Comic Con Analysis for TV Watchers and Wannabes Part One

You've probably seen all of the news smothered over the internet like Smuckers raspberry preserves (yum), and you may have even seen some of the panels.

Now I want to pick it apart and analyze it all. What does all of this MEAN?

The week before Comic Con a little event called the TCA Fall Press Tour happened...not that'd you'd know, because it got a thimble-size of the press Comic Con received. Anymore the networks realize that connecting with fans is as important (if not moreso) than chattering at TV critics and reporters who cover this stuff for a living. Granted, most critics are also TV fans, and it becomes evident as they pick good quality shows to support which just don't get the ratings they need to survive. It happens every year.

Still, getting fans engaged, the kind who go to big events like Comic Con can be "make or break" for a film, and now for TV shows too. Lost set the precedent (though I'm sure other shows have visited before that show launched) for launching at Comic Con and getting fan support early. If the fans like you, buzz builds online and people get excited for the show.

The lesson learned in 2007 was it is not enough to hype the pilot. Too many shows (See: Invasion, Surface, Bionic Woman and Journeyman) placed too much emphasis on the pilot and not on the whole show. The good news, is that for the shows that approach the marketing of their shows with creativity and flair (and let's be fair, we're talking mostly 'genre' shows here), it can pay great dividends. Two years ago Heroes was the belle of the ball. Last year the big buzz was around Pushing Daisies and Sarah Connor Chronicles. All of those shows saw good sampling based in part on their launches at Comic Con.

So what about this year? Who has benefited the most from their appearances at Comic Con. Let's give each network a grade.

ABC presented panels for Lost and Pushing Daisies, both returning shows. ABC hasn't picked up their midseason shows yet, and their new fall shows don't really qualify as 'genre'. Both panels were packed and response was very positive. The "Lost" panel gave away some fun prizes to people who asked questions and showed a short teaser video tieing into the new ARG running this year. They put the panel in the largest room (Hall H) which shows just how much demand there is for the show at Comic Con. "Daisies" also got good buzz going again with some clips for next season (the benefit for returning shows this year is that most have already started shooting at least a couple of episodes, so there was stuff to show). ABC did a good job with their show promotion, though I think "Daisies" could have used a stronger push. Overall, a good job. Grade: A-

CBS had no presence at Comic Con this year. Their only new genre show is Harper's Island which was nowhere to be seen. Viacom makes up for this shortcoming with its Showtime offerings, which we'll get to later. Grade: D

Fox pulled out all the stops for its shows. Not only did the new J.J. Abrahms show Fringe get lots of viral marketing, a panel and a screening of the pilot, but Fox was there to strongly promote Season 2 of Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles and other returning shows. Offerings ranged from the obvious (The Simpsons, Family Guy, 24) to the surprising (Bones, Prison Break, American Dad. And then there was Joss. Of course, nothing could hold back the hordes of Whedonites who needed their fix of Dollhouse. The panels were all well attended (although Fringe was less full than I expected), the marketing was really great for the fall premieres, and definitely buzz was built for the new shows. I think Fox knows how to promote their genre offerings. Grade: A

NBC After mixed results from their Comic Con promotion last year, I was glad to see that NBC bounced back and charged ahead aggressively. They too presented some unusual offerings -- The Office writers panel? (A dream for us!) But they were in full force for freebies and viral campaigns for Knight Rider, Chuck, The Office, and Heroes. They also did well to give lots of early info on midseason show Kings which got some good buzz and attention at the Con. Disappointments: No Merlin or Crusoe news. Their booth in the exhibit hall was similar to last year, but the giveaways were good, and the Comic Con exclusive merchandise was very popular. Grade: A-

The CW Okay, so I know Supernatural and Smallville were both there, but where the heck was Reaper?? Grade: C- (Kudos to WB for promoting their studio backed shows -- they had the Nerd Herd car giveaway/drawing)

Hard to believe that was just the network presence! Next post: The cable nets, and how does this impact writing specs?

UPDATE: A myriad of panels!

NBC's Show Panels

The 2007-08 Season TV Watch List

Updated on 06/10.

New Series Premiere Dates / Status:

NETWORK:

• Dance War (ABC) (could return next year)
  
• Farmer Wants a Wife (CW) Wed 9 PM
  
• Swingtown (CBS) Thurs 10 PM
  
• Fear Itself (NBC) Thurs 10 PM
  
• The Mole (ABC) Mon 9 PM
  
• When Women Rule the World (Fox) TBD 9 PM
  
• Celebrity Circus (NBC) 6/11 9 PM
  
• Wipeout (ABC) 6/24 8 PM
  
• I Survived a Japanese Gameshow (ABC) 6/24 9 PM
  
• The Baby Borrowers (NBC) 6/25 8 PM
  
• Hopkins 24/7 (documentary series) (ABC) 6/26 10 PM
  
• Dance Machine (ABC) 6/27 8 PM
  
• High School Musical: Summer Session (ABC) 7/20 8 PM
  
• Wanna Bet? (ABC) 7/21 9 PM
  
  

CABLE:

• Tell Me You Love Me (HBO) Sun 9 PM
  
• America's Psychic Challenge (Lifetime) Fri 10 PM
  
• Girl Meets Cowboy (We) Sun 10 PM
  
• The Shot (VH1) Sun 10 PM
  
• It's My Party (Lifetime) Fri 10 PM
  
• In Treatment (HBO) Mon 9:30 PM
  
• Step It Up and Dance (Bravo) Thurs 10 PM
  
• Sarah Jane Adventures (SciFi) Fri 8 PM
  
• The Alaska Experiment (Discovery) Tues 10 PM
  
• In Plain Sight (USA) Sun 10 PM
  
• Secret Diary of a Call Girl (Showtime) 6/16 10:30 PM
  
• The Starter Wife (series) (USA) October TBD
  
  

Renewed for 2008-09 Season (New shows for 07-08 indicated in bold):

• Damages (FX) (Also renewed for 2009-10)
  
• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) Mon 8:30 PM
  
• Dexter (Showtime) Sun 9 PM
  
• Ugly Betty (ABC) Thurs 8 PM
  
• Grey's Anatomy (ABC) Thurs 9 PM
  
• Desperate Housewives (ABC) Sun 9 PM
  
• Brothers & Sisters (ABC) Sun 10 PM
  
• Lost (ABC) Thurs 9 PM
  
• Dancing With the Stars (ABC) Mon 8 PM/Tues 9 PM
  
• America's Funniest Home Videos (ABC) Sun 7 PM (19th season)
  
• Supernanny (ABC) Wed 9 PM
  
• Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC) Sun 8 PM
  
• Wife Swap (ABC) Wed 8 PM
  
• The Bachelor (ABC) Mon 9:30 PM
  
• WWE Smackdown (CW) Fri 8 PM (moving to MyNetwork TV next year!)
  
• Heroes (NBC) Mon 9 PM
  
• Gossip Girl (CW) Wed 9 PM
  
• America's Next Top Model (CW) Wed 8 PM
  
• Smallville (CW) Thurs 8 PM
  
• Everybody Hates Chris (CW) Mon 8 PM
  
• Supernatural (CW) Thurs 9 PM
  
• Survivor (CBS) Thurs 8 PM
  
• The Amazing Race (CBS) Sun 8 PM
  
• 60 Minutes (CBS) Sun 7 PM
  
• CSI: Miami (CBS) Mon 10 PM
  
• CSI: New York (CBS) Wed 10 PM
  
• C.S.I. (CBS) Thurs 9 PM
  
• NCIS (CBS) Tues 8 PM
  
• E.R. (NBC) Thurs 10 PM (renewed for 15th and last season)
  
• 24 (Fox) 9 PM (Won't air until January 09)
  
• One Tree Hill (CW) Tues 9 PM
  
• Big Brother (CBS) Tues 9 PM
  
• Prison Break (Fox) Mon 8 PM
  
• Samantha Who? (ABC) Mon 9:30 PM
  
• Dirty Sexy Money (ABC) Wed 10 PM
  
• Chuck (NBC) Mon 8 PM
  
• Life (NBC) Wed 10 PM
  
• Private Practice (ABC) Wed 9 PM
  
• Pushing Daisies (ABC) Wed 8 PM
  
• Kitchen Nightmares (Fox) Wed 9 PM
  
• Law and Order (NBC) Wed 9 PM
  
• Friday Night Lights (NBC) Fri 9 PM
  
• Lipstick Jungle (NBC) Thurs 10 PM
  
• How to Look Good Naked (Lifetime) Fri 9:30 PM
  
• 30 Rock (NBC) Thurs 8:30 PM
  
• Deal or No Deal (NBC) Wed 8 PM
  
• My Name is Earl (NBC) Thurs 8 PM
  
• The Office (NBC) Thurs 9 PM
  
• Medium (NBC) Mon 10 PM
  
• Celebrity Apprentice (NBC) Sun 8 PM
  
• Law and Order: SVU (NBC) Tues 10 PM
  
• Sarah Connor Chronicles (Fox) Mon 8 PM
  
• Tim Gunn's Guide to Style (Bravo) Wed 10 PM
  
• Project Runway (Lifetime) MOVING TO LIFETIME!!
  
