CBS' Fall 2008 Schedule

Having gotten rid of 'Shark' and 'Moonlight' (there is a rumor The CW may resurrect the latter on the just-outsourced Sunday nights), CBS has unveiled its new fall 2008 schedule today, opening up a new comedy block on Wednesday.

New Shows: "Worst Week," "The Mentalist," "Project Gary," "11th Hour" and "The Ex-List."

Midseason: "Harper's Island"

Canceled: "Cane," "Jericho," "Kid Nation," "Moonlight," "Shark," "Viva Laughlin" and "Welcome to the Captain."


NEW SHOWS:


WORST WEEK - a comedy about Sam Briggs (Kyle Bornheimer, "Jericho"), an entertainment magazine editor who will do anything to please his girlfriend's parents ... but instead becomes a one-man wrecking crew whenever he's around them. Airs Mondays at 9:30pm.

THE MENTALIST - Simon Baker ("The Devil Wears Prada") stars as Patrick Jane, a detective and independent consultant with the California Bureau of Investigation, otorious for his blatant lack of protocol and his semi-celebrity past as a psychic medium, whose paranormal abilities he now admits he feigned. Airs Tuesdays at 9:00pm.

PROJECT GARY - stars Jay Mohr ("Ghost Whisperer") and Paula Marshall as a couple who face post-divorce mayhem after 15 years of marriage as they each embark on new relationships. He's the fun parent and she's the strict one. Together, they share custody of their two children. Airs Wednesdays at 8:30pm.

THE 11th HOUR - from CSI creator Jerry Bruckheimer, the drama follows Dr. Jacob Hood (Rufus Sewell, "The Illusionist"), a brilliant biophysicist and special science advisor to the government, as he investigates scientific crises and oddities. Airs in the lucrative post-CSI timeslot, Thursdays at 10:00pm.

THE EX-LIST - a female-friendly dramedy about Bella Bloom (Elizabeth Reaser, "Grey's Anatomy") - a single, 30-something, successful business owner who is surprised to learn from a psychic that she's already dated her future husband andif she doesn't find him in the next year, she'll remain alone forever. Fridays at 9:00pm.

HARPER'S ISLAND - is a midseason murder mystery that unfolds as friends and family attend week-long festivities at a destination wedding on a secluded and picturesque island off the coast of Seattle, infamous for a homicidal maniac's rampage seven years ago.


NEW CBS FALL 2008 SCHEDULE:


MONDAYS:
8:00pm The Big Bang Theory
8:30pm How I Met Your Mother
9:00pm Two and a Half Men
9:30pm Worst Week (NEW)
10:00pm CSI: Miami

TUESDAYS:
8:00pm NCIS
9:00pm The Mentalist (NEW)
10:00pm Without a Trace

WEDNESDAYS:
8:00pm The New Adventures of Old Christine
8:30pm Project Gary (NEW)
9:00pm Criminal Minds
10:00pm CSI: NY

THURSDAYS:
8:00pm Survivor
9:00pm CSI
10:00pm The 11th Hour

FRIDAYS:
8:00pm The Ghost Whisperer
9:00pm The Ex-List (NEW)
10:00pm Numb3rs

SATURDAYS:
Repeats
10:00pm 48 Hours Mystery

SUNDAYS:
7:00pm 60 Minutes
8:00pm The Amazing Race
9:00pm Cold Case
10:00pm The Unit


The network had done comedy on Wednesdays in the past, but was forced to replace it with dramas and reality once good sitcom ideas ran dry. Although single-camera comedy is all the rage on other networks (especially NBC), CBS is still successful with the old-fashioned multi-camera format. This may change when 'Worst Week' premieres on Mondays at 9:30pm in the plum post "Two and a Half Men" spot.

Elizabeth Reaser's Friday night dramedy which replaces 'Moonlight' will have to do what the vampire drama was not able to: keep the 18-49 crowd glued to CBS. Although "Ghost Whisperer" and "Numb3rs" are doing relatively well in the demos, the 9:00pm timeslot has been weaker.

Meanwhile, the Eye network has had trouble launching shows in the Tuesday at 10:00pm timeslot for years, so perhaps bringing the proven hit 'Without a Trace' into the Tuesday night line-up will do the trick. Unless of course the 9:00pm timeslot becomes problematic for a change. Won't Dr.House and 'Dancing with the Stars' crush 'The Mentalist'? On the other hand, we still have to see what FOX's plans for the night are.

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The CW's Fall 2008 Schedule

The CW has unveiled its new fall 2008 schedule to advertisers in New York including a completely revamped Tuesday night, changes on Wednesdays and Fridays, and sold out Sunday nights.

New shows: "90210," "Surviving the Filthy Rich" and "Stylista."

Returning at midseason: "Reaper."

