Overdamoon wrote:Well, if you read the rest of the article, I think Les Moonves must be in heat. UNTITLED NCIS SPIN-OFF, THE GOOD WIFE, U.S. ATTORNEY, HOUSE RULES, WASHINGTON FIELD, BACK
How many pilots and how many available slots, Les? I lost count.
Overdamoon, I'm not quite sure that I understand your point. As far as we know at this stage, a couple of these pilots seem to be a definite pick-up, with others still under consideration, and with no clarity yet about all the shows that will get renewed/cancelled in order to complete the fall schedule.
Red
Red, all I was saying was that from reading Nikki Finke's article, too many pilots are getting heat. CBS has about 2-3 available slots (maybe up to 4? ) and currently, the first 2 listed above had already been greenlit and Nikki said CBS likes the other 4, not counting TR and Miami Trauma.
"Back" has been quiet for a long time but suddenly, it's "Then the news came in that Les found it surprisingly good and liked it."
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Maybe they'll cancel more shows than has been predicted if they think these new shows will do better. This year is unusual in that they have to use different methods of determining what is a better option. Once it was all about the ratings and now cost is a big factor. I wouldn't be surprised to see some shocks at the upfronts and I seriously hope some of the stalwart shows refuse to cut costs, so Les has a reason to can them.
MoonMad wrote:Maybe they'll cancel more shows than has been predicted if they think these new shows will do better. This year is unusual in that they have to use different methods of determining what is a better option. Once it was all about the ratings and now cost is a big factor. I wouldn't be surprised to see some shocks at the upfronts and I seriously hope some of the stalwart shows refuse to cut costs, so Les has a reason to can them.
I agree, MoomMad. CBS just reported a $55 million loss for the 1st quarter of this year so he's going to try to reduce costs lke crazy.
Here's an interesting article on the cost cutting emphasis by the networks. One interesting tidbit is:
"The networks are just as eager to see studios rein in budgets so that they in turn hold the line on the license fees they pay for programs, generally around $2.2 million-$2.4 million for dramas and $1 million-$1.2 million for half-hours. With so many nets and studios now under the same umbrella, the focus on costs is heightened, because every penny spent on production and license fees is coming from the same pot."
In other words, if CBS deems some of their current shows (such as Cold Case and Without a Trace which are produced by WB) could be replaced by shows which cost less to produce, they might just do that.
willing freshie wrote:The Eye's finally tally of drama pickups will hinge on its renewal decisions. It's understood that CBS on Friday reached an agreement to bring "Ghost Whisperer" back for a fifth season, after speculation that the show might be on the move.
You are friggin' kidding me.
Yay for Better Off Ted! I love that show.
10 days left. I cannot believe we haven't heard more concrete decisions about 3 Rivers. AAAACCCCKKK!!
willing freshie wrote:The Eye's finally tally of drama pickups will hinge on its renewal decisions. It's understood that CBS on Friday reached an agreement to bring "Ghost Whisperer" back for a fifth season, after speculation that the show might be on the move.
You are friggin' kidding me.
Yay for Better Off Ted! I love that show.
10 days left. I cannot believe we haven't heard more concrete decisions about 3 Rivers. AAAACCCCKKK!!
LOOKS LIKE COLD CASE AND GHOST WHISPERER STAY; STILL A QUESTION MARK FOR WITHOUT A TRACE AND THE UNIT LOOKS TO BE GONE. (Me talking here.)
Networks countdown to upfronts
Pilots dance on bubble
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER
'Flash Forward'
ABC has picked up drama 'Flash Forward,' starring Joseph Fiennes.
'Lily'
The future of netlet CW's 'Gossip Girl' spinoff, 'Lily,' is still up in the air.
'Scrubs'
'Scrubs' looks likely to return to the Alphabet net for another season.
The hot sheet of pilot contenders as of the weekend included projects featuring Alyssa Milano (ABC's "Romantically Challenged"), Kim Raver (ABC's "Inside the Box"), Courteney Cox (ABC's "Cougar Town"), Julianna Margulies (CBS' "The Good Wife), Jenna Elfman (CBS' "Accidentally on Purpose"), Alex O'Loughlin (CBS' "Three Rivers") and Jackie Earle Haley (Fox's "Human Target").