• Sunday Best (BET) Sun 8 PM
  
• American Gangster (BET) Thurs 10 PM
  
• Real Housewives of Orange County (Bravo) 10 PM
  
• Top Chef (Bravo) Wed 10 PM
  
• Real Housewives of New York City (Bravo)
  
• Top Design (Bravo)
  
• Shear Genius (Bravo)
  
• The Millionaire Matchmaker (Bravo)
  
• Million Dollar Listing (Bravo)
  
• Breaking Bad (AMC) Thurs 10 PM
  
• American Idol (Fox) Tues/Wed 8 PM
  
• House (Fox) Mon 9 PM
  
• Bones (Fox) Tues 8 PM
  
• Lincoln Heights (ABC Family) Mon 8 PM
  
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) Mon 9 PM
  
• Ghost Hunters (SciFi) Wed 9 PM
  
• The Game (CW) Mon 9:30 PM
  
• Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader? (Fox)
  
• Don't Forget the Lyrics! (Fox)
  
• Cops (Fox)
  
• America's Most Wanted (Fox)
  
• The Simpsons (Fox) Sun 8 PM
  
• Family Guy (Fox) Sun 9 PM
  
• Boston Legal (ABC) Wed 10 PM
  
• The Ghost Whisperer (CBS) Fri 8 PM
  
• The Tudors (Showtime) Sun 9 PM
  
• Eli Stone (ABC) Thurs 10 PM
  
• The Moment of Truth (Fox) Wed 9 PM (returns 6/12)
  
• Reaper (CW) Tues 9 PM
  
• The Unit (CBS) Tues 9 PM
  
• Cold Case (CBS) Sun 9 PM
  
• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) Mon 8 PM
  
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) Mon 9:30 PM
  
• Criminal Minds (CBS) Wed 9 PM
  
• Without a Trace (CBS) Thurs 10 PM
  
• Numb3rs (CBS) Fri 10 PM
  
• 20/20 (ABC) Fri 10 PM
  
• Scrubs (NBC) Thurs 9:30 PM (moves to ABC)
  
• According to Jim (ABC) Tues 9 PM (returns midseason)
  
• 10 Items or Less (TBS) 11 PM
  
• Tyler Perry's House of Payne (TBS) 10 PM
  
• Frank TV (TBS) Tues 11 PM
  
• The Bill Engvall Show (TBS)
  
• King of the Hill (Fox) Sun 8:30 PM
  
• American Dad (Fox) Sun 9:30 PM
  
• Torchwood (BBC America) Sat 9 PM [Season 3 only 5 eps no date]
  
  
  

Series Death Watch (New shows for 07-08 indicated in bold):

• Online Nation (CW)
  
• Nashville (Fox)
  
• Viva Laughlin (CBS)
  
• Kid Nation (CBS) Wed 8 PM
  
• Las Vegas (NBC) Fri 10 PM
  
• Girlfriends (CW) Mon 9 PM
  
• Jericho (CBS) Tues 10 PM
  
• The Return of Jezebel James (Fox) Fri 8:30 PM
  
• Journeyman (NBC) Mon 10 PM
  
• Bionic Woman (NBC) Wed 9 PM
  
• Phenomenon (NBC) Wed 8 PM
  
• Clash of the Choirs (NBC)
  
• Secret Talents of the Stars (CBS) Tues 10 PM
  
• Exalted! (BET) Sun 9 PM
  
• Amne$ia (NBC) Fri 8 PM
  
• Men in Trees (ABC) Wed 10 PM
  
• Battlestar Galactica (SciFi) 9 PM (Series Ending)
  
• Back to You (Fox) Wed 9:30 PM
  
• October Road (ABC) Mon 10 PM
  
• Aliens in America (CW) Mon 8:30 PM
  
• Beauty and the Geek (CW) Tues 8 PM
  
• New Amsterdam (Fox) Mon 9 PM
  
• K-ville (Fox) Mon 9 PM
  
• Big Shots (ABC) Thurs 10 PM
  
• CW Now (CW) Sun 7 PM
  
• Cavemen (ABC) Tues 8 PM
  
• Carpoolers (ABC) Tues 8:30 PM
  
• Cane (CBS) Tues 10 PM
  
• Life is Wild (CW) Sun 8 PM
  
• American Band (Fox) Fri 8 PM
  
• Crowned (CW) Wed 8 PM
  
• Women's Murder Club (ABC) Tues 10 PM
  
• Welcome to the Captain (CBS) Mon 8:30 PM
  
• Oprah's Big Give (ABC) Sun 9 PM
  
• Shark (CBS) Sun 10 PM
  
• Power of 10 (CBS) Wed 8 PM
  
• Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious Wed 9 PM
  
• Notes from the Underbelly (ABC) Mon 9:30 PM
  
• Duel (ABC) Fri 9 PM
  
• Moonlight (CBS) Fri 9 PM
  
• Cashmere Mafia (ABC) Wed 10 PM
  
• Canterbury's Law (Fox) Fri 9 PM
  
• The Singing Bee (NBC) Tues 9:30 PM
  
• Miss/Guided (ABC) Thurs 8PM
  
• quarterlife (Bravo) Tues 10 PM
  
• Unhitched (Fox) Sun 9:30 PM
  
• Dirt (FX) Tues 10 PM
  
  

Returning Series Premiere Dates:

NETWORK:

• Hell's Kitchen (Fox) Tues 9 PM
  
• The Bachelorette (ABC) Mon 9 PM
  
• Last Comic Standing (NBC) Thurs 8:30 PM
  
• So You Think You Can Dance? (Fox) Tues 8 PM
  
• Nashville Star (NBC) Mon 8 PM
  
• America's Got Talent (NBC) 6/17 9 PM
  
  

CABLE:

• Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO) Sun 10 PM
  
• It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX) Thurs 10 PM
  
• The Ultimate Fighter (Spike) Wed 10 PM
  
• Stargate Atlantis (SciFi) Fri 10 PM
  
• Brotherhood (Showtime) Sun 10 PM
  
• South Park (Comedy Central) Wed 10 PM
  
• The Sarah Silverman Program (Comedy Central) Wed 10:30 PM
  
• Law and Order: Criminal Intent (USA) Sun 10 PM
  
• Drawn Together (Comedy Central) Fri 10:30 PM
  
• Nip/Tuck (FX) 10 PM
  
• The L Word (Showtime) 10 PM
  
• Hotel Babylon (BBC America) Wed 9 PM
  
• The Riches (FX) Tues 10 PM
  
• Greek (ABC Family) Mon 8 PM
  
• Deadliest Catch (Discovery) Tues 9 PM
  
• Doctor Who (SciFi) Fri 9 PM
  
• Workout (Bravo) Tues 10 PM
  
• Robin Hood (BBC America) Sat 9 PM
  
• Wildfire (ABC Family) Mon 9 PM
  
• Burn Notice (USA) 6/10 10 PM
  
• Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List (Bravo) 6/12 9 PM
  
• Weeds (Showtime) 6/16 10 PM
  
• Flipping Out (Bravo) 6/17 9 PM
  
• Monk (USA) 6/18 9 PM
  
• Psych (USA) 6/18 10 PM
  
• 30 Days (FX) 7/3 10 PM
  
• The Shield (FX) 9/2 10 PM
  
  
  

A brief explanation of the watch list:

New shows premiere dates / status - consider this the neutral zone, detailing the premiere dates for new shows and tidbits of info which could forecast a move to another category.

Shows likely to be axed - their numbers aren't good, news stories point to it being yanked, it may soon end up in the cancelled category.

NEW Series Pickups- this doesn't mean it is renewed for next year, just that the series has gotten a full season order. (e.g., 'back nine' pickup).

Likely pickups - the numbers are good, all we need is the confirmation from the network (again, this is for full season orders, not renewals).

Renewed - Will be back next season (new or older shows).

Series death watch - they've been on the air and their time may be coming. We watch and wait... (new or older shows)

All other series premiere dates - Just what it says. These aren't new series, but their premiere dates are listed and updated, just as an added service to you, my loyal readers and googlers passing by...

** New this year, I will be tracking the reality shows as well as scripted

The fall schedules 2008-09

So, now that upfronts are over, let's take a look at how the networks stack up against each other next year. Keep in mind that now everyone has shown their cards, there may be a tweak here or there to move shows away from each other.

