather tiny, circle of new fall series rewarded with what is known as "the back nine," as in a full-series renewal taking the original order of 13 episodes to 22 (sometimes expanded further for true breakthrough shows). At the moment, only three other shows have this honor: ABC's delightful Ugly Betty and two speculative fantasies that defied the odds to capture an early following: NBC's intriguing Heroes and, to the surprise of many skeptics (including this one), CBS's dark-hued Jericho.
Over the next few weeks, we'll find out which other newbies will get the full-season order and which will bite the dust in 13, if they even get that far. Here's my educated guess, by network.
CBS
The network with the most solid and consistent schedule was the first to cancel a show (Smith), and has only two other new series to decide upon.
While Shark on Thursdays has been a bit of a disappointment, relative to its CSI lead-in by being upstaged by the resurgent ER (now no longer taking a midseason hiatus, thankfully), I'm betting CBS will give it a full year to grow, and James Woods more time to grow on you.
I'm less certain about The Class, the overpopulated Monday sitcom that appears to have dipped this week in the hammock between How I Met Your Mother and Two and a Half Men. (Last week, when it first flipped with Mother, it grew a bit.) I still think there's promise in many of The Class's characters and actors, nothing a little tinkering couldn't fix. But CBS is doing so well these days, it may not feel the need to show such patience. Besides, judging from the mail I get, if CBS were to return The King of Queens to the night, that would give the lineup another boost.
ABC
The first network to give two shows a vote of confidence, in Betty and Brothers, ABC is probably going to give the nod to Anne Heche's Men in Trees, which has been holding up reasonably well in an impossible Friday time period. Moving it to Mondays or even to Thursdays after Grey's Anatomy to try to boost this romantic comedy's profile is not out of the question.
The one show that looks like a sure-fire loser is Six Degrees on Thursday, squandering its Grey's lead-in and attracting no critical or fan buzz that I've noticed. Despite some strong New York-based performers in the cast, the show's pretentious premise and so-far-ludicrous execution makes it look like the wrong show on the wrong night.
Question marks: The middling Ted Danson comedy Help Me Help You, which looks like it will stick around at least long enough to see how it plays alongside another comedy: the similarly single-camera Big Day, scheduled to premiere Nov. 28. The future's also cloudy for The Nine, whose brilliant pilot opened to disappointing numbers after Lost. Despite outstanding production values and casting, with sharply drawn characters reeling from a trauma whose details will only slowly (perhaps too slowly) come into focus, this tricky set-up may just be too much for many viewers. Though it's still very early days for this acclaimed series, not enough of the Lost audience appears willing to sit still for a second dense hour of character-driven intrigue. And that's a shame. But maybe ABC will stick it out, as it did for a full season with Invasion. Or maybe not.
NBC
Kidnapped already has been shuttled to Saturdays, starting this weekend, to burn off the remainder of its original 13-episode order, giving closure to the fans of this slickly produced mystery. That's NBC's first official casualty, and it's too early yet to say if or when the critically reviled comedy Twenty Good Years, which lost audience from the so-so launch of 30 Rock, will join it. (I imagine 30 Rock will be a keeper for a while; NBC should at least give it a chance to play alongside Scrubs, whenever it returns, before ditching Tina Fey's sharp-witted but uneven work in progress.)
The real heartbreaker here is the non-performance of the superb Friday Night Lights, which has ascended in its first three weeks to the status of my favorite new drama of the season. I know the network believes in it, but it will be a real leap of faith if NBC even allows the show to stay on the schedule through November sweeps. (A vanishing act during that crucial ratings period is almost always a sign of lost confidence.)
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is a trickier animal: launched amid great hype because of its starry cast and creator (The West Wing's Aaron Sorkin), the show has lost audience by the week, even as the show itself has ramped up its sense of self-importance to a level that even a fan (I'm speaking of me) can't help but cringe.
This week's episode of Studio 60, though still dazzling in many respects (the acting, mainly), was especially tough to swallow. Sorkin's gratuitous swipe at reality TV (reprising the "bad crack in the schoolyard" line he used during a TCA press conference this summer) fell flat, because the mock Mark Burnett pitch was of a despicable sort of reality programming that even Fox has mostly turned away from. Temptation Island was so '90s. This diatribe felt outdated and out of touch, not to mention annoyingly self-righteous. And then there was the young playwright selling a show about the U.N. (shades of Sorkin and The West Wing?), who was prompted by Danny (just where did he get his "street cred?") to choose NBS (read NBC) over HBO. We won't even get into how this show is looking ever more like therapy for a writer who appears to be reliving his past relationships with figures like Jamie Tarses (Jordan McDeere), Kristin Chenoweth (Harriet Hayes) and Maureen Dowd (Christine Lahti's Martha O'Dell, the rare reporter who uses neither pen nor tape recorder). In so many ways, you can't help thinking: Get over yourself, Aaron.
