2006 Upfronts: NBC Schedule

Ok, my predictions mostly sucked. Here is the schedule, courtesy of Mediaweek:
Monday
8:00 p.m. Deal or No Deal
9:00 p.m. HEROES
10:00 p.m. Medium

Tuesday
8:00 p.m. FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
9:00 p.m. KIDNAPPED
10:00 p.m. Law & Order: SVU

Wednesday
8:00 p.m. The Biggest Loser
9:00 p.m. 20 GOOD YEARS
9:30 p.m. 30 ROCK
10:00 p.m. Law & Order

Thursday
8:00 p.m. My Name Is Earl (new time)
8:30 p.m. The Office (new time)
9:00 p.m. STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP
10:00 p.m. ER (THE BLACK DONNELLYS in midseason)

Friday
8:00 p.m. Deal or No Deal
9:00 p.m. Las Vegas
10:00 p.m. Law & order: Criminal Intent (new day and time)

Saturday
8:00 p.m. Dateline
9:00 p.m. Drama series encores.
10:00 p.m. Drama series encores.

Sunday
7:00 p.m. FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA
8:00 p.m. SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Sunday After Football Season
7:00 p.m. Dateline
8:00 p.m. AMERICA’S GOT TALENT
9:00 p.m. The Apprentice 6 (only one edition next season)
10:00 p.m. RAINES

I was right that 'Crossing Jordan' would return at midseason, but I didn't get that 'Raines' would be held until then as well. Also looks like I was partially right about 'ER' -- it is staying put at 10 PM Thursday, but it is splitting the time period with 'The Black Donnellys'. Overall, I think this is a decent schedule, though I think the comedies on Wednesday will get killed. Then again, what do I know?

UPDATE: I forgot to mention that Scrubs has been renewed, but is being held until midseason, just like this year. Sorry for the omission.

Stay tuned as I screw up ABC's schedule later today -- don't worry, they'll fix it for me tomorrow.

Conviction and Invasion cancelled

Confirmed at Variety.

Update More cancellations via the futon critic.

'Teachers', 'Hope & Faith' and 'Freddie' are all confirmed as cancelled. NBC has given 'Andy Barker, PI' a 6-episode order and Fox has picked up 'The Wedding Album'.

...and now for something completely different.

I should be writing my pilot treatment right now. Should. Be. Writing.

But what am I doing? Soaking up blogs and upfront news. I suck.

My parents were in town for a week so writing has been sporadic at best. Sleep is also becoming a fair weather friend. Haven't had much sleep; I get an hour here, a half hour there. It's not good, but my creative time seems to be 11PM - 2 AM. Ambien is helping, but of course, I'm all freaked out I might go for a 3 AM joyride now.

And I've made a final decision -- I'm going to Austin Film Festival this year, not the Screenwriting Expo. If the Expo people couldn't figure out how to not schedule their event against AFF, then screw them. I think I've hit my upper limit of sitting in Richard Walter seminars anyway (and I like him, but I've seen him every year, and it must stop).

No agent, no manager yet. Keep getting conflicting notes on my 'House' spec from folks. Might go out to another manager next week, just for kicks.

My former-instructor isn't returning my e-mails. This makes me sad.

Oh, so yeah, I'm writing a pilot. Except not at this moment, when I should be working on the treatment.

AFF deadline is June 1st. I'm entering my 'House' spec and my 'Cold Case', because I like to be rejected twice.

2006 Upfronts: NBC Predictions

NBC has had a tough year with new shows, but a few hits did emerge, most notably 'My Name is Earl' and 'The Office'. This year NBC needs to fill gaping holes left by former hits 'Will & Grace' and 'The West Wing'. 'Joey' was a huge disappointment for the network, and much hyped new series 'Surface' and 'Conviction' just haven't been pulling in audiences. Will they survive? First, let's take a look at what appears to be on the slate for new shows in 2006: (all of this is based on news reports of shows given orders)

• Friday Night Lights
  
• Heroes
  
• Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
  
• The Black Donnellys
  
• Kidnapped
  
• Raines
  
• The Singles Table (half-hour)
  
• 20 Good Years (half-hour)
  
• Untitled Tina Fey project (half-hour)
  

NBC also gets Sunday night football this year. This may mean moving some current Sunday shows around the schedule. NBC may also want to rest a couple of shows until midseason. Finally, we must calculate NBC's newest hit 'Deal or No Deal' into the equation. The show is currently running well 3 nights a week. NBC should probably cut that to 2 in the fall, to keep the show from burning out.

Okay, so what would a fall NBC schedule possibly look like?

Sunday

With football taking most of the air on Sunday, and a perfectly themed drama series to accompany it, Sunday night seems like an easy night to predict. So, let's put 'Friday Night Lights' into the 10 PM slot on our grid.

Monday

'Medium' is doing well at 10 o'clock, but might need to help lead in to a new show. 'Deal or No Deal' has really taken off at 8, so I think we can slot that in the grid. I think 'Raines', which stars Jeff Goldblum as a cop who talks to dead victims, would make the perfect companion to 'Medium', which would be a good lead-in to the new show, so I'll say 'Medium' moves to 9 PM so 'Raines' can premiere at 10 PM.

