This past week were the TV Network Upfronts when each network gives us their new fall season. Every year, I've taken the opportunity to look back at the season just ending as well as what new shows will be airing in the fall. NBC however jumped the gun a few weeks ago by announcing a schedule that wasn't just for the fall but one that would run the whole year. This wasn't a new concept since FOX had done the same thing a year ago. So without further ado , here's what NBC has given us (and taken from us):
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
1 VS 100 -- 2 Seasons/28 episodes -- This game show (hosted by Bob Saget) wasn't terrible. It may even be back if something new tanks.
Amne$ia -- 1 Season/8 Episodes -- Another game show hosted by a comedian (Dennis Miller). Didn't catch it.
Bionic Woman -- 1 Season/8 episodes -- The writer's strike essentially killed any chance of this expensive show getting past the 8 episodes shot. The ratings of those episodes didn't help. Was interested in seeing it, but never got around to it. Oh well.
Clash of the Choirs -- 1 Season/4 Episodes -- This show just looked weird.
Journeyman -- 1 Season/13 Episodes -- Another victim of the strike that I didn't get to see (not because of the strike mind you, just didn't get the chance when the season started for a variety of reasons). A DVD is forthcoming.
Las Vegas -- 5 Seasons/106 Episodes -- Even replacing James Caan with a more Tv friendly Tom Selleck couldn't save this show. The first 4 seasons are on DVD and I expect the last one will also arrive within time.
My Dad is Better Than Your Dad -- 1 Season/8 Episodes -- Another dumb game show we got in the wake of the strike. The title says it all.
Phenomenon -- 1 Season/5 Episodes -- It's essentially American Idol for magicians.
QuarterLife -- 1 Season/6 Episodes/5 Unaired -- This supposed internet hit show from the creators of thirtysomething was grabbed by NBC and re-edited into standard TV episodes pretty much as soon as the writer's strike started. The show aired, got dismal ratings and was never heard from again (don't know if the internet version is still around, don't care). Bravo will be (or has already) airing the unaired episodes (nice having a network of networks to burn crap off on).
The Singing Bee -- 1 Season/17 Episodes -- This was the Karaoke Game Show with host Joey Fatone and not the one with Wayne Brady.
Fall 2008-Winter 2009 Schedule
MONDAYS
8pm Chuck -- Returns for a 2nd Season. This wonderfully witty and fun show is about an IT guy (like the idiots on the Geek Squad at Best Buy) who winds up as a covert government agent for reasons the show would explain better. If you didn't catch the First Season a DVD arrives just before the Second one starts. Catch it.
9pm Heroes -- Returns for a 3rd Season. I know many fans felt Season Two wandered a bit, but I still enjoyed it. Can't wait to see where they go next. I assume a DVD set of Season Two will arrive before Season Three, but one hasn't been announced yet.
10pm My Own Worst Enemy -- Christian Slater stars as a Jekyll & Hyde type who is a suburban dad and a vicious killer spy trapped in the same body and each not knowing of the other, until that mental wall starts to break down. (Quick note about new shows...my old policy was to review at least one episode of any new show and the ones that got me hooked on a decent pilot would then get a three episode tryout before I decided on permanently adding them to our viewing lineup -- don't have the time for that any more, so the new policy is to try and catch new shows that sound interesting and give you a review after one episode...if the show winds up sticking on our schedule, you'll get a more in depth review at the end of the season).
TUESDAYS
8pm The Biggest Loser: Families -- The inspiring show returns for a 6th Season.
9:30 Kath & Kim -- Molly Shannon & Selma Blair star as a mother and daughter in this Americanized sitcom based on a hit Australian show.
10pm Law & Order: Special Victims Unit -- Returns for a 10th Season (that I still won't watch)
WEDNESDAYS
8pm Knight Rider -- The recent TV movie did well enough to warrant a new show. Yawn
9pm Deal or No Deal -- The Howie Mandel hosted game show (the one with the cases), returns for a 4th Season.
10pm Lipstick Jungle -- This is the Brooke Shields Sex in the City clone that is returning for a 2nd Season (unlike ABC's Lucy Liu version Cashmere Mafia).
THURSDAYS
8pm My Name is Earl -- While this show is returning for a 4th Season, I'm not sure how much longer we'll stick with it. The show took a bad turn with Earl's coma and dragged that story out way too long (we've got the last three episodes still sitting on our DVR cause we just don't seem to care about getting to them). Its too bad as this show was really well done for two and a half seasons. Let's hope the creators are able to right the ship.
8:30 30 Rock -- Funniest Live Action Sitcom on TV returns for a 3rd Season. I hope the ratings grow cause each season seems to be a struggle towards getting renewed.
9pm The Office -- Still don't care for the American version which returns for a 5th Season.
