|
UPFRONTS 2005, PART I
May 20, 2005
As the current TV season comes to a close, network execs now turn to promoting their upcoming fall schedules, and, thus, the circle of a couch potato's life continues. What old shows got canned and which new shows made the cut were announced this week at the annual "upfronts," an official unveiling of the 2005-06 schedules for advertisers.
Last year, the big trend was reality shows that ripped off "The Apprentice." Lucky for us, none of them lasted very long. This year, network execs are again using the copy-what-works method by launching a series of "Lost" ripoffs - dark and brooding sci-fi fantasies brimming with mysterious happenings.
Here's a look at what ABC, NBC, and the WB are planning for this fall.
ABC - No matter how you look at it, the alphabet net dominated TV during the last nine months. "Lost," "Desperate Housewives," and "Grey's Anatomy" were gargantuan smashes, and, wisely, ABC won't seriously mess with any of those shows in their sophomore seasons. "Anatomy" and "Housewives" will return in their same Sunday timeslots, while "Lost" remains on Wednesdays, but will be bumped back from 8 to 9.
"Alias" wasn't so lucky. Only five months after it was paired with its sister show "Lost" (both are executive produced by J.J. Abrams), ABC has decided to move it to Thursdays at 8, opposite "Survivor," "The O.C.," and, as you'll read about below, "Smallville." Ouch! Ratings will probably drop back to season three levels.
Figuring that if everyone else is going to clone "Lost," they might as well, too, ABC has two new dark fantasy shows planned for this fall. One is an update of the 1974-75 cult spookfest "The Night Stalker," which was the primary inspiration for Chris Carter when he started production on "The X-Files." One of Carter's chief lieutenants on that show was Frank Spotnitz, who comes full circle by running "Stalker," and it's his involvement that sparks my interest in this show. Still, I'm a bit wary. After all, how can one expect Stuart Townsend (who has failed to impress on the big screen for years) to adequately fill Darren McGavin's shoes?
Meanwhile, ABC's other new sci-fi series is "Invasion," from Sean Cassidy, who earned some geek cred with the short-lived, but well-regarded "American Gothic." This one, which will directly follow "Lost," concerns aliens who discreetly invade a small town. Eh … sounds like "Roswell." Other new shows star such "actors" (and I put that word in quotes deliberately) as Geena Davis and Freddie Prinze, Jr.
NBC - The bad news first: Low-rated but totally hilarious hospital sitcom "Scrubs" has been temporarily shelved until mid-season. However, I'll give NBC a pass because they also have what looks like this fall's most promising new sitcom - "My Name is Earl," which stars Jason Lee (so funny on the big screen in Kevin Smith flicks "Mallrats" and "Chasing Amy") as a small-time crook who wins the lottery and tries to fix his life. Smart concept. Great actor. And Lee is on the record as saying "Earl" has more in common with the great Coen brothers' flick "Raising Arizona" than it does any contemporary sitcom. How can it miss?
Cancelled are the third "Law & Order" spinoff, "Trial By Jury," done in by either Jerry Orbach's death or the law of diminishing returns, and "American Dreams." However, "The Office" was renewed and will buddy up with "Earl" on Tuesdays.
New dramas include "Fathom," a sci-fi hour about creatures from the ocean's deep that is NOT based on the comic book of the same name (although, judging by the premise, it sure could be), and "E-Ring," which stars Benjamin Bratt and Dennis Hopper and takes you inside the Pentagon's war room.
WB - The big news here is the scheduling shifts. "Smallville," clearly flying toward the end of its run, will move from Wednesdays to that Thursdays at 8 p.m., opposite "Survivor," "The O.C.," and now "Alias," where young Clark Kent's audience will likely continue to erode.
Meanwhile, "One Tree Hill" jumps from Tuesday at 9 p.m. to Wednesday at 8 p.m. Taking its place is "Supernatural," yet another in the glut of dark fantasy dramas coming in the wake of "Lost." (I told you it was the trend this year.) Its premise - two brothers who confront strange phenomena and fight demons while traveling cross-country in an attempt to solve their mother's murder - is a bit blah, and it may be difficult to pick this show over "The Night Stalker" or "Invasion" or any of the umpteen other new shows that ooze creepy.
Additional new WB series on the fall schedule include "Twins," featuring the rather odd pairing of Melanie Griffith and former "Perfect Stranger" Mark Linn-Baker, and "Related," a hour-long dramedy about for New York sisters, one which is played by former "Just Shoot Me" star Laura San Giacomo.
Stay tuned. Next week we'll look at the fall lineups from CBS, FOX, and UPN.
|
|
