3 LBS Cancelled

Well that was quick. This show made 'Smith' look like a winner. 3 LBS is now added to the trash heap of quick cancellations. CBS will air repeats of one of its other successful shows in the timeslot going forward.

Link: 3 lbs Flatlines on CBS

Stupid.

NBC announced their 'revised' schedule yesterday, and let me tell you -- it sucks.

Take a look:

Mondays
8-9 p.m. -- "Deal or No Deal"
9-10 p.m. -- "Heroes"
10-11 p.m. -- "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip"

Tuesdays
8-9 p.m.-- "Dateline NBC" (beginning December 26)
9-10 p.m. -- "Law & Order: Criminal Intent"
10-11 p.m. -- "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"

Wednesdays
8-9 p.m. -- "Friday Night Lights" (January 10)
9-10 p.m. -- "Deal or No Deal" (January 3)
10-11 p.m. -- "Medium"

Thursdays
8-9 p.m. -- "My Name Is Earl"
8:30-9 p.m. -- "The Office"
9-9:30 p.m. -- "Scrubs"
9:30-10 p.m. -- "30 Rock"
10-11 p.m. -- "ER"

Fridays
8-9 p.m. -- "1 VS 100"
9-10 p.m. -- "Las Vegas"
10-11 p.m. -- "Law & Order"

Saturdays
8-9 p.m. - Dateline NBC (repeats)
9-11 p.m. -- Drama repeats

Sundays
7-8 p.m. -- "Dateline NBC" (February 11)
8-9 p.m. -- "Grease: You're the One That I Want" (January 7; first two weeks will run from 8-9:30 p.m.)
9-10 p.m. -- "The Apprentice" (January 7; first two weeks will run from 9:30-11 p.m.)
10-11 p.m. -- "Crossing Jordan" (January 21)

Okay, I agree with the Tuesday and Thursday night lineups, but Studio 60 isn't moving?? And why oh why would you move 'Friday Night Lights' to WEDNESDAY against the behemoth, American Idol? This a dumb, dumb, dumb idea that will kill the show. Kill it dead. Word is that NBC will put 'The Black Donnellys' on in Studio 60's slot at some point. Again, huh?? That show cannot possibly be a good fit with Heroes. And I'm sorry, 'Deal or No Deal' is an 8 PM show, not a 9 PM show. Putting FNL on at 8 (which at least saves it from 'Lost') and Deal or No Deal at 9 is just idiotic. So, how would I schedule NBC?

Mondays
8-9 p.m. -- "Deal or No Deal"
9-10 p.m. -- "Heroes"
10-11 p.m. -- "Medium" (Shawna's change)

Tuesdays
8-9 p.m.-- "Dateline NBC" (beginning December 26)
9-10 p.m. -- "Law & Order: Criminal Intent"
10-11 p.m. -- "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"

Wednesdays
8-9 p.m. -- "Deal or No Deal" (Shawna's choice)
9-10 p.m. -- "The Apprentice" (Shawna's choice)
10-11 p.m. -- "Studio 60" (Shawna's choice)

Thursdays
8-9 p.m. -- "My Name Is Earl"
8:30-9 p.m. -- "The Office"
9-9:30 p.m. -- "Scrubs"
9:30-10 p.m. -- "30 Rock"
10-11 p.m. -- "ER"

Fridays
8-9 p.m. -- "1 VS 100"
9-10 p.m. -- "Las Vegas"
10-11 p.m. -- "Law & Order"

Saturdays
8-9 p.m. - Dateline NBC (repeats)
9-11 p.m. -- Drama repeats

Sundays
7-8 p.m. -- "Dateline NBC" (February 11)
8-9 p.m. -- "Grease: You're the One That I Want" (January 7; first two weeks will run from 8-9:30 p.m.)
9-10 p.m. -- "Friday Night Lights" (Shawna's choice)
10-11 p.m. -- "Crossing Jordan" (January 21)

Black Donnellys can still replace Studio 60 and Raines could still sub in for Las Vegas. I don't think my schedule is perfect, but at least putting Deal or No Deal at The Apprentice on Wednesday will keep them afloat -- The Apprentice audience doesn't completely cross over with the AI audience (skews older).

Memo to Jeff Zucker: Thump Kevin Reilly on the head for me.

Need your input

I'm adding a section to the left column called 'Podcasts'. Some of these will be links to useful writing podcasts, but I also hope to link to my own.

What I need to know is, what would make for an interesting podcast? What topics could I cover that would be of interest to you? What would entice you to download my podcast?

Please let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Back to work

Hope everyone had a great holiday! (And you Canadians -- hope you had a good week).

Now that I'm back in the City of Angels, it's time to get crackin'. I've got a lot of writing to do -- rewrites mostly right now -- and little time to waste.

