Many series on the bubble for fall
By James Hibberd

March 13, 2008


At this point in the season, the strictly defined countries of "renewed" and "canceled" have acres of gray area in between. A couple dozen shows are clustered near the border, on the verge of being declared dead or alive for next season.

Without belaboring the obvious -- ABC's "Cashmere Mafia" isn't coming back; Fox's "Bones" is -- here's the latest industry buzz on some of the most talked-about titles:

-- "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles." Fans need not worry: Sources say that "Terminator" will be back. Fox executives like the creative product and thought the finale's performance last week was solid. The network also spent a considerable amount marketing the show, giving Season 2 some cost benefit. Also: The fourth "Terminator" movie comes out in 2009, and as "The Simpsons Movie" proved, there are promotional advantages to film-TV synergy.

-- "Scrubs." The dead comedy-turned-backroom hot commodity remains poised to jump to ABC from longtime home NBC. The cast has been told to return to work March 24. Castmember John C. McGinley said recently that he was told that "the 18 episodes we're going to do starting that day will be on ABC next fall." But ABC Studios insists the work is just "reshoots." Just, you know, everyday reshoots of a series NBC has refused to order more episodes of.

-- "How I Met Your Mother." Granted, "Mother" usually is the weakest ratings link in CBS' Monday night comedy lineup. But that lineup sets a high bar, representing the most successful comedy block on television. The headline-making stunt casting of Britney Spears in an upcoming episode is sure to boost viewership. Not to mention, CBS' comedy-starved rivals would be tempted to snatch up the show if canceled. Verdict: Probably not going anywhere.


-- "Knight Rider." The February movie performed well for NBC. Sources say the network is in talks with a showrunner who is familiar with NBC primetime, which suggests a regular series order is likely.

-- "Moonlight." CBS is playing wait-and-see with this Friday night show. The network is curious whether the show's fans return once it comes back from its strike-induced hiatus. But "Moonlight" fans are passionate, the show fits well into CBS' Friday night alternative crime block and an eventual pickup is probable.

-- "Jericho." CBS must make this decision quickly since only three episodes remain in Season 2 and the network has to choose Ending A or Ending B. Two conclusions to the season have been shot. One puts a narrative lid on the series (lest protesting fans pelt CBS executives with thousands of pounds of nuts again), the other more of a cliffhanger. CBS notes that the show gains from DVR viewership and online viewing, but after its performance the past two weeks, most doubt the citizens of "Jericho" will live to fight another season.

-- "Reaper." Critics loved the pilot of the CW's supernatural drama, then griped that the series lost its way. The show returns tonight against ABC's "Lost" and needs divine intervention to come back strong enough to make the network add it to its list of previously announced pickups. The chances for the CW comedy "Aliens" look even slimmer.

-- "Law & Order." The longest-running primetime drama on television will come back for a 19th season, sources say, with new co-star Anthony Anderson. USA Network's "L&O: Criminal Intent," which is repurposed on NBC, looks likely to return.

-- "Friday Night Lights." NBC is in talks with DirecTV for the satcaster to share the costs for a third season in exchange for some exclusive distribution opportunities.

-- "Prison Break." Producers are pitching a Season 4 story arc to Fox, which is expected to pick up the show.

-- "According to Jim." ABC's perennial bubble show is looking likely to escape the ax one more time.

-- " 'Til Death" and "Back to You." Despite modest returns, both Fox comedies probably will return in the fall.

Click here for a complete list of shows that are being renewed, pending or on the bubble.

Links referenced within this article

Click here
http://reporter.blogs.com/pilotseason/renewed-shows.html

Find this article at:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television

Good tidings for Terminator (though I don't see the movie crossover that the Simpsons had since the cast is different) and HIMYM.

Bad tidings for Reaper and Aliens in America. They were the best 2 new shows on CW this year and it will really suck if most people's need to avoid sampling CW shows kills them.

I'm surprised that they think the prospects for Reaper are so slim. It definitely needs to show some life when it returns, but I would hope its apparent repeatability has helped its case.

I really hope they go ahead and choose the "ending" for Jericho rather than the cliffhanger and advertise it as a series finale. I would hate to see them use the cliffhanger and then cancel it, and I have a sinking feeling that's what will happen... even though the numbers suggest it shouldn't even be on the bubble.

Also surprised at a lot of the omissions from this article, such as 30 Rock, The Unit, Medium, 1 vs. 100, Boston Legal, etc. Guess they don't have any real info there.

quote:

Originally posted by spotupj:
I really hope they go ahead and choose the "ending" for Jericho rather than the cliffhanger and advertise it as a series finale. I would hate to see them use the cliffhanger and then cancel it, and I have a sinking feeling that's what will happen...

My guess is that they show the cliffhanger as a TV finale, then put the series finale on a DVD release in month or so. After all, maximizing profit is the goal, right?

quote:

Originally posted by spotupj:
I'm surprised that they think the prospects for Reaper are so slim. It definitely needs to show some life when it returns, but I would hope its apparent repeatability has helped its case.

I really hope they go ahead and choose the "ending" for Jericho rather than the cliffhanger and advertise it as a series finale. I would hate to see them use the cliffhanger and then cancel it, and I have a sinking feeling that's what will happen... even though the numbers suggest it shouldn't even be on the bubble.

Also surprised at a lot of the omissions from this article, such as 30 Rock, The Unit, Medium, 1 vs. 100, Boston Legal, etc. Guess they don't have any real info there.

