
At their upfront this morning, ABC announced their new fall lineup. As you can see below, it will remain largely unchanged from last season, with the exception of the reality show Opportunity Knocks on Tuesday and Life on Mars on Thursday.
Mondays
8 p.m. — Dancing with the Stars / Untitled Tyra Banks-Ashton Kutcher [New]
9:30 p.m. — Samantha Who
10pm — The Bachelor / Boston Legal
Tuesdays
8 p.m. — Opportunity Knocks [New]
9 p.m. — Dancing Results Show / Scrubs [New] / Goode Family [New]
10 p.m. — Eli Stone
Wednesdays
8 p.m. -– Pushing Daisies
9 p.m. — Private Practice
10 p.m. — Dirty Sexy Money
Thursdays
8 p.m. — Ugly Betty
9 p.m. — Grey’s Anatomy
10 p.m.– Life on Mars [New]
Fridays
8 p.m. -– Supernanny
9 p.m. -– Wife Swap
10 p.m. –20/20
Sundays
7 p.m. -– America’s Funniest Home Videos
8 p.m. -– Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9 p.m. –- Desperate Housewives
10 p.m.-– Brothers and Sisters
Posted by Drew as Network News, Upfront News at 7:05 PM EST
19 NO Comments
A few weeks ago, we questioned the judgement of NBC when they announced that they would forgo the tradition of the Upfronts. Today, we’ve received a bit of confirmation on that.
In lieu of the upfront ceremony, NBC will unveil a prime-time programming slate that will cover the entire 52-week season. The head honchos of the peacock network will meet with ad executives and buyers in New York for three days in April to discuss the strategy for the new year. Following that, NBCU’s execs will arange meetings in New York, LA and Chicago to talk about buying space on all of the conglomerate’s networks. Then, on May 12, there will be an event that “will showcase the full scale of the NBC U offerings in a unique, multi-media, interactive environment.” I’m imagining that the interactive environment will be centered largely on NBC Universal’s own Hulu service…probably featuring each newly chosen program.
This new 52-week is HUGE, I think. There is no reason that the summer season is virtually devoid of decent programming. Creating a year-round schedule is a tremendous step.
It doesn’t do anything to change the fact that doing away with pilots is the stupidest move in the history of television…and I’m including Cavemen in that list.
Posted by Drew as Upfront News at 7:01 PM EDT
18 NO CommentsTHE CW KICKS OFF ITS SECOND SEASON WITH SIX NEW SERIES
NETWORK FRESHENS FALL SCHEDULE WITH THREE NEW DRAMAS, NEW COMEDY AND TWO NEW REALITY SERIES
New Drama “Gossip Girl,” Based on Bestselling Book Series, To Follow “America’s Next Top Model” on Wednesdays
Returning Hit “Beauty and The Geek” Leads Into Comical New Drama “Reaper” on Tuesdays
Comedy Block Remains on Monday Night With Three Returning Favorites and New Comedy “Aliens In America”
On Sunday, Two New Series, “Online Nation” and “CW Now,” Bring Hottest Internet Videos and Latest Trends to Television, Followed by New Family Drama “Life Is Wild,” Filming Entirely in South Africa
Returning Hits “Smallville” and “Supernatural” and The WWE’s “Friday Night Smackdown!” Anchor Thursday and Friday
Midseason Series Include Returning Hits “One Tree Hill” and “Pussycat Dolls Present” and Two New Reality Series, “Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants” and “Farmer Wants A Wife”
New Series from Esteemed Producers Josh Schwartz (”The O.C.”), Stephanie Savage (”The O.C.”), Mark Gordon (”Grey’s Anatomy”), Kevin Smith (”Clerks”) and Tom Spezialy (”Desperate Housewives”) Fill the Fall Schedule
May 17, 2007 (New York, New York) - The CW Network unveiled the schedule for its 2007-2008 season today at Madison Square Garden before more than 3,000 advertisers, affiliates and national media. The announcement was made by Dawn Ostroff, President of Entertainment, The CW.
“Our new shows have attitude and a sense of fun, and they’re going to define this network,” said Ostroff. “With that in mind, The CW is adding six new series to our schedule this fall. With established shows anchoring four nights and providing a launch pad for new programs, we will also have stability on our successful Thursday and Friday lineups. Shows that can be enjoyed by the whole family will air on Mondays and Sundays in the 8:00-9:00 hour, with the 7:00-8:00 hour on Sunday providing an innovative showcase for both viewers and advertisers.”
On Wednesday nights, the network’s top-rated series, AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL, showed double-digit growth last season and was the number one show in the timeslot with women 18-34. AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL will return in its successful 8:00-9:00 p.m. slot, followed by the premiere of the new drama GOSSIP GIRL from 9:00-10:00 p.m. From “The O.C.” producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, GOSSIP GIRL is based on the best-selling young-adult book series of the same name. The show features an ensemble cast of new and veteran actors, including Blake Lively (”The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”) and Leighton Meester (”Surface”), and focuses on the struggle for social supremacy among teens from both sides of the tracks in a posh Manhattan prep school. The fun, sexy and dramatic hour is a perfect companion piece for TOP MODEL’S strong female audience, making Wednesday “Girls Night In” on The CW.
Stability is the key on Thursday and Friday nights. On Thursday - television’s most competitive night - SMALLVILLE and SUPERNATURAL deliver a good mix of male and female viewers. On Friday, the wildly popular FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN! rules the night with two hours of original wrestling extravaganzas 52 weeks a year. SMACKDOWN! was last season’s number-one show in male viewers, giving the network a lock on young men on the night leading into the weekend.
Sundays will kick off the 7:00-8:00 p.m. hour with two new reality shows. At 7:00 p.m., CW NOW will premiere as the ultimate source for everything hip, hot and happening in youth culture. From the producers of the entertainment magazine show “Extra,” CW NOW utilizes eye-catching graphics and visuals in a fast-paced mix of celebrity gossip and current fashion and lifestyle trends. Advertisers can participate by incorporating their brand into the fabric of the show, expanding on the network’s success last season with content wraps. At 7:30 p.m., The CW is turning couch potatoes into mouse potatoes with ONLINE NATION, a series that takes the best of the web’s user- generated video and makes it available to television audiences. At 8:00 p.m., the new family drama LIFE IS WILD brings the beauty and drama of Africa to television. The show will be filmed entirely in South Africa, with a diverse cast of American, British and South African actors, and will feature film-quality production values. LIFE IS WILD is the story of a dysfunctional blended family from New York who moves to a rural South African town and finds they must rely on each other more than they ever did back home. The 9:00 p.m. hour will continue last season’s successful strategy of an encore presentation of AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL.
The popular Monday night comedy line-up returns with three favorites and one new series. From 8:00-8:30 p.m., the critically acclaimed EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS returns with a first-time ever guest appearance by the show’s co-creator and executive producer, Chris Rock. EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS provides the perfect lead-in for the ground-breaking new fish-out-of-water comedy ALIENS IN AMERICA, about a 16-year-old Wisconsin boy, Justin Tolchuk (Dan Byrd, “The Hills Have Eyes”), whose mother decides to improve his social status at school by importing an exchange student to be his friend. When the student turns out to be a Pakistani Muslim teenager named Raja (Adhir Kalyan, “Fair City”), issues of diversity, tolerance and coming of age in America take center stage in this sweet and insightful comedy.
The Monday comedy block continues with GIRLFRIENDS and THE GAME, the two highest-rated scripted shows on television among Africa-American adults and women 18-34, helping to make The CW the number one-rated programming option for African-American viewers on Monday nights.
On Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m., the hit reality series BEAUTY AND THE GEEK, from executive producers Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg, will return with a new crop of beauties and geeks in this funny and poignant social experiment competition. The devilish new drama REAPER will follow at 9:00 p.m. With executive producers Michelle Fazekas, Tara Butters, Mark Gordon, Deb Spera, Tom Spezialy and executive producer/director Kevin Smith, this humor-filled adventure is the story of a slacker named Sam (Bret Harrison, “The Loop,” “Grounded for Life”) who learns that his parents accidentally sold his soul to the devil before he was born, forcing him into a new life as the devil’s bounty hunter. Ray Wise (”24,” “The Closer”) plays Satan, and Tyler Labine (”Boston Legal,” “Invasion”) plays Sam’s best friend Bert “Sock” Wysocki.
MIDSEASON
In a strategy designed to give producers time to make a significant creative change, the hit drama ONE TREE HILL will be held until midseason. When it returns, the story will have advanced four years and the characters will have already graduated from college. Online digital diaries will premiere in the fall, allowing fans to learn what happened during the college years, and will lead into the midseason series return.
Midseason reality series include a second season of the popular PUSSYCAT DOLLS PRESENT, which averaged eight-million viewers a week in its premiere season, along with two new reality concepts. On FARMER WANTS A WIFE, a real-life farmer will search for a wife from the big city, and on CROWNED: THE MOTHER OF ALL PAGEANTS, mother/daughter teams must work together to win a beauty pageant. The three reality shows will enable the network to schedule original reality series in key time periods over the entire season.
Following is The CW’s 2007-2008 primetime schedule, a night-by-night breakdown and accompanying details on all the programs.
THE CW’s 2007-2008 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE
MONDAY
8:00-8:30 PM EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS
8:30-9:00 PM ALIENS IN AMERICA (New Series)
9:00-9:30 PM GIRLFRIENDS
9:30-10:00 PM THE GAME
TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM BEAUTY AND THE GEEK
9:00-10:00 PM REAPER (New Series)
WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL
9:00-10:00 PM GOSSIP GIRL (New Series)
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM SMALLVILLE
9:00-10:00 PM SUPERNATURAL
FRIDAY
8:00-10:00 PM FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN!