MONDAY

8 PM

ABC Dancing with the Stars
CBS The Big Bang Theory / How I Met Your Mother (8:30)
NBC Chuck
Fox Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
CW Gossip Girl

9 PM

ABC Untitled Tyra Banks&Ashton Kutcher / Samantha Who (9:30)
CBS Two and a Half Men / Worst Week (9:30)
NBC Heroes
Fox Prison Break
CW One Tree Hill

10 PM

ABC The Bachelor / Boston Legal (after Bachelor ends)
CBS CSI: Miami
NBC My Own Worst Enemy

TUESDAY

8 PM

ABC Opportunity Knocks
CBS NCIS
NBC The Biggest Loser: Families
Fox House
CW 90210

9 PM

ABC Dancing Results Show / Scrubs/The Goode Family(9:30) (after Dancing ends)
CBS The Mentalist
NBC The Biggest Loser: Families / Kath & Kim (9:30)
Fox Fringe
CW Surviving the Filthy Rich

10 PM

ABC Eli Stone
CBS Without a Trace
NBC Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

WEDNESDAY

8 PM

ABC Pushing Daisies
CBS The New Adventures of Old Christine / Project Gary (8:30)
NBC Knight Rider
Fox Bones
CW America's Next Top Model

9 PM

ABC Private Practice
CBS Criminal Minds
NBC Deal or No Deal
Fox 'Til Death / Do Not Disturb (9:30)
CW Stylista

10 PM

ABC Dirty Sexy Money
CBS CSI:NY
NBC Lipstick Jungle

THURSDAY

8 PM

ABC Ugly Betty
CBS Survivor
NBC My Name is Earl / 30 Rock (8:30)
Fox The Moment of Truth
CW Smallville

9 PM

ABC Grey's Anatomy
CBS CSI
NBC The Office / The Office/SNL Thursday Night Live (9:30)
Fox Kitchen Nightmares
CW Supernatural

10 PM

ABC Life on Mars
CBS Eleventh Hour
NBC ER

FRIDAY

8 PM

ABC Supernanny
CBS The Ghost Whisperer
NBC Crusoe
Fox Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?
CW Everybody Hates Chris / The Game (8:30)

9 PM

ABC Wife Swap
CBS The Ex List
NBC Deal or No Deal
Fox Don't Forget the Lyrics!
CW America's Next Top Model (Encore Presentation)

10 PM

ABC 20/20
CBS Numb3rs
NBC Life

SATURDAY

8 PM

ABC College Football
CBS Crimetime Saturday
NBC Dateline NBC
Fox Cops / Cops (8:30)

9 PM

ABC College Football / Movie
CBS Crimetime Saturday
NBC Knight Rider (Encores)
Fox America's Most Wanted

10 PM

ABC College Football / Movie
CBS 48 Hours Mystery
NBC Law & Order: SVU (Encores)

SUNDAY

7 PM

ABC America's Funniest Home Videos
CBS 60 Minutes
NBC Football Night in America
Fox The OT (NFL post-game)

8 PM

ABC Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
CBS The Amazing Race
NBC NBC Sunday Night Football
Fox The Simpsons / King of the Hill (8:30)

9 PM

ABC Desperate Housewives
CBS Cold Case
NBC NBC Sunday Night Football
Fox Family Guy / American Dad (9:30)

10 PM

ABC Brothers & Sisters
CBS The Unit
NBC NBC Sunday Night Football

Pilot news!

God Bless Nikki Finke and her insider-y knowledge. She's posted some pilot news on her blog today.

If you haven't listened to my radio show (prominently featured in the sidebar over there) I make my own predictions as to what will make it to the schedules, particularly for dramas. I'd say I'm almost right on so far...

We now return to your regularly scheduled program

The Watch List is rather ugly, I know. So, I thought I'd pull out the return dates of shows and publish them here.

Returning shows by Network:

ABC

• Samantha Who? Mon 9:30 PM (returns 4/7)
  
• Desperate Housewives Sun 9 PM (returns 4/13)
  
• Brothers & Sisters Sun 10 PM (returns 4/20)
  
• Ugly Betty Thurs 8 PM (returns 4/24)
  
• Grey's Anatomy Thurs 9 PM (returns 4/24)
  
• Lost Thurs 10 PM (returns 4/24)
  
• Women's Murder Club Tues 10 PM (returns 4/29 moves to Tues)
  
• Boston Legal Wed 10 PM (moves to Wed from Tues new episode 4/30)
  
  

CBS

• Moonlight Fri 9 PM (returns 4/25)
  
• Shark Sun 10 PM (returns 4/29)
  
  

NBC

• 30 Rock Thurs 8:30 PM (returns 4/10)
  
• The Office Thurs 9 PM (returns 4/10)
  
• Law and Order: SVU Tues 10 PM (returns 4/15)
  
  

Fox

• King of the Hill Sun 8:30 PM (returns 4/6)
  
• The Simpsons Sun 8 PM (returns 4/13)
  
• Bones Mon 8 PM (returns 4/14)
  
• Back to You Wed 8 PM (returns 4/16 9:30 PM)
  
• Family Guy Sun 9 PM (returns 4/27)
  
• House Mon 9 PM (returns 4/28)
  
  

The CW

• One Tree Hill Tues 9 PM (returns 4/14)
  
• Smallville Thurs 8 PM (returns 4/17)
  
• Gossip Girl Wed 9 PM (returns 4/21)
  
• Reaper Tues 9 PM (returns 4/22)
  
• Supernatural Thurs 9 PM (returns 4/24)
  
• Aliens In America Sun 8:30 PM (returns 4/27)
  

NBC announces their '52-week' schedule

First, here is the NBC Press Release, if all you want is the data. Analysis is waaaay at the bottom.

NBC REVEALS COMPLETE 52-WEEK PROGRAM STRATEGY, EARLIER THAN EVER, THAT GIVES ADVERTISERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE UNIQUE MARKETING SOLUTIONS

STAGGERED LAUNCHES AND PREMIERES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR NBC REVEALS COMPLETE 52-WEEK PROGRAM STRATEGY, EARLIER THAN EVER, THAT GIVES ADVERTISERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE UNIQUE MARKETING SOLUTIONS

STAGGERED LAUNCHES AND PREMIERES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF NBC'S 'SUPER SEASON' OF EVENTS INCLUDING THE 2008 BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES AND SUPER BOWL XLIII

WITH ITS EXPANDING COMMITMENT TO YEAR-ROUND ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING, NBC DELIVERS ALMOST TWICE AS MUCH FIRST-RUN ENTERTAINMENT AS THE NETWORK BROADCAST 10 YEARS AGO

FALL, WINTER AND SUMMER SCHEDULES FEATURE NEWCOMERS 'THE OFFICE' SPINOFF,'MY OWN WORST ENEMY,' 'KATH & KIM,''KNIGHT RIDER', 'CRUSOE', 'KINGS,' 'THE PHILANTHROPIST,' 'MERLIN,''THE LISTENER,' 'SHARK TAGGERS,' 'AMERICA'S TOUGHEST JOBS,' 'CHOPPING BLOCK'AND MINISERIES 'THE LAST TEMPLAR' AND 'XIII'

RETURNING SERIES FOR NBC'S 2008-09 TELEVISION SEASON INCLUDE THE ACCLAIMED DRAMAS 'ER' -- IN ITS 15TH AND FINAL SEASON --'FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS,' 'LIPSTICK JUNGLE', 'MEDIUM,' 'LAW & ORDER' AND 'LAW & ORDER: SVU'

NEW YORK -- April 2, 2008 -- NBC today unveiled its new Fall lineup for the 2008-09 television season, introducing a schedule earlier than ever that combines some of the most acclaimed and popular returning series on television with four new programs that will join the schedule in the opening weeks of the season, including "Kath & Kim," "Knight Rider," "My Own Worst Enemy" and "Crusoe."

Among the critically hailed series returning to the NBC schedule next season will be "ER," the most-nominated series in Emmy Award history, returning for its 15th and final season (see separate release) on NBC's Thursday night lineup, and the acclaimed "Friday Night Lights," slated to re-join the Friday schedule in February as part of a unique broadcast partnership between NBC and DIRECTV (see separate release).

Additionally, the most highly anticipated comedy of the upcoming season, "The Office" spinoff, from Executive Producer Greg Daniels, will get the highly coveted premiere timeslot post Super Bowl XLIII following a special original telecast of "The Office" (see separate release).

In the first of a series of presentations to key advertisers today at 30 Rockefeller Center in New York City, NBC also unveiled Winter and Summer schedules for the 2008-09 broadcast year, allowing the advertisers to plan their media strategies for the upcoming year based on a 52-week schedule. Presentations will continue in New York this week and continue in Chicago and Los Angeles through the coming weeks.

The result is that NBC will deliver almost twice as much original entertainment in 2008-09 than it did 10 years ago. There will be year-round original programming on five nights a week at 10-11 p.m. (ET). In addition, NBC has allowed for a better scheduling flow with family shows at 8 p.m., blockbusters at 9 and dramas or mature-themed programs at 10 p.m.

In response to an evolving media marketplace and the changing needs of its advertisers, NBC Universal has created a more innovative, client-centric approach to its traditional Upfront presentation. It will include the announcement of a year-round programming schedule in April; a series of one-on-one client meetings in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago; and a spotlight event on May 12 that will showcase the full scale of the NBCU offerings in a unique, multi-media, interactive environment that will allow advertisers to experience the broad spectrum of marketing opportunities available within the company. The new Upfront process allows NBCU to continue its "customer-first" approach, while working to create new advertising models, define more effective metrics and provide a better return on its clients' investments.

"NBC has established itself as the place to go for the hottest, highest quality programs on television, and now we're ready to take it to the next level," said Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. "With many of the very biggest events of the 2008-09 television season on the NBC schedule, like the Beijing Olympic Games, Super Bowl Forty Three, the Golden Globes and a full season of 'Sunday Night Football,' all the elements are in place to make this an unforgettable year for NBC, its affiliates, its advertisers and its viewers."

"Normally the broadcast networks unveil their fall lineups in mid-May, but we've got so many terrific plans already in place, there was no reason to wait," said Marc Graboff, Co-Chairman NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. "The business is changing rapidly and our clients expect us to stay a step ahead of that change, so we're giving them the chance now to partner with us, start integrating with our shows from the very beginning and map out their strategies a full year into the future. It's an innovative way to introduce an innovative schedule."