Boston Legal is listed as being on the bubble. You can find a listing here:

http://reporter.blogs.com/pilotseason/renewed-shows.html

quote:

Originally posted by Zedman2:
Boston Legal is listed as being on the bubble. You can find a listing here:

I meant in the commentary section, but thanks. Do you know what the difference is between "pending" and "bubble"?

And Obveeus, what you said is exactly what I think they will do with Jericho, sadly.

'Pending' looks to be a list of shows that they think will have renewal while 'bubble' is the ones that they think no decision has been made yet.

So this is the official end for Cashmere Mafia (well as close as you are going to get since the networks tend to not do press releases). Not shocking.

Out of the bubbles shows here are my predictions of what the networks will do

ABC:
Men in Trees---Cancelled
Women's Murder Club---Cancelled
Boston Legal---13 episodes order
Carpoolers---I thought this was cancelled already.
October Road---Cancelled
Just For Laughs--7 or 13 episode order. Summer/cheap filler

CBS:
Dexter (season 2 for CBS summer?)--Coming back
Jericho--Cancelled
Cane--13 episode order
Shark--22 episode order (not really a bubble show)
The New Adventures of Old Christine---Cancelled
The Unit--22 episode order
Welcome to the Captain---Cancelled

NBC:
Law & Order--Of course its coming back. Anthony Anderson just got added to the cast. Why is this a bubble?
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (via USA)--Coming back
Medium--Cancelled (I see NBC making a huge mistake with this)
1 vs. 100--13 episode order
Amnesia--Cancelled
Lipstick Jungle--Cancelled

FOX:
Unhitched--Cancelled
Prison Break--13 episode order
New Amsterdam--13 episode order

CW:
Reaper--Cancelled
Aliens in America--Cancelled
Pussycat Dolls--7 episode order. Filler.

My thoughts on the bubble shows:
ABC:
Boston Legal: renewed for full season- moved elsewhere on the lineup.
WMC: renewed for 13.
Just for Laughs: summer duty
The rest cancelled and sad to see October Road go after this week's excellent finale.

CBS:
Dexter returns for filler.
Shark, the Unit, Christine get 13 each.

NBC:
Law and Order: renewed for 22 in Wed. slot.
Criminal Intent: renewed with same format for airing.
Medium: at least 13 depending on whether in the fall or midseason.
1 vs. 100: renewed again for midseason or summer for a few episodes. NBC hates this show for some reason.

Fox:
Prison Break returns for at least final 13. The other two are goners.

CW:
Who knows what these idiots will do. I'd say both the Game and B&tG are back in some way next year with Reaper getting 13 eps and probably getting some horrific timeslot to die in. Why? Who knows. Aliens is really funny. Very Malcolm in the Middle-ish but it will get cancelled. My how this show and Chris would've succeeded on Fox.

I thought that I read after the strike ended (I think at TV Guide) that all of the shows that resumed production after the strike were almost guaranteed a pickup for next season. And it seems that most of these stories are not based on real reports from the networks, but from the author's own opinions, because I have read conflicting reports all over the place about which shows are going to return. One site lists Lipstick Jungle as a "hit" and a sure pickup, while another says it's on the way out. Yet another lists "Bones, Reaper, and Medium" as already renewed, yet this one lists two of those as "on the bubble". It even lists "ER" and "Law&Order" as "pending", when in fact, haven't those two already been renewed?

So, my question is, which one are we to believe? And can we expect the networks to start making some announcements soon, or will we have to wait until the traditional upfront dates in May?

quote:

Originally posted by Obveeus:
Good tidings for Terminator (though I don't see the movie crossover that the Simpsons had since the cast is different) and HIMYM.

Bad tidings for Reaper and Aliens in America. They were the best 2 new shows on CW this year and it will really suck if most people's need to avoid sampling CW shows kills them.

People do not have a need to avoid sampling CW shows.

ABC:
Men in Trees - Cancelled
Women's Murder Club - Should Be Picked Up
Boston Legal - Mid-Season Replacement
Eli Stone - Cancelled
Carpoolers - Cancelled
October Road - Cancelled
Just For Laughs - New Summer Episodes

CBS:
Dexter (Season 2 on CBS) - It Should, Isnt It Free?
Jericho - Cancelled
Cane - Cancelled
Shark - Coming Back
The New Adventures of Old Christine - Cancelled
The Unit - Coming Back
Welcome to the Captain - Cancelled

NBC:
Law & Order - Without A Doubt It Is Coming Back.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (USA) - Coming back
Medium - Wait and See
1 vs. 100 - Coming Back
Amnesia - Cancelled
Lipstick Jungle - Coming Back

FOX:
Unhitched - Cancelled
Canterbury's Law - Cancelled
Prison Break - Coming Back
New Amsterdam - Cancelled

CW:
Reaper - Coming Back
Aliens in America - Cancelled
Pussycat Dolls - Cancelled

quote:

Originally posted by spotupj:
I'm surprised that they think the prospects for Reaper are so slim. It definitely needs to show some life when it returns, but I would hope its apparent repeatability has helped its case.

I agree. It's not like the CW has anything else to air.

I think many viewers tune out the CW - which is mostly the network's fault because the network tries to specifically target such a narrow audience.

Which, not so coincidentally, is exactly what they have.

quote:

Originally posted by Bruce:

quote:

Originally posted by Obveeus:
Good tidings for Terminator (though I don't see the movie crossover that the Simpsons had since the cast is different) and HIMYM.

Bad tidings for Reaper and Aliens in America. They were the best 2 new shows on CW this year and it will really suck if most people's need to avoid sampling CW shows kills them.

People do not have a need to avoid sampling CW shows.

Good riddance to reaper i flipped past it last night and thought "This is crap, even for Tv this is total crap" Sionara