SUNDAY
7:00-7:30 PM CW NOW (New Series)
7:30-8:00 PM ONLINE NATION (New Series)
8:00-9:00 PM LIFE IS WILD (New Series)
9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL (Encore Presentation)
MONDAY
8:00-8:30 P.M. “EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS”
Returning for its third season, this hit comedy was inspired by the childhood experiences of comedian Chris Rock. Rock also serves as the narrator of this hilarious, touching story of a teenager growing up as the eldest of three children in Brooklyn, New York, during the early 1980s. Uprooted to a new neighborhood and bused into a predominantly white middle school two hours away by his strict, hard-working parents, Chris struggles to find his place while keeping his siblings in line at home and surmounting the challenges of middle school. This responsible, resilient adolescent brings a distinct, funny spin to his everyday trials and traumas, in the Golden Globe- and People’s Choice-nominated comedy EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS. The single-camera comedy series stars Tyler James Williams (”Unaccompanied Minors”) as Chris, Terry Crews (”The Longest Yard”) as Julius, Tichina Arnold (”Martin”) as Rochelle, Tequan Richmond (”Ray”) as Drew, Imani Hakim as Tonya and Vincent Martella (”Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo”) as Greg. EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS is a production of CBS Paramount Network Television Inc. in association with Chris Rock Enterprises, Inc. and 3 Arts Entertainment. Co-creator and narrator Chris Rock (”Head of State”), co-creator and writer Ali LeRoi (”Head of State”), Michael Rotenberg (”King of the Hill”), Dave Becky (”Lucky Louie”) and Don Reo (”My Wife and Kids”) are executive producers.
8:30-9:00 P.M. “ALIENS IN AMERICA” (New Comedy)
Justin Tolchuk (Dan Byrd, “The Hills Have Eyes”) is a sensitive, lanky 16-year-old just trying to make it through the social nightmare of high school in Medora, Wisconsin, with the help of his well-meaning mom Franny (Amy Pietz, “Caroline in the City”), aspiring-entrepreneur dad Gary (Patrick Breen, “Kevin Hill”), and his popular sister Claire (Lindsey Shaw, “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide”), who is sweetly unaware of how good-looking she is. When Franny signs up for the school’s international exchange student program, she pictures an athletic, brilliant Nordic teen who will bestow instant coolness on her outsider son. However, when the Tolchuk’s exchange student arrives, he turns out to be Raja Musharaff (Adhir Kalyan, “Fair City”), a 16-year-old Pakistani Muslim. Despite the cultural chasm between them, Justin and Raja quickly develop an unlikely friendship that just might allow them to navigate the minefield that is contemporary high school. It’s going to be a very interesting year for Raja, Justin, his family and the entire population of Medora. ALIENS IN AMERICA is from CBS Paramount Network Television Inc. and Warner Bros. Television with executive producers Tim Doyle (”Jake in Progress”), Moses Port (”Just Shoot Me,” “Mad About You”) and David Guarascio (”Just Shoot Me,” “Mad About You”). Luke Greenfield (”The Girl Next Door”) directed the pilot.
9:00-9:30 P.M. “GIRLFRIENDS”
Returning for its eighth season, GIRLFRIENDS provides an open, honest exploration of the hot-button issues about family, friends, relationships and careers facing women today through the lives and loves of three Los Angeles women. Taking on universal subjects that interest all women with fearlessness and sincerity - whether it’s learning to date after divorce or balancing friendships and a new marriage - GIRLFRIENDS treats them all with tenderness, care and respect. The series stars Tracee Ellis Ross (”Hanging Up”) as Joan Clayton, Golden Brooks (”Beauty Shop”) as Maya Wilkes, Persia White as Lynn Searcy and Reggie Hayes (”Getting Personal”) as William Dent. GIRLFRIENDS is a production of Happy Camper Productions and Grammnet Productions in association with CBS Paramount Network Television Inc. Kelsey Grammer (”Frasier,” “The Game”), creator Mara Brock Akil (”The Game,” “Moesha,” “The Jamie Foxx Show”) and Regina Hicks (”Sister, Sister”) serve as executive producers.
9:30-10:00 P.M. “THE GAME”
Returning for its second season, THE GAME is a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of the wives and girlfriends of pro-football players. This comedy tackles the way these women deal with egos, groupies and image consultants and shows how THE GAME is really played among the women behind the athletes. The series stars Tia Mowry (”Sister, Sister”) as Melanie Barnett, Coby Bell (”Third Watch”) as Jason Pitts, Pooch Hall (”Miracle’s Boys”) as Derwin Davis, Hosea Chanchez (”For Your Love”) as Malik Wright, Brittany Daniel (”White Chicks”) as Kelly Pitts and Wendy Raquel Robinson (”The Steve Harvey Show”) as Tasha Mack. THE GAME is a production of Happy Camper Productions and Grammnet Productions in association with CBS Paramount Network Television Inc. Kelsey Grammer (”Frasier,” “Girlfriends”), creator Mara Brock Akil (”Girlfriends,” “Moesha,” “The Jamie Foxx Show”) and Steve Stark serve as executive producers.
TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 P.M. “BEAUTY AND THE GEEK”
Returning for its fourth cycle, BEAUTY AND THE GEEK is from the producing team of Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg. The hit social experiment pairs eight beautiful and socially savvy women with eight intellectually endowed, but socially stunted men. Living at opposite ends of the social spectrum, the geeks try to pass their brains on to the beauties, while the beauties provide social skills to the geeks. One couple will make it to the end and walk away gifted and gorgeous with a cash prize of $250,000. BEAUTY AND THE GEEK is from fox21, produced by Katalyst and 3 Ball Productions with executive producers Ashton Kutcher & Jason Goldberg (”Guess Who,” “Punk’d”), Nick Santora (”Prison Break,” “The Guardian,” “The Sopranos”), J.D. Roth (”The Biggest Loser,” “For Love or Money”) and Todd A. Nelson (”The Biggest Loser,” “For Love or Money”).
9:00-10:00 P.M. “REAPER” (New Drama)
For the first 20 years of his life, Sam (Bret Harrison, “The Loop,” “Grounded for Life”) wondered why his parents went so easy on him. Whether it was school, sports or career choices, Sam’s mom (Allison Hossack, “Falcon Beach”) and dad (Andrew Airlie, “The L Word”) always let him get by with the least possible effort, while at the same time pressuring his younger brother Keith (Kyle Switzer, “15/Love”) to excel. As a result, Sam skipped college, took a dead-end job and now wastes endless hours playing video games and wishing he had the guts to ask out his pretty co-worker, Andi (Nikki Reed, “Thirteen,” “The O.C.”). Everything in his slacker world changes the day Sam turns 21 and discovers the ungodly reason his parents let him slide: they sold his soul to the devil before he was born. Satan himself (Ray Wise, “24,” “The Closer”) drops by to personally explain that Sam must now serve as his bounty hunter, tracking down evil souls that have escaped and returning them to Hell. At first, Sam refuses to accept his bizarre fate, but after getting just a glimpse of Satan’s temper, Sam realizes that breaking a deal with the devil has consequences that are very, very bad. Armed with a constantly changing series of vessels - starting with a Dirt Devil mini-vacuum - to collect the escapees, Sam immediately finds that the work is dangerous and frightening, even with the goofball help of his friends and fellow slackers, Bert “Sock” Wysocki (Tyler Labine, “Boston Legal,” “Invasion”) and Ben (Rick Gonzalez, “Coach Carter”), along with Sock’s former-girlfriend-turned-paralegal, Josie (Valarie Rae Miller, “Dark Angel”). Still, as weird and scary as his life has become, Sam is surprised to find that he somehow feels good about his newfound “mission” - removing evil-doers from the world and sending them back where they belong. With his friends and his trusty vessel-of-the-week at his side, Sam is ready to face his destiny as the Reaper. REAPER is from ABC Studios with executive producers Michelle Fazekas (”Ed,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”), Tara Butters (”Ed,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”), Mark Gordon (”Grey’s Anatomy,” “Criminal Minds”), Deb Spera (”Criminal Minds”), Tom Spezialy (”Desperate Housewives”) and Kevin Smith (”Clerks,” “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back”). Kevin Smith also directed the pilot.
WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 P.M. “AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL”
Returning with its ninth cycle, the runaway runway hit series features supermodel Tyra Banks. The show gives real people an opportunity to prove that they can make it in the high-stress, high-stakes world of supermodeling. With mentoring by Tyra Banks and exposure to high-profile fashion-industry gurus, young women of various backgrounds, shapes and sizes must endure a highly accelerated modeling boot camp and face weekly tests to determine who will make the cut as they vie for a professional modeling contract. The executive producers are Ken Mok (”Making the Band”), Tyra Banks and Daniel Soiseth (”Hell’s Kitchen”). The reality series was created by Tyra Banks and developed by Mok and Kenya Barris. AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL is produced by 10 by 10 Entertainment in association with Bankable Productions.