Canceled: "Life is Wild," "Aliens in America," "Girlfriends," "Beauty and the Geek," "Girlicious," "CW Now," "Online Nation."


NEW SHOWS:


90210 - Jennie Garth will guest star as guidance counselor Kelly Taylor on the contemporary spin-off of the iconic drama "Beverly Hills, 90210," centered around the Mills family. This time around, the dad becomes the West Beverly High principal, the son is adopted and African-American, the family has an alcoholic grandma who is a fading actress, the school reporter does a daily newscast, and a popular girl is a YouTube star.

SURVIVING THE FILTHY RICH - Leading out of "90210" this new drama will follow a 23-year old Megan (JoAnna Garcia, "Reba") who becomes the live-in tutor for cosmetics mogul Laurel Limoges twin teen granddaughters in the ritzy Palm Beach. Hunky Michael Cassidy ("Smallville") stars as Megan's best friend Charlie who is secretly in love with her. The producers are now casting an "extremely hot young dilettante" who lives next door.

STYLISTA - A reality show from the producers of "America's Next Top Model" and "Project Runway" along the lines of the movie "The Devil Wears Prada," where 11 aspiring fashion enthusiasts vie for an editorial job with Elle magazine.


THE CW FALL 2008 SCHEDULE:
(Launches Monday, September 1)


MONDAYS:
8:00pm Gossip Girl
9:00pm One Tree Hill

TUESDAYS:
8:00pm 90210 (NEW)
9:00pm Surviving the Filthy Rich (NEW)

WEDNESDAYS:
8:00pm America's Next Top Model
9:00pm Stylista (NEW)

THURSDAYS:
8:00pm Smallville
9:00pm Supernatural

FRIDAYS:
8:00pm Everybody Hates Chris
8:30pm The Game
9:00pm America's Next Top Model (Encore)


Comments:

Although it may seem a little strange to air two brand new shows back to back, the power of the 90210 brand is strong enough to anchor Tuesday nights. The success of the night will obviously depend on the execution of the spin-off. The buzz and the eyeballs will be there. At least in the beginning.

Both "Gossip Girl" and "One Tree Hill" were actually doing a little better in their respective timeslots on Wednesday and Tuesday night, but the network needed to save them from FOX's juggernaut "American Idol." Although they have been averaging only 2.5 million viewers, the shows are building momentum among target female demos.

The move however almost killed The CW's comedy line-up, for which reason the network is giving up on programming Sunday nights in-house, and the last 2 surviving sitcoms are headed to Friday nights in place of the departing wrestling show. Although they will never match the high ratings of wrestling, perhaps The CW can gradually rebuild its comedy block there.

The network's main target group is young women, hence the Monday-Wednesday line-up. In fact, even the special effects-heavy Thursday night shows "Smallville" and "Supernatural" which do have a certain young male fan base, are already being marketed for their gorgeous men, not necessarily the content.

But as veteran "Smallville" enters its 8th year sans a number of key regulars, the CW better find that next big hit pronto or they may be in even bigger trouble next year.

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ABC Fall 2008 Schedule Update

"Boston Legal" will have a shorter final season of 13 episodes; reality programs "Dance War" and "Here Come the Newlyweds" may return after all; "Scrubs" and "According to Jim" will also have shorter seasons of 18 episodes each.

ABC has yet to film its 17 pilots some of which may be developed into midseason series and used to replace underperforming fall shows.

That means shows like "Pushing Daisies" (pictured above) and "Dirty Sexy Money" which did show some sign of weakness before they went off air in December 2007 better step up their game when they return, or they'll be gone by Christmas.

Check out the full ABC Fall 2008 schedule in my previous post.

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ABC Releases Fall 2008 Line-Up

Contrary to earlier reports that "Dirty Sexy Money" would move to Thursday nights, as well as yesterday's Zap2it report that it would swap timeslots with "Brothers & Sisters" on Sunday nights, very little will change on ABC this fall. Take a look.

CANCELLED:

"Men In Trees," "October Road," "Big Shots," "Women's Murder Club," "Cashmere Mafia," "Dance War," "Here Come the Newlyweds," "Carpoolers," "Cavemen," "Miss/Guided," and "Notes from the Underbelly."


2007 FRESHMAN SERIES RENEWED FOR 2nd SEASON:

"Samantha Who?," "Eli Stone," "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice" and "Dirty Sexy Money."


NEW SHOWS THIS FALL:

1. Ashton Kutcher's new reality series "Opportunity Knocks" in which a mobile team will be showing up on America's doorstep and testing how well they know their family with a semi-truck full of flat screen TVs, new furniture and big cash prizes that the family can win on the spot (to air Tuesdays at 8/7c)

2. "Life on Mars," a new drama based on a BBC series which revolves around Sam Tyler, a modern-day police detective who, after a car crash, mysteriously finds himself transported back to 1973 and still working as a detective (to air Thursday nights at 10/9c after "Grey's Anatomy").


