Before TV writers had even burned their "On Strike" signs, the networks began announcing renewals for the 2008-09 season. And, for the most part, the new batch is the same as the old batch.
Because new series didn't have time to establish themselves before the strike, networks are planning to relaunch many of them in September. That includes some series that normally would have been tossed on the trash heap. Fortunately for those series, networks don't have much to replace them - writers weren't working on new programming during the strike, either, so pickings are slim for prime time schedules.
Here's the scenario so far:
• CBS is bringing back its many veteran hits, including the three "CSIs," "Survivor," "Amazing Race," "Two and a Half Men," "Without a Trace," "NCIS," "Numbers" and "Ghost Whisperer." It's also renewed freshman comedy, "Big Bang Theory," and in a vote of confidence, will soon have it lead off Monday's comedy lineup ("How I Met Your Mother" moves to 8:30 p.m.)
• ABC has lined up its keystone hits, "Desperate Housewives," "Lost," "Brothers & Sisters," "Grey's Anatomy," "Dancing with the Stars" and "Ugly Betty" for another year, and has committed to first-year shows, "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice" and "Dirty Sexy Money" for fall, although none will be back to finish out the spring season. Because comedies are easier to re-ignite on a short-term basis, another freshman show, "Samantha Who," is returning this spring as well as in the fall. One current tryout, "Eli Stone," also is a likely candidate for September, if only because it plays well with younger demographics. Although "Boston Legal" and "Extreme Makeover" have yet to be officially renewed, they will be.
• NBC wouldn't seem to have many hits, but has nonethless given nods to a second season for "Chuck," "Life" and "American Gladiators." "Deal or No Deal," "Vegas," "Heroes," "Medium," "ER," the Thursday comedies and the "Law & Order" franchise will be back as well, albeit without Jesse L. Martin, who is leaving "L&O" after nine years. And although it hasn't been announced yet, you can be certain the revived, highly rated "Knight Rider" will be part of the fall schedule, too.
• With "American Idol" drawing 25- to 30-million viewers no matter how many hours it airs each week, Fox isn't very worried about filling out its schedule. "24" will return in January 2009, and the network's other staples - the Sunday animated lineup, "Prison Break," "Bones," "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth-Grader" and most likely "Moment of Truth" will be slotted on the schedule. The popular "House" is renewed as well, but may be moving. Fox is testing it on Mondays at 9 p.m. in a few weeks. That's no doubt a trial test for a permanent move in September. Of its new series, "The Sarah Connor Chronicles" and "Back to You" should warrant a second season. "Sarah" is more than holding its own on Mondays, and Fox just ordered more episodes of "Back to You" for spring. Rest assured, it wouldn't be placing "Back to You" episodes after Tuesday and Wednesday's "American Idol" if it wasn't committing to the comedy for the long haul.
• The CW has canceled "Smackdown" "Girlfriends" and "CW Now," with the good-intentioned, but ratings challenged "Life Is Wild" likely to follow. If it were basing all of its cancellations on ratings, it would air a blank screen 24/7. Odds are, though, most of its other series are safe.
So what's out? As noted here last week, most of the "filler" series the past two months have failed, especially "Sex and the City" wannabees, "Lipstick Jungle" and "Cashmere Mafia." With limited room for comedies, it's likely CBS will choose among "Old Christine," "Rules of Engagement" and "How I Met Your Mother" for the two holes in the Monday lineup, with "Mother" the likely loser. Because the network is chock full of hits, "Shark" and "The Unit," which would be steller performers on NBC, might get the boot. Ditto the lower-rated "Moonlight" and "Jericho." "Cane" and "Kid Nation" are already gone.
ABC, which back in the day was king of comedy, can't come up with a sitcom hit, save "Samantha Who." It will probably look for a new match for that show, and dump "Notes from the Underbelly," "Carpoolers," "According to Jim" and "Cavemen." Hourlong dramedy "Men in Trees" is finally going to return with its many unaired episodes, but the network's reluctance to schedule the show for the past four months is not a good sign. "Women's Murder Club," "October Road" and "Big Shots" also are gone.
NBC has reportedly bailed on "Bionic Woman" and "Journeyman," while Fox has opted out of more episodes of "K-Ville" and may take a long, hard look at 'Til Death," which has produced disappointing ratings over two years. And NBC long ago announced that "Scrubs" was in its final season.
If that reads like a long death list, it isn't. Looking at the overall schedule, there are but 11 hours of programming to replace, and with at least six series that weren't on board last September - "Knight Rider," "Eli Stone," "Moment of Truth," "American Gladiators" "Sarah Connor Chornicles" and "Samantha Who" - joining the fray, there are slots for just 51/2 hours - five dramas and one sitcom - available. The networks could move some shows to mid-season starts, but with a dearth of new product available, they likely will stick with what they have. Of course, it may be just a matter of prolonging the agony (theirs and ours) for many sub-par returning shows, but there's something to be said for a higher comfort level with knowing what we're getting.
I suspect, though, fans of "Two and a Half Men" and "House" won't be too comfortable at all.
Letterbox
Kathryn Chillingworth e-mails her concern over "Friday Night Lights:"
Where can one protest the dropping of "FNL?" We love it here at our home and believe you do as well. I am 70 and my husband is 73 and we feel the stories could have come from our high school days. We would like to see the show saved. Any ideas?
REPLY: The good news is that while "Friday Night Lights" hasn't been renewed, it hasn't been officially canceled, either. Last week, Zap2it reported that NBC is considering teaming with the CW, TNT or the owner of E! and G4 about bringing the series back for a third season, evidently with new episodes sharing networks. Like other NBC low-rated series such as "West Wing," "Friday Night Lights" has a small, but high-income audience, which may keep it on the air for at least one more season.
George Cindrich e-mails a comment on the recent column about depressing songs:
You left out "Lucille" by Kenny Rogers. How can someone who left three hungry children and a crop in the field be ignored?
REPLY - What's really depressing about that song, I think, is the number of tone-deaf people who consistently try to sing along. Sometime should remind them that "This time the hurtin' won't heal."