9:00-10:00 P.M. “GOSSIP GIRL” (New Drama)
The privileged prep school teens on Manhattan’s Upper East Side first learn that Serena Van Der Woodsen (Blake Lively, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”) is back in town the way they learn all the important news in their lives - from the blog of the all-knowing albeit ultra-secretive Gossip Girl. No one knows Gossip Girl’s identity, but everyone in this exclusive and complicated vicious circle relies on her text messages for the latest scoop. Serena’s closest friend, Blair (Leighton Meester, “Surface”), is just as surprised as everyone else to find that Serena has suddenly ended her self-imposed exile to boarding school and returned to Manhattan. The tension between Blair and Serena isn’t lost on Gossip Girl, who is determined to uncover and fuel any and all scandals. Does it involve Serena’s brother Eric (Connor Paolo, “One Life to Live”), Blair’s boyfriend Nate (Chace Crawford, “The Covenant”) or Nate’s buddy Chuck (Ed Westwick, “Children of Men”)? Maybe it has something to do with Dan (Penn Badgley, “John Tucker Must Die”) and his sister Jenny (Taylor Momsen, “Spy Kids 2,” “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”), whose middle-class background keeps them on the fringes of this exclusive clique. Even the parents - from Serena’s mother Lily (Kelly Rutherford, “Melrose Place”), a former ballerina/rock-groupie, to Nate’s high-powered father Howie “The Captain” Archibald (Sam Robards, “The West Wing”), to Dan and Jenny’s dad Rufus (Matthew Settle, “Brothers and Sisters”), a former rocker turned art gallery owner - are aware that their sons and daughters are constantly checking their Sidekicks to read Gossip Girl’s latest sightings and overheard tidbits. Overriding all the shifting friendships, jealousies and turmoil in this wealthy and complex world, the central mystery remains — Who Is Gossip Girl? Based on the popular series of young-adult novels by Cecily von Ziegesar, GOSSIP GIRL is from Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Paramount Television Inc. with executive producers Josh Schwartz (”The O.C.”) & Stephanie Savage (”The O.C.”), Bob Levy and Leslie Morgenstein (”Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”). Mark Piznarski (”Veronica Mars,” “Friday Night Lights”) directed the pilot.
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 P.M. “SMALLVILLE”
Returning for its seventh season, this new interpretation of the enduring Superman mythology and its classic characters blends realism and adventure into an exciting action series. Fourteen years ago, a meteor shower burst from the heavens, raining destruction on the unsuspecting citizens of Smallville, Kansas. From the ashes of tragedy, emerged Clark Kent. Struggling to come to grips with his emerging superpowers, while battling the strange events that have plagued this idyllic Midwest hamlet since the meteor shower, Clark slowly learns to embrace his destiny. SMALLVILLE chronicles Clark’s journey toward becoming the Man of Steel and his relationships with girl-next-door Lana Lang, future love Lois Lane and soon-to-be arch-nemesis Lex Luthor. The series stars Tom Welling as Clark Kent, Kristin Kreuk as Lana Lang, Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor, Erica Durance as Lois Lane, Allison Mack as Chloe Sullivan, John Glover as Lionel Luther and Aaron Ashmore as Jimmy Olsen. Reinterpreting the Superman mythology from its roots, SMALLVILLE was developed for television by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar (”Shanghai Noon,” “Spiderman 2″), based on the DC Comics characters. Gough and Millar serve as executive producers, along with Ken Horton, Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola, Kelly Souders & Brian Peterson and Todd Slavkin & Darren Swimmer. The series is produced by Tollin/Robbins Productions, Millar/Gough Ink and Warner Bros. Television. Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster.
9:00-10:00 P.M. “SUPERNATURAL”
Returning for its third season, this haunting series follows Sam and Dean Winchester, two brothers bound by tragedy and blood to their dangerous, other-worldly mission. Together, Sam and Dan journey into the dark world of the unexplained to find and destroy the demon that killed their mother. Crisscrossing the lonely and mysterious back roads of the country in their ‘67 Chevy Impala, the Winchester brothers encounter creatures that most people believe only exist in folklore, superstition and nightmares. Following the clues in their father’s journal, Dean and Sam take on his crusade to hunt down the evil that preys upon the innocent in the darkest corners of America. The series stars Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester and Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester. SUPERNATURAL is from Warner Bros. Television in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision, with executive producers McG (”Charlie’s Angels,” “The O.C.”), Eric Kripke (”Boogeyman”), Robert Singer (”Midnight Caller”) and Kim Manners (”The X-Files”).
FRIDAY
8:00-10:00 P.M. “FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN!”
The internationally popular, totally outrageous FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN! delivers all-new, action-packed shows and specials 52-weeks a year. As the number one show on Friday night for young men, this unique, bigger-than-life two-hour saga continues to ratchet up the drama and intensify the classic rivalries between some of the WWE’s biggest Superstars as they put on an astonishing display of high-flying, hard-hitting athleticism. The executive producer is Kevin Dunn. Taped before frenzied crowds all over the United States, the series is a production of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
SUNDAY
7:00-7:30 P.M. “CW NOW” (New Reality Series)
CW NOW blends news and entertainment to create the ultimate source for everything that’s hip, hot and happening right now in the world of young adults. With a team of experts focusing on the topics and trends that appeal specifically to The CW generation, this new series will feature informative and entertaining reports on the hottest fashions, the coolest music, the must-see movies and the must-have gadgets and technology. CW NOW will be everywhere young adults are: from cyberspace profiling the best of the web, to hitting the streets and getting inside the most popular hotspots. With young adults’ insatiable appetite for all things celebrity, each episode will report on the latest news and gossip from inside the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Moving at a rapid-fire pace and utilizing eye-catching graphics and visuals, CW NOW fits perfectly with the on-demand lifestyle of adults 18-34. CW NOW is a co-production of Telepictures Productions and Warner Horizon Television with executive producers Lisa Gregorisch (”Extra”) and Mike Miller (”Extra”).
7:30-8:00 P.M. “ONLINE NATION” (New Reality Series)
Young adults have taken their quest for fame into their own hands as the amount of user-generated entertainment continues to explode across the internet. Now The CW is giving them a nationally televised stage to show off what they’ve got. ONLINE NATION scours the nearly infinite number of websites, blogs and user-generated materials on the internet to find the best, the hottest, the unique and sometimes, the flat-out bizarre, and presents it on The CW audience’s other favorite screen: the TV screen. This fun, irreverent weekly series features everything and anything that has captured the attention of the online world, from the most popular sites to the addictive viral videos being shared by millions, to insights from the digital tastemakers. Born of the internet and tailored specifically for this generation, this series also features an innovative interactive element as viewers will be able to see what others are saying and communicate with them live on the air. The CW is turning mouse potatoes into couch potatoes by putting all the greatest internet clips in one ready-to-use package. ONLINE NATION is from Room 403 Productions with executive producers David Hurwitz (”Fear Factor”) and Paul Cockerill (”Trigger Happy TV,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live”).
8:00-9:00 P.M. “LIFE IS WILD” (New Drama)
Katie Clarke (Leah Pipes, “Clubhouse”) may never forgive her veterinarian father, Danny (Brett Cullen, “Ghost Rider,” “Friday Night Lights”), for dragging their entire blended family out of New York City to spend a year living in a broken-down lodge called The Blue Antelope in a game reserve deep inside South Africa. Everyone in the family, including Katie’s 11-year-old brother Chase (K’sun Ray, “Smith”), Danny’s second wife Jo (Judith Hoag, “Armageddon”), her rebellious teenage son Jesse (Andrew St. John, “General Hospital”) and 7-year-old daughter, Mia (Mary Matilyn Mouser, “Eloise”), is sure Danny has lost his mind. But Danny’s reasons go beyond his desire to keep his troubled family together while making a difference in the lives of the people and animals of South Africa: his deceased first wife Claire grew up at The Blue Antelope and it’s still home to her reclusive father Art (David Butler). After just a few days in South Africa, the family has already encountered an injured lioness, a lost cub, and a gentle giraffe. They’ve also met a few locals, including a handsome young Brit, Oliver Banks (newcomer Calvin Goldspink) and his twin sister Emily (newcomer Tiffany Mulheron), whose father Colin Banks (Jeremy Sheffield), runs a safari business for wealthy tourists, and Tumelo (newcomer Atandwa Kani), a teen who dreams of becoming a veterinarian. While they are definitely outsiders, Katie and the rest of the family are nevertheless beginning to love the breathtaking vistas of the bush country and the vibrant culture enveloping them. A year in this strange but beautiful place might not be so bad after all. LIFE IS WILD is a production of CBS Paramount Network Television Inc., Warner Bros. Television and Company Pictures, an All 3 Media Company, with executive producers Michael Rauch (”Love Monkey,” “Beautiful People”), Charlie Pattinson (”Wild at Heart,” “Shameless”) and George Faber (”Wild at Heart,” “Skins”). Bryan Gordon (”The Office,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) directed the pilot.
9:00-10:00 P.M. “AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL” (Encore Presentation)
Returning with its ninth cycle, the runaway runway hit series features supermodel Tyra Banks. The show gives real people an opportunity to prove that they can make it in the high-stress, high-stakes world of supermodeling. With mentoring by Tyra Banks and exposure to high-profile fashion-industry gurus, young women of various backgrounds, shapes and sizes must endure a highly accelerated modeling boot camp and face weekly tests to determine who will make the cut as they vie for a professional modeling contract. The executive producers are Ken Mok (”Making the Band”), Tyra Banks and Daniel Soiseth (”Hell’s Kitchen”). The reality series was created by Tyra Banks and developed by Mok and Kenya Barris. AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL is produced by 10 by 10 Entertainment in association with Bankable Productions.
MIDSEASON
“ONE TREE HILL”
Returning for its fifth season to the town of Tree Hill, this drama revolves around the lives of two young men, Lucas and Nathan, who have little in common aside from their love for hoops and the fact that they share the same father. The star of the high school basketball team, Nathan hails from a wealthy family, while his half-brother Lucas is the only child of a single mom. The inhabitants of Tree Hill have witnessed Lucas’ metamorphosis from loner to high school basketball star, Nathan and Haley’s troubled marriage, and Peyton and Brooke’s tumultuous friendship. While the teenagers struggle to find their places in the world, the adults in Tree Hill continue to deal with the residue of decisions they made years ago. The series stars Chad Michael Murray as Lucas Scott, James Lafferty as Nathan Scott, Hilarie Burton as Peyton Sawyer, Bethany Joy Galeotti as Haley James, Paul Johansson as Dan Scott, Sophia Bush as Brooke Davis, Barbara Alyn Woods as Deb Scott, Barry Corbin as Whitey Durham and Moira Kelly as Karen Roe. ONE TREE HILL is from executive producer and show creator Mark Schwahn (”Coach Carter”), executive producers Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola (”Smallville”) and Greg Prange for Tollin/Robbins Productions and Warner Bros. Television.