Oh, and for those who are interested, I've learned from multiple sources that the calls/emails for the Fellowship went out last Wednesday. I did not receive one. So, I guess I try again next year!

Yes, I'm disappointed, but I allowed myself a day or two to mope, and now it is time to focus on the writing. Clearly I have some work to do to make the grade next time.

The Nine goes on hiatus

ABC has pulled 'The Nine' from the schedule effective immediately. Zap2it reported the news on Saturday...ABC claims the show will come back, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Clean up

CW gives more episode orders to 'Veronica Mars' and 'One Tree Hill' bringing their orders up to 20 and 21 episodes respectively.

'Gilmore Girls' numbers have been pretty good so far. Big question facing CW: Will they really be able to justify renewing this and 7th Heaven for one more year, even if the numbers are decent?

Reba's back on, but the numbers aren't that great. Big surprise.

Reminder: NBC cut 'Las Vegas' episode order to 17 in August.

ABC gave 'What About Brian?' a full season order. Despite the advertising 'Show Me the Money' is not Shat-tastic, but is, instead, really Shat-ty.

I really like 'Men in Trees'. You people better watch on Thursday night so I can spec this show with a clear conscience. Dangit.

No word yet from the ABC Fellowship. When I know, you'll know.

Vanished cancelled, Justice sent to Friday death watch

And so it goes. Fox giveth life (to 'Til Death and Standoff) and Fox taketh life (cancelling Vanished and putting Justice on death watch Friday).


Link: the futon critic

Til Death gets picked up, Standoff gets 6 more

Til Death gets a full season pick up, but Standoff only gets 6. Fox claims they don't need the last 3 to make a full season pick up. So, the show is sorta kinda picked up for a season. Good enough for my Watch List, anyway...

Link: Variety.com - Fox orders more 'Standoff,' ''Til Death'

3 LBS a snooze...and a bomb

I don't know about any of you guys, but I caught the pilot of this and it is a snore. I read a review somewhere which called it 'House-lite'. I couldn't agree more.

The numbers also show it probably isn't long for this world...

Contemplating 'Lost'

Alert: If you have not seen last week's episode of 'Lost' please skip this post. Thank you.

So, most of the time when I watch my myriad of TV shows, I shut off my inner story critic and just enjoy the episode. Obviously if the story trips any of my "alarms", story critic comes out of hiding and doesn't go away until the story is over.

So it is with 'Lost'. Most of the time, I get so caught up in the enjoyment of watching it, that my story critic seems to take long naps while it is on. Thus, any alarms that go blaring (and there are some, believe me) do not awaken said critic and I continue to be happy as a clam. Until later. Then story critic gets cranky.

I was at the gym (wonders never cease) tonight and just letting my mind wander as I listened to the music blaring into my ears and ignoring the pain signals to my brain. I thought about running. I thought about last week's 'Lost', when Jack told Kate to run. (see the connection?) I then thought about her saying she couldn't. Why couldn't she run? Well, how would she get across to the real island for one thing...but also she didn't run because she loves Sawyer. And yet she loved Nathan Fillion (*sigh* so do I)...but she ran. Why did she run? She couldn't help herself...even the U.S. Marshal chasing her told her she couldn't stay put.

Ah. Enlightenment. Character arc. Kate can't stop running. Until that moment when Jack tells her to run, to abandon him and Sawyer. AND SHE CAN'T RUN. She won't run. Just realizing what they did within the story made me giddy. I probably would have picked up on it sooner had my story critic not been taking a powder.

And I know that two years ago, I wouldn't have even seen that. Especially not two days after I watched it. I'm getting the hang of this storytelling thing.

Friday Night Lights picked up for full season

Just as I was mourning the loss of 'Justice', comes this news! Note to NBC: When football is over, please move FNL to Sunday at 9 PM opposite Desperate Housewives and Cold Case. Excellent counterprogramming, IMO.

Link: the futon critic

'Brian' picked up; 'Justice' pulled from schedule

The 'Justice' news came in late Friday, but I was too depressed about it to post it. Fox claims it will come back, but I believe that like I believe Standoff is going to make it through the season.

Link: 'Brian' picked up; 'Justice' mistrial

Get a mentor

This guy got Margaret Atwood as his, and now he's been awarded the Giller Prize for his book of short stories. Inspiring story, especially the part where he syas he won't give up being a physician to be a writer, but will continue to do both.

Sometimes you CAN have your cake and eat it too.

Link: Doctor wins prize for short stories - Yahoo! News

NaNoWriMo - you should be in the 20k range

I'm so doing this next year. In the meantime, read this article about people who are just throwing caution to the wind and writing a book in a month. While I don't think this is necessarily a way to tackle a screenplay, there is some really great advice (like, make time for you writing every day).

