2008 Upfronts (part four)

Today was FOX's big day. There was a lot of speculation but here are the shows that were axed when it finally came down to the moment of truth:

Back to You
Canterbury's Law
K-Ville
Nashville
New Amsterdam
The Return of Jezebel James
Unhitched

The surprise of the day was the cancellation of Back To You (which sent forth flurries of activity in news rooms everywhere). Not so surprising was the decision to cut New Amsterdam (which was a show where every episode seemed to drag on for decades).

Once again, there were more returning shows than what is traditionally renewed, likely due to the ever-so-talked-about Writer's Strike. And next week I will be focusing on all returning shows (new and old), with a strong emphasis on my favourites. But first it's almost time to don the hip waders and soldier forward into the land of The CW to see which shows were so bad that even the fifth-rated primetime network didn't want to keep them around.

Meet me there tomorrow, won't you?

-TTVB-

2008 Upfronts (part three)

CBS got its day in the sun today, as it made its grand unveiling. Here are their shows that just didn't have high enough numbers:

Cane
Jericho
Kid Nation
Moonlight
Power of 10
Shark
Viva Laughlin
Welcome to The Captain

I don't think many were surprised to see these shows go, especially both Viva Laughlin (which had its swan song some time ago) and Moonlight (which just didn't have much bite).

This year is interestinger* than most, as the Writer's Strike ended up giving longer lives to more ongoing shows than what is usually renewed. This occurred simply as a side-effect of not having enough new shows written and prepared by Pilot Season.
*Neither a typo, nor a real word – I'm just that cool.

(Pilot Season is the period from mid-March to early May where pilot shows are shopped around to various networks. Using my football analogy again, this would be akin to the NFL Scouting Combine. Sadly, I am not invited to these delicious but clandestine goings-on.)

Don't forget to check back with me tomorrow night as I reveal which FOX shows got the axe!

-TTVB-

2008 Upfronts (part two)

Today was the big day for both ABC and The CW. But since no one knows/cares who The CW is, I will be updating you on their programming at the end of the week. (You know, after the real networks.) ((Bloody Hell! The CW just can't catch a break!))

So ABC made the big announcement and here is who lost:

Big Shots
Carpoolers
Cashmere Mafia
Cavemen
Just for Laughs
Men in Trees
Miss Guided
Notes from the Underbelly
October Road
Oprah's Big Give
Women's Murder Club

Today's cancellations of interest for me were Notes from the Underbelly (which I think just needed a little more time to develop) and Oprah's Big Give (which came as a colossal surprise to me).

Tomorrow CBS unveils their new schedule, so there will be more to read then. And, as threatened, by the end of the week I *will* subject you to the unholy monstrosity that is... The CW.

-TTVB-

2008 Upfronts (part one)

If the United States Network Primetime Fall Schedule is like the Superbowl to me (and it is), then the Network Upfronts are my NFL Draft. But before I go into who got picked, I want to first mention who got cut. And since NBC was the first Network to announce its schedule, here are the biggest losers:

1 vs. 100
Amne$ia
Bionic Woman
Clash of the Choirs
Journeyman
Las Vegas
My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad
Phenomenon
Quarterlife
Scrubs*
The Singing Bee

*For more info on Scrubs's fate, stay tuned!

The only cancellations of note for me were Bionic Woman (which tried its best but just didn't have the legs) and Journeyman (which was a brilliant show that was apparently too much ahead of its time). If you have a favourite that didn't make the cut, I sympathize with you. Unless you were into Clash of the Choirs, in which case all I can say is: "Really?"

-TTVB-