“CROWNED: THE MOTHER OF ALL PAGEANTS” (New Reality Series)
Judges Carson Kressley (”Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”), former Miss U.S.A. Shanna Moakler (”Dancing with the Stars,” “Meet the Barkers”), and television personality Cynthia Garrett referee an eight-episode competition that dares to pit mother/daughter teams against each other in a no-holds-barred beauty pageant. CROWNED: THE MOTHER OF ALL PAGEANTS explores one of the most emotional and volatile relationships as mothers and daughters from all walks of life must compete together - and against other mother/daughter teams - in order to win. Faced with challenges that focus on preparing them for the pageant show finale, the women will have to brand a ’style’ for their mother/daughter team via clothing and swimwear, create ways of expressing a point of view about issues in the world, and practice for the big pageant dance number. Not only do good looks, talent and a penchant for world peace have to run in the family, each team must also have patience, teamwork and a healthy sense of humor. In the end, one mother/daughter team will be “crowned” the winner and will receive a valuable prize package, including a $100,000 cash award, and, of course, a fabulous pair of tiaras. CROWNED: THE MOTHER OF ALL PAGEANTS is a production of Fox Television Studios, with creator/executive producer Laurie Girion (”Cheerleader Nation,” “Last Comic Standing 2″).
“FARMER WANTS A WIFE” (New Reality Series)
The CW cultivates romance a l “Green Acres” with FARMER WANTS A WIFE, a comedic reality series designed to help one farm boy find the city girl of his dreams. Based on the hit British format, this first U.S. version will find a charming, hard-working farmer who is happy with his life but lacking romance and wondering if he might find happiness with a woman from the city. The show’s producers will search the nation’s cities to select a group of 10 women who have had it with bad dates in the big city and are open to making a big change. The group will consist of women looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and wondering if a country man with country values might offer a more attractive lifestyle. FARMER WANTS A WIFE will bring these city women to the country farmer. The ladies will have to impress him with their heart and their newfound “love” of the country life, or they’ll be sent back to the city. Are these city girls ready for the realities of life and work on a farm - driving a tractor, taking care of very large farm animals and attending bingo night? Through a series of challenges, group activities, shocking eliminations and cozy dates, 10 fast-lane women will see how they match up with a back-roads guy on the path to true love. FARMER WANTS A WIFE is from Fremantle Media North American (FMNA) and Super Delicious LLC with executive producers Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Adam Cohen, Cara Tapper, and Joanna xVernetti.
FALL
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM PRISON BREAK
9:00-10:00 PM K-VILLE
TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM NEW AMSTERDAM
9:00-10:00 PM HOUSE
WEDNESDAY
8:00-8:30 PM BACK TO YOU
8:30-9:00 PM ‘TIL DEATH
9:00-10:00 PM BONES
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5th GRADER?
9:00-10:00 PM KITCHEN NIGHTMARES
FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM THE SEARCH FOR THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN BAND (working title)
9:00-10:00 PM NASHVILLE (working title)
SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 PM COPS
8:30-9:00 PM COPS
9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA’S MOST WANTED: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK
SUNDAY
7:00-8:00 PM THE OT (NFL post-game)
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM KING OF THE HILL
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00 PM AMERICAN DAD
===
JANUARY 2008
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM K-VILLE (January)/PRISON BREAK (Spring)
9:00-10:00 PM 24
TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL
9:00-10:00 PM HOUSE
WEDNESDAY (January)
8:00-8:30 PM BACK TO YOU
8:30-9:00 PM ‘TIL DEATH
9:00-10:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL
WEDNESDAY (Spring)
8:00-8:30 PM BACK TO YOU
8:30-9:00 PM THE RETURN OF JEZEBEL JAMES (working title)
9:00-9:30 PM AMERICAN IDOL Results Show
9:30-10:00 PM ‘TIL DEATH
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5th GRADER?
9:00-10:00 PM CANTERBURY’S LAW
FRIDAY (Spring)
8:00-9:00 PM BONES
9:00-10:00 PM NEW AMSTERDAM
SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 PM COPS
8:30-9:00 PM COPS
9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA’S MOST WANTED: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK
SUNDAY (Spring)
7:00-7:30 PM KING OF THE HILL
7:30-8:00 PM AMERICAN DAD
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM FAMILY GUY
9:00-10:00 PM THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES
Sorry, I was away from the computer all day yesterday, so didn’t get any updates in. Here’s CBS’s fall schedule:
CBS TELEVISION NETWORK
2007-2008 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE
(N=New, NT=New Time, all times ET/PT)
MONDAY
8:00-8:30 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
8:30-9:00 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY (N)
9:00-9:30 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN
9:30-10:00 PM RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: MIAMI
TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM NCIS
9:00-10:00 PM THE UNIT
10:00-11:00 PM CANE (N)
WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM KID NATION (N)
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: NY
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR
9:00-10:00 PM CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
10:00-11:00 PM WITHOUT A TRACE (NT)
FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM GHOST WHISPERER
9:00-10:00 PM MOONLIGHT (N)
10:00-11:00 PM NUMB3RS
SATURDAY
8:00-9:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
10:00-11:00 PM 48 HOURS: MYSTERY
SUNDAY
7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES
8:00-9:00 PM VIVA LAUGHLIN (N)
9:00-10:00 PM COLD CASE
10:00-11:00 PM SHARK (NT)
CBS announced today its 2007-2008 Fall Primetime lineup, featuring five new series - one comedy, three dramas and one reality program.
These freshman series will join 17 returning programs on the current CBS lineup, which will win the 2006-2007 season in viewers and adults 25-54, continuing the Network’s multi-year winning streak.
The five new series feature bold and creative concepts, including Viva Laughlin, where drama is accented by iconic music; Cane, starring Jimmy Smits as the head of a powerful South Florida Cuban-American family; Moonlight, a romantic thriller with a new twist on the vampire legend; The Big Bang Theory, a comedy about genius geeks from “Two and A Half Men” co-creator Chuck Lorre; and KID NATION, a reality series where 40 kids will try to build a new society in an abandoned ghost town.
“We approached our development this year with a specific goal in mind - to be daring and different,” said Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment. “The Fall and mid-season series we have selected offer creativity and variety with great potential to excite and surprise television audiences everywhere.”
These new shows will be woven into a deep and successful lineup that returns more series and has more time period-winning programs than any other network. CBS will return television’s Number One drama and scripted program, CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION; the Number One comedy, TWO AND A HALF MEN; the Number One new comedy, RULES OF ENGAGEMENT; the Number One news magazine, 60 MINUTES; and the premiere reality series, SURVIVOR.
Also returning are: HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, CSI: MIAMI, NCIS, THE UNIT, CRIMINAL MINDS, CSI: NY, WITHOUT A TRACE, GHOST WHISPERER, NUMB3RS, COLD CASE and SHARK, as well as 48 HOURS: MYSTERY and CRIMETIME SATURDAY.
The new 2007-2008 schedule is:
On Monday, CBS adds a new series to television’s top rated comedy lineup. HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, with a young and loyal audience, returns at 8:00 PM, paired with the new genius comedy THE BIG BANG THEORY at 8:30 PM to form a young adult comedy block. From 9:00-10:00 PM, CBS returns television’s top comedy, TWO AND A HALF MEN, followed by the Number One new comedy, RULES OF ENGAGEMENT. At 10:00 PM, CSI: MIAMI, the night’s Number One scripted series, returns for its sixth season.
On Tuesday, the Top 20 hit NCIS and THE UNIT return from 8:00-10:00 PM. This successful two-hour drama block will serve as a launching pad for the stylish new drama CANE at 10:00 PM.
On Wednesday, CBS returns its successful duo of CRIMINAL MINDS and CSI: NY from 9:00-11:00 PM. Earlier in the evening at 8:00 PM, the network will try something very different with a new reality series, KID NATION, starring 40 remarkable kids attempting to prove they can form a functioning society in an abandoned New Mexico ghost town, where their adult predecessors failed.
On Thursday, CBS returns one of television’s top dramas, WITHOUT A TRACE, to 10:00 PM, joining forces once again with the time period-winning SURVIVOR at 8:00 PM and CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, television’s Number One drama, at 9:00 PM.
CBS will again use an established series as a launch pad for a new one on Friday. GHOST WHISPERER opens at 8:00 PM as a compatible lead-in to the new romantic thriller MOONLIGHT at 9:00 PM, followed by the return of the time period-winning drama NUMB3RS at 10:00 PM.
Saturdays will feature CBS’s CRIMETIME programming from 8:00-10:00 PM, followed by 48 HOURS: MYSTERY, the night’s top-rated program.
On Sunday, CBS will once again open with 60 MINUTES, the perennial Number One newsmagazine on television. At 8:00 PM, CBS will make one of its biggest moves with one of its boldest new shows, VIVA LAUGHLIN, a drama with music, based on the British hit “Viva Blackpool.” From 9:00-11:00 PM, the network will program a two-hour block of successful crime and justice with the growing COLD CASE and the sophomore series SHARK.
In addition to the new series for Fall, the network announced the pick up of three programs for midseason, including the four-time Emmy Award-winning THE AMAZING RACE, the comedy THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE, starring Emmy Award winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and the provocative new drama SWINGTOWN.
The network also announced it has ordered the reality series POWER OF 10, hosted by comedian Drew Carey (”The Drew Carey Show”) for this summer.