MIDSEASON SHOWS:

1. "The Goode Family," a new animated series from Mike Judge, creator of "King of the Hill." "The Goode Family" is obsessed with doing the "right" thing, whether it's environmentally, politically or socially. Unfortunately their efforts often have unintended comic consequences (to air Tuesday nights at 9:30/8:30c, after "Dancing with the Stars" closes its fall cycle).

2. "Scrubs," the medical comedy moves from NBC to ABC Tuesday (at 9:00pm, again after "Dancing with the Stars" ends its fall season).

3. An untitled Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks beauty pageant (to air Monday nights at 8:00pm during the winter, temporarily replacing 'Dancing with the Stars')

4. "Lost: Season 5," 17 all-new episodes of the blockbuster drama will most probably air on Thursday nights at 10:00pm beginning February 2009, but the exact airdate has yet to be confirmed.

5. "The Bachelor" replaces "Boston Legal" on Monday nights at 10:00pm at midseason.

6. "According to Jim" will inexplicably be back for an 8th season at midseason in an unspecified timeslot.

7. "Primetime: What Would You Do?" will also return.


ABC FALL 2008 SCHEDULE:


MONDAYS:

8:00 DANCING WITH THE STARS
9:30 SAMANTHA WHO?
10:00 BOSTON LEGAL/THE BACHELOR

TUESDAYS:

8:00 OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS (NEW)
9:00 DANCING WITH THE STARS RESULTS SHOW / SCRUBS & THE GOODE FAMILY (NEW)
10:00 ELI STONE

WEDNESDAY:

8:00 PUSHING DAISIES
9:00 PRIVATE PRACTICE
10:00 DIRTY SEXY MONEY

THURSDAY:

8:00 UGLY BETTY
9:00 GREY'S ANATOMY
10:00 LIFE ON MARS (NEW)

FRIDAY:

8:00 WIFE SWAP
9:00 SUPERNANNY
10:00 20/20

SATURDAY:

8:00 SATURDAY NIGHT COLLEGE FOOTBALL / MOVIES

SUNDAY:

7:00 AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS
8:00 EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION
9:00 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
10:00 BROTHERS & SISTERS


COMMENTS:

"Dancing with the Stars" Results Show should give a new season of "Eli Stone" a solid ratings bump in its new timeslot on Tuesday nights at 10:00pm. If it worked for an aging "Boston Legal," it should work for quirky "Eli Stone."

ABC Wednesday did seem to work last fall, but the night lost some Nielsen steam just before it went off the air. I am a little concerned those figures might continue to deflate and would feel more comfortable if "Dirty Sexy Money" was airing after "Desperate Housewives" or "Grey's Anatomy."

The fact that ABC has the most stable line-up of all 4 big networks (just 2 new shows are premiering this fall) confirms how strong its development slate of 2007 was. The network may add more shows later in the season once they actually shoot new pilots (this year's development season was hampered by the writers' strike).

The network has already begun production of new episodes on Greg Berlanti shows "Brothers & Sisters" and "Dirty Sexy Money" as well as Kate Walsh's medical series "Private Practice." Some shows are expected to have longer seasons ("Desperate Housewives" 24 episodes, "Brothers & Sisters" 27 episodes, etc.)

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"Dirty Sexy Money" to Move to ABC Thursdays?

ABC will unveil its new fall schedule next Tuesday at the crucial Upfronts event in New York City. According to "Dirty Sexy Money" star William Baldwin, who plays an Attorney General with a weakness for a transsexual woman, we may already know what the network's plans for Thursday night are.

Baldwin said to Kristin Veitch of E! Online earlier this week that ABC will be giving the weekly drama about the super-rich Darling family a major relaunch next season, moving it from Wednesday nights at 10:00pm to Thursdays.

Since I assume "Grey's Anatomy" will remain in its blockbuster timeslot at 9:00pm, if what Mr.Baldwin says is true or if ABC doesn't change its mind, "Dirty Sexy Money" may get the plum Thursday at 10:00pm timeslot next season leading out of "Grey's."

Being a huge fan of the sudser, I welcome the news. I have actually been saying since the show premiered last September ABC would have been better off had they originally given DSM the coveted timeslot.

Instead, they opted for the lackluster CEO drama "Big Shots" and we all know the sad ending to that.

Although all shows that aired in the timeslot since "Grey's Anatomy" moved to Thursdays in 2006 ("Six Degrees," "Men In Trees," "October Road," "Big Shots") ended up losing a great deal of their lead-in audience and ultimately being canceled I certainly hope the curse won't extend to "Dirty Sexy Money."

