Post by KRoseLynn on May 16, 2009 7:20:43 GMT -10
CBS and the CW gear up for fall
Tim Goodman
Friday, May 15, 2009
With Monday the start date for the network "upfronts" - when they present their new fall shows to advertisers and media - here's the rundown on pilots at CBS and sister network the CW.
Network overview: CBS continues to be a dominant force in the ratings and has a stellar track record of developing hits, with a good balance of dramas (mostly procedurals) and comedies. The CW remains the smallest of all the networks - it recently stopped programming weekends entirely - but does a fine job of reaching a younger, female-driven audience.
Returning series: "Big Bang Theory," "Two and a Half Men," "Criminal Minds," "CSI," "CSI: Miami," "CSI: New York," "How I Met Your Mother," "The Mentalist" and "NCIS" on CBS. "90210," "Gossip Girl," "One Tree Hill," "Smallville" and "Supernatural" on the CW.
Canceled series: "The Ex List" and "Worst Week" from CBS. None of the CW's own shows have been killed yet.
Shows still "on the bubble" and yet to be renewed: "Eleventh Hour," "Gary Unmarried," "The Unit," "Cold Case," "Without a Trace," "Numb3rs," and "Rules of Engagement" at CBS. "Everybody Hates Chris," "The Game," "Reaper" and "Privileged" at the CW.
Though CBS hasn't officially renewed some of its bigger hits, most will return, but there could be a few last minute surprises.
Pilots in play for the 2009-10 season: Dramas at CBS include: the untitled "NCIS" spin-off, which is a go; "Back," about a man missing and presumed dead on Sept. 11 who shows up eight years later; "The Eastmans," about a family of doctors; "The Good Wife," about a female defense attorney married to a politician, with complications; "House Rules," about the freshman class of politicians in Washington; "A Marriage," from Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz about, surprise, a good marriage; "Miami Trauma," a medical series; "Three Rivers," about doctors, donors and patients, told from those perspectives; "U.S. Attorney," a procedural about federal prosecutors; and "Washington Field," about various federal law enforcement agents tackling worldwide issues. The network has already picked up "The Bridge," a drama from Canada. CBS is notoriously tight-lipped about how it's leaning, so there's no accurate way to gauge the buzz, but expect at least three of these to get picked up.
CW dramas include a remake of "Melrose Place"; a spin-off of "Gossip Girl"; "The Beautiful Life," about models in New York (mostly male); "The Body Politic," about young interns in Washington; "The Vampire Diaries" about, well, vampire brothers.
CBS comedies include "Accidentally on Purpose," starring Jenna Elfman and based on the book by San Francisco writer Mary Pols about a movie critic who accidentally gets pregnant by a younger man; "Ace in the Hole" stars Adam Carolla as a driving instructor; "At Last," about a couple that finally get married, then things go sideways; "The Big D," a culture-clash family sitcom set in Dallas; "The Fish Tank," about a teenager who gets the house to himself; "Happiness Isn't Everything," a meddling family comedy from Jim Vallely and Mitch Hurwitz of "Arrested Development," starring Richard Dreyfuss, Mary Steenburgen and Jason Biggs; "The Karenskys," another dysfunctional family sitcom from Linwood Boomer ("Malcolm in the Middle") starring Annie Potts; and "Waiting to Die," about two slackers perfectly happy with their lives, from Hurwitz.
There are no comedies from the CW.
Final spin: CBS overhauled the producers of "Gary Unmarried," so that could either save it or kill it; Shawn Ryan, who created "The Unit" has been named show runner for Fox's "Lie to Me," which probably doesn't bode well for "The Unit" returning. CBS consistently develops compelling mainstream series, but it will be especially interesting to see if it picks up some of these snarky sitcoms. The CW could lose two African American-dominated comedies in "Everybody Hates Chris" and "The Game," with nothing to replace them. The "Melrose Place" revamp looks like a lock, while the "Gossip Girl" spin-off could be in jeopardy. We'll know definitively - for all networks - next week.