Tuesday

This has been a tough night lately for NBC. It started out strong, when 'Earl' and 'Office' pulled good enough numbers to justify moving to Thursday. Since then, 'Scrubs' and 'Teachers' have underperformed. Still, I think NBC is committed to counter program everyone else's dramas with comedies on this night, so I think 'Scrubs' will get picked up for one more season and will stay at 9 PM. At 9:30, 'The Singles Table' might be able to gain some footing. 10 PM plays host to Law & Order: SVU and I think it will continue to do so. 8 PM is a hole, currently being filled by 'Most Outrageous Moments'. That show could get a rest and we could see a new reality show or 'The Apprentice' slotted here.

Wednesday

Law & Order has been the rock of this night at 10 PM for years. NBC messed with success earlier in the year with disasterous results. Expect them not to repeat that mistake again. 9 PM is currently filled with 'Dateline NBC' but that show is typically skedded when a series fails and they need to program the gap. Law & Order is still a good launch pad for a new show, but there is tough competition at 9 PM. Still, I wouldn't be surprised if 'Kidnapped' got slated at 9 PM, given its similar L&O nature. 'Deal or No Deal' is currently taking up space at 8 PM, but if NBC is smart, they will retire that edition and leave the other two airings in place. Therefore, NBC could get a jump on the night with new show 'Heroes', which would make for interesting 8 PM viewing.

Thursday

There were rumors that 'ER' might move to make way for a new show. While I think this is a strong possibility, given its erosion against 'Without a Trace', I think it might get bumped to midseason to make room for Aaron Sorkin's new show 'Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip'. As for the sitcoms, I think NBC will give a vote of confidence to 'Earl' and 'The Office' and keep them programmed on this night. Tina Fey may get the plum 9 PM slot with 'The Office' following behind. 'Earl' would do well to stay at 8 with '20 Good Years' following it at 8:30 (this new show stars John Lithgow and Jeffrey Tambor).

Friday

First of all, don't be surprised if 'Crossing Jordan' and 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' end up bumped to midseason. These are strong performing shows that can wait in the wings should any of the new shows fail (and some of them will). 'Las Vegas', on the other hand, is the little show that could, and is doing well at 9 on Friday, so it stays. 'Deal or No Deal' has a cozy home on Friday at 8, and I think it deserves to continue there. The 10 PM slot could be reserved for 'The Black Donnellys', the new show produced by Paul Haggis about four Irish brothers involved in organized crime.

Saturday

This night is never programmed very strongly by anyone, and as result, Fox always wins with 'Cops'. This is where 'Dateline NBC' and TV movies go to die.

So, what's left over? Not much -- L&O: CI, Crossing Jordan, and ER could go to midseason and join 'The Biggest Loser'. Plus, 'Windfall' and a couple of reality shows are premiering in the summer. If any of those are hits, they could come back at midseason next year also. Sadly, based on my predictions, 'Teachers', 'E-Ring', 'Heist', 'Conviction', and 'Surface' would all be cancelled. Sorry 'Surface' fans, but it doesn't look good.

So, tomorrow is the day for NBC. As soon as their presentation is held, I'll report back on the actual schedule and see how I scored.

Even more fox pickups; The Loop renewed

Fox has renewed 'The O.C.' and 'The War at Home' for full seasons. 'The Loop' has gotten at least 13 episodes ordered for next season.

They have also picked up two more sitcoms, 'Happy Hour' (13 episodes) and 'The Winner' (6 episodes).

Link: the futon critic

Sons and Daughters cancelled

Confirmed on the producer's blog.

Link: Out On A Limb

'Brian' makes the cut; more ABC pickups

Wpw. I have to say, I didn't expect 'What About Brian' to make it through to next season, but ABC has decided to stay with the show. They also gave orders to 'Traveler' (which I liked), 'Men in Trees', 'Ugly Betty' and 'Brothers & Sisters'. Two more comedy pickups -- 'Big Day' and the 'Untitled Mick Jagger Show'.

Now I have to redo my ABC grid. Again. Oh, and watch list is updated.

Link: More ABC orders; '7th Heaven' saved

Sorry.

I'm still working on my upfront predictions posts. I've almost finished my TV grid, but the surprise 7th Heaven announcement and some of the other ABC pilots given pickups today screwed it up again.

NBC goes first, so I will have at least that one ready tomorrow. My goal is to post the day before the network upfront my prediction, and then I will report the actual schedule when it is announced.

Oh, might also have some really cool news next week re: podcast. Stay tuned.

7th Heaven reprieve

... and it looks like the development slate for the CW was so bad, they had to bring back 7th Heaven for at least 13 episodes next season. This is actually a smart move on their part.

Link: the futon critic

More pickups

As commenters are already noting, ABC and NBC have greenlit more shows.

