Posted: Fri., May 2, 2008, 2:11pm PT
Stability, more comedy likely in fall
Networks picking shows from smaller pool
By RICK KISSELL
A television season that will be remembered more for the disruption caused by the writers strike than any single new program is coming to a close, but the broadcast nets are already mapping out their skeds for next fall.
The work stoppage wreaked havoc on development, with time constraints forcing each net to make its picks for new series from a smaller pool of contenders.
NBC has already announced its lineup, bypassing the pilot process and ordering four new shows based solely on their creative auspices, format or pre-sold premise.
ABC, CBS, Fox and the CW, meanwhile, have taken a more traditional route, shooting pilots or shorter "presentations" for most of their potential new series. They will unveil their plans of attack in upfront presentations in New York next week.
Here's a what these nets could/should be considering in setting their 2008 fall skeds:
ABC
The net should be in good shape in the fall without adding too many pieces. Its strategy figures to be relaunching soph skeins that showed promise in their first seasons but haven't aired in a while ("Private Practice," "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Pushing Daisies") and then reloading at midseason.
From a sked standpoint, comedy figures to be a bigger priority than in recent years.
Moderate rookie success "Samantha Who?" and the presumed transfer of NBC vet "Scrubs" give the net two solid pieces to work with. There's also "Miss Guided," a promising rookie skein that deserves another shot, and "The Goode Family," a toon likely set for midseason.
It will be interesting to see if ABC blows out a two-hour block or uses an hour of comedies to kickstart two nights, likely Tuesday and Wednesday. "Scrubs," for example, could lead into new male-buddy comedy "The More Things Change."
In a bid to boost the net's 10 o'clock perf, "Private Practice" could slide behind "Dancing With the Stars" on Monday or Tuesday, while "Dirty Sexy Money" seems a good Thursday fit after "Grey's Anatomy." Another 10 p.m. hopeful is David E. Kelley's "Life on Mars," based on the BBC skein.
Among first-year shows, "Eli Stone" deserves another shot and sleeper reality skein "Here Come the Newlyweds" should be back, but "Women's Murder Club" is expected to be put out of its misery.
CBS
The Eye is looking for a breakout drama, so it may use its 9 p.m. hits as launching pads -- even if that means resting or moving a winning 10 o'clock program.
"Without a Trace" could be headed to Tuesday, freeing up Thursday behind "CSI" for Jerry Bruckheimer's "The Eleventh Hour."
CBS could also consider opening up Friday at 10 by resting "Numbers" until midseason. It's a longer shot that "CSI: NY" could vacate Wednesday at 10, but "Criminal Minds" is a good lead-in for one of its new hours.
The Eye has some drama pilots outside its wheelhouse of crime, and Friday, with the potent "Ghost Whisperer" as the anchor, could be a low-risk place to plant one. "Moonlight" could be back on the night too.
Net may look for a pair of new Sunday dramas to wrap around 9 o'clock vet "Cold Case." Geena Davis crime drama "Exit 19" or newspaper-set mystery skein "The Tower" would seem to be good fits.
CBS is in good shape comedy-wise and almost certainly will look for a place on the sked -- probably Wednesday from 8 to 9 -- to add an extra hour of laffs.
One new comedy figures to join Monday, and the net could probably pair "Rules of Engagement" with a new laffer on another night. That would leave "The New Adventures of Old Christine," which doesn't mesh with the net's current comedy crop or its pilot hopefuls, out of the loop.
On the reality front, "The Amazing Race" likely will again be held for midseason since it's one of the rare shows that can work in any timeslot.
As for "bubble" shows, "The Unit" should get another shot behind "NCIS" on Tuesday, but "Shark" could be on the way out.
Fox
With fewer hours to work with and more midseason turnover than any net, it's always hazardous to predict Fox's fall plans, but look for a return to its edgier, more testosterone-tilting roots.
Monday could pair "Prison Break" with "The Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," while the buzzed-about Joss Whedon drama "Dollhouse" could air in one of the midweek hours, perhaps on Wednesday.
"House" likely will stay put Tuesdays at 9, though the net may want to use it to lead into something new, perhaps "The Fringe," a drama about an FBI agent and her partner who use science to unravel mysteries.
"Bones" remains the swing show for Fox, since it could be paired with just about any of the other dramas. Of course, it's also broad enough that the net may take a chance and sked it on Friday, a night where it has long struggled.
In comedy, Fox could use new blood in its animated lineup on Sunday, with shows like "Sit Down, Shut Up" and the "Family Guy" spinoff candidates -- although they won't be ready until 2009. A weekday comedy block, meanwhile, could include a new Bernie Mac laffer and perhaps on-the-bubble "'Til Death" or "Back to You."
Thursday remains a question mark, as the net may feel one of its heavier, young-skewing newbies could work opposite the past-their-prime "CSI" and "Grey's Anatomy." As a back-up plan, it still has the solid "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" and "Don't Forget the Lyrics."
CW
Despite some pretty good new shows, its sophomore season was a bust, so the net faces another key fall -- and it won't be easy without "Friday Night Smackdown," the wrestling series that will end its CW run this summer.
Because of this two-hour loss, as well as the time-crunch that hampered development, CW will almost certainly have to air some repeats to fill its sked. (One way to avoid this would be to get a batch of theatricals to fill out its most problematic night, Sunday).
One CW show already generating heat is its update on "Beverly Hills, 90210," which could work well before "Gossip Girl" on Monday. Net also has another promising hopeful in medical thriller "Austin Golden Hour" (hopefully that's a tentative title), which could work alongside "One Tree Hill" on Tuesday.
Net's top show, "America's Next Top Model," could lead into a new reality skein. And Thursdays likely will stay the same with "Smallville" and "Supernatural," but the net should let "Reaper" have another shot on this night.
Comedy is on the back-burner, meaning a four-pack is unlikely, and a vet like "The Game" may not make the cut. "Everybody Hates Chris" and "Aliens in America" might make a good leadoff hour on Friday, perhaps paired with a family-friendly reality rookie.
Read the full article at:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117984999.html