EDIT: I just want to address Brett's comment. Whether you agree with the idea of this or not as aspiring screenwriters, there are some good tips which apply to all kinds of writing. That is what I wanted to highlight from the article.

Link: Writer's Clock - washingtonpost.com

Studio 60 gets full season

Okay Sorkin lovers, NBC has decided to stick with the show. You've got a full season.

Now can it do well enough to get a second? (BTW, NBC may change the schedule around. Prepare to see Studio 60 pop up on another night).

Link: NBC's 'Studio 60' gets full season

Smith episodes available online

I know many (very many) of you were upset that 'Smith' got cancelled. Well, CBS has decided to at least show what they have online at their innertube site.

This news, taken with the other efforts they've made giving access to unaired shows, means that CBS is quickly learning how to take advantage of all the content they have.

CBS to Stream Remaining Smith Episodes on innertube

ABC finally heeds my advice

Men in Trees is moving to Thursday after Grey's Anatomy beginning 11/30 and is given a full season order. Six Degrees IS NOT cancelled, and apparently will return to the schedule in January.

This comes on the heels of news from CBS that Jericho is being split into 'two' seasons, with new episodes coming in February (and 'King of Queens' filling its time slot during the hiatus). Lost is already doing this and ends it's 'fall' half-season tonight, returning in January (edit: as noted in comments, 'Lost' will return on Feb. 7).

Networks know these types of shows don't repeat well, and audiences are more likely to stick with it if the shows aren't getting interrupted with repeats during their runs.

the futon critic

CBS learning how to crawl

It took a surprise hit movie to do it, but CBS is streaming a rejected pilot, The Papdits, written by Ant Hines (of Da Ali G Show and 'Borat') on their innertube site.

Let's hope they do more of this...who knows, they may find some diamonds in the pilots they initially rejected if there is an audience for the online shows...

(Special P.S. to WB -- could you please do the same for Global Frequency??)

Variety tackles the question of breaking in

Great article in Variety today about how difficult it is to break into the biz. Read it.

The Singles Table - NBC cuts order

Let's play a little game, shall we? Read this quote from the linked article:

Observers noted that an episode order cutback would be pricey for NBC given the international sales already in place for the show and the episode fee guarantees associated with high-level talent like Silverstone.

What are we to deduce?

If it is more expensive for a network to cut episodes than to order them, the show must suck. A LOT. I dunno, you read that any other way??

Link:NBC scales back 'Singles' order

The current state of things

I don't know how interested any of you are in my 'journey' -- I know this blog has mostly become news on the tv season, but for anyone still curious, here's how things stand...

Got my second sample in to ABC on Friday. When they called on Wednesday he asked me what I had and I mentioned my other two show specs and the pilot. So of course, what did he want to see? The pilot, which I have been rewriting, but was not ready to drop in the mail on Friday. So, I spent about 36 hours working the pilot into something readable. Somehow I managed it -- I think I missed a couple of meals and I know I missed some sleep, but I did it. Now I hope it is remotely interesting to them. I'm also hoping that by giving them a pilot rather than another show spec I get some extra consideration for 'degree of difficulty'.

So what now? Finish rewriting my Medium spec. Start contemplating my next show spec which I won't write until next year. Come up with new tv show ideas to pitch, in the event I make it to the interview round.

Good luck to everyone else who made it this far. Now we wait. Again.

Dexter renewed

Dexter pulled good numbers for Showtime, so it gets a second season. This is now a viable spec.

Watch List updated.

Link: 'Dexter' back to kill again on Showtime

Panic! In the Living Room

So last night, I'm sitting around contemplating my brand new 1000 piece Lost puzzle when I hear my cellphone ringing in another room. I curse myself for being in a different room from my phone and race out of my seat to try to catch it before voice mail. I lose the race. Looking down at the display, I see UNKNOWN NUMBER. At this particular time of night, I deduce it was my sister calling from her office, which my phone never recognizes. I wait the traditional 30 seconds for the house phone to start ringing.

Sure enough, the house phone rings, and I immediately pick it up and without saying hello, I say "I'm sorry, I tried to get my phone in the other room, but I just missed it."

The voice on the other end of the line is NOT my sister.

Then I'm feeling all flustered. Woops, sorry, thought you were someone else...you aren't a solicitor are you?

No, he was not.

Are you sitting down? I wasn't.

He called to tell me I was a SEMIFINALIST for the ABC Fellowship. Yes, really.

Wow, that's awesome! What do I need to do? They need another sample. Postmarked Friday.

Oh #&$@.

So, I've been kinda busy today, polishing my draft until it shines like silver. We'll save the congrats until I find out if I make it to the finalist round.