The roll-out of NBC's 52-week lineup begins in the Fall, as the debuting drama series "My Own Worst Enemy," starring Christian Slater, joins "Chuck" and "Heroes" on NBC's Monday lineup; "Kath & Kim," a new comedy starring Molly Shannon and Selma Blair, based on the hit Australian series, teams with "The Biggest Loser: Families" on Tuesdays; and on Wednesdays, "Knight Rider" goes to series, building on the success of last February's "Knight Rider" movie, the highest-rated movie telecast on any network in three years in adults 18-49. The mid-season dramedy "Lipstick Jungle" will return in the Fall, also on Wednesdays. Drama series "Crusoe," the hit game show "Deal or No Deal" and "Life" are scheduled to join NBC's Fall Friday lineup. In addition, NBC will introduce "SNL Thursday Night Live," which will share time on Thursdays with "The Office" at 9:30-10 p.m. (ET).

Through the winter months, NBC plans to add to its Sunday lineup "Kings," (starring Golden Globe winner Ian McShane) the ambitious new drama from the producer of "Heroes," along with the returning drama "Medium" and the exciting fantasy series "Merlin." On Mondays, NBC adds "The Philanthropist," a drama concerning a renegade billionaire who uses his wealth to help people. Tuesdays introduces a brand new cycle of "The Biggest Loser: Couples." "Law & Order" returns to Wednesdays for the series unparalleled 19th season. On Thursdays, comedy reigns with the addition of a new series spinning off the NBC hit "The Office." "The Celebrity Apprentice" returns in its popular new format on Thursdays. Sundays will be highlighted by special events, including the "66th Annual Golden Globe Awards," the four-hour miniseries "The Last Templar" (starring Oscar winner Mira Sorvino) and "XIII" (starring Val Kilmer and Stephen Dorff).

Key launches and series events will be timed to make maximum promotional use of the big events coming up on the NBC primetime schedule, including the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in August, "NBC Sunday Night Football" throughout the fall, the "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" in November, NFL Wild-Card playoff games and the "66th Annual Golden Globe Awards" in January as well as the Super Bowl XLIII in February 2009.

In Summer 2009, NBC is slated to introduce "The Listener," a new Thursday drama, as well as two new reality series from executive producer Thom Beers ("Ice Road Truckers") -- "America's Toughest Jobs," an action-reality series on Mondays and "Shark Taggers," an action-adventure reality series on Wednesdays. "Chopping Block" will premiere on Fridays to complement a strong slate of original summer programming. Returning shows that Summer will include "American Gladiators," "America's Got Talent," "Last Comic Standing," "Monk" and "Nashville Star."

Sophomore dramas "Chuck," "Life," and "Lipstick Jungle" will benefit from an aggressive re-launch in the Fall, and the hit "Heroes" will come back with a bang owing to a major event in the Fall.

Joining the cast of "Life" is Donal Logue ("Grounded for Life") as Captain Brian Tidwell, Crews' (Damian Lewis) and Reese's (Sarah Shahi) new boss. Tidwell is a seen-it-all New York cop whose weaknesses include the track and the ladies. He isn't going to fit in Los Angeles, and he could care less.

Specific dates for most season and series premieres and other schedule changes will be announced at a later date. In addition, NBC Digital Entertainment today announced its full slate of content for the Summer and Fall seasons (see separate release).



NBC PRIMETIME SCHEDULE FOR FALL 2008-09

*New programs in UPPER CASE (with the exception of "ER")

MONDAY 8-9 p.m. "Chuck" 9-10 p.m. "Heroes" 10-11 p.m. "MY OWN WORST ENEMY"

TUESDAY 8- 9:30 p.m. "The Biggest Loser: Families" 9:30-10 p.m. "KATH & KIM" 10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"

WEDNESDAY 8-9 p.m. "KNIGHT RIDER" 9-10 p.m. "Deal or No Deal" 10-11 p.m. "Lipstick Jungle"

THURSDAY 8- 8:30 p.m. "My Name Is Earl" 8:30-9 p.m. "30 Rock" 9- 9:30 p.m. "The Office" 9:30-10 p.m. "The Office"/ "SNL THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE" 10-11 p.m. "ER"

FRIDAY 8-9 p.m. "CRUSOE" 9-10 p.m. "Deal or No Deal" 10-11 p.m. "Life"

SATURDAY 8-9 p.m. "Dateline NBC" 9-10 p.m. "KNIGHT RIDER" (Encores) 10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (Encores)

SUNDAY 7- 8:20 p.m. "Football Night in America" 8:20-11 p.m. "NBC Sunday Night Football"

NBC PRIMETIME SCHEDULE FOR WINTER 2009

*New programs in UPPER CASE (with the exception of "ER")

MONDAY 8- 9 p.m. "Chuck" 9-10 p.m. "Heroes" 10-11 p.m. "THE PHILANTHROPIST"

TUESDAY 8- 9:30 p.m. "The Biggest Loser: Couples" 9:30-10 p.m. "KATH & KIM" 10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"

WEDNESDAY 8-9 p.m. "KNIGHT RIDER" 9-10 p.m. "Deal or No Deal" 10-11 p.m. "Law & Order"

THURSDAY 8- 8:30 p.m. "My Name Is Earl" 8:30-9 p.m. "30 Rock" 9- 9:30 p.m. "The Office" 9:30-10 p.m. "THE OFFICE" SPINOFF 10-11 p.m. "ER"/"The Celebrity Apprentice"

FRIDAY 8-9 p.m. "Deal or No Deal" 9-10 p.m. "Friday Night Lights" 10-11 p.m. "Life"

SATURDAY 8-9 p.m. "Dateline NBC" 9-10 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (Encores) 10-11 p.m. "Law & Order" (Encores)

SUNDAY 7-8 p.m. Specials/"Dateline NBC" 8-9 p.m. Specials/"MERLIN" 9-10 p.m. Specials/"Medium" 10-11 p.m. Specials/"KINGS"

NBC PRIMETIME SCHEDULE FOR SUMMER 2009

*New programs in UPPER CASE

MONDAY 8-9 p.m. "American Gladiators" 9-10 p.m. "AMERICA'S TOUGHEST JOBS" 10-11 p.m. "Dateline NBC"

TUESDAY 8-9 p.m. "Most Outrageous Moments" 9-10 p.m. "America's Got Talent" 10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (Encores)

WEDNESDAY 8-9 p.m. "SHARK TAGGERS" 9-10 p.m. "America's Got Talent" (Results Show) 10-11 p.m. "Law & Order" (Encores)

THURSDAY 8- 8:30 p.m. "The Office" (Encores) 8:30- 9 p.m. "THE OFFICE" SPINOFF (Encores) 9-10 p.m. "Last Comic Standing" 10-11 p.m. "THE LISTENER"

FRIDAY 8-9 p.m. "CHOPPING BLOCK" 9-11 p.m. "Dateline NBC"

SATURDAY 8-9 p.m. Drama Encores 9-10 p.m. Drama Encores 10-11 p.m. Drama Encores

SUNDAY 7-8 p.m. "Dateline NBC" 8-9 p.m. "Monk" 9-10 p.m. "Nashville Star" 10-11 p.m. "KINGS" (Encores)

2008-09 NEW SERIES DESCRIPTIONS:

NEW DRAMAS

MY OWN WORST ENEMY - Henry Spivey (Christian Slater, "Bobby") is a middle-class efficiency expert living a humdrum life in the suburbs with a wife, two kids, a dog, and a minivan. Edward Albright is an operative who speaks 13 languages, runs a four-minute mile, and is trained to kill with his teeth. Henry and Edward are polar opposites who share only one thing in common -- the same body. When the carefully constructed wall between them breaks down, Henry and Edward are thrust into unfamiliar territory where each man is dangerously out of his element. "My Own Worst Enemy" explores the duality of a man who is literally pitted against himself. And it raises the question: who can you trust when you can't trust yourself? The series is produced by Universal Media Studios. Jason Smilovic ("Kidnapped") is the executive producer; David Semel (director of the "American Dreams," "Heroes" and "Life" pilots) is the director and executive producer.

KNIGHT RIDER -On the heels of NBC's hit movie, the iconic 1980s television classic comes roaring back to life as an updated drama series showcasing the new customized KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand) Ford Mustang. As the sequel resumes, KITT is absolutely the coolest car ever created: its supercomputer capable of hacking almost any system; its weapons systems efficient; and its body -- thanks to its creator's work and nanotechnology -- is capable of actually shifting shape and color. It is the ultimate car -- and someone will be willing to do anything to obtain it. "Knight Rider" stars Justin Bruening ("Cold Case"), Deanna Russo ("NCIS"), Sydney Tamiia Poitier ("Veronica Mars") and Bruce Davison ("Breach"). David Bartis ("Heist," "The O.C."), Doug Liman ("Mr. and Mrs. Smith," "The Bourne Identity") and Gary Scott Thompson ("Las Vegas," "The Fast and The Furious") are executive producers and David Andron serves as supervising producer and writer. Based on characters created by Glen Larson, "Knight Rider" is from Universal Media Studios and Dutch Oven Productions.

CRUSOE - Based on the legendary novel by Daniel Defoe, this is the tale of Robinson Crusoe. A young man leaves his true love to embark on an adventure -- only to end up shipwrecked on a remote tropical island for 28 years, completely detached from the life he once knew. His desire to return to his wife and his strong and unlikely friendship with Friday are the only things that keep him sane. While stranded, Crusoe encounters enemies and braves the elements. Equal parts "MacGyver," "Castaway" and "Pirates of the Caribbean," this series is an inspirational tale of survival rife with action and comedy. Power Entertainment produces "Crusoe."

