In This Section
|
« First Look: Hottest Fall TV
The New Fall TV Schedule: Burning Questions
Upfronts week — the near-euphoric annual event where television enthusiasts such as you and I anticipate the new and returning fare heading our way — is upon us. Though some scheduling news has started to leak out — NBC has renewed Medium and fan-fave bubble show Friday Night Lights but is possibly crossing Jordan off its list — the official presentation of each network's fall schedule begins Monday with the Peacock showcasing its feathers, and concludes Thursday when the CW answers such questions as, "What will fill Gilmore Girls' void?"
This here blog, my friends, is one to bookmark, as it will serve as a veritable clearinghouse for any and all news coming out of the upfronts. Each morning we will hurry to the fore the latest unveiling of network lineups, then throughout the day supplement it with expert insight from the likes of Matt Roush, Stephen Battaglio and Michael Ausiello.
With the fun about to start, I leave you with these burning questions, which will, at long last, be resolved during the week, sealing the fate of several shows and in-play time slots.
ABC:
Having come out of this past season with nary a new breakout comedy, ABC is hurting for big laughs. Said to be strong contenders are Sam I Am (amnesiac woman aghast by her nasty past), Miss/Guided (former ugly duckling returns to her high school as a guidance counselor) and the GEICO ads-inspired Cavemen (this despite one online drubbing of the pilot). On the drama front, ABC has several newbies to choose from — Cashmere Mafia, Dirty Sexy Money and a new Marlowe mystery series, to name a few — but the network also must find juuuuust the right berth for the Grey's Anatomy spin-off Private Practice, which, though not spectacularly received by fans/critics, would seem a shoo-in.
CBS:
The Eye has tough calls to make about its existing slate, never mind any new shows. Close to Home does "well" on Fridays, but could get bumped (by Shark, say some reports) to give Ghost Whisperer a younger-skewing lead-out. Jericho generated the Lost/Heroes-esque sort of buzz CBS dramas traditionally lack, but never really "exploded" in the Nielsens. On the comedy front, an early Season 3 order for How I Met Your Mother has been conspicuously absent, while The New Adventures of Old Christine exposed a liability when its ratings dropped outside the après-Men comfort zone. CBS' hot pilots include the dramas Babylon Fields (starring Amber Tamblyn and a lotta back-from-the-dead townsfolk), The Man (LL Cool J as undercover cop) and Cane (a family sudser fronted by Jimmy Smits), as well as the comedies I'm in Hell (Jason Biggs cheats death) and The Big Bang Theory (scientist geeks wowed by hotties).
NBC:
FNL? Saved. 30 Rock? To rock on. With those sitches settled, all eyes are on the original Law and Order and Criminal Intent, one or both of which could get clipped (though TNT has offered to pick up the mother ship if the Peacock takes a pass). A similar scenario is at hand with Scrubs, which may have a Season 7 savior in ABC (whose ABC TV Studios produces the laffer). New shows looking certain to make the cut include BSG boss David Eick's resurrection of Bionic Woman (starring Brit beauty Michelle Ryan), Chuck (O.C. creator Josh Schwartz's take on a computer geek turned superhero), Lipstick Jungle (the likes of Brooke Shields and Kim Raver channel Sex and the City) and Journeyman (Kevin McKidd time-travels to right wrongs).
Fox:
Remember Vanished? Standoff? Justice, Happy Hour? Fox's batting average wasn't too stellar last fall, though the network that packs such powerhouses as House, Bones and that Idol show can suffer the occasional slip. Among the fourth network's most promising pilots are Canterbury's Law (with ER alum Julianna Margulies), Company Man (Jason Behr as an unlikely NSA operative), Them (an aliens-among-us saga featuring one Tricia Helfer) and The Sarah Connor Chronicles (a Terminator-inspired series eyed as a companion piece to 24). Fox's surest bet, though, is Action News, a workplace comedy starring Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton — who between them boast a bajillion seasons of sitcom success — and which will likely be paired with 'Til Death.
The CW:
The Gilmore Girls say goodbye this week, but Veronica Mars seems to have a (crime)fighting chance. And on the reality front, the CW has at least two shows in the works, one involving a farmer dating city gals, the other casting a "Pussycat Dolls-inspired" band. Already it appears that Gossip Girl (from O.C. creator Josh Schwartz) is a sure thing, surveying the world of rich Big Apple teens. And so is Reaper, a dramedy about the devil's bounty hunter. — Matt Webb Mitovich
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
May 11, 2007 12:11 PM
|
|
Bionic Woman, Reaper and Sarah Connor Chronicles seems themost interesting. But i amafraid to start watch since networks pull the plug way too early
|
|
May 11, 2007 12:30 PM
|
|
Okay - everyone that says that they will not watch a show because they are afraid that it will probably get cancelled is an idiot. If everyone stuck to that attitude what the heck would we have to watch? more reality TV? God - I hope not!
|
|
May 11, 2007 1:01 PM
|
Seems like some mighty slim pickings in terms of new shows. I know I have zero interest in an updated Bionic Woman or Sarah Connor or a Sex and the City ripoff or a reality show inspired by the Pussycat Dolls or more seeing dead folk. Oddly enough the most original cocept seems like the Cavemen show but I won't watching that one either.