Mind you, I'm not giving up on the show. But I'm becoming more aware of why it's a turnoff for so many. Which makes me rethink my former belief that NBC would never jettison such a prestige project this early in its run. I still think it will get the full season, if only to save face and to send a signal that NBC is committed to quality (even when flawed) TV. But if it doesn't make it to May for whatever reason, I won't exactly be shocked.
Fox
A real mixed bag here. No cancellations yet, but the clock is certainly ticking on Thursday's mirthless Happy Hour and on Friday's transplanted fiasco Vanished.
The first few weeks post-World Series will be make or break for Justice (moved to Mondays after Prison Break) and Standoff, which will have to survive against Dancing With the Stars and NCIS in the killer Tuesday time period that torpedoed Friday Night Lights. Both shows have been given additional script orders, but whether that will translate to a full season run remains to be seen. I'd try to wager some odds here, but I find it hard to care about either.
The Brad Garrett comedy 'Til Death hasn't had much of a chance on Thursdays. And while it may not deserve one, couldn't Fox give it a try in place of the truly unwatchable The War at Home and see if it couldn't find a home on Sundays? Regardless, I'm thinking this star vehicle may be given the benefit of the doubt in hopes of finding a niche during American Idol season.
CW
Last and definitely least, this fledgling hybrid network of WB/UPN titles has made no impression with its new series. Runaway was DOA on Mondays and Sundays, and The Game will make it only by riding Girlfriends' coattails. Whatever happens, we have to hope CW has something brewing for midseason or its first year will have been a wash.
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Oct 17, 2006 2:12 PM
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Men in Trees following Grey's Anatomy on Thursdays is a great idea. (They're already doing it that way on Fridays, anyway.) I love Men in Trees and am happy to see your confidence in it.
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Oct 17, 2006 2:32 PM
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So far I'm ok with the goners. And I'm also happy to see what has already recieved the "back nine", save Jericho, which I never cared about. But I am happy to see that you think MiT will be sticking around, and possibly moving to the after Grey's time slot. That would be perfect. I love that show....no one dies or is trying to kill anyone. How refreshing. And Six Degrees, while full of actors I LOVE is just silly at times. I'd be sad for the actors if it got the boot, but I would not be sad to see it go.
And please keep Studio 60 on the air!! I love it! Sure, it is Sorkin being a little self-obsessed, but it's entertaining nonetheless. Plus any show that would cast Lauren Graham as a guest star as herself is great by me!
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Oct 17, 2006 3:42 PM
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Like Matt I really love Friday Night Lights and I hope NBC gives it a chance - what about moving it to 7 p.m. (CST) Mondays before Heroes - Deal or No Deal is such a stoopid (yes, intentionally misspelled) show that does nothing but having the Heroes audience doing dishes, washing clothes, etc. before Heroes comes on ... if Deal has such a strong audience, move it to Tuesdays opposite DWTS and give FNL a fighting chance to stay -
Kidnapped is a great drama/mystery that I am happy we get to see through to the end, but annoyed that something far less intelligent will take its place. Though because I'm captivated by The Nine, I often don't see Kidnapped until it airs online
Which brings me to another point - now that so many series are available online, shouldn't the ratings PTB and the networks take those hits into account? What gives?!
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Oct 17, 2006 5:05 PM
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Even though I'm loving many of the new shows, I've gotten to the point where I don't care what happens to any of them as long as NBC keeps Friday Night Lights around.
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Oct 17, 2006 5:39 PM
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I really like the idea of moving Men in Trees to after Grey's. I have never watched Men in Trees and probably never will. BUT if it were after Grey's - I would want to check it out.
I know this is going to sound nutty, but I actually would love it if Men in Trees or something like it were after Lost. I know crazy right? But I watch both Grey's Anatomy and Lost and I do not and have not ever watched the shows that follow either. I actually really wanted to watch The Nine. But I just couldn't get into another show that was going to be too much like the show I just watched. I still want it to do well, but I can't get into it after the hour I spent on The Island. Same with Grey's (though Six Degrees always looked dumb).
I know they think that if I like Lost I'm going to like Heroes or The Nine or Invasion or whatever other sci-fi insanity you want to throw at me. And if The Nine was on after Grey's, or on a Tuesday, I would probably be there (and if Heroes was any good, I'd probably be there too). But two sci-fi mystery shows in a row?! No thank you. I'll end up thinking I am watching the same show and expect Hurley to have super-powers or something.