The new comedy is:
THE BIG BANG THEORY is a comedy from the Emmy Award nominated Co-Creator and Executive Producer of “Two and a Half Men” Chuck Lorre, about brainy best friends Leonard (Johnny Galecki, “Roseanne”) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons “Judging Amy”), who can tell you anything you want to know about quantum physics, but when it comes to dealing with everyday life here on earth they’re lost in the cosmos. Neither fully understands that scientific principles don’t always apply in matters of the heart - until they meet their sexy new neighbor Penny (Kaley Cuoco, “8 Simple Rules…”), a friendly screenwriter/waitress from the midwest who also happens to be newly single. She quickly makes an impression on the other members of Leonard and Sheldon’s geek squad - Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg, “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip”), who portrays himself as the Casanova of Cal Tech, and fellow whiz kid Rajesh Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar, “NCIS”), who is rendered speechless around anyone unprepared to converse about the Theory of Relativity or other scientific jargon. The chemistry between this gaggle of geniuses and a delightful damsel is about to undergo a stimulating series of inter-personal experiments. Multiple Emmy Award winner James Burrows (”Will & Grace”) directed the pilot. Lorre and Bill Prady (”Gilmore Girls,” “Dharma & Greg”) are executive producers for Warner Bros. Television.
The new dramas are:
Executive produced by Tony and Emmy Award winner Hugh Jackman (”The Boy from Oz,” “X-Men”), VIVA LAUGHLIN is a mystery drama with music about eternal optimist and freewheeling businessman Ripley Holden, whose sole ambition is to run a casino in Laughlin, Nev. Occasionally using upbeat contemporary songs to accentuate the drama and humor and advance the story, the series is based on the hit BBC show “Viva Blackpool.” Ripley (Lloyd Owen, “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles”) is the ultimate gambler with an infectious personality who is on the brink of making a killing… just as soon as he opens his casino that’s nowhere near completion. When his financing suddenly falls through, the fearless and tenacious Ripley approaches his enemy - dashing, sarcastic, wealthy casino owner Nicky Fontana (Hugh Jackman) for help. Though the odds are stacked against him, Ripley doesn’t miss a beat, even when he becomes embroiled in a murder investigation after the body of his ex-business partner is found at his club. At home, Ripley uses his dry wit to adjust to the demands of his family: his gorgeous wife, Natalie (Madchen Amick, “ER”), wants more attention; his teenage daughter, Cheyenne (Ellen Woglom, “The O.C.”), wants his approval; and his son, Jack (Carter Jenkins, “Surface”), wants to help him at work. All of this adversity would defeat a lesser man, but for the outgoing and passionate Ripley there’s no such thing as bad news, only deals to be struck and wagers to be won in the intoxicating neon glow of Laughlin, where the cards are on the table, romance is in the air and lively music is on the stage. Eric Winter (”Wildfire”) and D.B. Woodside (”24″) also star. Directed by Gabriele Muccino (”The Pursuit of Happyness”). Golden Globe Award nominee Hugh Jackman, John Palermo (”X-Men: The Last Stand”), Bob Lowry (”Huff”), Paul Telegdy and Peter Bowker (”Viva Blackpool”) are executive producers for BBC Worldwide Productions, Seed Productions, CBS Paramount Network Television in association with Sony Pictures Television.
CANE stars Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Jimmy Smits (”The West Wing”) in an epic drama about the external rivalries and internal power struggles of a large Cuban-American family running an immensely successful rum and sugar business in South Florida. When the family patriarch, Pancho (Hector Elizondo, “Chicago Hope”), is offered a lucrative but questionable deal by his bitter adversary, the Samuels, to purchase thousands of acres of sugar fields, he’s faced with a tough choice: Should he cash out of the sugar business and focus solely on rum, which would please his impulsive natural son, Frank (Nestor Carbonell, “Lost”), or protect the family legacy that he built from the ground up by not selling, and side with his adopted son, Alex (Smits), who mistrusts the Samuels and still sees value in sugar. Alex and Frank’s approach to business is as different as their approach to life. While Frank might lose focus chasing women, Alex is deeply in love with his beautiful wife, Isabel (Paola Turbay, “Bailando por un Sueño”), who is also Pancho’s daughter. Married when she was just 17 years old, Isabel balances Alex by choosing not to involve herself in the business, focusing instead on their three children, who are determined to forge their own paths outside the family. For the Duques, will family allegiance come first or will their secrets and acrimonious conflicts over love, lust and control of the family fortune be their downfall? Eddie Matos (”General Hospital”), Rita Moreno (”West Side Story”), Michael Trevino (”The Riches”), Lina Esco (”CSI: NY”), Sam Carman (”Bones”), Alona Tal (”Veronica Mars”) and Polly Walker (”Rome”) also star. Cynthia Cidre (”The Mambo Kings”), Jonathan Prince (”American Dreams”), Jimmy Iovine (”8 Mile”) and Polly Anthony (”Lifehouse: Live in Portland!”) are the executive producers for ABC Studios in association with CBS Paramount Network Television.
MOONLIGHT, from prolific movie producer Joel Silver (”The Matrix,” Trilogy), is about Mick St. John (Alex O’Loughlin, upcoming “White Out”), a captivating “undead” private investigator who uses his acute vampire senses to help the living… instead of feeding on them. In an agonizing twist of fate, Mick was “bitten” 60 years ago by his new bride, the seductive and beguiling Coraline (Amber Valletta, “Hitch”). Immortal and eternally as young, handsome and charismatic as he was then, Mick is sickened by Coraline and other vampires who view humans only as a source of nourishment. With only a handful of undead confidantes for company, including deceitful ally Josef (Rade Serbedzija, “24″), Mick fills his infinite days protecting the living, and trying not to think about how his life would have been if he hadn’t followed his heart. However, after six decades of resisting, he wonders if it’s time to pursue the love of a mortal. He has his eyes on Beth Turner, a beautiful, ambitious reporter who has been covering the ongoing plague of unusual murders. But would Beth even consider giving up a normal life to be with him, and can Mick risk the pain of seeing himself as a monster in her eyes? As Mick lives between two realities, fighting his adversaries among the undead and falling in love with Beth, he knows he needs to figure out a reason to keep “living.” MOONLIGHT is directed by executive producer Rod Holcomb (”ER”). Joel Silver, Ron Koslow (”Birds of Prey”), Trevor Munson and Gerard Bocaccio are also executive producers for Warner Bros. Television.
The new reality series is:
KID NATION is a reality-based series in which 40 kids will have 40 days to build a new world - in a ghost town that died in the 19th Century. These kids, ages 8-15, will spend more than a month without their parents or modern comforts in Bonanza City, N.M., attempting to do what their forefathers could not - build a town that works. They will cook their own meals, clean their own outhouses, haul their own water and even run their own businesses - including the old town saloon (root beer only). They’ll also create a real government - four kid leaders who will guide the group through their adventure, pass laws and set bedtimes. Through it all, they’ll cope with regular childhood emotions and situations: homesickness, peer pressure and the urge to break every rule they’ve ever known. At the end of each episode, all 40 kids will gather at an old fashioned Town Hall meeting where they will debate the issues facing Bonanza City. They’ll show wisdom beyond their years and the unflinching candor that only kids can exhibit. There are no eliminations on KID NATION - you only go home if you want to. And in every Town Hall meeting, kids may raise their hands and leave. Will they stick it out? In the end, will these kids prove to adults everywhere (and their own parents!) that they have the vision to build a better world than the pioneers who came before them? And just as importantly, will they come together as a cohesive unit, or will they abandon all responsibility and succumb to the childhood temptations that lead to round-the-clock chaos? KID NATION is produced by Emmy Award winner Tom Forman (”Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”) for Tom Forman Prods. and Good TV, Inc.
The new summer reality series is:
POWER OF 10, hosted by award-winning comedian Drew Carey (”The Drew Carey Show”), is a high-stakes game that challenges contestants to guess the behaviors, opinions and lifestyle choices of the American public for the chance to win $10 million. POWER OF 10 polls thousands of people across the U.S. asking them, well, just about everything - from “What percentage of married Americans said they were virgins the day they got married?” to “What percentage of American’s believe they are smarter than the president?” Each week, contestants must decide if they have their finger on the pulse of the American majority and can accurately predict the results of these nationwide surveys. With the first question worth $1,000 and only five questions to answer, each one increasing 10 times in value, contestants participate in a potentially lucrative game where they just might walk away with $10 million. The higher they are on the money ladder, the closer they must be to the actual statistic. The studio audience and a friend can help them, but the final answer is theirs. Michael Davies (”Who Wants to be a Millionaire”) is executive producer for Embassy Row in association with Sony Pictures Television.
The new midseason series is:
SWINGTOWN, from the director of “Big Love” and “Rome,” peeks into the shag-carpeted suburban homes of the 1970s to find couples reveling in the sexual and social revolution that introduced open marriages, women’s liberation and challenged many conventional wisdoms. During this heady era of provocative change, Susan (Molly Parker, “Deadwood”) and Bruce Miller (Jack Davenport, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”) move their family to an affluent Chicago suburb in search of a different sense of community, and they look forward to barbecues and get-togethers with their new neighbors, as well as a change of pace for their teenage daughter and pre-teen son. Enter Tom (Grant Show, “Melrose Place”) and Trina (Lana Parrilla, “24″) Decker, a striking, outgoing couple on the hunt who redefine the term “neighborhood watch.” After a mind-blowing evening with them, Susan and Bruce realize that couples in this town share much more than recipes, local gossip and a view of Lake Michigan, and are worlds apart from their former conservative neighbors, Janet (Miriam Shor, “Big Day”) and Roger (Josh Hopkins, “Brothers & Sisters”) Thompson. Susan’s loyal friend Janet is appalled by what she witnesses in this new neighborhood, while Roger, though dutiful to his wife, may be more intrigued than she knows. In a changing social climate - defined by its music, fashion and style - everyone in SWINGTOWN is confronted with personal choices, experimentation and shifting attitudes. Shanna Collins (”Wildfire”), Aaron Howles and Brittany Robertson (”Freddie”) also star. Mike Kelley (”The O.C.”) and director Alan Poul (”Six Feet Under”) are executive producers for CBS Paramount Network Television.