KINGS -- "Kings" is an inspiring exploration of the timeless David vs. Goliath struggle. The show is set in a modern metropolis under siege where the fighting has gone on for too long and cost far too many lives. When David Shepherd (Christopher Egan, "Resident Evil: Extinction"), a brave young soldier, rescues the king's (Golden Globe winner Ian McShane, "Deadwood") son from enemy territory, he sets events in motion that will finally bring peace. Suddenly, David is thrust into the limelight, earning the affections of women -- including the king's daughter. When he's promoted to captain, he becomes the reluctant poster boy for hope. But for David, the line between his allies and enemies will blur as the power players in the kingdom go to great lengths to see him fall. From the director (Francis Lawrence) of the blockbuster movie "I Am Legend" comes the ultimate story of David vs. Goliath, and there's no telling who will win. Sebastian Stan ("Gossip Girl") also stars. "Kings" is a production of Universal Media Studios; Michael Green (NBC's "Heroes") is the executive producer. Francis Lawrence ("I Am Legend") is the director and executive producer and Erwin Stoff ("I Am Legend") also is executive producer.

MERLIN - "Merlin" brings to life a new legend for a modern audience. "Merlin" is an exciting, hour-long fantasy series set in the mythic city of Camelot -- but inspired by 21st Century storytelling. Before Merlin (Colin Morgan, "Doctor Who") and Arthur (Bradley James, "Lewis") became legends, they were ambitious young men looking for adventure, hoping to live up to their family's expectations, discovering love and finding their own true destiny, making mistakes along the way. The innovative, action-packed drama has cross-generational appeal and paints a picture of Merlin and Arthur's early life that audiences have never witnessed before. Anthony Head ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), Richard Wilson ("A Passage to India"), Angel Coulby ("Magicians") and Katie McGrath ("The Tudors") also star. A FremantleMedia Enterprises distribution of a Shine production for BBC.

THE PHILANTHROPIST -- This one-hour drama is about a rebel with a cause. Teddy Rist loves women, money and power. After the tragic death of his only child, Teddy has an awakening and becomes the world's first vigilante philanthropist -- a renegade billionaire who uses his wealth, connections and power to help people in need. He'll do anything to achieve his goals -- bargain with the self-righteous, trade with the nefarious and even tell the truth. Instead of spending $25,000 a plate at a fundraiser, he's dodging bullets in third-world countries to hand-deliver vaccine. It's a global adventure that will take viewers to the ends of the Earth and will inspire them as well. "The Philanthropist" is produced by Universal Media Studios, Original Media and the Levinson/Fontana Company. Tom Fontana ("Homicide: Life on the Street"), Barry Levinson ("Homicide: Life on the Street") and Charlie Corwin ("L.A. Ink") are the executive producers; Jim Juvonen is a co-executive producer.

THE LISTENER -- In this one-hour drama, Toby Logan (Craig Olejnik, "The Runaway") is a 24-year-old paramedic living with a secret: he can read people's minds. This telepathic procedural takes viewers into the heart of a tortured hero who struggles to solve crimes with his unique gift. Week-to-week, "The Listener" balances high-stakes drama with irreverent humor and sends Toby on an intellectual and emotional adventure. Ennis Esmer ("The Path to 9/11") also stars. "The Listener" is a production of Program Partners and Shaftesbury Films. The executive producers are Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Michael Amo, Russ Cochrane, Glen Davis and Bill Laurin.

NEW COMEDIES

THE OFFICE SPINOFF - From Greg Daniels, the executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning American version of NBC's "The Office," comes the most highly anticipated comedy of the season in "The Office" spinoff. Audiences will follow another comic journey, complete with new faces and new locations, but with the same unique sense of humor and brand of quality from Daniels and his creative team. It's the next chapter of what viewers have come to know and love about "The Office."

KATH & KIM -- They're the most dysfunctional duo in suburbia. Kath Day (Molly Shannon, NBC's "Saturday Night Live") is the mom, a foxy, 40-something divorce who finally has time for herself and her valiant search for love. Kim Day (Selma Blair, "Hellboy," "Hellboy II") is the daughter, a self-absorbed princess recently separated from her husband who finds consolation in stuffing her face. When Kim decides to move back home, Kath reluctantly agrees -- but to Kim's chagrin, Kath is not about to cater to her every whim as she has in the past. Based on the most successful comedy in Australia of the same name, Kath and Kim are two brassy women who prefer the finer things in life like acrylic nails, big hair and faux diamond chips. The series is produced by Universal Media Studios and Reveille. The executive producer/writer is Michelle Nader ("The King of Queens") and the executive producer/director is Paul Feig ("Freaks and Geeks," "The Office"). Gina Riley, Jane Turner and Rick McKenna also are executive producers.

SNL THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE - Dubbed "TV's funniest and most influential political player" by Entertainment Weekly, "SNL" expands its "Weekend Update" coverage to Thursdays in primetime for three live half-hour shows beginning October 16. With all of the excitement and attention around "Saturday Night Live" during the presidential primaries, the anticipation for the show's take on this Fall's election will be at a fever pitch, "SNL Thursday Night Live" will keep the momentum -- and the laughs -- going. The program is a production of Broadway Video in association with SNL Studios. Lorne Michaels is the executive producer.

NEW ALTERNATIVE

CHOPPING BLOCK -- It's time to sharpen your knives! It's not just about the meal, it's about the business of food. From the producers of "Hell's Kitchen," original rock-star chef Marco Pierre White comes to America to host the ultimate food fight on NBC -- a new reality competition set in the high-drama, high-stakes world of New York City restaurants. The cooks are given a grilling over the course of the series. The teams, which are made up of couples, will be tested in challenges that vary from having less than a week to design and revamp a restaurant space to planning a menu and creating a signature dish. The winning couple will get a chance to have their dreams come true -- opening their very own restaurant in Manhattan. The series is produced by Granada America.

AMERICA'S TOUGHEST JOBS - From creator/executive producer Thom Beers ("Deadliest Catch," "Ice Road Truckers") and executive producers Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun, "America's Toughest Jobs" is a new extreme competition series that will test 12 people who venture out of their safe, comfortable careers and are injected into some of the most challenging, dangerous and demanding jobs on earth. From logging high in the Oregon Forest to oil drilling on the Texas range, or from driving icy roads to extreme fishing -- each job requires guts and stamina, and they'll have to live up to the same standards as the pros. In the end, their new boss and co-workers will determine success or failure, and those who don't make the grade get sent home. Upping the ante, the annual salary of each job will be thrown into the pot until the finale, where one rookie will take home the well-earned cash. "America's Toughest Jobs" is created by executive producer Beers and is produced by Original Productions and BermanBraun.

SHARK TAGGERS -- From creator/executive producer Thom Beers ("Deadliest Catch," "Ice Road Truckers") and executive producers Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun, "Shark Taggers" is a one-hour reality series that follows daring marine biologists as they track down the ocean's top predators and hand-tag them with cutting-edge satellite transmitters or investigate bull sharks' sudden attacks on surfers. The series is produced by Original Productions and BermanBraun.

MOST OUTRAGEOUS MOMENTS -- This half-hour show proves that anything can happen when the cameras keep rolling. Audiences can enjoy hilarious outtakes from some of NBC's most popular shows, as well as outrageous moments from home videos, newscasts, game shows and commercials from around the globe. "Most Outrageous Moments" is produced by Universal Media Studios and Scott Satin Productions. Scott Satin ("Who Wants to Be a Superhero?") serves as executive producer.

NEW EVENTS/MINISERIES/MOVIES

THE LAST TEMPLAR -- In this four-hour miniseries, Oscar winner Mira Sorvino ("Mighty Aphrodite") stars in an epic action-adventure tale about the greatest mystery of our time. At the New york Metropolitan Museum, four horsemen dressed as 12th century knights storm the gala opening of an exhibition of Vatican treasures and steal an arcane medieval decoder. For archaeologist Tess Chaykin (Sorvino) and FBI agent Sean Daly (Scott Foley, "The Unit"), this is just the start of a suspenseful game of cat and mouse as they race across three continents in search of the enemy -- and the lost secret of the Knights Templar. The miniseries is produced by MUSE Entertainment Enterprises. Victor Garber ("Alias") and Omar Sharif ("Doctor Zhivago") also star. Emmy Award-winning television impresario Robert Halmi Sr. ("Tin Man," "Gulliver's Travels"), Robert Halmi, Jr. ("The Poseidon Adventure," "The Christmas Card"), and Michael Prupas ("Human Trafficking") will executive-produce the miniseries.

XIII - "XIII" is a high-stakes cat-and-mouse thriller starring Val Kilmer ("The Doors") and Stephen Dorff ("World Trade Center"). This adrenaline-charged miniseries begins dramatically as the first female U.S. President is shot dead by a sniper during her Veteran's Day speech. Three months later, a wounded man is found tattered in a forest with no memory of his identity. The only clue is a tattoo on his neck, "XIII." Could his lightning-fast reflexes and killer instincts betray him as the presidential assassin that the U.S. is desperately searching for? Submerged in a far-reaching conspiracy, which threatens to overthrow the entire government, XIII's identity becomes the key to unraveling a complex and dangerous secret that will shock and excite. From the first bullet, this gripping action-thriller will leave audiences gasping for more. "XIII" is produced by Prodigy Pictures and Cipango.

