NBC announced their new fall lineup. Here's my take on it as well as a review of the season that is just ending.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Teachers -- 6 episodes -- Didn't watch it, didn't care. I assume the title says it all about this sitcom...as does it's status of not returning in the fall.
Conviction -- 13 episodes -- This attempt by Law & Order creator Dick Wolf to combine his franchise philosophy with the David E. Kelley type of law show (like Boston Legal) was bland and boring at best.
E-Ring -- 14 episodes aired of 20 shot -- Looks like Benjamin Bratt and Dennis Hopper will be looking for new work soon since this Pentagon based drama tanked.
Fear Factor -- 6 seasons/142 episodes -- This gross out game show finally gets put to bed as NBC burns off a number of episodes this summer...and then we'll never see it again...until someone decides to resurrect it or something similar. Season 1 arrives on DVD soon.
Last Comic Standing -- A fourth season of this will be airing this summer, but its not listed on next season's schedule. Anyone remember any of the winners? Didn't think so.
Three Wishes -- 10 episodes -- This Amy Grant hosted show was probably better suited for HGTV than NBC.
Apprentice: Martha Stewart -- 13 episodes -- Dear Martha...your show was a boring clone of a show that was exciting once but has now become a repetative bore...enjoy your successful talk show as you more than anyone knows that fame can be fleeting.
The Book of Daniel -- 4 episodes aired of 8 shot -- NBC bailed quickly on this controverisal show. The only thing that made me watch all 4 episodes was all the controversy. Had no one complained it probably would have died a much quicker death.
Celebrity Cooking Showdown -- I think there were 5 episodes, but this tanked faster than anyone could imagine.
Four Kings -- 7 of 10 episodes aired -- tried watching this one time...it wasn't funny.
Heist -- 5 of 6 episodes aired --I missed this entirely, but it sounded interesting. Oh well.
Inconceivable -- 2 of 9 episodes aired -- I got nothing to say about a drama that takes place in a fertility clinic. Wasn't interested. Didn't watch.
Joey -- 2 Seasons/46 Episodes/8 Unaired -- Hey, it last longer than After M*A*S*H by 8 episodes (or 16 if NBC burns off the 8 unaired episodes). It was mildly funny, like Friends in it's last 4 seasons. Season 1 arrives on DVD soon.
The West Wing -- 7 Seasons/154 Episodes -- I tried several times to get into this show and couldn't. Not really sure why. The first six seasons are currently on DVD.
Will & Grace -- 8 Seasons/193 Episodes -- What? They couldn't find enough guest stars to make an even 200 episodes? Here's a show that ran out of steam at least two seasons ago. Not really sure why I kept watching as I barely cared for anything that happened to the main characters. The first four seasons are on DVD (but I hear the episodes are syndicated versions...yuck).
The new fall schedule looks like this:
MONDAYS
8pm Deal or No Deal -- Sorry folks, I don't get the appeal of this one.
9pm Heroes -- This hour-long drama is about ordinary people who discover they have extra-ordinary powers. It could be interesting even though there's no cast or crew that would draw me in. I'll take a look in the fall and we'll go from there.
10pm Medium -- This show enters its third season and it's become Tivoed summer fodder for us. We enjoy it, but there's other stuff that takes precedence. Season 1 arrives on DVD soon.
TUESDAYS
8pm Friday Night Lights -- based on the popular football movie of a year or two ago.
9pm Kidnapped -- This serialized drama focuses on one kidnapping for the entire season. The concept and the cast get me watching for a three episode tryout. Jeremy Sisto, Delroy Lindo, Dana Delaney and Timothy Hutton are among the cast members.
10pm Law & Order: Special Victims Unit -- The more grusome part of the franchise enters its 8th Season. Seasons 1, 2 & 5 are available on DVD (yes...you read that right...it's from Universal Home Video who just generally suck at doing everything).
WEDNESDAYS
8pm The Biggest Loser -- The inspirational/easy to make fun of reality show returns for a 4th season.
9pm 20 Good Years -- John Lithgow and Jeffrey Tambour star as two friends who start living every day as if it were the last. The stars get me watching for a three episode tryout.