The Eye is said to have bought up four different dramas and at least one comedy. The one that piques my interest more than anything else this year is the Hugh Jackman-produced ‘Viva Laughlin’, which is a musical (yes, a musical) about a family’s attempt to run a casino. I would love to see how a musical is handled on primetime television.
There’s also a zombie dramedy called ‘Babylon Fields’ that also falls into the “how are they going to pull that off?” category.
TVGuide reported yesterday that ‘Jericho’ will not be picked up, which upsets me a lot. It’s been one of my favorite shows this year, and I really hate to see it go.
Just minutes away from the official report, so stay tuned!!!
Posted by Drew as Upfront News at 9:17 AM EDT
15 3 Comments
It’s day two of the upfronts, and ABC has just unveiled their fall schedule.
DAY TIME SERIES
MONDAY: 8:00 p.m. ”Dancing with the Stars”
9:30 p.m. ”Sam I Am” (new comedy series)
10:00 p.m. ”The Bachelor”
TUESDAY: 8:00 p.m. ”Cavemen” (new comedy series)
8:30 p.m. ”Carpoolers” (new comedy series)
9:00 p.m. ”Dancing with the Stars the Results Show”
10:00 p.m. ”Boston Legal”WEDNESDAY: 8:00 p.m. ”Pushing Daisies” (new drama series)
9:00 p.m. ”Private Practice” (new drama series)
10:00 p.m. ”Dirty Sexy Money” (new drama series)
THURSDAY: 8:00 p.m. ”Ugly Betty”
9:00 p.m. ”Grey’s Anatomy”
10:00 p.m. ”Big Shots” (new drama series)FRIDAY: 8:00 p.m. ”MEN IN TREES”
9:00 p.m. ”Women’s Murder Club” (new drama series)
10:00 p.m. ”20/20″
SATURDAY: 8:00 p.m. ”Saturday Night College Football”
SUNDAY: 7:00 p.m. ”America’s Funniest Home Videos”
8:00 p.m. ”Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
9:00 p.m. ”Desperate Housewives”
10:00 p.m. ”Brothers & Sisters””Cashmere Mafia,” “Notes from the Underbelly” and “October Road” will premiere after “Dancing with the Stars” and “The Bachelor” conclude their fall seasons.
Following, in alphabetical order, are descriptions of the new series joining ABC’s primetime schedule next season:
DRAMAS
“Big Shots”
This is the story of four friends at the top of their game…until the women in their lives enter the room. Lines between boardroom and bedroom blur when these competitive but dysfunctional CEOs take refuge in their friendship, discussing business, confiding secrets, seeking advice and supporting each other through life’s surprising twists and turns.Cast:
Michael Vartan (”Alias”): James Walker
Dylan McDermott (”The Practice”): Duncan Collinsworth
Christopher Titus (”Titus”): Brody Johns
Joshua Malina (”The West Wing”): Karl Mixworthy
Nia Long (”Premonition”): Katie Graham
Paige Turco (”Party of Five”): Lisbeth
Peyton List (”Day Break”): Cameron Collinsworth
Wendy Moniz (”Nash Bridges”): Stacey Walker
Jessica Collins (”The Nine”): Marla
Amy Sloan (”The Heartbreak Kid”): Wendy
Credits:
EP/Writer: Jon Harmon Feldman (”American Dreams”)
Director: Charles McDougall (”Desperate Housewives”)
Production Company: Warner Bros. Television“Cashmere Mafia”
Four ambitious and sexy women, who’ve been best friends since business school, try to balance their glamorous and demanding careers with their complex personal lives in the city that never sleeps. They’ve created their own “boys club” to protect each other and discuss their ups and downs as they try to have it all. What good is it to break the glass ceiling without girlfriends to share in your success?Cast:
Lucy Liu (”Ally McBeal”): Mia
Frances O’Connor (”Windtalkers”): Zoe
Miranda Otto (”War of the Worlds”): Juliet
Bonnie Somerville (”NYPD Blue”): Caitlin
Peter Hermann (”Law & Order: SVU”): Davis
Julian Ovenden (”Related”): Eric
Credits:
EP: Gail Katz (”The Agency”)
EP: Darren Star (”Sex and the City”)
EP/Writer: Kevin Wade (”Maid in Manhattan”)
EP/Director: Peyton Reed (”The Break-Up”)
Production Company: Sony Pictures Television“Dirty Sexy Money”
Some people say money is the root of all evil. They may be right. Nick George’s whole life has been lived in the shadow of the Darling family, but as an adult he’s leading the perfect life as an idealistic lawyer, until his father’s suspicious death. The absurdly wealthy Darlings of New York have asked him to take over his father’s job as their personal lawyer, but the money that will allow him the freedom to be an altruistic do-gooder is only part of the picture. That same money pulls him into the dubious doings of the Darling clan. Power, privilege and family money are a volatile cocktail.Cast:
Peter Krause (”Six Feet Under”): Nick George
Donald Sutherland (”Commander in Chief”): Tripp Darling
William Baldwin (”The Squid and the Whale”): Sen. Patrick Darling
Natalie Zea (”Eyes”): Karen Darling
Glenn Fitzgerald (”Six Feet Under”): Rev. Brian Darling
Samaire Armstrong (”The O.C.”): Juliet Darling
Seth Gabel (”The Da Vinci Code”): Jeremy Darling
Zoe McLennan (”JAG”): Lisa
Laz Alonso (”Stomp the Yard”): Colin
Jill Clayburgh (”Running with Scissors”): Letitia Darling
Credits:
EP/Writer: Craig Wright (”Brothers & Sisters”)
EP: Greg Berlanti (”Brothers & Sisters”)
EP/Director: Peter Horton (”Grey’s Anatomy”)
EP: Matt Gross (”Day Break”)
EP: Bryan Singer (”Superman Returns”)
Production Company: ABC Studios“Eli Stone”
Many lawyers consider themselves prophets, but Eli Stone may be the real deal. Eli has built a successful career at a top law firm in San Francisco representing only the biggest and richest corporations that make a habit of screwing over the little guy. But after experiencing a series of odd hallucinations, Eli seeks to find a deeper meaning to life while trying not to lose his job and destroy his relationship with the bosses’ daughter. When Eli discovers an aneurysm in his brain, he wonders if his condition is truly medical or if perhaps he now has a higher calling.Cast:
Jonny Lee Miller (”Melinda and Melinda”): Eli Stone
Victor Garber (”Alias”): Jordan Wethersby
Natasha Henstridge (”Commander in Chief”): Taylor Wethersby
Loretta Devine (”Crash”): Patti
Sam Jaeger (”Catch and Release”): Matt Dowd
Laura Benanti (”Take the Lead”): Beth Keller
James Saito (”I Think I Love My Wife”): Dr. Chen
Credits:
EP/Writer: Greg Berlanti (”Brothers & Sisters”)
EP/Writer: Marc Guggenheim (”Brothers & Sisters”)
EP/Director: Ken Olin (”Brothers & Sisters”)
Production Company: ABC Studios“Private Practice”
From Shonda Rhimes, the Golden Globe-winning creator of “Grey’s Anatomy,” comes a story about new beginnings and old friends. Addison Forbes Montgomery is a renowned neonatal surgeon, respected by her friends and colleagues at Seattle Grace Hospital. Deciding she can no longer healthily co-exist with her ex-husband, McDreamy, and her ex-lover, McSteamy, Addison heads to Los Angeles for sunnier weather and happier possibilities. Reunited with her once-married, newly divorced medical school friends, Naomi and Sam, Addison joins their chic private practice. Featuring an all-star cast including Kate Walsh, Amy Brenneman, Tim Daly and Taye Diggs, “Private Practice” tells the story of a woman unafraid of change and willing to begin a new life.Cast:
Kate Walsh (”Grey’s Anatomy”): Addison Forbes Montgomery
Tim Daly (”The Nine”): Dr. Peter Finch
Taye Diggs (”Day Break”): Dr. Sam Bennett
Paul Adelstein (”Prison Break”): Dr. Cooper Freedman
Merrin Dungey (”The King of Queens”): Dr. Naomi Bennett
Chris Lowell (”Veronica Mars”): William “Dell” Cooper
Amy Brenneman (”Judging Amy”): Dr. Violet Turner
Credits:
EP/Writer: Shonda Rhimes (”Grey’s Anatomy”)
EP: Betsy Beers (”Grey’s Anatomy”)
EP: Marti Noxon (”Grey’s Anatomy”)
EP: Mark Gordon (”Grey’s Anatomy”)
Director: Michael Grossman (”Grey’s Anatomy”)
Production Company: ABC Studios“Pushing Daisies”
From Bryan Fuller (”Heroes”) and Barry Sonnenfeld (”Men in Black”) comes an unprecedented blend of romance, crime procedural and high-concept fantasy in a forensic fairytale about a young man with a very special gift. Once upon a time, a mild-mannered boy named Ned realized he could touch dead things and bring them back to life. Grown-up Ned puts his ability to good use, not only touching dead fruit and making it ripe with everlasting flavor, but working with an investigator to crack murder cases by asking the deceased to name their killers. But the tale gets complicated, as all tales do, when Ned brings his childhood sweetheart, Chuck, back from the dead and keeps her alive. Chuck encourages him to use his power to help others, instead of merely solving mysteries and collecting the rewards. Life would be perfect for Ned and Chuck, except for one cruel twist: If he ever touches her again, she’ll go back to being dead, this time for good.Cast:
Lee Pace (”The Good Shepherd”): Ned
Anna Friel (”Rogue Trader”): Chuck
Chi McBride (”Boston Public”): Emerson
Swoosie Kurtz (”Sisters”): Lily
Kristin Chenoweth (”The West Wing”): Olive
Jim Dale (”reader of the “Harry Potter” series audio books”): Narrator
Credits:
EP: Dan Jinks (”Traveler”)
EP: Bruce Cohen (”Traveler”)
EP/Director: Barry Sonnenfeld (”Men in Black”)
EP/Writer: Bryan Fuller (”Heroes”)
Production Company: The Jinks/Cohen Company in association with Warner Bros. Television“Women’s Murder Club”
