Showing posts with label NBC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NBC. Show all posts

Sunday, May 13, 2012

More Renewals, Cancellations; NBC Fall Schedule

Welcome back, TV Tourists.

Now have some news about shows on CBS that will not be returning.  The network has chosen between its CSI spin-offs, giving continued life to CSI: NY and putting an end to CSI: Miami after 10 seasons.  Also bidding goodbye are freshman offerings Unforgettable, A Gifted Man, NYC 22 and Rob.

Good news over at ABC, though, which has renewed Private Practice and Body of Proof, the latter being extremely on the fence.  I'm glad though.  I like the Dana Delaney series (and looking forward to her return to Wisteria Lane for tonight's series finale of Desperate Housewives.

NBC's fall schedule is now in play and I have to say, it's puzzling.  This network keeps trying to find its way back from last place (okay, technically the CW is last but unfortunately, that's never likely to change) but not sure their latest plan of attack, which looks to be combining comedy and drama on nearly every night with very few returning shows, is going to work.  It's a choice, I suppose.  But they seem to cancel more shows than anyone ... a show doesn't do well after two or three eps, it's out.  And this was the network that once gave life to Cheers - not at all successful its first season but when given a second went on to be one of the net's most successful series, going 11 seasons.  Times, they have changed.

In another surprising move, their most recent hit, Smash, will be held til mid-season.  Community and Whitney have also been cast off to Friday as the new lead-in to Grimm (??).  To me, Friday has always been "genre program"  night (X-Files, Supernatural, Fringe, Grimm), so this seems a very odd addition. 

So here is what you'll be watching this fall on the Peacock network:

Mondays
8 p.m. - The Voice
10 p.m. - Revolution - this is the new J.J. Abrams/Erik Kripke vehicle.  I was looking forward to this one, being that I'm a fan of both creators (Kripke's Supernatural is my fave show), but did they HAVE to put it against Hawaii Five-0 and Castle??  Guess I'll be catching up online later...

Tuesdays
8 p.m.  - The Voice results show
9 p.m. - Go On (NEW)
9:30 p.m. - The New Normal (NEW)
10 p.m. - Parenthood

Wednesdays
8 p.m. - Animal Practice (NEW)
8:30 p.m. - Guys With Kids (NEW)
9 p.m. - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
10 p.m. - Chicago Fire (NEW)

Thursdays
8 p.m. - 30 Rock
8:30 p.m. - Up All Night
9 p.m. - The Office
9:30 p.m.  - Parks and Recreation
10 p.m. - Rock Center with Brian Williams


Fridays
8 p.m. - Whitney
8:30 - Community
9 p.m.  Grimm
10 p.m . - Dateline NBC

Sundays
Fall - Football

Post-Season:
7 p.m. - Dateline NBC
8 p.m. - Fashion Star
9 p.m. - Celebrity Apprentice (guess Trump in only going to do celebs from now on;  shame ... liked when it was everyday people fighting for the opportunity of a lifetime: an actual job in the Trump empire)
10 p.m. - Do Not Harm (NEW)

Check back all this week for more fall schedules.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Update - More Renewals & Cancellations

This week the major networks are announcing their Upfronts - the shows that have made the Fall 2012 schedules.

Many shows have been renewed but there is certainly no lack of cancellations, some no-brainers, a few surprises, at least in my book.

ABC put the axe to GCB, Pan Am, Missing and The River, while FOX has dumped Breaking In, I Hate My Teenage Daughter (did it even air?), Alcatraz (leaving fans - however many - to wonder if lead heroine  Det. Rebecca Madsen survives her gunshot wound) and The Finder.

NBC, ever in transition, has canned Harry's Law, Are You There, Chelsea?, Awake, Bent and Best Friends Forever.

The biggest surprise for me was the CW's cancellation of The Secret Circle.  This is the one network that cancels the fewest shows, being that they rarely have enough replacement shows.  I also thought the show was a good match for the net's strongest performer, The Vampire Diaries.  I am, however, thrilled that Supernatural will see a season eight and Nikita has gotten a third season.  Gossip Girl will return for a shortened (11 episode) final season, and the net has renewed Hart of Dixie, which fills the hole left by One Tree Hill.

