By Jim Benson -- Broadcasting & Cable, 5/16/2005 10:09:00 AM
Heading into this week's network upfront presentations, ABC plans to tell advertisers that it has committed to five comedies and five dramas, while Fox is looking to add four apiece.
With the caveat that schedules and pickups during upfronts are moving and malleable targets, B&C has learned that of the 14 pilots in the category, ABC is expected to tell advertisers Tuesday that it has picked up five of them: Hot Properties (Warner Bros. Television), Sons & Daughters (NBC Universal Television Studio/Broadway Video), Emily's Reasons Why Not (Sony TV/Pariah), Freddie Prince Jr. project Freddie (Warner Bros. TV/Mohawk Productions) and Crumbs (Touchstone Television).
Surprisingly, low-rated midseason entry Jake in Progress (Twentieth Century Fox Television), which has been saddled with a tough 8 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursday assignment, is expected to return, along with Hope & Faith, George Lopez, Less than Perfect and Rodney.
That will more than likely spell the end for 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, which lost its momentum and ratings since the September 2004 death of series star John Ritter.
On the drama side, where it had been kicking the tires on 13 pilots, ABC has given series commitments to five of those as well: Invasion (Warner Bros. TV), Commander-in-Chief (Touchstone TV), Night Stalker (Touchstone TV), The Evidence (Warner Bros. TV/John Wells Prods.) and What About Brian (Touchstone TV/Bad Robot).
While Fox won't announce until Thursday, sources said Sunday that it is likely to extend series commitments to the comedies Kitchen Confidential (New Line TV/20th Century Fox TV), The War at Home (Warner Bros. TV/ Acme Prods.), The Loop (20th Century Fox TV) and Freebirds, a comedy about a young man who returns home after college.
On the drama side, Fox is said to be committed to Prison Break (20th Century Fox TV/Adelstein-Parouse Prods/Original TV), Reunion (Warner Bros. TV/ Class IV Prods.), Head Cases (20th Century Fox TV), and Bones (20th Century Fox TV).
I confess I've heard of....just about zero of these. FREDDIE PRINZE JNR OH MAN
Originally posted by Stephen McPhersonSurprisingly, low-rated midseason entry Jake in Progress, which has been saddled with a tough 8 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursday assignment, is expected to return along with Less than Perfect
Jake: What else will they put on Thursday? Just like NBC on Wednesday, they're just conceding. Besides, there has to be a niche audience that will tune in for Uncle Jesse.
Less Than: Miss Parker lives! Again, you might as well keep it...it's not horrible, has a small following and ABC's comedy development has been so piss poor dating back to the Jamie Tarses regime and Drew Carey that they've little other options.
I'm surprised at the drama count, given that they're loaded for bear (awww, can't find room for Boston Legal on the lineup? It's so tough to have too much talent on board, isn't it.) On the other hand, McPherson and Crew could have so much faith in their hourly development after last fall that they're letting anything go.
I don't know whether I'm looking forward to President Geena Davis or not.
Originally posted by Peter LiguoriFox is said to be committed to Prison Break
I would hope, since they're running ads a'plenty for it already.
Except for this gem, which I'll watch just for the cast...
William Devane of Knot's Landing? Ha!
Originally posted by ABC"Crumbs" (half-hour comedy) -- Family is enough to drive anyone a little crazy. Children keep secrets from their parents so they won't upset them, dads leave for other women and moms try to run over dads with the car. Actually, that was the point that the Crumb family realized Mom was crazy.
Estranged brothers Mitch and Jody Crumb reunite in their small hometown to deal with their mother, Suzanne, who is being released from a psychiatric country club and has yet to discover that her ex-husband, Billy, is about to have a baby with his new girlfriend. They have issues... major issues. Central to everything is the dynamic between these two brothers: Mitch is the prodigal son who is returning home after a failed Hollywood career, and Jody is the older brother who has stayed in the confines of their small New England town to run the family business. Together for the first time as adults, this family will have to stick by one another despite their combustible relationships.
The creator of "Caroline in the City" mines his own WASP family for comedy that's smart, funny and surprising. The series stars Fred Savage ("The Wonder Years") and Jane Curtin (two-time Emmy Award winner for "Kate & Allie," "SNL," "3rd Rock from the Sun") and is from the producers of "Smallville" and "One Tree Hill."
Cast: Fred Savage ("The Wonder Years'): Mitch Eddie McClintock ("The Sweetest Thing"): Jody Maggie Lawson ("Pleasantville"): Andrea William Devane ("Knots Landing"): Billy Jane Curtin ("SNL," "3rd Rock From the Sun"): Suzanne
Credits: Executive Producer/Writer: Marco Pennette ("Caroline in the City") Executive Producers: Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola -- ("Smallville," "One Tree Hill") Production Company: Touchstone Television
Originally posted by CRZThat will more than likely spell the end for 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, which lost its momentum and ratings since the September 2004 death of series star John Ritter.
Great job by the writer Jim Benson and his editor missing the minor fact that Ritter died in September '03 instead of '04. I'm sure Ritter would have liked the extra year they gave him though.
I'm actually bummed by the cancellation of 8 Simple Rules. I watched it pretty regularly, and both David Spade and James Garner were highly entertaining, and the daughters were easy on the eyes. It's a shame they dumped that and kept Rodney, Jake in Progress, and George Lopez.
Originally posted by Roy.I'm actually bummed by the cancellation of 8 Simple Rules. I watched it pretty regularly, and both David Spade and James Garner were highly entertaining, and the daughters were easy on the eyes. It's a shame they dumped that and kept Rodney, Jake in Progress, and George Lopez.
It was a good, non-offensive family show. I'm disappointed to see it go too. I also used to like "My Wife and Kids," but haven't been watching it much this year.
Originally posted by Roy.I'm actually bummed by the cancellation of 8 Simple Rules. I watched it pretty regularly, and both David Spade and James Garner were highly entertaining, and the daughters were easy on the eyes. It's a shame they dumped that and kept Rodney, Jake in Progress, and George Lopez.
The nail in the coffin for that show was moving it to Friday nights, when most of the target audience is not at home.
I enjoyed that show and thought they did a fine job of holding it together after John Ritter's untimely passing.
Now we'll never know how Jay's pregnancy affected the family *sob*
For those that dont know, the Tiger Mask character was based on a Japanese cartoon, so Misawa stepping out of that and becoming the best wrestler in his country would be kind of like Chris Benoit doing a Darkwing Duck gimmick and then becoming the Chris Benoit we all mark over. - AWC