TV

Networks' fall release parties lose some shine

By Diane Holloway
AMERICAN-STATESMAN TELEVISION WRITER
Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Cue the comedians, rock stars and magicians. Stuff the executives into their clown suits and huge floppy shoes. It's time to unveil the networks' prime-time schedules in that annual extravaganza known as the "upfronts."

But wait. The 2008 upfronts, that special time when network executives hype their new and returning fall series for advertisers, will be vastly different this week. The tout-fest will be far more sedate than silly.

The writers' strike crippled the current season and contributed to a precipitous viewer plunge. According to trade publications, shows returning after the three-month absence lost as much as 30 percent of their pre-strike audience. And ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox this season expect to see a 17 percent decline of their combined audience.

This has been an ongoing trend for a while. Last year's dropoff, the networks explained, happened because Daylight Savings Time came earlier than usual. Nobody actually bought that. The strike will be blamed this year, perhaps more effectively.

It's still unclear exactly where network viewers have gone, but DVDs, recorded programs, cable and Internet viewing have contributed to that great sucking sound that once was network TV's dominance.

As a consequence of the expected bad news, this year's upfronts will be decidedly low-key.

NBC jumped out early with its schedule April 2, thus scrapping any suspense for the Peacock Network's upfronts. ABC, which stages its song-and-dance Tuesday in New York, planned a presentation but no party. Ditto for CBS on Wednesday. In the past, the parties, with booze flowing and execs hyping, were simply spectacular. Only Fox, aglow with still strong but slightly sagging ratings for "American Idol," has a full-scale celebration planned for its upfronts on Thursday. As usual, Kiefer Sutherland probably will be glad-handing ad reps, media types and network affiliates alike, while Fox publicists — many even more gorgeous than the stars (trying to break into show biz?) — linger on the sidelines.

Usually upfronts produce a few gasps when the schedules are unfurled. Surprise cancellations? Always. Bizarre newcomers ("Cavemen")? We've had a few. Unexpected survivors? Sure. Nobody thought "Scrubs" would return through most of its seven-season run on NBC. Today, we expect to see "Scrubs" pop up on ABC's new fall schedule.

Lots of series received early renewals weeks ago. "Friday Night Lights," whose death knell sounded for two seasons, got picked up for a third season in April, after NBC struck a deal with DirectTV to share production costs and give the Austin-based show an exclusive run on satellite first.

Next season's trends? If the actors go on strike at the end of June, the only trend will be more and cheaper reality shows. Tons of 'em. But if we are rewarded with an actual season, and the upfronts become real shows, we'll probably see more heroism and heart-warming dramas, maybe a couple of hip comedies and probably a few more shows featuring America's fastest-growing demographic, Hispanics.

We'll at least witness some wishful thinking. There will be new series with big stars (Geena Davis among them) from producers with wildly successful track records. Jerry Bruckheimer, whose company has spewed out about half of CBS' prime time (including all the "CSIs" and "Without a Trace"), will launch a new CBS series, "11th Hour." No details until Wednesday.

In a nutshell, here's what we know:

ABC gave early pickups to newcomers "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice" and "Samantha Who?" On the bubble are "Men in Trees," "Women's Murder Club," "Eli Stone," "Carpoolers" and "Boston Legal." Can you believe it? Denny Crane and Alan Shore might have to end their manly love affair?

Among CBS' new shows from last season, "The Big Bang Theory" has the go-ahead, but "Moonlight," "Cane," "Shark" and "Rules of Engagement" likely are toast. "The Unit" and "How I Met Your Mother" officially are teetering but could get last-minute reprieves.

Another potential network switcheroo: "The New Adventures of Old Christine" likely will get axed by CBS and picked up by ABC. (The Alphabet Network seems big on recycling for fall.)

When NBC announced its schedule last month, "Journeyman," "Bionic Woman" and Las Vegas" were gone.

Fox, the only network planning to party hearty this week, gave an early nod to "Prison Break," which was on the bubble before the strike, and also renewed the midseason sci-fi thriller "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles."

"K-Ville" and "Canterbury's Law" appear gone for good from Fox, but the sitcoms "Back to You" and "Til Death," though dangling in suspense until the last minute, are strong candidates for renewal. "New Amsterdam," about an immortal crime solver, not so much.

The CW hasn't officially picked up "Reaper" or "Aliens in America," but it's hard to believe the struggling weblet would let go of two superior shows.

We'll cover upfront presentations this week in our daily TV blog.