Also returning for a shortened final season is FOX's Fringe (YAY!).  Touch has also been renewed along with New Girl, Raising Hope and Bones.

NBC will bring back Grimm for a second season, ditto for Smash.  Also returning are The Office, Parks and Recreation, Up All Night and Whitney, the latter two very much "bubble" shows.  Parenthood will also return - another renewal I'm thrilled with ... it's terrific.

CBS has renewed a great many of its shows, most recently Two and a Half Men.  Still up in the air are CSI: Miami, CSI: NY and Unforgettable.  We'll know this week if they all make the cut.

Check back here throughout the week for full Upfront updates.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Current Shows - Renewals, Safe Bets, Long Shots

Thanks to TV Guide online for compiling a current list of what shows have been renewed for another season, which have good odds for a return and the ones in jeopardy.

CBS has taken the lead, already renewing a great deal of their shows.  Other nets will follow shortly.

So where do your favorite shows stand?

RENEWED

CBS
2 Broke Girls  
The Amazing Race  
The Big Bang Theory
Blue Bloods 
Criminal Minds
CSI 
 
The Good Wife  
Hawaii Five-0
How I Met Your Mother 
The Mentalist
Mike & Molly
NCIS  
NCIS: Los Angeles
Person of Interest 
Survivor  
Undercover Boss 

ABC
To Be Announced …

FOX
American Dad 
The Cleveland Show 
Kitchen Nightmares 
The Simpsons  
The X Factor

NBC
To Be Announced ..

The CW
America's Next Top Model

GOOD ODDS

CBS
Rob 
Two and a Half Men

ABC
The Bachelor 
The Bachelorette 
Castle  
Dancing With the Stars 
Grey's Anatomy  
Happy Endings  
Last Man Standing 
The Middle  
Modern Family 
Once Upon a Time 
Private Practice 
Revenge
Suburgatory

FOX
Alcatraz
American Idol 
Bob's Burgers  
Bones 
Family Guy  
Glee 
Napoleon Dynamite
New Girl 
Raising Hope 

NBC
30 Rock 
The Biggest Loser
Celebrity Apprentice
Community 
Grimm 
The Office
Parenthood 
Law & Order: SVU
Parks and Recreation 
Smash  
Up All Night  
The Voice

THE CW
90210 
Gossip Girl
Hart of Dixie
The Secret Circle
Supernatural
The Vampire Diaries

THE LONG SHOTS

CBS
CSI: Miami   
CSI: NY 
A Gifted Man 
Rules of Engagement 
Unforgettable

ABC
Body of Proof  
Cougar Town  
The River
Pan Am

FOX
The Finder  
Fringe  
I Hate My Teenage Daughter

NBC
Are You There, Chelsea?  
The Firm
Harry's Law
Whitney

THE CW
Nikita
Ringer
Remodeled
 


TOO  SOON TO TELL
ABC
GCB
Missing

FOX
Breaking In
Touch
 

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Watch This Show - Smash


NBC has definitely had its issues.  A lot of misses in programming, not fairing well in the ratings, etc.  I admit that I don't watch a lot on the net (big fan of Parenthood and I enjoyed Up All Night until they moved it to Thursday where it now conflicts with other shows I watch so I've been forced to abandon it) but I know they've been fighting to find new hit shows.  I think they've finally found one: Smash, premiering this Monday, Feb. 6 at 10 p.m.

Unfortunately that time slot is booked for me - I am already dedicated to Hawaii Five-O and Castle - but I wish my DVR could allow for three shows because I loved the pilot, which I was able to see for free through iTunes(thanks NBC!).  I may have to go into the other room so I don't miss the episodes to come, though this show warrants big-screen viewing.

