| Once again we meet here in September for my annual letterten Fall TV Preview. As always, I put this entire preview together based on my experience, gut reaction, press releases and clips -- I haven't actually watched a single pilot. I started creating this Preview like that back in the dark ages of 2002, long before promotional clips were even available online. My Fall Preview issue of Entertainment Weekly is sitting here mocking me since I won't read it (or anyone else's reviews/analyses) until this Preview is completed.
The upcoming season returns NBC to the 10pm hour, takes us back to Hawaii, Five-0 style after a 30-year absence, brings some Law and Order to L.A. and introduces us to a family that is anything but ordinary. We've got six new sitcoms, 15 new dramas and one reality vehicle on the broadcast grid.
As mentioned, NBC is once again programming the 10pm hour with (mostly) drama. This changes the Prime Time landscape back to what it was before last year's failed Leno-in-Prime Time experiment. This, of course, gives ABC and CBS more competition in the slot. It also gives us an all-new Wednesday 10pm slot for everyone. NBC leads the way with five new dramas, one sitcom and one reality-like show.
The CW is has found itself a nice niche audience and has a few buzzworthy shows. One of its two new dramas is looking good, the other one, not so much. The netlet is also sending Smallville off with a tenth and final season. Their shows get a lot of buzz, but small numbers.
CBS has taken a Twitter feed and turned it into a sitcom. Smacks of ABC's terrible Cavemen, right? Nah, The Shatner's in the house. They're also going back to Waikiki and putting a new edition of Hawaii Five-0 on the air. CBS launches new two sitcoms and three new dramas.
ABC has done very well (to my surprise) with its twice-a-season run of Dancing With the Stars and might top themselves with this iteration. Their lineup is very stable with returning shows, but doesn't seem to have that new breakout hit.
You probably noticed, once again, I only dive into broadcast television. It's still what has the biggest impact on our viewing habits, even if you're not watching it when a show airs, or even on a TV. Selected cable and satellite premiere dates can be found here. One of the new shows of any kind that I'm looking forward to is HBO's Boardwalk Empire. I expect it to be HBO's biggest hit in years. And for the first time in memory, the HBO flagship drama takes on the Showtime flagship drama when Dexter returns.
Fire up your TiVo (or inferior DVR). Grab a beverage. Get reading. There's a lot of stuff in here. And, if you happen to know of any kind writing/development gig anywhere in the world of TV, be kind and let me know.
Big winners: Law & Order: Los Angeles, Hawaii Five-0 and returning The Big Bang Theory.
First to Die: My Generation
Enjoy.
|
