THE PROGRAMMING INSIDER
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Turner Entertainment Networks in 2008-09:
TNT, TBS and truTV Initiatives
Fox in 2008-09
Two New Series This Fall, Five Additional in Midseason
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Turner Entertainment Networks in 2008-09:
TNT, TBS and truTV Initiatives
Presenting for the first time ever during network upfront week, Turner Entertainment Networks opened its three-tier (TNT, TBS and truTV) presentation with the introduction of a new advertising innovation called TVinContext. In development for over one year, TVinContext promises to boost the power and relevance of TV ads by pairing them with related program content. The innovation includes the cataloging of thousands of scenes from Turner’s library of film and TV series, and the custom matching of advertising content adjacent to what is happening in the scenes. For an advertiser, that means the product could seem more timely and relevant.
TNT, which has scripted dramas Raising the Bar, Leverage and Truth in Advertising waiting in the wings, has unveiled an aggressive development slate. Included is crime drama Angel City, which features six cops in three cars during one shift; Delta Blues, the tale of an unusual Memphis cop; Morse Code, the story of a Drug Enforcement Administration officer; Tough Trade, which focuses on the Nashville music scene; and untitled projects from Joel Surnow and Rob Ulin. TNT has also ordered a pilot for a scripted drama called Men of a Certain Age, headlined by Ray Romano; and has confirmed episodes of Wedding Day, an unscripted hour where couples are given the weddings of their dreams. Other previously announced unscripted dramas at TNT include Scott Free’s Crimes of the Century, Behind the Drama, Heroes Among Us, and Shadow of a Doubt.
Sister cable network TBS, then home of the best off-network sitcoms on television today, has announced the renewal of 10 Items or Less, and 26 additional episodes of Tyler Perry’s House of Payne. Three scripted comedies are in development at TBS, including an untitled project from William H. Macy and Steven Schachter, an untitled project from Russell Simmons and Winifred Hervey; and a late-night sketch comedy show called National Banana Already in Progress. Previously announced comedies in development at TBS include partnered projects from Dave Caplan and Robert Townsend; Jamie Foxx and Marcus King in late night.
Finally, truTV, which re-launched in January, is adding the following series to its roster: Principal’s Office, which focuses on the challenging life of being a school administrator; Black Gold, which focuses on oil drilling; Man vs. Cartoon, where inventions inspired by cartoons are investigated; and Ski Patrol, which features the men and women who work in some of the most extreme environments in the country.
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Fox in 2008-09:
Two New Series This Fall, Five Additional in Midseason
Fox, the last network to unveil its 2008-09 schedule plans, has announced two new series this fall (sitcom Do Not Disturb and drama Fringe), with changes impacting five nights of the week. Returning Monday dramas Prison Break and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles will flip time periods, with Sarah Connor airing at 8 p.m., followed by Prison Break at 9 p.m. House will relocate into the Tuesday 8 p.m. anchor slot, leading into new J.J. Abrams drama Fringe. Wednesday will feature relocated Bones at 8 p.m., followed by sitcoms ‘Til Death and the debuting Do Not Disturb, which is set in a trendy New York City Hotel. And former Thursday occupants Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? and Don’t Forget the Lyrics shift to Friday, while returning non-scripted duo The Moment of Truth and Kitchen Nightmares occupy the Thursday 8-10 p.m. block. Only Saturday and Sunday will remain unchanged.
Midseason on Fox will, of course, include American Idol and 24, which will remain in their traditional time periods. The network, in addition, will add three comedies (Sit Down and Shut Up, Family Guy spin-off The Cleveland Show and a to-be-determined half-hour on Wednesday out of American Idol), Joss Whedon drama Dollhouse, and a non-scripted hour called Secret Millionaire. Dollhouse will replace Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles in the Monday 8 p.m. hour. Secret Millionaire will air Thursday at 9 p.m. out of the returning Hell’s Kitchen. And animated sitcoms Sit Down and Shut Up and The Cleveland Show will occupy the Sunday 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. half-hours in the spring. Making room for American Idol, House will shift to Wednesday at 8 p.m. in January in place of Bones, which moves to 8 p.m. on Fridays. Leading out of Bones will be ‘Til Death and Do Not Disturb (if a large enough fall audience warrants a full season renewal, that is).
