Guy, it’s my favorite week of the year! And this year it’s especially amazing. Not only are we getting the LOST finale (you’ll notice I’ve done a pretty good job of refraining from talking about LOST on this blog), but it’s also Upfront Week! For some reason, the TV critics always seem really cynical of upfronts, but I love this week. It’s like the NFL Draft but for TV geeks. I’m gonna try to give my thoughts about each networks announcements each day as they officially come out and my initial thoughts on the new shows where previews are available. (I can’t promise I will be able to tomorrow, what with the LOST penultimate episode happening and all.) So let’s begin with NBC.
Technically NBC’s sched leaked on Sunday, but they didn’t officially give me previews til today.
MONDAY
8-9 p.m: Chuck
9-10 p.m: The Event (new)
10-11 p.m.: Chase (new)
Obviously, I’m psyched that Chuck has survived. Would have loved to have seen it get a lead-in, or perhaps even teamed up with Undercovers as a spy superblock (more on that show later), but a begger will not be a chooser. As for The Event and Chase….I think we’ve seen these shows before the past couple years (especially from ABC) and they haven’t worked yet, so I’ll be surprised if it does this time. The Event looks cool.
But, and I say this without having seen anything but that preview, I don’t see how it’s sustainable. Even if it’s any good, it’s another show that will immediately need an expiration date. That’s fine with me, but I don’t think it’s fine with NBC, a network in desperate need of a new flagship. Ultimately looks just like another FlashForward, and we all saw how that turned out. But with a cast that includes Blair Underwood, Scott Patterson, and Željko Ivanek, I’ll give it a shot.
TUESDAY
8-10 p.m.: The Biggest Loser
10-11 p.m.: Parenthood
The only day that stays the same. I don’t watch Loser, so I won’t comment on it. Glad to see Parenthood, which has grown nicely, gets to continue at it’s timeslot with a solid lead-in.
WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m.: Undercovers (new)
9-10 p.m.: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
10-11 p.m.: Law & Order: Los Angeles (new)
Here we go. A JJ Abrams-led spy drama? Count me in.
Now, I’m not sure it has commercial hit written all over it (how were Alias’ ratings that first season, I don’t really remember…although this seems a little more commercially viable than that), but who doesn’t enjoy a fun spy drama (I know a certain Texan definitely does). What I don’t get is the pairing. Why put it as a lead-in to the procedurals? They won’t benefit from it. Hell, they don’t need to benefit from it. It won’t benefit from them. If NBC thinks it has the juice to be an 8PM show, why not pair it with Chuck and see what Chuck can do with a lead-in?
THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m.: Community
8:30-9 p.m.: 30 Rock
9-9:30 p.m.: The Office
9:30-10 p.m.: Outsourced (new)
10-11 p.m.: Love Bites (new)
And here is where NotSoPop gets NotSoHappy. Where is Parks & Rec?!? Held until Winter? Really? The best comedy on TV, not getting a Fall season? Announcing this after the most recent episode gave the show even more juicy with the additions of Adam Scott (permanent) and Rob Lowe (part time…for now)?!? I understand what NBC is trying to do. They need to find a show to be their flagship comedy once The Office goes away (which is obviously showing its age these days). But, first, why do it with Outsourced which just seems…well…awful.
Second, if we’re auditioning shows behind The Office, why not give Parks & Rec a shot? I know they’ve technically premiered it twice now, but if I remember correctly, it took The Office a couple seasons (and a ton of iTunes downloads) to gain its commercial audience.
Then there is Love Bites.
I can’t say I love the preview. But I do love the cast. Becki Newton and Jordana Spiro are great. And the rotating cast idea is kind of fun. And clearly NBC believes in it by giving it the golden Thursday 10PM time slot. So who knows.
FRIDAY
8-9 p.m.: Who Do You Think You Are?/School Pride (new)
9-10 p.m.: Dateline NBC
10-11 p.m.: Outlaw (new)
Outlaw seems kind of interesting. And who doesn’t love Jimmy Smits?
But I like the first half of the preview a hell of a lot more than I like the second half. I fear that the show is a lot more the second half (feel good, schmaltzy do-gooding) than the first half (Jimmy Smits being a bad ass).
SUNDAY
7- 8:15 p.m.: Football Night in America
8:15-11:30 p.m.: NBC Sunday Night Football
SUNDAY (midseason)
7-8 p.m.: Dateline NBC
8-9 p.m. – Minute to Win It
9-11 p.m. – The Celebrity Apprentice
Other shows in the pipeline seem interesting, namely Harry’s Law (which has an Emmy nomination written all over it for Kathy Bates) and The Cape (someday NBC will get superheroes right, I think), but they can’t be that good if they were held til mid-season, right? My biggest impression is that a lot of these new shows seem better fit for either 1 great season or a movie than a serialized drama.
Anyone disagree?