"Dirty Sexy Money" averaged 8-9 million viewers on Wednedsay nights last fall, leading out of "Private Practice's" 11 million. Will those some of the 15-17 million people who watch "Grey's Anatomy" help DSM cross the 10 million mark this fall?

William Baldwin also said ABC will air 15 episodes of the drama non-stop through Christmas giving the show enough time to rebuild momentum.

The studio may re-edit the 3 unaired episodes into the first 2 episodes of the season, and then add additional 13 that have already begun filming in Los Angeles.

Since Kristin Veitch has been wrong on several occasions in the past, we may need to wait till Tuesday afternoon to find out if this rumor is true or not.

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Next 2 Seasons of "LOST" to Have 17 Episodes

ABC has agreed with "LOST" producers it will air 17 episodes of the cult drama in each of the next two seasons to compensate the 2 episodes lost this year due to the writers' strike.

Last year, ABC and "LOST" head writers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse agreed, in an unprecedented move and due to the unique nature of the series, to bring "LOST" to its ultimate conclusion after 3 seasons of 16 episodes.

Those plans were marred by this season's writers' strike which halted the Hawaii-based production in November 2007.

Although the cast and crew managed to churn out as many as 6 all-new hours this spring, bringing the season total to 14, 2 episodes were still missing sparking speculation among fans if and how ABC would compensate that loss.

The series will end after 126 episodes in May 2010 and the producers dismissed any possibility that the show would be extended beyond that date feeling any backpedaling on last year's decision would be betrayal to fans.

This year's 2-hour 4th season finale (airs Thursday, May 29, 9:00-11:00pm) will be a an action-based cliffhanger which may end with the Oceanic 6 leaving the island.

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NBC's New Fall 2008 Schedule

NBC has decided to split the prime-time schedule into 3 blocks (family hour, blockbuster hour, adult hour) and has announced renewals for "Lipstick Jungle" and "Friday Night Lights" as well as series pick-ups for freshman dramas "Knight Rider," "Merlin" and "Robinson Crusoe" and its version of the Australian hit comedy "Kath and Kim." Check out the schedule, after the jump.

Mondays:

8 p.m. "Chuck"
9 p.m. "Heroes"
10 p.m. "My Worst Enemy" / "The Philanthropist"

Tuesdays

8 p.m. "Biggest Loser: Families" / "Biggest Loser: Couples"
9:30 p.m. "Kath and Kim"
10 p.m. "Law & Order: SVU"

Wednesdays

8 p.m. "Knight Rider"
9 p.m. "Deal or No Deal"
10 p.m. "Lipstick Jungle" / "Law & Order"

Thursdays

8 p.m. "My Name Is Earl"
8:30 p.m. "30 Rock"
9 p.m. "The Office"
9:30 p.m. "The Office" / SNL Election Specials / "The Office [spinoff]"
10 p.m. "ER" (the final season) / "Celebrity Apprentice"

Fridays

8 p.m. "Robinson Crusoe"
9 p.m. "Deal or No Deal" / "Friday Night Lights"
10 p.m. "Life"

Sundays

Fall: "Sunday Night Football"

Winter:

8 p.m. "Merlin"
9 p.m. "Medium"
10 p.m. "Kings"

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ABC Schedule: Will "Club" Murder "Trees"?

ABC is giving another chance to Angie Harmon's female-centric procedural "Women's Murder Club," which did horribly among adults 18-49 on Friday nights last fall, to gain momentum among the younger crowd. The casualty? "Men in Trees."

Fans of "Men in Trees" may see ABC's latest scheduling move as a slap in the face. The Anne Heche-fronted romantic drama which premiered on Friday nights in the fall of 2006 kept switching timeslots and going on and off the schedule whenever the network felt like giving other programs like "October Road" and "Cashmere Mafia" priority.

Now the remaining episodes of season 2 are scheduled to get burned off Wednesday nights at 10:00pm, after the regular season is finished and average viewer levels decline (beginning May 28).

In the meantime, viewers will see 3 episodes of "Women's Murder Club" (Tuesdays at 10:00pm as of April 29) bump regular timeslot occupant "Boston Legal" to Wednesdays at 10:00pm.

But will the move help "Club" at all? The first of the 3 all-new episodes will clash with an all-new "Law & Order: SVU" (a well established procedural in the timeslot) with Robin Williams making a special guest appearance as the villain.

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CBS' "Swingtown" to Air Thursdays at 10

CBS has confirmed its hot new drama "Swingtown" set in the 1970s American suburbia will get a premier spot in the network's summer schedule, airing after "CSI" repeats (at 10/9c) on Thursday nights beginning May 29.

A CBS exec was quoted in Variety saying the time slot should speak volumes about how the network feels about the show.