Shawna's Analysis

Here is what I find interesting: Both Law & Order flavors (SVU and Original) made the cut. There were rumors floating that one or the other might not live. Also, they've decided to create TWO spinoffs from current series -- "The Office" gets a spinoff show for the fall, where it will share the timeslot with an SNL Thursday Night Live Weekend Update type show. The Weekend Update show should help them draw in some younger viewers, though if they can get them to sample the rest of the night is the qusetion.

Friday Night Lights makes it, but won't be back until midseason. This is a surprisingly 'stable' schedule -- The Monday night lineup of 'Chuck' and 'Heroes' stays the same, and a new show 1My Own Worst Enemy' gets slotted in, since 'Journeyman' definitely cancelled. Wednesday feels a little awkward for me, as I don't really get why they would stick 'Deal or No Deal' between two scripted shows. Are they that afraid of putting 'Knight Rider' in front of 'Law and Order?' Thursday, apart from the new shows, remains unchanged. Friday in the fall has that awkward split again, of DOND between two scripted shows. But I think 'Life' should do well at 10 PM. I'll be watching, anyway. 'My Own Worst Enemy' and the Mini-series/Movies were really the only surprises for me on the schedule.

'Scrubs' is NOT on the schedule. So it looks very likely it will end up at ABC.

Overall, I think this is a pretty strong schedule, at least on paper. Kudos to NBC for leveraging their really good shows to anchor for some new ones. At least the other networks now know what NBC is planning. It definitely feels a bit like a dare -- 'here we are, and we're not going to take 4th place lying down'.

What do you guys think? What about these new shows? Do they sound interesting, intriguing to you? Are they a good fit with NBC's 'image'?

NBC news starts to leak

Interesting last paragraph in this Variety article:

Shows returning to NBC next season include "ER," "The Office," "Chuck," "Life," "The Biggest Loser," "American Gladiators," "Deal or No Deal" and "My Name Is Earl." Also a safe bet to be back: "Medium," "30 Rock," at least one "Law & Order" skein and "Friday Night Lights." First-year drama "Lipstick Jungle" could also return.

That would seem to indicate that 'Friday Night Lights' is a GO for a 3rd season, confirming all of the circulating rumors.

Best news of my day, and it's only 9:15 AM!

Stuff I'm thinking about

I haven't posted my own thoughts on things in awhile. A lot of what I do is report TV news and happenings, link to other blogs...but of course, what's a blog's worth if I don't blather on a bit myself? I might as well just have a news aggregator up and running.

So, the TV landscape is a bit of a mess, not that it's a big surprise. We all expected some turmoil coming out of the strike, but current events show there is a great deal of uncertainty out there, both for the networks and the writers.

Let's look at some of the recent events. NBC announces a "52-week" season. First, someone should tell Zucker that sounds silly to anyone not in television (and some of us who are in TV). There are no weeks were there's no TV. TV is already 52 weeks, and I get that he's trying to differentiate between fall season premieres and premieres that can occur all year round. But think about it. When was the last time you saw a network show premiere outside of fall? How about ALL THE TIME. So, this big, daring announcement really amounts to NBC saying "We're tired of pouring money into cool pilots that turn into crappy shows. Now we're just gonna skip the cool pilot step and just make crappy shows." At least, that's what came through on my Zucker-Interpreter Relay (patent pending).

Quarterlife bombed on NBC, big time. Worst ratings in the 10 PM time slot in 17 years. Quite an achievement. Here's the thing. NBC schedules the show for 10 o'clock. It's called *quarterlife*, meaning, 25 year olds. Who is your target audience for this show? I'm telling you, anyone over age 30 -- not interested. The people who are really going to be into this show are young, hence, popularity on the internets. And it's on late. On NBC. Which most young hipsters ARE NOT WATCHING. To me, this boils down to programming error. NBC misread the audience for the show, and didn't give it the timeslot it needed to build an audience. Well, that and I think the show is boring and inconsequential. And I liked "My So-Called Life" and "Once and Again". Bravo will now air this series, but there was a reason ABC didn't pick this up as a pilot ages ago. It sucked.

The new ABC/NBC wrestling match over "Scrubs". Funny how NBC is the focus of the first three items. Pattern, mayhaps? ABC is the instigator on this one. This is personal for Steve McPherson. He developed Scrubs at ABC Studios, loves it to death. He wanted it last season, but couldn't get it. When NBC didn't order the 6 episodes that were left for this season, opting to keep the series to 12, McPherson saw an opportunity. Of course, I think both networks are idiots on this score. Look, I know the show has a lot of fans still, but it's a show no one cares about anymore. ABC picking it up would just be another (very costly) mistake for the network. NBC keeping it just to spite ABC would be ridiculous, liking poking oneself in the eyeball hoping that people won't see *you* as a result. The show should get one or two episodes, promote the heck out of the end of the show (or better, just make it an hour-long finale), book it for end of sweeps and send the show off into the sunset. Instead, the show will probably get renewed one more time, and it will die a slow, painful death with minuscule ratings. I weep for Zach Braff.

Showrunner roulette. Lots of changes everywhere! The Dexter showrunner moves to Dirty Sexy Money! The creators/showrunners for Women's Murder Club -- fired! (Fear not, they'll be writing for Whedon on "Dollhouse"). Moonlight's showrunner -- gone! And worse, Joel Silver will oversee the last three episodes (what the heck does Joel Silver really know about running a tv show??) I don't know if all of these changes were needed or not. Some of them are probably good changes, others...I don't know -- I can't imagine it's spite on the part of the studios/networks. Sure the showrunners stood in solidarity with their writing staffs, but even though they shirked their non-writing duties to walk the line, it seems unlikely that a grudge would be held against them for that. But then, I'm not a studio/network person. I only have a Zucker Intepreter Relay (patent pending), not a Studio/Network Minion Mind Reading Device (blueprints available).

What to make of all this? I wish I knew. I'm personally waiting on the fence -- I reported (finally) that I have a pilot optioned. Now I'm waiting to see when my producer people will enter the fray with said pilot. Things are a bit jumbled at the moment. No one knows when "pilot season" will start again, or if it really will be a "52-week" season (thanks Zucker!)

Here's what I do know. TV will continue on. The networks may not be able to pull 15 to 20 shares on its shows these days (unless you are Idol or Deal or No Deal) but that doesn't mean they won't continue to try to find shows that can pull that kind of audience. So, we, as aspiring writers, soldier on, work on our specs, our pilots, our dreams.

I really loathe the word "Change" right now (overused by just about everyone). Things are constantly changing -- it's a matter of when you sit up and take notice that things aren't the same. Changes are happening in this industry. It's important to be on top of them, embrace them, meet them head on. Don't be afraid to try different things. Clearly the marketplace is wide open.

Let's see what we can do with it.

'Scrubs' moving to ABC

Wow. Big story. ABC needs comedies BADLY!

Linkn: Scrubs moving to ABC

UPDATE: Apparently, NBC isn't too happy about this possible move and are fighting back. I love a good tussle! And as Shawn says, weird that it is over a show on its last legs...

Quick news roundup

NBC's "Las Vegas" sevens out (that's canceled for those of you not hip to the gamble-speak).

CBS renews "The Ghost Whisperer", but "Moonlight" still waits for news and a new showrunner!

"Friday Night Lights" -- not quite dead yet.

USA renews "Monk".

TBS likes "Frank TV".

NBC has ordered 6 more episodes of "Lipstick Jungle".

ABC has given "Women's Murder Club" 3 more episodes.

NBC unveils year-round slate

Hugely important article in Variety today. NBC will announce a 52-week schedule in April:

For three days in April, Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff, co-chairmen of NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, will meet in New York with ad-agency executives and media buyers to go over the network's 2008-09 programming strategy.

Following those sessions, NBC U's sales execs will engineer a series of client meetings in N.Y., Los Angeles and Chicago to talk not only about the year-round programming on NBC but ad buys across all of NBC U's networks, including USA, Sci Fi Channel, Bravo, MSNBC, CNBC and Telemundo.

These give-and-takes will build to a May 12 "spotlight event" that "will showcase the full scale of the NBC U offerings in a unique, multi-media, interactive environment."

HUGE. NEWS.

More post-strike scuttlebutt

2/13 Lots of Updates!

Here are the tidbits being posted around the web on various sites and in notes I've gotten from people 'in the know':

CBS:

* UPDATE: Shark is going back into production for four episodes, return date TBD. "The Unit" is still on hiatus.

* Cane is also a bubble show -- no requests for episodes from them, but pickup is still a possibility.

* The New Adventures of Old Christine and Rules of Engagement - also unknown if they will be picked up for next season -- bubble. UPDATE: Rules of Engagement will produce 6 more episodes for this season, return date is April 14.

* Moonlight might get 4 new episodes this spring,and will return to the schedule on April 11.

* Swingtown will go back into production. Air date is TBD.

* How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men each get 9 new episodes. All will return on March 17.

Other CBS shows, episodes ordered and return to air date:

"CSI: Miami," March 24, 8 episodes

"Cold Case," March 30, 5 episodes

"Criminal Minds," April 2, 7 episodes

"CSI: NY," April 2, 7 episodes

"CSI," April 3, 6 episodes

"Without a Trace," April 3, 6 episodes

"Ghost Whisperer," April 4, 6 episodes

"Numb3rs," April 4, 6 episodes

"NCIS," April 8, 7 episodes


Fox:

* Word is that Prison Break won't shoot more episodes.

* Also rumor that 24 might get pushed to January 2009!! UPDATE: Still hearing this.