9:30 SNL Thursday -- Its a highlights show to give us more political comedy during the run-up to the 2008 Presidential Election -- as if that farce wasn't funny enough.
10pm ER -- Returns for a 15th Season? Why?
FRIDAYS
8pm Crusoe -- Based on the Daniel DeFoe novel. Meh.
9pm Deal or No Deal -- More meh.
10pm Life -- Gets paroled for a 2nd Season. What was this show about again? Oh...right...the cop who went to jail for a crime he didn't commit and is now back on the force. Didn't care to catch it the first time, what makes them think I'll do so now?
SATURDAYS
8pm Dateline -- At least its not on every day anymore.
9pm Knight Rider (Encores)
10pm Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Encores)
SUNDAYS
7pm Sunday Night Football
Winter 2009-Summer 2009 Schedule
MONDAYS
8pm Chuck
9pm Heores
10pm The Philanthropist -- This show about a rich guy who helps people no matter the cost was originally from the creators of Homicide and Oz. But the network didn't like their take on the show (they wanted to tackle more socially conscious issues, the network wants escapist fare), so Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson have left and one of the guys behind Battlestar: Galactica is coming on. Let's see if he uses any of the 6 scripts completed by the previous team.
TUESDAYS
8pm The Biggest Loser: Couples
9:30 Kath & Kim
10pm Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
WEDNESDAYS
8pm Knight Rider
9pm Deal or No Deal
10pm Law & Order -- At the end of the 17th Season, this show was kind of making me yawn. We'd been there/done that enough that the show was stale and I could understand why NBC was hesitant about an 18th Season...but am I glad they stuck with it and that producer David Wolf made some changes. The additions of Linus Roache & Jeremy Sisto re-energized the show and then Anthony Anderson's replacing Jesse Martin added even more to that. The show feels new again and I look forward to a 19th Season in 2009.
THURSDAYS
8pm My Name is Earl
8:30 30 Rock
9pm The Office
9:30 Spinoff from The Office -- No one has any idea what its about, but its coming anyway. Kinda like the new Indiana Jones film.
10pm The Celebrity Apprentice -- I was bored after 3 seasons of the "regular" edition, but since I missed The Surreal Life since its demise I gave this version a shot. Funny stuff.
FRIDAYS
8pm Deal or No Deal
9pm Friday Night Lights -- Actually returns for a third season in the fall, but its satellite exclusive (forget which one). NBC gets it after New Year's.
10pm Life
SATURDAYS
8pm Dateline
9pm Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Encores)
10pm Law & Order (Encores)
SUNDAYS
7pm Dateline
8pm Merlin -- This puts the Smallville spin on the legend of King Arthur and his magical friend. Meh.
9pm Medium -- I liked the first two seasons of this show, but kinda lost interest. Will catch it on DVD as it comes out since I am a fan of creator Glenn Gordon Carron. Returning for a 5th Season.
10pm Kings -- This modern reinterpretation of the story of David & Goliath stars Ian McShane in the King Samuel role (don't know if that's the character's name). Sounds interesting.
Summer 2009-Fall 2009 Schedule
MONDAYS
8pm American Gladiators -- Ugh.
9pm America's Toughest Jobs -- Don't get me started.
10pm Dateline
TUESDAYS
8pm Most Outrageous Moments -- Blah
9pm America's Got Talent -- Blah blah
10pm Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
WEDNESDAYS
8pm Shark Taggers -- When did NBC become National Geographic?
9pm America's Got Talent: Results Show
10pm Law & Order
THURSDAYS
8pm The Office
8:30 Spinoff from The Office
9pm Last Comic Standing -- If these comics are so funny, how come we never hear from the winners again?
10pm The Listener -- A paramedic who can read minds and helps solve crimes? I think we're officially one step away from this "formula" being a rescue dog that can read minds and solves crimes.
FRIDAYS
8pm Chopping Block -- Since FOX has had so much success with Gordon Ramsey's two cooking/restaurant/reality shows, NBC figured they'd do something similar (even though they could have just repurposed Top Chef from Bravo). While I do occasionally get sucked in by a "reality" show when there's nothing on, NBC's summer of reality next year seems a bit much. Why even announce a whole year's worth of programming when the last third of it is crap?
9pm Dateline
SATURDAYS
8pm Encore of Drama
9pm Encore of Drama
10pm Encore of Drama
SUNDAYS
7pm Dateline
8pm Monk -- Yes, they're repurposing episodes again. From the 7th Season (airing this summer) I assume.
9pm Nashville Star -- There have been 6 Seasons of this show???
10pm Kings
Well...that's all for NBC. Looks like we're definitely watching Chuck, Heroes, Law & Order, 30 Rock and Celebrity Apprentice and giving tryouts to My Own Worst Enemy, The Philanthropist, My Name is Earl (which is on notice) and Kings.
Tomorrow we look at ABC. Be seeing you.
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