I won't give any episode details here as it hasn't officially aired yet, but I will say that if you are a fan of Broadway, musical theater or showtunes, this is the show for you.  And even if it's not your cup of tea, give Smash a shot.  It has a little of a lot for all to latch onto:  likeable characters, fun antagonists, an underdog to root for, big musical production numbers and terrific choreography, all of which the pilot sets into motion at a great pace.  The style reminded me a little of the film version of Chicago, which I also enjoyed.

Smash welcomes Debra Messing (Will and Grace) back to series TV in a role that seems very suited for her given her musical background.  She plays lyricist Julia Houston, one half of the hit-musical-making team Houston-Levitt (Christian Borle plays partner Tom Levitt). Julia struggles to balance the relentless demands of Broadway with the needs of her family as she and Tom begin work on a new show based on Marilyn Monroe.

Competing for the lead role are seasoned triple-threat Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty, Broadway's Wicked), an ensemble performer who has spent years pursuing stardom only to be bumped back into the chorus again and again and who has Tom's full support for the role, and talented newcomer Karen Cartwright (Katharine McPhee, American Idol seaon 5 runner-up) . Newly arrived from Iowa in pursuit of her Broadway dream, Karen must learn to navigate the shark-infested waters of the professional theater to win the role of a lifetime against Ivy, all while maintaining her integrity.

Academy Award winner Anjelica Huston (Medium) stars as legendary Broadway producer Eileen Rand who, driven by a passionate love of her art, must masterfully manage both the warring egos of her creative team and her musical's skyrocketing budget - even as ex-husband Jerry (Michael Christofer, Rubicon) freezes her assets.

Then there's Derek Wills (Jack Davenport, Flash Forward), one of Broadway's most brilliant director-choreographers - and one of its most seductive bad boys.  But even Derek's genius is strained by the demands of bringing an untested new musical to the New York stage.


NBC has been promoting Smash for weeks (along with the return of The Voice) as if the net's life depends on its success.  Can one show save all?  Probably not, but it will definitely give a the net a little life while giving a little song-and-dance delight to those who tune in.

But why does it have to be Mondays at 10??  I say go for Thursday in the same hour!  Then the show would have one more dedicated viewer.  Not that I won't find some way to see the show.  The pilot won me over immediately and a preview of the upcoming season looks well worth tuning in for.  I have no doubt I'll be downloading the songs week to week if they are anything like the ones in the pilot.

Bottom line:  Let Smash bring a little Broadway into your living room.

Check out Smash Mondays at 10 p.m. on NBC.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

So Who's Been Watching What?

Many thanks to Entertainment Weekly online (www.ew.com) for compiling a wrap-up of the most-to-least watched network (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX and The CW) programs of the fall (September to December). 

Alas, my fave network, the CW, rounds out the bottom, but that won't stop me watching its awesome shows (of particular note, Supernatural, Vampire Diaries and Nikita).

Other shows I recommend:  Hawaii Five-0, Criminal Minds, How I met Your Mother, 2 Broke Girls, Suburgatory, Castle, Big Bang Theory, Ringer, Revenge, Glee, Body of Proof and Parenthood.

So where do your fave shows rank? (shows in red are cancelled)