I guess my point is I don't see this year's Lost or Friday Night Lights or Buffy or Alias or Gilmore Girls at least from the brief descriptions given above.
|
|
May 11, 2007 2:25 PM
|
A remake of the Bionic Woman?! I couldn't stand the original why on earth would I watch this one.
With Heroes, Chuck, Journeyman, and The Bionic Woman....NBC is turning into the Scifi channel.
|
|
May 11, 2007 2:30 PM
|
With Heroes, Chuck, Journeyman, and The Bionic Woman....NBC is turning into the Scifi channel.
That's a funny observation - since they are both part of the same network and they rerun Heroes on Sci Fi.
|
|
May 11, 2007 3:04 PM
|
David Eick did a fantastic job in remaking BSG which does not resemble the original series at all. It was a fantastic show! So, I would wait and see if he would remake Bionic Woman the way he did for BSG!!
Sarah Connor concept is interesting! However, the terminator without the Governator will going to take time to get used to!!
|
|
May 11, 2007 3:09 PM
|
|
I'm taking a wait and see approach on the Bionic Woman. There's a mixed review over at AintItCool, but most of the buzz has been pretty good. But I think it's funny Jordana Brewster apparently passed on it to do Mr. & Mrs. Smith, which supposedly turned out so badly that it has no chance of getting picked up.
|
|
May 11, 2007 3:41 PM
|
I heard the pilot for Bionic Woman made the pilot of Painkiller Jane look like the pilot of Alias. That's not a good sign. And I credit Ronald Moore with BSG, not necessarily Eick, but we'll see.
I'm most jonesing for Sarah Connor (it really all hinges on the actress playing her though and I'm thinking it will be like Dark Angel, good but expensive and cut after a season or two), Los Duques (Jimmy Smits, Rita Morena, how can I NOT be there?!), Company Man (Carly! the original is still the best), Gossip Girl (I'm hoping it's more Cruel Intentions than OC), Lipstick Jungle and of course, The Thick of It (I'd follow Mitch Hurwitz to the ends of the earth and he's assembling an awesome cast so far). Oh wait, that's not on the list....what???
|
|
May 11, 2007 4:37 PM
|
I'm trying to keep an open mind until I see and read more about these new shows. Several of my favorites were canceled this year. I watch too much TV, so maybe I shouldn't replace the ones that are gone.....
Oh, why not! I'll check this frequently for updates.
|
|
May 11, 2007 10:34 PM
|
I don't blame you, tazjt, but I think I'm going to choose the riskiest shows and record them for later viewing (if they survive, say, six weeks or more). I did that with a couple of shows this year, and I got a few hours of my life back PLUS I didn't get attached to something that didn't live long. 
|
|
May 11, 2007 10:57 PM
|
I agree about "The Thick Of It." I haven't heard much at all in the way of buzz, just a brief mention or two. And it's been awhile.
Certainly if Mitchell Hurwitz is in control, I'll check it out. Even if it's on ABC.
No other shows really stand out to me, but it's hard to tell from a line or two. It will really depend on the commercials I see (and to a lesser extent the buzz and reviews I read) though. "Action News" could be funny, even though I'm not a Kelsey Grammar or Patricia Heaton fan, I am a news junky and I appreciate a good satire. "I'm In Hell" certainly sounds kinda corny, but it does have a good young cast - Jason Biggs (eh), Erika Christensen (gorgeous at least), David Cross (brilliant in the right role), and Timm Sharp (amazing on "Undeclared"). I'll certainly check it out.
|
|
May 11, 2007 11:25 PM
|
As a Sarah Brown fan for 10+ years now, I really hope Company Man gets picked up.
She just got signed to lead in a new movie, but it'd be great to see her more regularly as well.
|
|
May 12, 2007 11:25 AM
|
|
Is there a reason people keep using the wrong titles for shows? "Action News" is now "Back to You" and what's the deal with "Sam I Am"? It got smacked by the Dr. Suess family for infringing, I thought. Not sure if they've since made a deal or renamed the show but I do know I heard that the family was upset (in a legal way *ehem*) about that title.
|
|
May 12, 2007 8:35 PM
|
|
|