Also, several bubble shows were closer to earning a reprieve from their respective networks over the weekend, as "Ghost Whisperer" scored a renewal at CBS, and "Scrubs" continued to look good for another year at ABC.
The Alphabet net, which presents its fall '09 slate to advertisers on May 19, has already been getting down to business, handing out a pickup on Friday evening to drama "Flash Forward," from ABC Studios and scribes Brannon Braga and writer-helmer David S. Goyer. Joseph Fiennes leads an ensemble cast in the time-bender centering on what happens after everyone in the world blacks out for two minutes and 17 seconds.
That reps the second new series order for the Alphabet net, which had also picked up the comedy "Modern Family" last week.
Beyond that, insiders continue to suggest that "Scrubs," which wrapped its season last week with an episode that could have easily doubled as a series finale, will be back after all.
Also among Alphabet's bubble shows, "Better Off Ted," which has developed a following among TV critics, is looking good to return.
On the drama side, Jerry Bruckheimer is poised to land a skein about amateur gumshoes ("The Forgotten") , while the TV news drama "Inside the Box," starring Raver as an aggressive femme producer in D.C., has been gaining steam.
It doesn't hurt that "Box," written by former ABC News producer Richard Robbins, is exec produced by Shonda Rhimes.
Also considered strong contenders are murder mystery "Happy Town"; "Eastwick," an adaptation of "Witches of Eastwick"; and the untitled legal ensemble from writer Dave Hemingson. "Empire State," from "Grey's Anatomy" exec producer Mark Gordon, is seen as a dark horse.
Comedy-wise, Cox's "Cougar Town" is hot, as are Milano's "Romantically Challenged" and Cedric the Entertainer's cop comedy "The Law."
The Kelsey Grammer starrer "Awesome Hank" is still in the mix, with some predicting an order. Lauren Graham starrer "Let It Go" was said to have mixed reviews but shouldn't be counted out. Same goes for Patricia Heaton starrer "The Middle."
CBS has had strong buzz for more than a week for its "NCIS" spinoff (which aired as a planted two-part pilot seg on April 28-May 5) starring LL Cool J, which many predict will air on Tuesdays in the fall, alongside the "NCIS" mothership with "The Mentalist" moving to 10 p.m.
Also earning strong marks at CBS is "Good Wife," the femme defense attorney drama starring "ER" alum Margulies.
The verdict looks promising for another legal-driven vehicle, the untitled U.S. Attorney drama starring Melissa George and Jason Clark. Former "Moonlight" star O'Loughlin could be back on the Eye next season in "Three Rivers," about organ transplant donors and recipients. The poll numbers for "House Rules," which follows the frosh class of Congress as they acclimate to D.C., were moving in the right direction during the weekend. Also mentioned on some lists: "Eastmans."
The Eye's finally tally of drama pickups will hinge on its renewal decisions. It's understood that CBS on Friday reached an agreement to bring "Ghost Whisperer" back for a fifth season, after speculation that the show might be on the move. CBS vet "Cold Case" is expected to return, but "Without a Trace" remains up in the air, and "The Unit" looks unlikely to squeak out another season.
Among comedies, CBS' likes and dislikes were characteristically hard to read. It's an open secret that execs are smitten with Elfman starrer "Accidentally on Purpose," about a femme film critic who accidentally gets pregnant after a one-night stand with a younger man.
The heat for Jason Biggs starrer "Happiness Isn't Everything," written by Mitch Hurwitz and Jim Vallely, was easing up a bit during the weekend while a different buddy comedy that also has Hurwitz as an exec producer (but not writer), "Waiting to Die," has begun to get some traction.
At Fox, the chatter over the weekend was the sudden push for "Brothers," starring former NFL player and Fox gridiron commentator Michael Strahan.
Laffer "Sons of Tucson," about a hustler who becomes dad to three rich brothers after their real father is sent up the river for a white-collar crime, remains a cinch for a spot on the sked, as does comicbook-derived fantasy drama "Human Target," according to insiders. Drama "Past Life" has its fans at the net but is still considered a lukewarm contender.
