from variety
TV shows start to learn their fate
Networks plot post-strike schedules
By JOSEF ADALIAN, MICHAEL SCHNEIDER
As showrunners flip on the lights and scribes once again occupy
long-abandoned writers' rooms, network and studio execs are still
figuring out what lives, what dies -- and when it all comes back.
ABC got the ball rolling Monday, renewing nine series for fall in a
post-strike pickup binge.
The renewals were essentially no-brainers, encompassing some of the
Alphabet web's top-rated scripted performers. Frosh series scoring
orders include "Dirty ***y Money," "Private Practice," "Pu****ng
Daisies" and "Samantha Who?" All four have received 13-episode
pickups, as is standard practice among frosh skeins.
ABC staples earning another year include "Brothers & Sisters,"
"Desperate Housewives," "Grey's Anatomy," "Lost" and "Ugly Betty."
Most of those received complete 22-episode orders (with some
exceptions -- "Lost," for example, was originally slated to produce 16
episodes next year but may produce a few more if a full 16 aren't shot
this year).
Several other networks are planning announcements in the next few days
spelling out their spring and fall plans.
Network strategists have already worked out templates on how to handle
remaining back-nine orders on returning shows: Some have been
truncated, some scratched altogether -- and a few skeins will still be
asked to deliver that entire full-season order.
But now, of course, the nets will finally be able to sit down with
showrunners and writers to see what's doable in the few remaining
months of the season.ABC
The early renewal of key primetime series has now given ABC and the
studios behind its shows ample leeway in planning schedules for the
next several months.
That's helpful because each show has different needs and capabilities.
Some will still be able to produce a good chunk of their back-nine
orders this year, allowing ABC to bring them back in the spring.
("Desperate Housewives," "Grey's Anatomy" and "Ugly Betty" are all
expected to reappear with several episodes before the season's out.)
Others may produce much of that back order but still wait until
September before making a grand re-entrance. That's the case with
Wednesday frosh entries "Pu****ng Daisies" and "Private Practice," as
ABC -- which has been holding its own on the night anyway vs.
"American Idol" competish -- opts to give those still-new shows a
proper relaunch.
As for "Lost," exec producer Carlton Cuse said he and fellow
showrunner Damon Lindelof would meet with ABC brass today to hammer
out the plan for the rest of the season. They won't be able to finish
the remaining eight segs of the show's planned 16-episode season --
five is a more likely number -- but they will be able to craft a
completed storyline for the remainder of this season, Cuse said.
And whatever segs are not produced this season will be picked up down
the road in the show's remaining two seasons, Cuse said.
"We're going to try to make as many as we can and do a good job of
fini****ng out this season," he said. "We'll have to compress some of
the storytelling we planned for this season, and that may not be a bad
thing. Damon and I feel like we know how we can finish it off and
still make it a really, really great story."
Over at David E. Kelley Prods., the ****ngle is prepping the return of
"Boston Legal." A spokeswoman said the show could be back in front of
cameras as soon as next Wednesday -- most likely making it the first
drama to resume shooting post-strike. (Scribe Kelley can churn out
scripts so swiftly that such a breakneck return to production isn't a
surprise.)
"Boston Legal" had already shot 14 segs of its 22-episode order. Given
the show's quick return, Kelley's production company believes it can
still fulfill that commitment before the end of the season.
CBS
Dramas moving forward include all three editions of the "CSI"
franchise, "NCIS," "Without a Trace," "Cold Case," "Numbers,"
"Criminal Minds," "Ghost Whisperer" and "Moonlight."
Laffers given a greenlight are "Two and a Half Men," "How I Met Your
Mother" and "The Big Bang Theory."
Net is hoping to crank out eight segs of its comedies and six or seven
segs of each of its dramas. Newcomer "Moonlight" will likely produce
fewer segs.
Eye insiders are hoping to begin rolling out new episodes of the
comedies by mid-March, while the hope is to have dramas begin popping
up the first week in April.
While CBS isn't expected to finalize decisions until Wednesday at the
earliest, a couple of shows are likely to stay out of production for
now.
So far, CBS hasn't asked for more episodes of dramas "Shark" or "The
Unit." Both shows are on the bubble for a return next fall.
CBS has told the producers of newcomer "Cane," meanwhile, that no more
episodes will be produced this season. Skein remains a contender for
renewal next season, however.