"Swingtown" will battle NBC's scripted horror anthology series "Fear Itself" which is also slated to run for 13 episodes.

The period drama tells a very compelling story, but may raise some eyebrows due to its depiction of open marriages and sex parties.

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ABC Schedules Post-Strike Return of "Desperate Housewives," Other Hit Shows

"Desperate Housewives" returns April 13 with 5 all-new episodes plus a 2-hour season finale on May 18. Check out the exact number of post-strike episodes for all returning ABC shows and when you can watch them, after the jump.

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES: 7 more episodes will air this season in addition to the 10 already broadcast through January. The show returns Sunday, April 13 at 9/8c. Episodes #416 and #417 will air as a 2-hour season finale on May 18. That means there will be 17 episodes this year (down from 23 last year).

BROTHERS & SISTERS: Only 4 additional episodes will be filmed. The show has however aired 12 episodes this season. That means there will be a total of 16 episodes in the show's second season (down from 23 last year). The show returns a week after "Housewives," on Sunday, April 20 at 10/9c. Season finale airs May 11.

UGLY BETTY: Thursday night comedy has already produced 13 episodes this season and will be coming back for 5 more. That means the show will have the longest season of all ABC shows (18 episodes - down from 23 last year). The first of those 5 airs on Thursday, April 24. Season finale airs May 22.

GREY'S ANATOMY: The medical drama will be back in its regular timeslot (Thursdays at 9/8c) currently occupied by "Lost" the same night as "Ugly Betty" (April 24). 11 episodes have aired through January and there will be 5 more. That means the season total is 16 (down from 25 last year). Season finale airs May 22.

LOST: After the show's current run on Thursdays at 9 ends with episode #407 on March 13 (or #408 on March 20), the show will be back in the new later timeslot (Thursdays at 10/9c) on April 24. 5 more episodes will air. That means there will be 12 or 13 episodes this season (down from 23 last year). Season finale airs May 22.

Also, "Samantha Who" and "Boston Legal" will be back on April 7 and 8, respectively. Both shows will have additional 6 episodes this season.

ABC also confirmed "According to Jim" will complete production on all 18 episodes ordered this season. 12 pre-strike episodes have been filmed. Although "Dancing with the Stars" results show will take over its Tuesday at 9/8c timeslot, ABC is expected to air the full season of the comedy.

ABC's Wednesday night line-up of "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice" and "Dirty Sexy Money" will be back with new episodes in September.

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"Bones" & "House" Return to FOX in April

FOX orders new episodes of hit dramas "Bones" and "House." Find out when they return, how many new episodes there will be, and what the network's revised midseason line-up looks like, after the jump.

BONES: 2 pre-strike episodes are left and FOX has ordered 4 new episodes. That means there will be a total of 6 all-new episodes, beginning Monday, April 14 at 8/7c. This will bring the 3rd season total to 16 episodes.

HOUSE: No pre-strike episodes are left and FOX has ordered 4 new episodes. They will begin on Monday, April 28 at 9/8c. Both "Bones" and "House" will air their respective season finales on Monday, May 19.

COMEDY COMBO: Back-to-back comedies "Till Death" and "Back to You" return April 16 with 5 all-new episodes. Season finales of both shows will air on May 14.

Do bear in mind there are still 2 pre-strike episodes of "Back to You" scheduled for February 27 and 28 (after a 90-minute "American Idol"). Both shows will have a total of 14 episodes this season.

MOMENT OF TRUTH: The hideous game show gets 1 episode on Monday, February 25 at 8/7c and Wednesday, March 5 at 9/8c, before moving to a new time slot Wednesdays at 8/7c on March 12. The show ends its current run on April 2, before returning in June.

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NBC's "Chuck," "Life" and "Heroes" Renewed for 2008/2009 Season

NBC announced on Wednesday the three scripted dramas that won't be coming back with new episodes this spring are renewed for the 2008/2009 season. The network also disclosed return dates for shows that will continue production immediately.

NBC exec Ben Silverman said all three dramas will get major relaunch campaigns in the fall.

"Chuck" and "Life" have been renewed for 13 episodes (the network may add more if they do well in the fall), while "Heroes" will be coming back for more than the standard 22 episodes (the exact number will be announced in the future).

Freshman dramas "Chuck" and "Life" have averaged 8.68 million and 8.11 million viewers, respectively.

In the early days of the writers' strike, NBC renewed both shows for a full first season of 22 episodes, but was forced to abandon that plan.

The 11-episode second season arc of "Heroes" titled "Generations" averaged 13.07 million viewers, down 9% from 14.37 million "Heroes" averaged last season.

NBC's other freshman dramas "Journeyman" and "The Bionic Woman" are not expected to return next season.