Fox's drama needs are especially light because it already has Ryan Murphy's "Glee," which will be sneaked after "American Idol" on May 19, ordered for next season. On the comedy side, Fox has the animated laffer "Cleveland" set for fall, while "'Til Death" is also returning -- but might sit on the bench until being called for active duty.
Fox also has a number of other animated projects at various stages of development; net probably won't make a decision on those until summer.
At CW, the surprise last week was the cooling heat behind the 1980s-set "Gossip Girl" spinoff "Lily," which airs tonight. Insiders insisted the spinoff is still a contender, but not as much of a sure thing as the "Melrose Place" redo, which is considered a lock.
CW is also expected to bite into the vampire genre by greenlighting drama "Vampire Diaries." The net is expected to order at least one more new drama, and "Lily" is facing strong competish from the male-models-in-NYC vehicle "A Beautiful Life."
Finally, word is that NBC is looking to add at least one more comedy, possibly an overhaul of the Bradley Whitford/Romany Malco buddy-cop entry "Off Duty." NBC got a head start on its 2009-10 pickups of four dramas and two comedies with its "infront" presentation to advertisers last week (Daily Variety, May 5).
Over at the Alphabet, the "Flash Forward" greenlight wasn't a surprise; the network has been teasing the show via a series of viral marketing spots during "Lost."
That's led most to assume that "Flash Forward" will bow in the fall to satisfy "Lost" fans as they wait for that show to return in January.
Show is based on the novel "Flash Forward" by Robert Sawyer. Goyer and Braga wrote the pilot, while Goyer also directed. Goyer, Braga, Vince Gerardis, Jessika Goyer, Marc Guggenheim and Ralph Vicinanza are exec producers; Guggenheim and Goyer will serve as showrunners.
Besides Fiennes, stars include Courtney B. Vance, Jack Davenport, Sonya Walger, John Cho, Brian O'Byrne, Zachary Knighton, Peyton List and Christine Woods.
Thank you, WF, for bringing our attention to this article. Well, it does look like everything is moving in the right direction for TR and Alex but I won't breathe a sigh of relief until it's formally announced by CBS. Why? Because I don't see them cancelling any shows as of yet. The Unit and Eleventh Hour look to be gone which means only two new shows would be put on their fall schedule. If they cancel either Cold Case or Without a Trace, it looks like they're leaning towards that U.S. Attorney project as a third drama with TR being the fourth one in contention. That means they would have to cancel a fourth show. Of course, they could always slot TR for the second half of the season but then it would be up against the winter olympics on NBC and you know what ratings juggernaut that would be. Ai ya yay. And so we sit and wait. The only good thing is that they can only drag this out for 11 more days.
Both the Variety article (above) and a TV Guide interview with Kathryn Morris yesterday seemed to be pretty definite that Cold Case will get renewed. So again, we're back to counting slots and crossing fingers.
I'm sorry if this is a really stupid question...it would appear that CBS probably do want TR, but what happens if they don't cancel enough shows to need a new one? Is that the end of it? Do they hang onto it for next season? Could it get picked up by a different network?
MoonMarg wrote:I'm sorry if this is a really stupid question...it would appear that CBS probably do want TR, but what happens if they don't cancel enough shows to need a new one? Is that the end of it? Do they hang onto it for next season? Could it get picked up by a different network?
Not a stupid question and I think this is the big uncertainty... if they're not gonna cancel anything, then there's no room for 3R. They could pick it up as a mid season replacement, but then we're still waiting to see what would then get cancelled in the fall... so still pins and needles and it still might never make it to air.
And as far as what happens with the holding deal, I don't know what that does to Alex's free agency. Can he go accept something else then? Make another movie? I hate that they keep him holed-up and then don't stick his fine self in front of every camera they own. I don't get that, I just don't get it...
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Well, my first guess, and what do I know, is that CBS is seriously counting pennies at this point so they might go ahead and cancel four shows and slot TR in there. They would have to seriously sell all new shows at the upfronts though. Although if TR and the other new shows don't sell as well, Les has come out and said he'll hold back inventory for the scatter market (ad time purchased much closer to the time it airs).
If CBS does not put it on its fall schedule, my next guess is they would pick it up as a mid season replacement. I would think that would be expensive because they would have to keep Alex and the rest of the cast on contract for the first half of the season to make sure he was not snapped up by anybody else.
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