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The Fall Schedules So Far

Regular readers know that this is my favorite time of the year: network up-fronts. It is a time filled with promise as we look forward to the new shows, happiness as we get word that our favorites have been renewed, and sadness as we say goodbye to old friends.

So far this week, we’ve gotten schedules from ABC, NBC, and Fox. We’ve also heard about the pickups and renewals at the CW and CBS.

What do you think of the fall season so far? I’m not excited by yet another encroachment of Playboy into the real world (“The Playboy Club,” CBS). I was happy to hear that “Grimm” was picked up—the pilot was shot in Portland—but not happy to hear that it is opposite Supernatural. Who would have thought that Friday would be my new Thursday? How do we feel about the news that “Happy Endings” wasn’t canceled, “Breaking In” may come back after all or that NBC passed on Wonder Woman?

You can find previews and more at the LA Times Showtracker Blog.

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Pop Culture Curmudgeon, May 21. Special Upfronts Edition.

A day late, but I hope not a dollar short. I postponed this week’s roundup so I could take the time to find all of the upfronts info and preview videos I could.

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Other TV Stories

Will Hulu Be the Death of TV?
A look at the effect Hulu may have on the networks. I think the day will come that we watch our shows direct from the studios, but it will be a long time.

More Americans Are Paying for Television
See, the death of cable television isn’t as imminent as some of us might hope.

Supernatural

Supernatural Episode Recap: Two Minutes to Midnight
Karla Petersen’s take on the season finale. It was very emotional, and if it had actually been the season finale, I would have cried through the whole thing. Because I knew it wasn’t the end, though, I found it a little heavy-handed and manipulative. And, it all seemed to come together too easily.

Supernatural: Super-serious
A fan’s take on the finale and the plans for season six.

Supernatural Season Finale Recap: Nothing Ever Really Ends, Does It?
The Entertainment Weekly take on the episode.

Supernatural Finale Justifies Our Lovefor an Absent God
And, Mo Ryan’s review.

CW Stars Jensen Ackles and Danneel Harris Tie the Knot
People reports on the Ackles-Harris wedding. I wish the happy couple all the best.

CW Moves Supernatural to Fridays for Fall
We’ll be watching our show one day later next season. How do you feel about the shift? I’m okay with it because it frees up the extremely full Thursday at 9 slot. Perhaps I’ll actually watch The Office again.

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Upfronts Preview: What Will the 2010-2011 TV Season Bring?

I love upfronts. I am always excited to see which shows will return in the coming year and what new shows the fall season will bring. I read upfront previews as soon as I get notification of their posting.

The major networks have their upfronts next week. So, check here and Twitter for info about the pickups and drops.

ABC: May 18. I’ll be looking for something to fill the midweek doldrums. I can’t keep watching 90210 forever, right? I’m also interested in how they replace Lost.
CBS: May 19. I’m only marginally interested in this, mainly because I don’t watch a lot of shows on CBS. Hubby is all about Hawaii Five-Oh remake, but I really only care if How I Met Your Mother will return.
CW: May 20. Will the CW replace it’s ailing scripted series with more reality crap? I hope not. I’d love to see them honor the W in their name and bring back the types of shows that made the WB awesome. Life Unexpected had that potential, but it hasn’t lived up to it so far. I’m not sure Nikita will be the show that will make me love the CW like I loved the WB.
Fox: May 17. Again, not really that interested. I watch Glee, but nothing else Fox offers appeals to me. Besides, if I like it, they’ll cancel it unceremoniously because it doesn’t live up to the ratings of American Idol. (I know this won’t happen for a long time, but I’d love to see them dump the long-past-its-prime karaoke competition.)
NBC: May 17. NBC is the network I care about. Will they bring back Chuck? It looks good (according to Ausiello), but I don’t want to assume the best and be shattered by the worst. Will they have anything else interesting to watch? Love Bites and Outsourced have potential, but I’m waiting to see more on them and the other pickups before I make my decisions about which shows to watch.

Of course, I’d also love to see the networks realize that sometimes shorter seasons mean better shows that people care about watching. I don’t think a six-episode season is quite enough, but 13 has proven to be good for the creative development of a show. Look at Glee. The first 13 episodes of the season were focused and interesting, even though the show had that stupid fake pregnancy storyline. I still enjoy the show, but the episodes after the first 13 have meandered a little and haven’t been as good.

And, here’s a good discussion of the actual purpose of the upfronts (to sell advertising) and the outlook for this year.

What are your hopes and dreams for the 2010-2011 TV season?

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