* House will push out 5 or 6 more episodes, and Fox isn't afraid to extend their spring season a bit to accommodate past May sweeps.

* Back to You and 'Til Death are expected to go back into production for a few more episodes this season.

NBC:

* Chuck and Heroes will likely not produce any more episodes this season, but will return in the fall. No word on whether additional episodes will be tacked on to next season (this may happen to some shows being cut short this season).

* The Office and 30 Rock are expected to resume production.

ABC:

* Lost will probably only eke out another 6 episodes or so. There were supposed to be 16 for the shortened seasons, so a few episodes may get added to the next two seasons, making them 17 or 18 episode seasons to accommodate the story-telling (still speculative)

* Boston Legal is expected to resume production, and may be quickest back to air with new episodes, as apparently David Kelley works really fast cranking out scripts (hat tip: Hollywood Reporter for several of these items)

* Women's Murder Club is really on the bubble. Three executive producers were let go from the show yesterday. Big Shots looks really dead.

The CW:

* Gossip Girl has already been picked up for next season. No word yet on production schedule (though probably won't have new episodes until fall).

* Girlfriends was aired its last original episode, but no more are expected to be produced since this was the show's final season. There is talk of a final episode -- possibly a clip show -- to give the show a proper send off (will add this cancellation to watch list).

* Aliens in America had already shot 18 episodes, likely won't get more produced for spring. Everybody Hates Chris produced their 22-episode order, and both series still have fresh episodes to be aired. The Game is expected to go back into production for a few episodes.

* Smallville, Supernatural, Reaper and One Tree Hill are expected to go back into production. No word on how many episodes will be produced.

Will update rumors/confirm news as it happens.

NBC gives full season order to "Chuck" and "Life"

No word yet on the fates of "The Bionic Woman" and "Journeyman".

Link: Hollywood Reporter

I'm pleased that both of these shows are being picked up, since I'm still watching and enjoying them.

Watch List will be updated...

Quick notes on the fall season

ABC has ordered 3 additional scripts for "Women's Murder Club". This now leaves "Cavemen" as the only new show on ABC without an additional script order. Story Link: Hollywood Reporter.

NBC is cancelling the "Heroes" spin-off "Origins". They are blaming the strike. I blame the low ratings and general suckitude of "Heroes" this year.

The X-Files movie sequel is a GO!! July 25 is set for the release date. Clearly the script is done and they are going to start shooting soon to make that date.

Tonight the writers will meet in a general meeting, and we'll know what the story is for when the strike will be declared. Considering there was hardly any news throughout the day today, I'd say the negotiations haven't gone horrible or well. This could mean waiting it out until Monday to call the strike, but who knows...

How the new series fare so far...

(For Nielsen coverage in full, check out Mark Berman's Programming Insider column daily.)

New Show Debut Ratings from last week:

Private Practice (ABC) – Wed. 9 p.m.
Viewers: 14.41 million (#13), A18-49: 5.2/13 (#10)

Bionic Woman (NBC) – Wed. 9 p.m.
Viewers: 13.91 million (#16), A18-49: 5.7/14 (#8)

Big Shots (ABC) – Thurs. 10 p.m.
Viewers: 11.10 million (#29), A18-49: 4.5/12 (#20t)

Dirty Sexy Money (ABC) – Wed. 10 p.m.
Viewers: 10.44 million (#31), A18-49: 3.6/10 (#32t)

Life (NBC) – Wed. 10 p.m.
Viewers: 9.95 million (#34), A18-49: 4.0/11 (#27)

The Big Bang Theory (CBS) – Mon. 8:30 p.m.
Viewers: 9.52 million (#37), A18-49: 3.7. 9 (#30t)

Chuck (NBC) – Mon. 8 p.m.
Viewers: 9.21 million (#42), A18-49: 3.6/ 9 (#32t)

Journeyman (NBC) – Mon. 10 p.m.
Viewers: 9.16 million (#43), A18-49: 3.5/ 9 (#35t)

Moonlight (CBS) – Fri. 9 p.m.
Viewers: 8.54 million (#47), A18-49: 2.5/ 8 (#55t)

Reaper (CW) – Tues. 9 p.m.
Viewers: 3.28 million (#85), A18-49: 1.5/ 4 (#76t)

So far this week, "The Big Bang Theory" held most of its audience from last week, and "Chuck", "Journeyman" and "Reaper" have on par numbers. "Cane" last night had better ratinigs than "Smith" in the time period a year ago. I say it will hold on for a few weeks. So far this bunch of shows look relatively stable.

"Cavemen" and "Carpoolers" last night bowed to unspectacular numbers. Both shows managed a 6.5/10 and a 6.3/10 in the fast nationals. This will probably put them in the top 50 shows of the week, but I don't expect those ratings to hold next week. Both shows were painful to watch.

There are articles all over the web detailing how increased DVR usage impacts the ratings this year. Nielsen has not yet published the live +3 and live +7 day ratings which include the DVR usage. Last year, DVR penetration was at about 8.5%. This year it is estimated to be more than double that, to 19%. 19% of households is roughly equal to 22 million households. That is a significant amount for the ratings picture and could catapult some shows from decent numbers to hit status once the DVR viewership is factored in.

Of course, the advertisers aren't so sure that people using DVRs are seeing their ads (probably not) so they are probably going to take the live +3, live +7 ratings with a grain of salt...

Was it just me, or...

...did "Heroes" last night seem a narrative mess?

The story threads were practically incoherent. The only one that made any sense at all was Claire's and that was pushing it.

I'm disappointed.

Oh, and we were told to check out this site to learn more about Hiro's personal hero (who is apparently Julian Sark) Takezo Kensei.

The 2006-07 Watch List

Updated 09/07.

Cancelled (new) shows:

• Blade: The Series (Spike)
  
• Smith (CBS)
  
• Runaway (CW)
  
• 20 Good Years (NBC)
  
• Waterfront (CBS) (midseason, never aired)
  
• Kidnapped (NBC)
  
• Happy Hour (Fox)
  
• Vanished (Fox)
  
• 3 Lbs (CBS)
  
• Help Me Help You (ABC)
  
• Justice (Fox)
  
• Daybreak (ABC)
  
• The Wedding Bells (Fox)
  
• The Black Donnellys (NBC)
  
• 6 Degrees (ABC)
  
• In Case of Emergency (ABC)
  
• Andy Barker, P.I. (NBC)
  
• The Nine (ABC)
  
• Big Day (ABC)
  
• Raines (NBC)
  
• Drive (Fox)
  
• Standoff (Fox)
  
• Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC)
  
• The Knights of Prosperity (ABC)
  
• The Class (CBS)
  
• The Winner (FOX)
  
• Creature Comforts (CBS)
  
• Traveler (ABC)
  
• Hidden Palms (CW)
  
• John From Cincinatti (HBO)
  
• Painkiller Jane (SciFi)
  
• Heartland (TNT)
  

Shows likely to be axed:

None at this time.

Ordered full season:

None at this time.

Likely pickups:

None at this time.

New shows on the air, no decision:

NETWORK:

• The Singles Table (NBC) (will it ever air??)
  
  

CABLE:

• Monarch Cove (Lifetime)
  
• The Dresden Files (SciFi)
  
• Tyler Perry's House of Payne (TBS)
  
• Meadowlands (Showtime)
  
• Damages (FX)
  
• Greek (ABC Family)
  
• Side Order of Life (Lifetime) (resumes airing in Sept)
  
• State of Mind (Lifetime) (resumes airing in Sept)
  
• Mad Men (AMC)
  
• Flash Gordon (SciFi)
  
  

Renewed for another season:

• Eureka (SciFi)
  
• Psych (USA)
  
• 10 Items or Less (TBS) (summer 07)
  
• My Boys (TBS) (gets 3rd season for summer 08)
  
• Lincoln Heights (ABC Family) (summer 07)
  
• Doctor Who (SciFi)
  
• Dexter (Showtime)
  
• The Wire (HBO) (last season)
  
• The Office (NBC)
  
• My Name is Earl (NBC)
  
• Heroes (NBC)
  
• Law & Order: SVU (NBC)
  
• Everybody Hates Chris (CW)
  
• Battlestar Galactica (SciFi)
  
• House (Fox)
  
• Bones (Fox)
  
• Prison Break (Fox)
  
• The Simpsons (Fox)
  
• American Dad (Fox)
  
• Family Guy (Fox)
  
• Las Vegas (NBC)
  
• Nip/Tuck (FX)
  
• Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
  
• Boston Legal (ABC)
  
• Men in Trees (ABC)
  
• Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
  
• Ugly Betty (ABC)
  
• Desperate Housewives (ABC)
  
• Lost (ABC)
  
• 30 Rock (NBC)
  
• The Tudors (Showtime)
  
• The Riches (FX)
  
• Dirt (FX)
  
• Medium (NBC)
  
• Blood Ties (Lifetime)
  
• Friday Night Lights (NBC)
  
• Til Death (Fox)
  
• October Road (ABC) (13 episode order)
  
• Notes from the Underbelly (ABC) (13 episode order)
  
• Law and Order (NBC)
  
• Law and Order: Criminal Intent (NBC) (Will go to USA next season)
  
• Shark (CBS)
  
• The Unit (CBS)
  
• How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
  
• The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS)
  
• Ghost Whisperer (CBS)
  
• Criminal Minds (CBS)
  
• CSI (CBS)
  