Not returning on Fox in 2008-09 are sitcoms Back To You, The Return of Jezebel James and Unhitched; dramas Canterbury’s Law, K-Ville and New Amsterdam; and the non-scripted Next Greatest American Band.
Here are Fox’s fall 2008 and January 2009 primetime schedules, with the new shows capped and bolded, followed by the new program descriptions. (Since Fringe and Do Not Disturb will have already been established by midseason, they are not capped and bolded on the second grid).
FALL 2008
Monday
8:00 p.m. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (new time)
9:00 p.m. Prison Break (new time)
Tuesday
8:00 p.m. House (new time)
9:00 p.m. FRINGE
Wednesday
8:00 p.m. Bones (new day)
9:00 p.m. ‘Til Death (new time)
9:30 p.m. DO NOT DISTURB
Thursday
8:00 p.m. The Moment of Truth (new day)
9:00 p.m. Kitchen Nightmares (new day)
Friday
8:00 p.m. Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (new day)
9:00 p.m. Don’t Forget the Lyrics (new day)
Saturday
8:00 p.m. Cops
9:00 p.m. America’s Most Wanted
Sunday
7:00 p.m. The OT (NFL post-game)
8:00 p.m. The Simpsons
8:30 p.m. King of the Hill
9:00 p.m. Family Guy
9:30 p.m. American Dad
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JANUARY 2009
Monday
8:00 p.m. DOLLHOUSE
9:00 p.m. 24
Tuesday
8:00 p.m. American Idol
9:00 p.m. Fringe
Wednesday
8:00 p.m. House (new day)
9:00 p.m. American Idol Results Show
9:30 p.m. *New Comedy To-Be Determined
Thursday
8:00 p.m. Hell’s Kitchen (new day)
9:00 p.m. SECRET MILLIONAIRE
Friday
8:00 p.m. Bones (new day)
9:00 p.m. ‘Til Death (new day)
9:30 p.m. Do Not Disturb (new day)
Saturday
8:00 p.m. Cops
9:00 p.m. America’s Most Wanted
Sunday
7:00 p.m. Comedy Encores
7:30 p.m. Comedy Encores
8:00 p.m. The Simpsons
8:30 p.m. King of the Hill (January) / SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP (spring)
9:00 p.m. Family Guy
9:30 p.m. American Dad (January) / THE CLEVELAND SHOW (spring)
New Program Descriptions
Comedies
Sit Down and Shut Up (midseason)
Eight staff members at a high school in a small northeastern fishing town are the focus of this new animated comedy. The voices include Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Maria Branford, Will Forte, Tom Kenny, Regina King, Nick Kroll, Cheri Oteri and former Happy Days star Henry Winkler.
The Cleveland Show (midseason)
After the love of his life’s marriage goes bust, Peter Griffin’s accident-prone neighbor Cleveland Brown moves to Stoolbend, Virginia with the woman and her baby. Michael Henry is the voice of Cleveland.
Do Not Disturb
What may look calm on the surface is anything but in this trendy New York City based hotel. Behind the scenes, there is a comical struggle for power between the manager, who runs the hotel like his own private gentleman's club, and the human resources manager, who has her own ideas on how things should be done. The cast includes Jerry O’Connell, Brando Eaton, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Niecy Nash, Jolene Purdy and Molly Stanton.
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Dramas
Dollhouse (midseason)
From Buffy, the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon, a group of people confined to a secret facility known as the “Dollhouse” have their personalities wiped clean so they can be imprinted with any number of new personas. Former Buffy alumna Eliza Dushku stars.
Fringe
A man referred to as our generation’s Einstein, who has been institutionalized for the last 20 years, is recruited with his estranged son to confront the spread of powerful and unexplained phenomena in this new drama from Lost and Alias creator J.J. Abrams. Lord of the Rings co-star John Noble and former Dawson’s Creek star Joshua Jackson heads the ensemble cast.
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Non-Scripted
Secret Millionaire
Shot in documentary style, this dramatic themed hour will feature America’s wealthiest individuals as they trade their lavish lifestyles to live undercover is some of the poorest neighborhoods across the country. Working hand-in-hand with community leaders, each episode will culminate with the millionaire giving at least $100,000 out of his or her own money to a worthy individual.