Also up in the air: midseason drama "Swingtown," which had been set to
bow in the spring. CBS has produced only a couple of episodes of the
show and is now undecided as to whether it will move forward with the
project, which offers a vast departure from the Eye's usual crimetime
fare.
CBS is also waiting to see more numbers for "The New Adventures of Old
Christine" before deciding whether to expand its current midseason
run. There's also no word yet on the future of "Rules of Engagement,"
which has done well when it aired on the net.
It's possible CBS will air originals of a few of its shows as late as
June, but so far, no scheduling decisions have been locked in.
FOX
Fox plans to extend the regular TV season in order to take advantage
of late-delivered episodes from shows including "House." Originals of
certain shows could continue airing into June, web insiders said, or
else in August. Such a scenario would make good on long-promised
attempts at running original scripted fare during the vacation months.
As a result, in most cases, the net is still looking to honor full
back-nine orders -- depending on the feasibility of such a task.
Serialized series won't return until next season, however; the net
felt that producers -- not to mention viewers -- may have trouble
getting back into those shows' storylines at this late date. (Certain
skeins, like "Prison Break," already wrapped with a de facto season
closer anyway.)
Then there's "24." Fox has decided not to try forcing a full season of
the Kiefer Sutherland drama at this late date; show won't return until
January.
As for its large crop of midseason shows, Fox's needs are already
filled, which means no additional episodes of shows like "Terminator:
The Sarah Connor Chronicles" or "Canterbury's Law" will be shot.
NBC
NBC is expected to bring back most of its Thursday laffers, including
"My Name Is Earl," "The Office" and "30 Rock." It's not yet clear how
many episodes of "Scrubs" will be produced. NBC has said the skein is
in its final season; network and producer ABC Studios are negotiating
just how many segs creator Bill Lawrence will get to wrap up his show.
The Peacock is contractually obligated to produce more "ER" segs this
season, and it seems likely at least four to six of those will air
starting in April. The net is also said to be in talks with Warner
Bros. TV about a reduction in "ER's" license fee that would allow the
show to return for another season in the fall.
"Law & Order: SVU" should also resume production on new episodes,
while "Medium" is gearing up to come back to finish out its season.
NBC remains high on newcomer "Chuck," but the odds are that the show
won't return until late summer (after the Olympics) or early fall.
"Heroes," with its elaborate serialized storyline, is also expected to
take the summer to regroup.
It helps that ABC and NBC both have filled gaps in their skeds with
successful reality skeins. The Peacock is doing well with "The Biggest
Loser" and "Deal or No Deal," while the Alphabet's Wednesday reality
skeins have scored decent ratings at a fraction of the cost of
scripted fare.
Shows not expected to resume production include "Bionic Woman" and
"Journeyman"; both are currently considered canceled. NBC insiders
remain high on "Life," though it likely won't be back before the
summer or fall.
Equally murky are the futures of "Friday Night Lights" and "Las
Vegas." Latter won't produce more episodes this season but is still on
the bubble for renewal. NBC execs are looking for a way to bring back
"FNL."
The future of Peacock reality hit "The Biggest Loser" is clearer. Net
on Monday greenlit production on a sixth season of the show, which
will likely air in the fall. "Loser" is from Reveille LLC, 25/7 Prods.
and 3 Ball Prods.
CW
CW execs are looking to quickly gear up production on dramas
"Smallville," "Gossip Girl," "One Tree Hill," "Reaper" and
"Supernatural." Net wants at least five or six segs of each.
In the case of "Gossip Girl," CW may expand its order and relaunch the
show in the summer. Serials from "Melrose Place" to "The OC" have
thrived in the warm-weather months.
On the comedy front, CW is looking to crank out eight or nine more
episodes of "The Game."
Newcomer "Aliens in America," which had completed 18 episodes before
the strike, won't produce new episodes but remains in the hunt for a
fall return. "Everybody Hates Chris" had wrapped production of a
22-episode season before the strike kicked in.
Another laffer that won't resume production is "Girlfriends." Even
before the strike, there had been talk that this would be the show's
last season; now CW has made it official.
Because the show won't be back, net isn't fini****ng production on a
full 22-episode season. However, execs are talking to producers about
a way to give the show a proper sendoff, perhaps via a clip show.
As for the confirmed dead, industry insiders said frosh drama "Life Is
Wild" won't resume production and won't be back for a second se
|