Based on James Patterson’s bestselling novels, The Women’s Murder Club, four working women in San Francisco - a detective, a district attorney, a medical examiner and a reporter - use their expertise and unique talents to solve murder cases. Each woman is successful in her own field, but because of their unique friendship, they realize that pooling their resources during investigations leads to undiscovered clues and answers in both work and their personal lives.Cast:
Paula Newsome (”Little Miss Sunshine”): Claire
Aubrey Dollar (”Point Pleasant”): Cindy
Tyrees Allen (”Alias”): Jacobi
Angie Harmon (”Law & Order”): Lt. Lindsay Boxer
Laura Harris (”24″): Jill
Elizabeth L. Ho: Yuki
Rob Benedict (”Threshold”): Owen
Credits:
EP: Joe Simpson (”Employee of the Month”)
EP: James Patterson (”Along Came a Spider”)
EP/Writer: Elizabeth Craft (”Angel”)
EP/Writer: Sarah Fain (”Angel”)
Director: Scott Winant (”Huff”)
Production Company: 20th Century Fox TVCOMEDIES
“Carpoolers”
Less about saving the environment than male bonding, four guys from very different backgrounds relish their daily commute as they commiserate about their lives, jobs and families in the carpool lane. There’s Laird, the recently divorced playboy; Aubrey, the timid homemaker and breadwinner; the conservative and traditional Gracen; and eager newlywed Dougie. Together, between the pressures of home and work, these men find time to be themselves while driving to and from the office.Cast:
Fred Goss (”Sons & Daughters”): Gracen
Faith Ford (”Hope & Faith”): Leila
Jerry O’Connell (”Crossing Jordan”): Laird
Jerry Minor (”Arrested Development”): Aubrey
Allison Munn (”That ’70s Show”): Cindy
Tim Peper (”The Guiding Light”): Dougie
T.J. Miller: Marmaduke
Credits:
EP/Writer: Bruce McCulloch (”Saturday Night Live”)
EP: Justin Falvey (”Las Vegas”)
EP: Darryl Frank (”Las Vegas”)
EP: David Miner (”30 Rock”)
EP/Director: Anthony Russo & Joe Russo (”You, Me and Dupree”)
Production Company: ABC Studios“Cavemen”
Cavemen is a unique buddy comedy that offers a clever twist on stereotypes and turns race relations on their head. Inspired by the popular Geico Insurance commercials, the series looks at life through the eyes of the ultimate outsiders - three modern cavemen - as they struggle to find their place in the world. Joel, his cynical best friend, Nick, and easy-going little brother, Jamie, are contemporary cavemen who live in the suburban south and simply want to be treated like ordinary thirty-something guys. Despite their attempts at assimilation, Nick doesn’t believe mainstream society will ever completely accept them, Jamie seems to take it all in stride and Joel straddles the middle, torn between his friends, his more traditional values and his loving fiancée.Cast:
Bill English (”The Pavement”): Joel
Nick Kroll (”Arranged”): Nick
Dash Mihok (”Hollywoodland”): Jamie
Kaitlin Doubleday (”Catch Me If You Can”): Kate
John Heard (”Prison Break”): Trip
Stephanie Lemelin (”CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”): Thorne
Credits:
EP: Daniel Rappaport (”Office Space”)
EP: Guymon Casady (”Hope & Faith”)
EP/Director: Will Speck & Josh Gordon (”Blades of Glory”)
EP: Bill Martin (”Grounded for Life”)
EP: Mike Schiff (”Grounded for Life”)
Co-EP/Writer: Joe Lawson
Production Company: ABC Studios“Miss/Guided”
Having navigated the awkward and sometimes traumatic world of high school, Rebecca Freely returns to her alma mater as a guidance counselor, free of the insecurities and orthodontia of her school days. Amidst student behavioral problems and the persistent romantic advances of the male nurse, Gary, Rebecca is certain of one thing — she is interested in the hot auto-shop-turned-Spanish-teacher, Tim. However, much as in high school days of unexpected teenage angst, Lisa, a former cheerleader and nemesis of Rebecca’s, returns as the new English teacher determined to make Rebecca relive her unpopular past, setting sights on Tim as well.Cast:
Judy Greer (”Two and a Half Men”): Becky
Brooke Burns (”Pepper Dennis”): Lisa
Earl Billings (”How I Met Your Mother”): Principal Huffy
Kristoffer Polaha (”CSI: Miami”): Tim
Jonathan Sadowski (”American Dreams”): Gary
Credits:
EP: Ashton Kutcher (”That ’70s Show”)
EP: Jason Goldburg (”Beauty and the Geek”)
EP: Karey Burke (”The Real Wedding Crashers”)
EP/Writer: Caroline Williams (”The Office”)
EP/Writer: Gaby Allan (”Scrubs”)
Director: Todd Holland (”Malcolm in the Middle”)
Production Company: 20th Century Fox TV & ABC Studios“Sam I Am”
When a terrible accident leaves Samantha “Sam” Newly in a coma for eight days, she wakes up with no recollection of any past experiences, memories or events. Faced with amnesia, Sam must start over. To her dismay she discovers that she wasn’t a particularly honest, good-hearted or loving person. In fact she was self-involved, narcissistic and devoid of real relationships - essentially a bitch. Sam must now struggle with her desire to be good and her temptation to be…not so good. Finding the line between good and evil is never easy.Cast:
Christina Applegate (”Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy”): Sam
Jennifer Esposito (”Related”): Andrea
Kevin Dunn (”Prison Break”): Howard
Melissa McCarthy (”Gilmore Girls”): Dena
Tim Russ (”Without a Trace”): Frank
Jean Smart (”24″): Regina
Credits:
Story By: Cecelia Ahern & Donald Todd
Teleplay: Donald Todd (”Ugly Betty”)
EP: Donald Todd (”Ugly Betty”)
EP: Peter Traugott (”Frangela”)
Director: Robert Duncan McNeill (”Crossing Jordan”)
Production Company: ABC StudiosALTERNATIVE SERIES
“Oprah’s Big Give(tm)”
The first primetime series from Harpo Productions centers on the competition, drama and emotion as millions of dollars are given away to make a difference in people’s lives across the country. Each week contestants will face a “big twist” that will test their nerve, drive, ingenuity and passion. Big name stars will turn up throughout the series to join the “Oprah’s Big Give(tm)” tour. During the eight episodes
filmed in various U.S. cities, the field will be narrowed. The stakes will get higher and higher, with one person ultimately being chosen as The Biggest Giver. “Oprah’s Big Give(tm)” is created and produced by Harpo Productions in conjunction with Profiles Television Productions, LLC. Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Rakieten, Harriet Seitler, Jonathan Sinclair, Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri are executive producers.
ABC stands to have the biggest shakeup of everyone at this year’s upfronts. There’s a rumored schedule that’s been floating around the web for the past few days, and in it, there are a whopping eight new shows in store this fall, not to mention the drastic schedule reshuffling that’s in store.
Also of note is the move of ‘Lost’ to Tuesday nights starting in February. I think this is the smart move for the network…moving it earlier in the lineup, and getting it away from ‘Idol’.
This is the previously mentioned rumored lineup:
MONDAY
8 – 9:30 Dancing with the Stars
9:30 – Sam I Am
10 - MarloweTUESDAY
8 - Dancing with the Stars
9 - Dirty Sexy Money
10 - Boston LegalWEDNESDAY
8 - Pushing Daisies
9 - Private Practice
10 - October RoadTHURSDAY
8 - Ugly Betty
9 - Grey’s Anatomy
10 - Football WivesFRIDAY
8 - The Middle
8:30 - Miss/Guided
9 - Men in Trees
10 - 20/20SATURDAY
College FootballSUNDAY
7 - Home Videos
8 - Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9 - Desperate Housewives
10 - Brothers & SistersThe Replacements
• Mondays after Dancing with the Stars: Notes from the Underbelly and Perfect Gentlemen
• Tuesdays starting in February: Lost
• Tuesdays after Dancing with the Stars: Oprah Winfrey’s Big GiveMidseason
The Bachelor
Cashmere Mafia
Cavemen
Eli Stone
George Lopez
The Knights of Prosperity
Supernanny
Wife Swap
Man…compared to yesterday’s relatively bare-bones NBC announcement, that’s A LOT of new programming. Let’s see what the network has in store.
Sam I Am - After waking from a coma, a woman with amnesia comes to term with her past self, learning that she was a pretty awful person.
Marlowe - Based on the film and literary character Philip Marlowe.
Dirty Sexy Money - After his father dies, a lawyer must take up the job of representing one of the wealthiest (and illegal, apparently) families in New York.
Pushing Daisies - Drama about a man who can bring people back to life just by touching them…but if he touches them again, they die for good. Apparently, he brings a girl back and then falls in love with her, but he can never touch her again.
Private Practice - Grey’s Anatomy spinoff
Football Wives - Based on the British series, focusing on football players’ wives
The Middle - A middle class Midwestern family show told through the eyes of the mother.
Miss/Guided - Kind of ‘Ugly Betty’-esque…formerly ugly student returns to school as guidance counselor, and her former high-school enemy is a coworker
Cashmere Mafia - “Four successful female executives, friends since college, rely on each other as they juggle the demands of career, family and high ambitions in New York City.”…you lost me after the forth word.
Cavemen - “Three prehistoric men who must battle prejudice as they attempt to live as normal thirtysomethings in modern Atlanta.” - Already hated.
Eli Stone - “Spiritual drama about a man who believes he may be a prophet.”