Meanwhile, NBC announced the following return dates for its hit scripted comedies and dramas:


"Medium" (Mondays, 10-11 p.m. ET)
Continues current run

April 3:
"My Name Is Earl" (Thursdays, 8-8:30 p.m. ET)
Resumes with one-hour episode

April 10:
"30 Rock" (Thursdays, 8:30-9 p.m. ET)
"The Office" (Thursdays, 9-9:30 p.m. ET)
"Scrubs" (Thursdays, 9:30-10 p.m. ET)
"ER" (Thursdays, 10-11 p.m. ET)

April 15:
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (Tuesdays, 10-11 p.m. ET)

April 23:
"Law & Order" (Wednesdays, 10-11 p.m. ET)


"Scrubs" which is in its final year will return April 10 with the 5 episodes already in the can. NBC has yet to announce if they will order any additional episodes to end the series deservingly. One of the options is for such episodes to go straight to DVD.

Meanwhile, future remains uncertain for "Friday Night Lights" which concluded its second season last Friday.

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CBS Announces Post-Strike Premiere Dates

CBS has announced the exact return dates of its prime-time sitcoms and dramas along with the number of episodes they'll produce through the end of the season. "The Unit," and "Cane" will not be coming back this season; "Shark" has yet to be scheduled; group sex drama "Swingtown" continues production; serial killer drama "Dexter" remains on the CBS schedule.

March 17:
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (9)
THE BIG BANG THEORY (9)
TWO AND A HALF MEN (9)

March 24:
CSI: MIAMI (8)

March 30:
COLD CASE (5)

April 2:
CRIMINAL MINDS (7)
CSI: NY (7)

April 3:
CSI (6)
WITHOUT A TRACE (6)

April 4:
GHOST WHISPERER (6)
NUMB3RS (6)

April 8:
NCIS (7)

April 11:
MOONLIGHT (4)

April 14
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (6)

TBA:
SHARK (4)

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"LOST" Moves to Thursdays at 10 in April

ABC is putting together its spring schedule and the first order of business - how to schedule new episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" and "Lost" - has already been resolved, with the two blockbuster shows now scheduled to air back to back on Thursdays from 9/8c. Furthermore, the network is expected to stick with such schedule the next season.

The revised Thursday night schedule is:

8:00-9:00 PM UGLY BETTY
9:00-10:00 PM GREY'S ANATOMY
10:00-11:00 PM LOST

Such schedule should make ABC even more competitive than it had been since it successfully moved its hit medical drama from Sunday nights in the fall of 2006.

The network has however struggled to find the best fit out of "Grey's" with "Six Degrees," "Men in Trees," "October Road" and "Big Shots" all airing in the timeslot and failing to meet the high expectations.

This year's former timeslot occupant "Big Shots" was losing over half of "Grey's" audience and is expected to get canceled.

But is the move going to benefit "Lost"? Obviously, the ability of "Grey's Anatomy" to provide "Lost" with enormous lead-in audience is somewhat irrelevant. Loyal "Lost" fans will tune into the show regardless. Plus many of them don't necessarily care about the medical soap.

On the other hand, "Lost" numbers do appear to go down when the show moves to a later timeslot. Being such an exhausting show to follow, it simply works best at an earlier time.

The amateur programmer in me can't help thinking ABC would have been better off starting the night off with "Lost," followed by "Grey's Anatomy" and new episodes od "Private Practice" and moving "Ugly Betty" to Sunday nights before the combo of "Desperate Housewives" and "Brothers & Sisters."

In any event, ABC may interrupt the current run of "Lost" with the March 13 episode (#407). The 8th episode which was originally scheduled for March 20 would actually air in April, kicking off the final batch of 6 episodes (#408-#413).

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Post-Strike Update: When TV Shows Return (Tuesday UPDATE)

The latest rumors on the post-strike return of "Private Practice," "Prison Break," "House," "Gossip Girl" "Bones," "Women's Murder Club" and many other shows.

PRIVATE PRACTICE: The freshman medical drama is not expected to return with new episodes this spring. The Kate Walsh-fronted series will however be back with at least 13 new episodes next season, as will the rest of ABC's Wednesday night line-up ("Pushing Daisies" and "Dirty Sexy Money"). Surprisingly, "Women's Murder Club" may get canceled.

PRISON BREAK: Hollywood press reports FOX won't be ordering additional episodes of "Prison Break" this season - next Monday the drama concludes its current 13-episode arc. The show has gone down over 15% in the ratings this year.

HOUSE/BONES: Furthermore, the network now appears to be inching towards not ordering additional episodes of "House" this season (which has already run out of fresh installments) and "Bones" (the procedural has 4 episodes left in the can).

SMALLVILLE: The CW's veteran drama is now critical to survival of the young network. Following a series of flops and declining ratings, "Smallville" has become CW's top rated scripted hour, keeping eyeballs tuned into the struggling network on lucrative Thursday nights.