1. NCIS (CBS, 21.4 million)
2. Sunday NFL Football (NBC, 19.9)
3. Two and a Half Men (CBS, 18.9)
4. Dancing with the Stars (ABC, 18.5)
5. NCIS: LA (CBS, 17.4)
6. DWTS: Results (ABC, 16.65)
7. Big Bang Theory (CBS, 16.61)
8. Modern Family (ABC, 15.066)
9. NFL Pre-Kick (NBC, 15.063)
10. 60 Minutes (CBS, 14.67)
11. Mentalist (CBS, 14.6)
12. Criminal Minds (CBS, 14.4)
13. The OT (Fox, 14.0)
14. 2 Broke Girls (CBS, 13.6)
15. Mike & Molly (CBS, 13.56)
16. Unforgettable (CBS, 13.532)
17. Person of Interest (CBS, 13.531)
18. Hawaii 5-0 (CBS, 13.4)
19. CSI (CBS, 13.2)
20. Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 13.1)
21. Blue Bloods (CBS, 12.9)
22. X Factor Wed (Fox, 12.5)
23. Survivor: South Pacific (CBS, 12.5)
24. X Factor Thurs (Fox, 12.3)
25. Castle (ABC, 12.2)
26. Once Upon a Time (ABC, 12.0)
27. Good Wife (CBS, 11.9)
28. How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 11.5)
29. Last Man Standing (ABC, 11.47)
30. Rules of Engagement (CBS, 11.45)
31. CSI: Miami (CBS, 11.42)
32. CSI: NY (CBS, 11.34)
33. Football Night in America 3 (NBC, 11.1)
34. Amazing Race 19 (CBS, 11.05)
35. Body of Proof (ABC, 11.03)
36. Desperate Housewives (ABC, 11.0)
37. Bones (Fox, 10.2)
38. New Girl (Fox, 10.0)
39. Terra Nova (Fox, 9.98)
40. Glee (Fox, 9.90)
41. Revenge (ABC, 9.8)
42. Middle (ABC, 9.82)
43. House (Fox, 9.7)
44. Law & Order: SVU (NBC, 9.1)
45. Suburgatory (ABC, 9.0)
46. Harry’s Law (NBC, 8.99)
47. Private Practice (ABC, 8.98)
48. How to be a Gentleman (CBS, 8.6 million)
49. A Gifted Man (CBS, 8.5)
50. Fear Factor (NBC, 8.5)
51. Pan Am (ABC, 8.2)
52. Simpsons (Fox, 7.77)
53. Happy Endings (ABC, 7.70)
54. Hell’s Kitchen Mon 9 (Fox, 7.4)
55. Hell’s Kitchen Mon 8 (Fox, 7.3)
56. Office (NBC, 7.29)
57. Family Guy (Fox, 7.26)
58. Parenthood (NBC, 7.1)
59. Grimm (NBC, 7.0)
60. Charlie’s Angels (ABC, 6.919)
61. Man Up (ABC, 6.915)
62. America’s Funniest Home Videos (ABC, 6.8)
63. Biggest Loser 12 (NBC, 6.7)
64. Raising Hope (Fox, 6.6)
65. Sat. Night College Football (ABC, 6.30)
66. Up All Night (NBC, 6.14)
67. Prime Suspect (NBC, 6.12)
68. I Hate My Teenage Daughter (Fox, 6.0)
69. Football Night in America 2 (NBC, 5.97)
70. Dateline Fri (NBC, 5.93)
71. American Dad (Fox, 5.7)
72. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC, 5.77)
73. 48 Hours Mystery (CBS, 5.75)
74. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 9 p.m. (ABC, 5.4)
75. Whitney (NBC, 5.3)
76. Playboy Club (NBC, 5.2)
77. Sing Off (NBC, 5.17)
78. Cleveland Show (Fox, 5.14)
79. 20/20 Friday (ABC, 5.10)
80. Cleveland Show Sunday 8:30 (Fox, 5.07)
81. You Deserve It (ABC, 5.03)
82. Crimetime Sat 9 p.m. (CBS, 4.5)
83. Middle Tuesday (ABC, 4.48)
84. Allen Gregory (Fox, 4.45)
85. Parks and Recreation (NBC (4.42)
86. SVU Saturday (NBC, 4.3)
87. Kitchen Nightmares (Fox, 4.29)
88. Prime Suspect Sat. (NBC, 4.26)
89. Sat. Football pregame (ABC, 4.22)
90. COPS Sat. 8:30 (Fox, 4.19)
91. Community (NBC, 4.18)
92. Fringe (Fox, 4.10)
93. Rock Center (NBC, 4.01)
94. Free Agents (NBC, 3.9)
95. Chuck (NBC, 3.888)
96. Suburgatory Tues. (ABC, 3.886)
97. COPS Sat. 8 p.m. (Fox, 3.77)
98. Up All Night 8:30 (NBC, 3.72)
99. Comedytime Sat. 1 (CBS, 3.6)
100. Harry’s Law Sat. (NBC, 3.5)
101. Comedytime Sat. 2 (CBS, 3.3)
102. Vampire Diaries (CW, 3.1)
103. Terra Nova Sat. (Fox, 2.5)
104. America’s Next Top Model 17 (CW, 2.37)
105. Secret Circle (CW, 2.34)
106. Supernatural (CW, 2.25)
107. Hart of Dixie (CW, 2.1)
108. Nikita (CW, 2.06)
109. Ringer (CW, 2.02)
…112. 90210 (CW, 1.7)
113. Gossip Girl (CW, 1.68)
114. Bob’s Burgers (Fox, 1.65)
…120. H8R (CW, 1.2)