This article appeared on page F - 3 of the San Francisco Chronicle
Original article HERE
Tim Goodman
Friday, May 15, 2009
With Monday the start date for the network "upfronts" - when they present their new fall shows to advertisers and media - here's the rundown on pilots at CBS and sister network the CW.
Network overview: CBS continues to be a dominant force in the ratings and has a stellar track record of developing hits, with a good balance of dramas (mostly procedurals) and comedies. The CW remains the smallest of all the networks - it recently stopped programming weekends entirely - but does a fine job of reaching a younger, female-driven audience.
Returning series: "Big Bang Theory," "Two and a Half Men," "Criminal Minds," "CSI," "CSI: Miami," "CSI: New York," "How I Met Your Mother," "The Mentalist" and "NCIS" on CBS. "90210," "Gossip Girl," "One Tree Hill," "Smallville" and "Supernatural" on the CW.
Canceled series: "The Ex List" and "Worst Week" from CBS. None of the CW's own shows have been killed yet.
Shows still "on the bubble" and yet to be renewed: "Eleventh Hour," "Gary Unmarried," "The Unit," "Cold Case," "Without a Trace," "Numb3rs," and "Rules of Engagement" at CBS. "Everybody Hates Chris," "The Game," "Reaper" and "Privileged" at the CW.
Though CBS hasn't officially renewed some of its bigger hits, most will return, but there could be a few last minute surprises.
Pilots in play for the 2009-10 season: Dramas at CBS include: the untitled "NCIS" spin-off, which is a go; "Back," about a man missing and presumed dead on Sept. 11 who shows up eight years later; "The Eastmans," about a family of doctors; "The Good Wife," about a female defense attorney married to a politician, with complications; "House Rules," about the freshman class of politicians in Washington; "A Marriage," from Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz about, surprise, a good marriage; "Miami Trauma," a medical series; "Three Rivers," about doctors, donors and patients, told from those perspectives; "U.S. Attorney," a procedural about federal prosecutors; and "Washington Field," about various federal law enforcement agents tackling worldwide issues. The network has already picked up "The Bridge," a drama from Canada. CBS is notoriously tight-lipped about how it's leaning, so there's no accurate way to gauge the buzz, but expect at least three of these to get picked up.
CW dramas include a remake of "Melrose Place"; a spin-off of "Gossip Girl"; "The Beautiful Life," about models in New York (mostly male); "The Body Politic," about young interns in Washington; "The Vampire Diaries" about, well, vampire brothers.
CBS comedies include "Accidentally on Purpose," starring Jenna Elfman and based on the book by San Francisco writer Mary Pols about a movie critic who accidentally gets pregnant by a younger man; "Ace in the Hole" stars Adam Carolla as a driving instructor; "At Last," about a couple that finally get married, then things go sideways; "The Big D," a culture-clash family sitcom set in Dallas; "The Fish Tank," about a teenager who gets the house to himself; "Happiness Isn't Everything," a meddling family comedy from Jim Vallely and Mitch Hurwitz of "Arrested Development," starring Richard Dreyfuss, Mary Steenburgen and Jason Biggs; "The Karenskys," another dysfunctional family sitcom from Linwood Boomer ("Malcolm in the Middle") starring Annie Potts; and "Waiting to Die," about two slackers perfectly happy with their lives, from Hurwitz.
There are no comedies from the CW.
Final spin: CBS overhauled the producers of "Gary Unmarried," so that could either save it or kill it; Shawn Ryan, who created "The Unit" has been named show runner for Fox's "Lie to Me," which probably doesn't bode well for "The Unit" returning. CBS consistently develops compelling mainstream series, but it will be especially interesting to see if it picks up some of these snarky sitcoms. The CW could lose two African American-dominated comedies in "Everybody Hates Chris" and "The Game," with nothing to replace them. The "Melrose Place" revamp looks like a lock, while the "Gossip Girl" spin-off could be in jeopardy. We'll know definitively - for all networks - next week.
This article appeared on page F - 3 of the San Francisco Chronicle
Original article HERE
