Fall Season Question Time 2010

By TV / Video Download Archives
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We've arrived at that momentous week of all spring weeks, the week when the broadcast networks tell advertisers and the press what their fall season lineups will look like this fall. Some $9 billion in Upfront-connected advertising sales ride on what programs these networks will stay with, bring on or cut loose come late September.

By the time this set of showcases end Thursday night, each network will answer a few questions about the health of its primetime. As a public service to you, let's bring these questions together, network by network, so you come into this week armed with what will be topmost on many an advertiser or journalist's mind. And away we go...

ABC
1) Can this network get its drama mojo back, especially at 10 p.m.? The list of new hour-long dramas ABC flopped with this season is quite long: Eastwick, The Forgotten, V, FlashForward and HappyTown. Castle, in its sophomore season, was the lone 10 p.m. exception to the rule. Where do you go from here?

2) Will the two-hour "Comedy Wednesday" hold up in a second season? Yes, Modern Familywas the best new comedy of the season anywhere, and The Middleis starting to perk some in the ratings. But the network needs something solid to lead off the night, and Cougar Townis on the bubble. If that goes, ABC has half a "Wednesday" loaf to overcome.

CBS
1) Time to break up that CSI threesome? The long-running original series is not the powerhouse it used to be on Thursday nights; CSI: Miamiis in Monday free-fall and CSI: NYis getting clobbered by a rejuvenated Law & Order Special Victims Unit, now that NBC has returned that long-runner to a 10 p.m. slot. Does the network put its big multi-series franchise of the last decade to a complete rest? Is a time period mix-up in play? Or something in the middle?

2) How do you solve a problem like Sunday nights after 9? When the clock strikes 9 that eve, following the venerable 60 Minutesand The Amazing Race, the ratings nose-dive.

Interesting to see what option this network will take.

FOX
1) Comedy, comedy, wherefore art thou hit live-action comedy? Til' Deathfinally died (some critics believed it took way too long to expire), and neither Brothersor Sons of Tucsondid the trick. Meantime, Fox maintains its Sunday night animation block, and The Simpsonsrolls on.

2) How will The X-Factordo? We know it's coming, and we know that's where Simon Cowell will head when he wraps up his final go-round as American Idoljudge later this month. What we don't know: is this new music competition a sure-fire sensation?

NBC
1) Will the network finally break its habit of not giving shows deserving of a hook the hook? A lot of people would love to see that hook for Chuck, Heroesand Parks & Recreation, as well as Law & Order. Some believe NBC may have assured itself of another low-rated season ahead by giving quick renewals to Minute To Win It, The Marriage Refand Who Do You Think You Are? – all sinking lower in the ratings since their renewal announcement. Right now, Chuckand Heroes could go either way, and L&O looks likely to make a record-breaking 21st season. However, if NBC does block season 21 for L&O, does TNT step in as they did for Southland?

2) Last licks for The Officeand 30 Rock? On the former, all up to Steve Carell. On the latter, bouncing back from a sub-par season creatively.

THE CW
1) Is this the end of Aaron Spelling-derived remakes? Can't be too soon...90210 and Melrose Placedid a great job of accelerating the channel's ratings issues, along with besmirching the legacy of Aaron Spelling, whose track record of TV series and made-for-TV movies deserves rejudgment. Remember Family, And The Band Played Onand Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater, as well as the original Beverly Hills90210?

2) Does Life Unexpectedget a second season? Please.

AND FOR ALL FIVE BROADCAST NETWORKS...

Is Friday the new dead zone for broadcast TV? By the end of this next season, we'll know for sure whether cable will dominate two nights of TV, not just Saturdays.

AND BEYOND THESE BROADCAST PRESENTATIONS...

Will Google go public with its interactive TV plans? It hosts a two-day Android developers conference in Silicon Valley this week. Could be the perfect opportunity to spring its ITV strategy in association with Sony, Intel and Logitech, and take some of the spotlight away from broadcasters.

Fun week ahead. Take it all in and try keeping the stress down. Until the next time, stay well and stay tuned!

Simon Applebaum is host/producer of Tomorrow Will Be Televised, the Internet radio-distributed program covering the TV scene. The program runs live Mondays/Fridays at 3 p.m. Eastern time/noon, Pacific time at www.blogtalkradio.com, with replays 24/7 at www.blogtalkradio.com/simonapple04. Tomorrow also is available on podcast, downloadable to any major mobile device, at ITunes.com and 16 other Web download sites arranged by Sonibyte.

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