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Prime Suspect Shuts Down Production

Actually one of the good ones ...


Can't say I understand what's going on over at NBC.  Shifting a good portion of their schedule around, tabling new previously-planned pilots, etc.  Their latest move is shutting down the Thursday drama Prime Suspect, starring Maria Bello

Granted, the show hasn't been a runaway hit (averages approx. 5 million viewers), but it is a decent program with a strong lead character.

The show hasn't officially been axed, but this isn't a good sign.

Do you watch Prime Suspect?  Comment below and let me know your thoughts.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Two More Bite the Dust

Hello fans.

Two more shows have been dropped like hot potatoes (sorry cast and crew!).  Hope you weren't into:

Free Agents (NBC)

and

H8R (The CW)

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

First Cancelled Show of the Season

Well, the inevitable first cancellation of the new season has been made:  Rest in peace ...

The Playboy Club (NBC)

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Is There Anybody Out There ... Watching?

Well, ratings for the past week have come in and I have to wonder, what's happening?  Seems like nearly every show lost viewers either from last season or the previous week with very few exceptions.  It could be that there is just too much on all at once, but that's what DVRs are for and I think networks are trying to figure out some kind of ratings/tracking system for shows that are watched after their actual air times - a very common practice nowadays. 

Personally, I've never had confidence in the Nielson Ratings system.  I have never in my lifetime met someone who has had a Nielson box in their home or known anyone else to have either.  I know that I personally fall outside of the demographics range given to many shows that I watch (18-34), as are likely countless others, but that fact will never be known because my habits aren't being tabulated.  Question is, who ARE these Nielson families?  WHERE are they and what the heck ARE they watching?

Well, according the afore-mentioned ratings for this past week, these are the winners:

Two and  Half Men - heaven knows they promoted the season premiere enough and had a big enough watch-worthy event - the replacement of Charlie Sheen with Ashton Kutcher - so it's no surprise.  We'll have to see what happens next week.

Another non-surprise - Modern Family.  This is the steamroller of the TV landscape.  Seems it can do no wrong, Emmys sweep and all.  I have not watched the show yet only because I've always had viewing conflicts on that night but I believe it when I'm told how good it is and I'm looking forward to catching up with it when it inevitably comes to syndication.

Happily New Girl also had a big opening week.  I'm a fan, so I was pleased to hear it.

Strong but not stellar debuts/returns included How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, Person of Interest, Revenge and Raising Hope. Less than stellar but somewhat solid were the debuts of Charlie's Angels and Prime Suspect (I recommend watching the latter FAR more than the former...).

But the amount of series that all dropped in their numbers is staggering, even shows that have been considered mega-hits, like The Mentalist, Glee, Parks & Recreation and Dancing With the Stars.  And it doesn't seem to matter if the shows are on Monday, Wednesday or the dreaded Friday (which I think has the strongest lineup of shows in years, with Supernatural, Fringe and Nikita), or what network - all seemed to take hits.

Here are some other dippers:


Fringe
Kitchen Nightmares
Blue Bloods
Supernatural
Nikita
Hawaii Five-0
The Biggest Loser
90210
Ringer
Survivor
Up All Night
Harry's Law
America's Next Top Model
Community
The Office
Vampire Diaries
The Secret Circle

So what, pray tell, is everybody/anybody watching out there?  Please leave comments below and let me know what's in your To-View list.