Just a few minutes and we’ll find out how right or wrong we may be.
Posted by Drew as Upfront News at 10:08 AM EDT
14 3 Comments
Courtesy of NBC, here is the fall update. Check back later as we dig in deeper…
NBC PRIMETIME SCHEDULE FOR FALL 2007-08
*New programs in CAPS (with the exception of “ER”)
MONDAY
8-9 p.m. “Deal or No Deal”
9-10 p.m. “Heroes”
10-11 p.m. “JOURNEYMAN”
TUESDAY
8-9 p.m. “The Biggest Loser”
9-10 p.m. “CHUCK”
10-11 p.m. “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. “Deal or No Deal”
9-10 p.m. “BIONIC WOMAN”
10-11 p.m. “LIFE”
THURSDAY
8-8:30 p.m. “My Name Is Earl”
8:30-9 p.m. “30 Rock”
9-9:30 p.m. “The Office”
9:30-10 p.m. “Scrubs”
10-11 p.m. “ER”
FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. “1 vs 100″/”THE SINGING BEE”
9-10 p.m. “Las Vegas”
10-11 p.m. “Friday Night Lights”
SATURDAY
8-9 p.m. “Dateline NBC”
9-11 p.m. Drama Series Encores
SUNDAY (Fall 2007)
7-8 p.m. “Football Night in America”
8-11 p.m. “NBC Sunday Night Football”
SUNDAY (January 2008)
7-8 p.m. “Dateline NBC”
8-9 p.m. “Law & Order”
9-10 p.m. “Medium”
10-11 p.m. “LIPSTICK JUNGLE”
2007-08 NEW SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
New Dramas
“JOURNEYMAN”– From Emmy Award-winning writer-producer Kevin Falls (”The West Wing”) and Emmy Award-winning director-producer Alex Graves (”The West Wing”), “Journeyman” is a romantic mystery-drama about Dan Vasser (Kevin McKidd, “Rome”), a San Francisco newspaper reporter and family man who inexplicably begins to travel through time and change people’s lives. Along the way, he also must deal with the difficulties and strife at work and home brought on by his sudden disappearances. However, his freewheeling travels through the decades reunite him with his long-lost fiancée Livia (Moon Bloodgood, “Day Break”) — which complicates his present-day life with wife Katie (Gretchen Egolf, “Martial Law”) and their son. Reed Diamond (”Homicide: Life on the Street”) and Charles Henry Wyson (”The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) also star. “Journeyman” is a production of 20th Century Fox Television. Falls is executive producer and writer; Graves is executive producer and director of the pilot.
“CHUCK” - From executive producer, Josh Schwartz (”The O.C.”) and executive producer-director McG (”Charlie’s Angels,” “We Are Marshall”) comes a one-hour, comedic spy thriller about Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi, “Less Than Perfect”) - a computer geek who is catapulted into a new career as the government’s most vital secret agent. When Chuck opens an e-mail subliminally encoded with government secrets, he unwittingly downloads an entire server of sensitive data into his brain. Now, the fate of the world lies in the unlikely hands of a guy who works at Buy More. Instead of fighting computer viruses, he must fight assassins and international terrorists. With the government’s most precious secrets in Chuck’s head, Major John Casey (Adam Baldwin, “My Bodyguard”) of the NSA assumes the responsibility of protecting him. His partner is the CIA’s top agent (and Chuck’s first date in years) Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strzechowski, “Gone”). They’ll keep him safe by trading in his pocket protector for a bulletproof vest. Also starring are Joshua Gomez (”Without a Trace”) as Chuck’s best buddy Morgan and Sarah Lancaster (”What About Brian?”) as Chuck’s ever-supportive sister Ellie. Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak wrote “Chuck,” which is produced by College Hill Pictures and Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television.
“BIONIC WOMAN” - Struggling as a bartender and surrogate mom to her teenage sister, Jaime Sommers (Michelle Ryan, “EastEnders”) didn’t think life could get much harder. But when a devastating car accident leaves her at death’s door, Jaime’s only hope for survival is a cutting-edge, top-secret technology that comes at a hefty price. With a whole new existence and a debt to re-pay, Jaime must figure out how to use her extraordinary abilities for good, while weighing the personal sacrifices she will have to make. Ultimately, it’s Jaime’s journey of self-discovery and inner strength that will help her embrace her new life as the Bionic Woman. Also starring are: Mae Whitman (”State of Grace”) as Becca, Jaime’s younger sister; Miguel Ferrer (”Crossing Jordan”) as Jonas, the man who employs Jaime’s boyfriend; Chris Bowers (”Rescue Me) as Will, Jaime’s boyfriend, who performs the operation; Will Yun Lee (”Witchblade”) as Jae, the specialized operations leader; and Molly Price (”Third Watch”), as Ruth, Jonas’ second-in-command. “Bionic Woman” is produced by NBC Universal Television Studio and executive-produced by David Eick (”Battlestar Galactica”), Glen Morgan (”The X-Files”), Michael Dinner (”Kidnapped”) — who also directed the pilot — and Jason Smilovic (”Lucky Number Slevin”). Laeta Kalogridis (”Birds of Prey”) is also an executive producer on the pilot.
“LIFE” — From Rand Ravich and Far Shariat, the executive producers of the feature film “The Astronaut’s Wife,” and David Semel, who directed the pilot of NBC’s “Heroes,” “Life” is a new drama about a detective who is given a second chance. Damian Lewis (”Band of Brothers”) stars as complex, offbeat Detective Charlie Crews, who returns to the force after years in prison, thanks to close friend and attorney Constance Griffiths (Melissa Sagemiller, “Sleeper Cell”), after serving time for a crime he didn’t commit. The cast also includes Sarah Shahi (”Rush Hour 3″) as Charlie’s skeptical, demanding partner, Robin Weigart (HBO’s “Deadwood”) as their hard-hitting lieutenant, and Adam Arkin (”Chicago Hope”) as former cellmate Ted Early. “Life” is an NBC Universal Television Studio production. Rand Ravich is executive producer and writer; Far Shariat is executive producer; David Semel is executive producer and director on the pilot
“LIPSTICK JUNGLE” - Based on the best-selling novel by Candace Bushnell (”Sex and the City”), this fun dramedy follows three high-powered friends as they weather the ups and downs of lives lived at the top of their game. Nico (Kim Raver, “24″), editor-in-chief of a hot fashion magazine, wants to replace her boss as CEO. Movie exec Wendy (Brooke Shields, “Suddenly Susan”) finds even her most earnest efforts may not be enough to balance career and family. And free-spirited designer Victory (Lindsay Price, “Beverly Hills, 90210″) longs to make her dreams come true, and maybe find Mr. Right along the way. Armed with humor and strength, these three modern New York women support one another through the triumphs and tears that are all part of making it big in the Big Apple. Written by executive producers DeAnn Heline and Eileen Heisler (both for “How I Met Your Mother,” “Three Sisters”) and based on the book by Bushnell, “Lipstick Jungle” is from NBC Universal Television Studio. The pilot is directed by Gary Winick (”13 Going on 30″).
New Comedy Series
“THE IT CROWD” - Ever wonder what’s up with those quirky techies who come to fix the office computer when no one’s around? “The IT Crowd” is an offbeat series, based on the critically acclaimed British comedy, that offers a humorous behind-the-scenes peek at the people who truly keep the office humming. Roy (Joel McHale, “The Soup”) and Moss (Richard Ayoade, “The IT Crowd” — U.K.) are the misunderstood masters of their high-tech domain, but they lack the people skills to befriend anyone but each other. Their company’s head is Denholm (Rocky Carrol, “Chicago Hope”), who wants the IT department to stay segregated and forever banished to the basement. Executive producers are Moses Port (”Just Shoot Me”), David Guarascio (”Just Shoot Me”), Joe Port (NBC’s “The Office”), Joe Wiseman (”The Office”), Graham Linehan (”The IT Crowd” — UK) and Steve Tao (”Red Doors”). Gail Mancuso (”Scrubs,” “30 Rock”) directed the pilot. “The IT Crowd” is produced by NBC Universal Television Studio.
New Alternative Series
“THE SINGING BEE” - “The Singing Bee” is a variety-competition show that challenges contestants to accurately sing the lyrics to popular songs — even when the band stops playing. In this karaoke showdown, there’s no middle ground for partially correct answers — contestants must be perfect or they’re out. Family-friendly, broad in appeal and conducive to playing (and singing) along at home, “The Singing Bee” features popular, recognizable music that inspires hilarious wrong answers and amazing performances by those rare contestants who somehow manage to get every word right. “The Singing Bee” is produced by the Gurin Company and Juma Entertainment, LLC. The executive producers are Phil Gurin (NBC’s “Miss Universe” franchise) and Robert C. Horowitz (”Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials Top 40 Countdown”).
“WORLD MOVES” — From executive producer Randy Jackson (”American Idol”) and the creators of the World Hip Hop Championship comes one of the most visual and captivating performance competition shows ever to hit TV. Thousands of dance teams from around the world will audition for their shot to come to Los Angeles and compete for a global championship and an international touring contract. The live television event features young teams of five to seven members demonstrating their athleticism, creativity and innovative choreography in a presentation that highlights both the competition and the personal drama unfolding within each team. Viewers from across the globe will vote via the Internet, by text message, or by phone to eliminate one team each week. Ultimately, it’s not just about winning a competition; “World Moves” involves stories that change lives and bring the world together. From Warner Horizon Television, the series is executive-produced by Jackson (”American Idol,” Dream Merchant 21 Entertainment), Rob Lee (President, Bayonne Entertainment, “Blow Out,” “House of Carters”), Howard Schwartz (”Hip Hop International, World Hip Hop Championship), Karen Schwartz (Hip Hop International, World Hip Hop Championship) and Harriet Sternberg (Dream Merchant 21 Entertainment).