9:30 30 Rock -- This sitcom takes a look backstage at a Saturday Night Live type show. Tina Fey stars (as well as creates it) with Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan and Rachel Dratch. Could be interesting and funny with this talent behind it...but does NBC need THREE SNL type shows on the air?? See below.
10pm Law & Order -- Returning for a 17th Season. I'm sure there'll be some cast shakeups. Seasons 1 thru 4 and 14 are available on DVD (thanks Universal).
THURSDAYS
8pm My Name Is Earl -- The best new sitcom of the 2005-2006 season gets a second season and a DVD release of the first around the same time. If you're not watching this just hand over your remote and unplug your set. You don't deserve them.
8:30 The Office -- Sorry folks, just don't get the show. Didn't find it funny after watching all of the first season (now on DVD). Won't be watching the third season when it starts again this fall.
9pm Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip -- Aaron Sorkin (creator of The West Wing) brings us an hour long drama that gives us a behind the scenes look at a Saturday Night Live type show. The cast includes Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet, Bradley Whitford, DL Hughley, Nathan Corddry, Timothy Busfield, Steven Weber and Evan Handler. The power behind this show (cast, crew and concept) get me watching. Looking forward to this one.
10pm ER -- Returns for a 13th Season. Yawn. The first five seasons are on DVD.
FRIDAYS
8pm Deal Or No Deal -- It gets two nights and Scrubs is relegated to a mid-season replacement?? Come on!!
9pm Las Vegas -- Returns for a 4th Season (has it been on that long already??). I still don't watch it. The first 2 seasons are on DVD.
10pm Law & Order: Criminal Intent -- Returns for a 6th Season. Seasons 1 & 3 are on DVD.
SATURDAYS
8pm Dateline -- It took over a decade to get this down to one night a week (and a "dead" night at that). I hope it doesn't take that long to rid the world of Deal Or No Deal.
9pm Reruns -- It'll probably be a few Law & Order franchise episodes if it's not movies.
SUNDAYS
7pm Football In America -- Bob Costas hosts this pre-game show now that NBC has the NFL.
8pm Sunday Night Football -- Are you ready?? I'm just glad that my Sunday night FOX programming won't get delayed, interrupted or shortened any more (I think).
MID-SEASON REPLACEMENTS/RETURNS
The Black Donnelleys (Thursdays at 10pm in January 2007) -- The creators behind this year's Oscar winning film Crash bring this drama of four brothers who are part of the Irish Mafia. It was originally a pilot from the 2005-2006 season that went nowhere. Guess that Oscar was good for something.
America's Got Talent (Sundays at 8pm after Football ends) -- Regis hosts this Simon Cowell produced talent show that's not called American Idol.
The Apprentice (Sundays at 9pm after Football ends) -- Trump moves to LA. Let's hope he stays there. I'm done with this show (after 5 seasons of watching?? I should have been done with it sooner). Only Season 1 has made it to DVD (there is a G-d).
Raines (Sundays at 10pm after Football ends) -- Jeff Goldblum is a detective and Luis Guzman is his partner. Oh...and he talks to dead people...take that CBS for copying Medium with Ghost Whisperer. The only reason I'll even attempt to watch this is because I think Goldblum's a great actor.
The Singles Table -- The creators of 3rd Rock From The Sun and Grounded For Life bring us a comedy about a group that meet at a wedding where they realize the one thing they have in common is they've been put at the singles table. Could be funny.
Andy Barker, P.I. -- Andy Richter returns (after the very funny, but barely watched Andy Richter Controls The Universe and Quintuplets both of which need DVD releases) and hopefully the third time will be the charm. Richter stars as an accountant who is mistaken for a private investigator when he occupies a new office that was previously inhabited by one. He changes careers and does his best to make people think he's the best at what he has no idea of how to do.
Scrubs -- returns for a sixth season (the first three are on DVD) and it still gets no respect from NBC. This show should be paired with My Name Is Earl to create the perfect comedy hour.
Crossing Jordan -- also returns for a sixth season. It's not even on DVD. Does anyone really watch this?
Well...that's all for NBC. Next up is ABC tomorrow.
Be seeing you.
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