There weren't a lot of surprises at NBC's "In Front" presentation this morning. As already leaked, Parks & Recreation, Heroes, and Southland have been renewed, joining the already announced 30 Rock, The Office, The Celebrity Apprentice, Friday Night Lights, The Biggest Loser and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. There's still no word on Law & Order's bid for a 20th season, nor did they clarify the fate of Chuck, though insiders feel confident both will be back. Back on the bubble is Medium, which was leaked as renewed last night, along with My Name Is Earl. Their fates are a bit more murky, especially Earl considering NBC is giving Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update" a prime-time berth, apparently launching NBC's Thursday night.
Still, despite these renewals and Jay Leno taking over five hours of prime-time real estate, NBC still found room to pick up five new hours of programming; four dramas and two comedies. As announced, Ron Howard's Parenthood is coming back in a second television adaptation. Let's run down the new pick-ups real quick like:
Dramas
- Day One - This one is very Jericho-like in its premise. The story is about a group of neighbors who have to rebuild their lives after a catastrophe destroys the world's infrastructure. NBC isn't being much more clear, but it is being launched off of the Winter Olympics as a big event.
- Mercy - Hey look, it's a hospital drama. Why haven't networks ever thought to put hospital dramas on the air? This one is going to focus on the nurses. See, that makes it really different from all the other ones.
- Parenthood - This is a straight-up family drama, though it is based on Ron Howard's 1989 film and presumably features an updated version of that family. The original movie was good, the original TV series was terrible so do we give this a 50/50 chance of not sucking?
- Trauma - This is about paramedics, which is another variation on a medical drama. Wasn't Third Watch about paramedics, too? Well, NBC head man Ben Silverman promises this one will have "adrenaline" so that's good, I guess.
- 100 Questions - Multicamera sitcom about a woman using a dating service and a counselor to try and find love. Supposedly by answering 100 questions about love she will look back over her life and relationsihps and discover what it is she really wants out of love.
- Community - Who knew that Chevy Chase would be an exciting addition to television, but his recent guest stints have been memorable. This one's set in a community college featuring all the weirdos and almost-losers that wind up there, along with a few normal people. Strangely, this one has promise and sounds like one of the network's more exciting offerings.
- Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update - It's unclear if this will be a regular weekly series or just a series of specials, but as they're announcing it as a Thursday night launch, it seems it might be more regular, if the ratings warrant it.
- Breakthrough With Tony Robbins - Tony helps participants face personal challenges.
- The Marriage Ref - This is a comedy/reality show by Jerry Seinfeld. It will feature celebrities offering strategies, advice and judgment to real couples having classic marital disputes.
- Who Do You Think You Are? - Originally slated to premiere in April, this reality show has been pushed to next year. The show will take celebrities back through their family trees to discover their roots.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-04-2009 @ 12:26PM
Andy said...
"Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update - It's unclear if this will be a regular weekly series or just a series of specials, but as they're announcing it as a Thursday night launch, it seems it might be more regular, if the ratings warrant it."
This is going to be just like last year: 6 episodes, probably in September-October, and it won't affect the renewal prospects for other shows (remember that 30 Rock just took over this time slot last November)
The only difference is, with no upcoming election it's not going to be funny.
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5-04-2009 @ 12:41PM
bob-o said...
boo nbc! no life? bah.
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5-04-2009 @ 1:09PM
Modwild said...
So what does this extra programming mean to existing shows (those bubble ones, like Chuck and Life, that I don't even watch). With five Leno hours taken, it seems like they are going to shorter seasons with more programming. Hope that is true, as it gives people hope for their favorites.
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5-04-2009 @ 1:38PM
hotdogjack said...
awesome about COMMUNITY. it was a great script!
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5-04-2009 @ 3:00PM
Franklin said...
Wow, all these new shows leave me feeling...seriously underwhelmed. I just hope for NBC's sake they have puh-lenty of mid-season replacements, I think they're gonna need 'em.
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5-04-2009 @ 3:57PM
JayC said...
Heroes??? ugh!
bring back Chuck!
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5-05-2009 @ 11:27PM
Bob said...
agreed
5-04-2009 @ 5:19PM
segsig said...
And my bocott of the nothing but crap network continues, I knew they shouldn't have tried Off Duty there!
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5-04-2009 @ 5:15PM
DapperDan said...
in another post it said MediuM renewed so I was YAY !!!
TURNS out it was a false story
and now MediuM is back in bubble territory ACK !!!
RollerCoaster anyone ??
fingers still crossed for this show - knock on wood
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5-04-2009 @ 5:37PM
Brent McKee said...
Life is now officially canceled. Dammit!
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5-04-2009 @ 6:22PM
Lenny said...
That list of new shows is what the execs at NBC decided were worthy of air time? What a bunch of morons (for this and so many, many other reasons).
And they wonder why the audiences are shrinking for the broadcast networks.
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5-05-2009 @ 7:57AM
Alicia R. said...
Seriously? Wow... this is the offering? Bleh...
Honestly though... if they don't bring back Earl, I don't see me watching anything on NBC.
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5-05-2009 @ 8:34AM
jimchig said...
I don't get it.
Earl is probably gone. Chuck may be on it's way out. Yet the humorless Parks and Recreation gets a gold star after a handful of mediocre episodes?
Is this the network version of the coaches kid being the starting pitcher, while a couple of talented kids ride the bench or don't make the team?
What's frustrating for me is that I really can't blame the execs for making sound financial decisions, especially when the public does not support quality shows. Plus, when 2 or 3 of my favorite shows air at the same time, I should not be surprised when 2 of them fall by the wayside.
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5-05-2009 @ 10:19AM
Larry Hamilton said...
I am guessing this means Knight Rider isn't coming back?
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5-05-2009 @ 4:21PM
iamhoff said...
Nope. It was canceled.
5-05-2009 @ 12:13PM
BLee said...
I didnt see mention of their 3 best hour long shows - Life, Chuck and Law&Order
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5-07-2009 @ 5:08PM
rob mack said...
I love Chuck. I love Medium. I love House. I love Bones. I love Lie to Me. I like the family channel; I like Closer,Army Wives, Saving Grace, all on TNT. Get my drift. The top 3 networks are so bad at picking out what to Keep and what to toss, I'm switching to the lesser networks. How can Parks & Recreation be better than Chuck or Medium. At least Kath & Kim was funny & not given half the chance that Parks & Recreation has gotten. I think the TV guys just want to keep the SNL guys happy.... that's all. Fallon on late night should be all the explanation needed. I just don't get it. Saturday nights you better not even think you can watch a decent program. Monday & Thursday you can't keep up with all the decent shows. Who is running the asylum?
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