The show will have 3-5 new episodes beyond the original 15 pre-strike episodes, increasing the season total to 18-20 episodes. 3-5 new episodes are also expected for its lead-out "Supernatural" which filmed 12 pre-strike episodes, so its season total will be 15-17 episodes.


BLOCKBUSTER TV DRAMAS/DRAMEDIES: Tube's greatest hits like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives," will be coming back with at least 4-7 new episodes this spring.

CSI and other CBS procedurals: Hit CBS crime dramas are expected to follow the same pattern of other blockbuster TV series - they will be back this spring with 4-7 new episodes.

These shows help keep the Eye network on the top of the ratings (in total viewers, not among adults 18-49, that is), so expect to see more of "CSI," "CSI: Miami," "CSI: New York," "Without a Trace," "NCIS," "Numb3rs," "Criminal Minds" and "Cold Case."

HEROES: NBC's sci-fi drama from the producer Tim Kring was originally planning to open a new arc titled "Villains" in early 2008. Since the studio would probably not be able to film more than 3 new episodes this season, NBC is expected to delay the return of the drama till September, when season 3 launches. Next season may however contain more than the standard 22-23 episodes.


UGLY BETTY: ABC's sophomore comedy would come back this spring for 4 additional episodes, bringing the season total to 17. Executive producer Silvio Horta has said to Entertainment Weekly the writers would however have to tweak the planned storylines as they were originally mapped out for a 23-episode season. 13 episodes have aired thus far.

GOSSIP GIRL: The CW's teen drama based on the series of bestselling books is expected to return in late April with the at least 6 more episodes. Under that scenario, the struggling network may extend its official TV season into the summer. "Gossip Girl" was the first freshman drama to receive a full-season pickup last October.

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER: Given its half-hour format and well-established production, CBS' flashback-laden comedy might (along with the network's top sitcom "Two and a Half Men" and its lead-out "The Big Bang Theory") return for as many as 7 new installments this spring. 11 episodes of "How I Met Your Mother" have aired so far.

24: This is a really tricky one. As you may have heard, 8 episodes had been filmed prior to the strike. Since bringing the show back for an abbreviated season is impossible due to its 24-hour format, the drama will most probably return in January 2009, which means the strike may have cost both fans and people who produce the series an entire season.

SAMANTHA WHO: The single-camera comedy starring Christina Applegate is expected to return March 24, following a new cycle of "Dancing with the Stars." 12 episodes have been filmed, 9 have aired through early December, the remaining 3 episodes will kick off the new batch. As many as 6 new episodes could be filmed this spring, bringing the season total to 18.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: The second season of "Friday Night Lights" (including last week's 15th episode) will be released on DVD April 22, and would therefore have no additional episodes. The show's future remains up in the air.

TO GET CANCELED: Shows like "Bionic Woman," "Journeyman" and "Big Shots" are not coming back with new episodes this spring and they are expected to get canceled when the new fall grids are announced in May.

The post will be updated/corrected when more information becomes available.

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"24" Renewed Through 2009

MAY 16, 2007: FOX has issued an unusually late renewal for its Monday night thriller "24" for two more seasons. The producers have promised to completely re-invent the struggling drama.

The show star Kiefer Sutherland is already on board through 2009 as part of last year's 3-year 8-figure deal.

The drama will return with a new cast (some favorites may return) and a new non-Los Angeles location.

Following a successful Emmy-winning 5th season, the drama drew a lot of criticism this year.

Executive producer/showrunner Howard Gordon believes it was unfair: "On balance, it was a very successful season," he said.

FOX has already renewed "House," "Prison Break," "Bones," " 'Till Death" as well as the network's Sunday animated comedy block.

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ABC Announces End Date for "LOST"

MAY 7, 2007: ABC has made its final decision and announced "LOST" will end in 2010 after 3 shorter seasons of 16 episodes.

Contrary to traditional scheduling of TV shows in America that entails keeping a program on the air until the ratings fizzle out, the ABC television network has agreed, in an unprecedented move, to let Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof, the producers of its hit drama "LOST," end the series at a set future date.

Earlier this year the producers publicly expressed their wish to agree with the network an end date and conclude the show gracefully, once its storylines run their course, unlike virtually all TV shows on American TV which for business reasons are kept on air beyond that point and eventually turn into a parody of themselves.

The producers envisioned ending the show after 2 seasons of 24 episodes (ABC produced 25, 24 and 23 hours of LOST in its first three seasons respectively).


According to the new deal the producers would still get their wish - there will be 48 additional episodes, but as a compromise, ABC asked that they be divided into three seasons of 16 episodes, to keep the show on the air a year longer.

