The Upfronts are officially here, more troubled than ever thanks to the ever-declining ratings at the broadcast networks. (This Variety article does a good job of laying out the ways in which business considerations are altering what shows are put on the air.) NBC is in the best position of the broadcasters, thanks to […]
Welcome to Upfronts week, when the broadcast networks (or what’s left of them) announce their Fall schedules and attempt to generate billions of dollars worth of excitement from advertisers. It’s harder than ever to authoritatively analyze the thought process that goes into a broadcaster’s cancellation, renewal and pick-up decisions, because network ad revenues directly […]
Thanks to SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL, THE VOICE and Dick Wolf, NBC is in stable–if unexciting–shape as the 2015-16 season ends, and the Peacock’s fall line-up is as notable for what it doesn’t do as for what it does. Although the network has ordered a dozen new series, only 3 of them will begin airing […]
We’ve reached the broadcast networks’ Upfront Week… which used to be a lot more central to our television lives than it is now. Ratings everywhere are down, and there’s no reason to think they’ve hit bottom, which has caused seismic changes in the ways networks make scheduling decisions. Among other things, with revenues from […]
GOTHAM: Monday 8PM on FOX THE FACTS: The hero of this Batman prequel is the pre-Commissioner Detective Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie), who with his partner (Donal Logue) will attempt to clean Gotham City of a mob boss (Jada Pinkett Smith) and other villains. Along the way, he’ll interact with the young versions of not […]
MANHATTAN LOVE STORY: Tuesday 8:30PM on ABC THE FACTS: Boy (Jake McDorman) meets girl (Analeigh Tipton), but here’s the gimmick: we hear all of the couple’s hidden thoughts throughout. The series creator is Jeff Lowell, whose sitcom writing/producing career goes back to Cybill and Spin City. WHAT IT’S SAYING: He’s cute, she’s cute, and […]
Although its official Upfront presentation isn’t until tomorrow morning, NBC has unveiled its Fall 2015 primetime schedule, and here it is along with some instant analysis (new shows are in ALL CAPS, new timeslots are in italics): MONDAY 8PM: The Voice 10PM: BLINDSPOT (trailer here) The network may not have moved The Blacklist back […]
UTOPIA: Tuesday 8PM and Friday 9PM on FOX THE FACTS: Based on a Dutch format and produced by unscripted specialist John de Mol, UTOPIA is a reality show that puts 15 people into an isolated area for an entire year and forces them to make up their own rules for their new “civilization.” Viewers […]