Link: the futon critic

ABC pilot pickups

Well, the greenlights are flashing brightly now, as networks gear up for upfronts and production schedules. Of course, this wealth of news plays havoc with my prognostications, and I will look less the seer and more the astute observer of news as I cobble together my visions for the network schedules. Oh well. ABC picks up "The Nine", "Six Degrees", and "Day Break" for dramas and "In Case of Emergency", "Help Me Help You" and "Notes from the Underbelly" for comedies.

Link: Three dramas, sitcoms get ABC pickup orders

Attention TV Spec Monkeys

ras may be managing stress, but she also talks hot TV specs in the comments. I plan to steal^C^C^C^C^Cborrow this list for my updated spec list after upfronts.

A 'Come to Jesus' Meeting for ABC

Sure, NBC is the current whipping boy of the nets, what with its lackluster ratings, but ABC is the network with the biggest programming challenges for next season. I'm not going to do my schedule predictions until Friday, but let's take a look at the current state of ABC.

First the good news:

• Grey's Anatomy - Best of show
  
• Desperate Housewives - lost some ground, but still strong
  
• Lost - solid performer
  
• Boston Legal - plucky underdog with solid footing
  
• Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - Energizer Bunny of reality shows (especially since it runs all year)
  
• America's Funniest Home Videos - Okay *this* is the Energizer Bunny...16 years and still going strong.
  
• Wife Swap - surprisingly strong in its second season.

Now, the trouble begins:

• Monday Night Football - Gone
  
• Alias - Dead
  
• Jake in Progress - Stick a fork in it
  
• According to Jim, Hope and Faith, Less that Perfect and Rodney - Shadows of their former selves
  
• George Lopez - fading
  
• The Bachelor - too many failures equals no more ratings.

As to how the new shows this year fared...well, you know the story:

• The Night Stalker - Didn't make it past 3 or 4 episodes
  
• In Justice - Cancelled
  
• The Evidence - The Worst
  
• Commander In Chief - Biggest hero to zero story EVER
  
• Emily's Reasons Why Not - We don't talk about that around here
  
• Crumbs - Decent start but failed to hold viewers
  
• Sons & Daughters - Too different for ABC's audience and wildly uneven.
  
• Hot Properties - Not so hot. Gone.
  
• Freddie - Kept its George Lopez audience, but is it enough to get a second season?
  
• Miracle Workers - I liked this show, but apparently no one else did
  
• Invasion - lost half of Lost's audience. averages 7 million viewers
  
• What About Brian - ave. 6 million viewers. Invasion stands a better chance at renewal.

Shows which ABC needs to rest but keep around:

• Dancing with the Stars
  
• Supernanny
  
• Extreme Makeover

So, not much to crow about from the Class of 05-06 as far as shows go. Freddie looks like it might squeak through, Brian and Invasion are a toss up, and everything else is good as gone.

So, pity poor ABC. While CBS is busy renewing 2/3 or more of its schedule for next seasons, ABC, may have to scrape the bottom of the barrel just to keep its hopes alive.

My one request: No more Heather Graham sitcoms. EVER.

"Friday" may get to play

News that Jason Katims has come about "Friday Night Lights" as showrunner, certainly make it look like the show is going to get picked up

If they don't schedule it on Fridays, it will be criminal. Right now it looks like it might be scheduled on Sundays with NBC's football coverage.

Link: Hollywood Reporter - Katims 'Lights' up NBC pilot

Update: Looks like NBC is picking up "Heroes" too. (futon critic article)

Friday I'm going to try to predict the network schedules in 5 (yup, where there were 6 nets, now there are 5) posts. Wish me luck with the prognostication.

More Fox pickups

Fox has filled a couple more slots on the board by giving the nod to 'Primary' and 'American Crime' (A Bruckheimer show). Also looks like 'The War at Home' might actually get a second season, so it can serve as a companion to the recently greenlit sitcom 'Til Death' starring Brad Garrett.

Only one more week until we finally see the grids. Happy days!

Link: Hollywood Reporter

Four Kings returns...briefly.

No word on what will happen to leftovers of 'E-Ring' and 'Joey'. At least 'Four Kings' gets a few weeks so everyone can say goodbye.

Link: the futon critic

NBC pilot pickup

This one has been a given for awhile. NBC picks up Aaron Sorkin's 'Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip' for the fall.

We keep getting news like this, there won't be any surprises left at the upfronts.

Link: the futon critic

Pilot rumors

Lee Goldberg points to Nikki Finke's blog with the rumors on the new pilots. Upfronts are next week, but this should provoke some discussion until we know the scheds for sure.

Commander in Chief gets impeached

No, Bush haters, not *that* CIC, Geena Davis will be stepping down from office (i.e. the show has died a quick death).

By the way, if anyone decides to go on a Bush rant in this thread, I will delete your comments. I have proudly kept this a politics free zone for over a year, and I intend to keep it that way.

Boston Legal gets season number 3

Late breaking: Hollywood Reporter notes that ABC has picked up 'Boston Legal'. We know 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Housewives' will be back, as well as 'Lost'. Oh and 'Extreme Home Makeover'.

Now they just have the other 5 days to program...

Link: ABC's 'Legal' back on docket