Men in Trees seems to be about one girl. Grey's is about an ensemble. While still not completely in line with my go-nutty companion theory, I could do those back to back. They are different enough that I would feel like I was watching a different show, but it's not jarring either.
Just my thoughts...
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Oct 17, 2006 5:52 PM
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I agree that Friday Night Lights is the best new show (that too few are watching). I have little hope of its survival, but it deserves to be given a chance.
Heroes, while flawed, has been faced paced and entertaining. Add in a delightful character with Hiro, and there's a reason people keep coming back. It's not the best written or best acted show, but it is fun to watch.
Studio 60 has been revealed as overhyped, overrated, pretentious twaddle which happens to have a great cast. Great cast aside, I honestly don't see what's worth saving in this show. It's cold, condescending, annoying, and way, way too full of itself (or is that Sorkin? Oh well, the two appear to be synonymous since every episode seems underscored with a writerly "It's all about me, me, me!")
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Oct 17, 2006 6:40 PM
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It's almost impossible to predict which shows will survive a full season. I just wish networks would give new shows a better chance by finding better time slots, or pairing them up with more compatible shows.
I think FNL would perform much better with Heroes. And I know people will call me crazy but I think NBC should have stuck with their original plan and aired Studio 60 in the Thursday 9 p.m. slot. I think it would be a perfect fit between Earl/Office and ER, and besides at least the expectations wouldn't be so high. Deal or No Deal is seen by at least 10 mil in that slot, so it's not like there aren't any viewers left after CSI and Grey's; well that's my 2 cents.
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Oct 17, 2006 6:58 PM
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I'm glad to see Jericho and Heroes get picked up for the remainder of the season. It'll be interesting to see if they can sustain the interest until the end of the season.
I agree with Matt on Studio 60. Great cast (and interplay between characters, especially Perry, Whitford, and Busfield), but the show's pretentious nature is ridiculous.
The skits are not funny. And the fact that the studio crowd is laughing makes it worse. The show needs to stay focused on the character interplay (and more Nate Coddrey!)
I didn't realize that all the major female characters were based on women in Aaron's past. I still think Harriet is boring. Although, I'm sure I'd be more interested if she was actually played by Kristin Chenoweth. I like Christine Lahti, but she seems to play the same character in every show.
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Oct 18, 2006 6:10 AM
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Well, I really like The Nine and will continue to watch it, but I think it's doomed. They really need to roll out more of what happened in the bank....45 seconds of flashback isn't enough. I think it lives or dies on Wednesday night. There is just no other place to put this show unless ABC does a major reshuffle and I just don't see that happening.
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Oct 18, 2006 1:27 PM
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I hope Men in Trees stay.
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Oct 18, 2006 1:41 PM
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this show is looking ever more like therapy for a writer.... In so many ways, you can't help thinking: Get over yourself, Aaron
Exactly my thoughts since about 20 minutes into the first episode! I feel like I'm watching televised episodes of Aaron Sorkin's therapy sessions. It seems like he's using a nationally televised show to "get back" at everyone and/or make his point. I love the cast and I'm always a fan of snappy dialogue (when it can be found) but I'm tired of bouncing around inside of Aaron Sorkin's head. Maybe he should have titled this show, Being Aaron Sorkin.
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Oct 18, 2006 1:51 PM
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Here's my two cents worth on Friday Night Lights...I agree the show needs to be moved and moved quickly. Put it on at 8 PM before Heroes. It seems like men would watch both shows based on the football aspect (even though you don't have to like football to like this show) and the comic book aspect. Over at the TV Commentary section of the website, I also noted that moving Friday Night Lights to SUNDAYS at 7 PM right before the 8 PM NFL game would be absolutely a PERFECT fit, but alas, Bob Costas and company would be out of a job with their tiresome pre-game show. *Sigh* we FNL fans can't win to lose on this one it appears. I wouldn't even mind watching Friday Night Lights on FRIDAYS at 8 PM. The competition is less fierce there and there would be no confusion what night of the week it was on, and wouldn't be a good lead in to Las Vegas, which once again lots of men watch as well? Peace.
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Oct 18, 2006 1:51 PM
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"I know they think that if I like Lost I'm going to like Heroes or The Nine or Invasion or whatever other sci-fi insanity you want to throw at me. And if The Nine was on after Grey's, or on a Tuesday, I would probably be there (and if Heroes was any good, I'd probably be there too). But two sci-fi mystery shows in a row?!"
Liliputty - How is The Nine sci-fi???
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Oct 18, 2006 2:10 PM
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I hope you're right about CBS giving Shark a year to grow. The pilot was weak but there's been some improvement every week since and watching Thursday(10/12) night I started to feel like this might be on the way to becoming a REALLY GOOD SHOW.
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Oct 18, 2006 2:26 PM
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