• CSI: NY (CBS)
  
• CSI: Miami (CBS)
  
• Cold Case (CBS)
  
• NCIS (CBS)
  
• Without a Trace (CBS)
  
• Numb3rs (CBS)
  
• Two and a Half Men (CBS)
  
• One Tree Hill (CW)
  
• Supernatural (CW)
  
• Smallville (CW)
  
• The Game (CW)
  
• Girlfriends (CW)
  
• Rules of Engagement (CBS)
  
• Jericho (CBS)
  
• According to Jim (ABC)
  
• Robin Hood (BBC America)
  
• Burn Notice (USA)
  
• Saving Grace (TNT)
  
• Flight of the Conchords (HBO)
  
• Army Wives (Lifetime)
  
• The Bill Engvall Show (TBS)
  
• Californication (Showtime)
  
  

Veteran shows death watch:

• The O.C. (Fox) (cancelled)
  
• Stargate: SG-1 (SciFi) (cancelled)
  
• King of Queens (CBS) (cancelled)
  
• Reba (CW) (cancelled)
  
• 7th Heaven (CW) (cancelled)
  
• Gilmore Girls (CW) (cancelled)
  
• The George Lopez Show (ABC) (cancelled)
  
• What About Brian (ABC) (cancelled)
  
• Crossing Jordan (NBC) (cancelled)
  
• The War at Home (Fox) (cancelled)
  
• Veronica Mars (CW) (cancelled)
  
• All of Us (CW) (cancelled)
  
• Close to Home (CBS) (cancelled)
  
• The Loop (Fox) (cancelled)
  
  

A brief explanation of the watch list:

Cancelled (new) shows - these are CONFIRMED freshman cancelled shows (or as close as we can get to confirmation).

Shows likely to be axed - their numbers aren't good, news stories point to it being yanked, it may soon end up in the cancelled category.

Ordered full season - this doesn't mean it is renewed for next year, just that the series has gotten a full season order. (e.g., 'back nine' pickup).

Likely pickups - the numbers are good, all we need is the confirmation from the network (again, this is for full season orders, not renewals).

New shows on the air, no decision - consider this the neutral zone, detailing the premiere dates for new shows and tidbits of info which could forecast a move to another category.

Renewed - Will be back next season.

Veteran show death watch - they've been on the air and their time may be coming. We watch and wait...

NBC Press release - fall premiere dates and schedule changes

(I'll be creating the new watch list very soon!)

NBC SHOWCASES FALL PRIMETIME ENTERTAINMENT SERIES BEGINNING WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 24

New Drama "Chuck" Kicks Off Mondays (8-9 p.m. ET) and "Deal or No Deal" Shifts to Fridays (8-9 p.m. ET) Leading into "Friday Night Lights" (9-10 p.m. ET) Followed by "Las Vegas" (10-11 p.m. ET)

"The Biggest Loser" Expands to 90 Minutes on Tuesdays and Shares the Night with Summer Hit "The Singing Bee," New Addition to Fall Lineup

One-hour Episodes of "My Name Is Earl" (8-9 p.m. ET) and "The Office" (9-10 p.m. ET) Premiere on Thursday, September 27

BURBANK – July 16, 2007 – NBC launches its season premieres the week of September 24. The network will adjust its schedule by moving the new comedic spy thriller "Chuck" to Mondays (8-9 p.m. ET) – followed by switching the popular Monday version of "Deal or No Deal" to Fridays (8-9 p.m. ET), and shifting "Friday Night Lights" to an earlier new time of 9-10 p.m. (ET) and " Las Vegas" to 10-11 p.m. (ET).

In addition, NBC will expand "The Biggest Loser" to 90 minutes on Tuesdays (8-9:30 p.m. ET) and will have a special two-hour premiere on Tuesday, Sept. 11. Summer's newest hit, "The Singing Bee" (which premiered earlier this month), will have its Fall premiere on Tuesday, September 25 (9:30-10 p.m. ET).

NBC's premiere week will also feature one-hour episodes each of "My Name Is Earl" (8-9 p.m. ET) and "The Office" (9-10 p.m. ET) on Thursday, September 27 and a two-hour episode premiere of "Las Vegas" on Friday, September 28 (9-11 p.m. ET).

The announcements were made by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, and Marc Graboff, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.

"We can't wait for the new season to begin and we believe that these programming changes will allow for a powerhouse Monday night with 'Chuck,' 'Heroes' and 'Journeyman,'" said Silverman. "On Tuesdays, the 90-minute 'The Biggest Loser' has always performed well and will fit perfectly with our new summer hit 'The Singing Bee.' On Fridays, we can hammock 'Friday Night Lights' between two proven hits – 'Deal or No Deal' and 'Las Vegas,' with new cast member Tom Selleck."

Said Graboff: "We like that we can start our season off strong with hour-long episodes of such comedy favorites as 'Earl' and 'The Office.' Coupled with the dynamo of 'Sunday Night Football,' we will have a very potent fall lineup and these schedule adjustments will only make us stronger."

All of NBC's primetime entertainment series will bow during the week of September 24 with the exception of "The Biggest Loser" (Tuesday, September 11), "30 Rock" (Thursday, October 4), "Friday Night Lights" (Friday, October 5) and "Scrubs" (Thursday, October 25).

In addition, "Deal or No Deal" will premiere on Monday, September 17 (8-9 p.m. ET) -- one final time in its previously announced day and time before moving to Fridays (8-9 p.m. ET) on September 28.

Likewise, "Friday Night Lights" was previously scheduled for Fridays (10-11 p.m. ET) and "Las Vegas" (9-10 p.m. ET) on the same night before swapping time periods.

On September 24, NBC tees up its new season on Mondays (8-9 p.m. ET) with "Chuck," a new hour-long series from executive producer Josh Schwartz ("The O.C.") and executive producer-director McG ("Charlie's Angels," "We Are Marshall"), who deliver a comedic spy thriller about Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi, "Less Than Perfect") -- a computer geek who is catapulted into a new career as the government's most vital secret agent. Then comes the much-anticipated second-season debut of "Heroes" (9-10 p.m. ET) as the epic ensemble drama centers on several ordinary people who possess extraordinary abilities.

Monday, September 24 will also serve as the premiere of the new drama "Journeyman" (10-11 p.m. ET). From Emmy Award-winning writer-producer Kevin Falls ("The West Wing") and Emmy Award-winning director-producer Alex Graves ("The West Wing"), "Journeyman" is a romantic mystery-drama about Dan Vasser (Kevin McKidd, "Rome"), a San Francisco newspaper
reporter and family man who inexplicably begins to travel through time and change people's lives.

Tuesdays mark the beginning of a new season of "The Biggest Loser" (8-10 p.m. ET) starting September 11 as the popular competitive weight-loss series boasts a few new twists. "The Singing Bee," introduced earlier this month, is hosted by Joey Fatone (*NSYNC) as it challenges contestants to not only sing a song – but compels them to sing the words
correctly. The variety-competition series will join the fall lineup on September 25.

The perennial favorite "Deal or No Deal" (8-9 p.m.) jump-starts Wednesdays beginning September 25 with host Howie Mandel, whose provocative series title question: "Deal – or no deal?" – has become a national catchphrase. The new "Bionic Woman" (9-10 p.m. ET) stars Michelle Ryan ("EastEnders") as a young woman whose life is radically altered and empowered after a car crash as it debuts on September 25. Also on the same night, the new drama "Life" (10-11 p.m. ET) features a complex police detective (Damian Lewis, "Band of Brothers") who's given a second chance on the force after serving years in prison for a crime he didn't commit.

"My Name Is Earl" (8-9 p.m. ET) and the Emmy Award-winning "The Office" (9-10 p.m. ET) will break out of the gate in a big way on Thursday, September 27 as each premieres with an hour-long episode. The 14th season debut of "ER" follows (10-11 p.m. ET).

The two-hour premiere of "Las Vegas" (9-11 p.m. ET) will follow the new Friday-night "Deal or No Deal" (8-9 p.m. ET) on September 28.

As it did during last fall, "Football Night in America" (7-8 p.m. ET) and "Sunday Night Football" (8-11 p.m. ET) will dominate on autumn Sundays.

Video clips of new NBC shows

The Bionic Woman

Fighting! Jumping! Katie Sackoff!! Miguel Ferrer. I already love this show.

Interview with Exec Producer David Eick

Chuck

Car chase in Nerd Mobile

The NSA catches up with Chuck and Sarah

Life

Charlie and his partner are escorted out.

Journeyman

Dan saves Neil.

Dan is thrown out of his house in 1987.

Troubled waters for NBC

Thinking more about NBC's announced schedule...they really need one or two shows to hit. Consider this:

ER - 14th season, rumored to be its last
Law & Order - 18th season
Law & Order: SVU - Ninth season

These shows are all long in the tooth and expensive. Law & Order barely escaped cancellation, only surviving after NBC reached an agreement with Dick Wolf to reduce costs on the series this year. A story in the Hollywood Reporter today quotes Kevin Reilly at the upfronts about whether this will be the last season for "ER":

"We'll make a determination in October," Reilly said, noting that NBC will be in the last year of its contract for "ER" with Warner Bros. Television. "If we feel like this is it, we will make a very big deal of it, driving the finale."

If NBC doesn't find some viable replacements out of their development this year, we'll see "Deal or No Deal" on four nights a week. And that's too much Howie Mandel for anyone.