ABC believes it can market such shorter seasons as events as they will be run non-stop similar to this year's second part of the third season which also included 16 episodes (albeit the final episode is a 2-hour event.)

The network has yet to announce the exact starting date of the 4th season, but there is now almost no doubt that it will run similar to this year's 16-episode batch February through May.


That means after this May's spectacular 2-hour season finale which airs on May 23, the viewers will have to wait over 8 months to see the next episode. The question remains - will such a long hiatus hurt the show's already deflated ratings further?

Despite the drop, the show remains a top-10 hit among adults 18-49 and brings in as many young viewers as NBC's red-hot hit "Heroes." Also there are over 2 million people who watch the show via DVR or downloads.

J.J. Abrams who originally created the series said to Daily Variety: "It is the right choice for the series and its viewers; it takes real foresight and guts to make a call like this. I applaud ABC and Touchstone for making this happen."


Cuse and Lindelof who are currently overseeing the production of the season finale episode said this was "a bold and unprecedented move for ABC" and they thanked ABC President Steven McPherson for making that decision.

Cuse added: "I think for story-based shows like 'Lost,' as opposed to franchise-based shows like 'ER' or 'CSI,' the audience wants to know when the story is going to be over."

"When J.K. Rowling announced that there would be seven 'Harry Potter' books, it gave the readers a clear sense of exactly what their investment would be. We want our audience to do the same."


It is believed the producers would have abandoned the show after its 5th season unless ABC agreed to an end date. They also welcomed the 16-episode order because it will give them more time to write the remaining stories:

"Because our show is so mythological, and because, unlike '24,' we can't reset each season, we need the extra time fewer episodes affords us to really plan out the specifics of our storytelling."

According to people on the set of "LOST" the shocking 2-hour 3rd season finale which airs on May 23 will completely shake up the plot and "change everything."

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"Monk" & "Pysch" to Air on NBC

They have begun. The networks have begun cherry-picking the best of what their cable siblings have to offer and putting it on scripted content-starved primetime. After adding "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" to the line-up, NBC has now decided to "repurpose" cable's "Monk" and "Psych" from USA Network to Sunday nights, beginning in March.

NBC is the first to follow up on the recent rumors that cable shows may end up on broadcast networks' prime-time schedules to fill the slots vacated by the scripted dramas which were forced into shutting down production due to the writers' strike. CBS prexy Les Moonves said Showtime hits like "Dexter" or "Weeds" may air on CBS.

"Monk" and "Psych," which air back-to-back on USA on Friday nights (9-11 p.m.), regularly lure over 2 million adults 18-49. Some scenes of these shows are however expected to end up on the cutting room floor before airing on NBC, as the Peacock must conform to much stricter standards.

The exact premiere date in March has yet to be confirmed.

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New ABC Schedule: Mondays

ABC's powerhouse Monday night line-up will be back this spring with a new cycle of "Dancing with the Stars." In the meantime a "Dancing" spin-off and new episodes of the underwhelming "October Road."

"Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann" premieres with a special two-hour episode on Monday, January 7, followed by 90-minute episodes through January. "Samantha Who" is temporarily shelved until the sweeps.

The show will return to the 9:00pm timeslot on February 4, before going back to its original timeslot 9:30pm on March 17. A new season of "The Bachelor" will replace "October Road" that same night.

MONDAYS (from January 7)
8:00pm "Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann" (2 hours on January 7)
9:30pm "Notes from the Underbelly"
10:00pm "October Road"

MONDAYS (from February)
8:00pm "Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann" (2 hours on January 7)
9:00pm "Samantha Who"
9:30pm "Notes from the Underbelly"
10:00pm "October Road"

MONDAYS (from March 17)
8:00pm "Dancing with the Stars" (2 hours on March 17)
9:30pm "Samantha Who"
10:00pm "The Bachelor"

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New ABC Schedule: Tuesdays

One of the most boring nights on television (which is about to get a lot more interesting with the arrival of "American Idol") will look very similar to the way it looked in the fall, albeit the unbearable "Cavemen" are gone and "According to Jim" is back. Plus, the Canadian import "Just for Laughs" returns January 1.

"Dancing with the Stars" results show should help keep the network in the spotlight on Tuesday nights come March as well as provide a decent lead-in for "Boston Legal" reruns. The legal drama however has 4 all-new episodes left and they'll air from January 8.

TUESDAYS (from January 1)

8:00pm Just for Laughs (from January 8)
8:30pm Just for Laughs (from January 1, after Rose Bowl)
9:00pm According to Jim (7 new episodes)
9:30pm Carpoolers (new episodes)
10:00pm Boston Legal (4 new episodes)

TUESDAYS (from March 25)

8:00pm Just for Laughs
8:30pm Just for Laughs
9:00pm Dancing with the Stars Results Show
10:00pm Boston Legal

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