2006 Upfronts: Part I

Well, the first of the network upfronts is out, covering NBC’s fall schedule. Here are my thoughts and what I anticipate I will be covering in one degree or another in the written reviews and podcasts. The following is the schedule released by the network on 15 May 2006:

*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. "Medium"
TUESDAY
8-9 p.m. "FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS"
9-10 p.m. "KIDNAPPED"
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. "The Biggest Loser"
9-9:30 p.m. "20 GOOD YEARS"
9:30-10 p.m. "30 ROCK"
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order"
THURSDAY
8-8:30 p.m. "My Name Is Earl" (new time)
8:30-9 p.m. "The Office" (new time)
9-10 p.m. "STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP"
10-11 p.m. "ER"/("THE BLACK DONNELLYS" in January 2007)
FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. "Deal or No Deal"
9-10 p.m. "Las Vegas"
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (new day and time)
SATURDAY
8-9 p.m. "Dateline Saturday"
9-11 p.m. Drama Series Encores
SUNDAY
7-8 p.m. "FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA"
8-11 p.m. "SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL"


MONDAYS

I’m really looking forward to “Heroes”, because I think it will work well. I like a lot of the cast members, especially Greg Grunberg. This will probably be a series I’ll cover in a capsule review. I’ll also be sticking with “Medium”, but I’ve noticed that my comments for that show have been fairly repetitive, so why keep writing reviews? (They are also the least-read reviews overall.) I’ll probably just cover that show on the podcast.

TUESDAYS

I’m generally intrigued by “Kidnapped”, but it may be too much of the same old thing. After all, it’s a “24”-esque show, and I’ve already been pulled into “Prison Break” for similar reasons. Everything else is pretty easy to overlook.

WEDNESDAYS

Well, they’ve just about given up on this night, haven’t they? At least in terms of quality programming. This used to be “West Wing” night, but they ruined that this past season. And why pick up “30 Rock”, the Tina Fey comedy about behind-the-scenes of a comedy sketch show, when the more buzzworthy “Studio 60” is on the same network in better timeslot with exactly the same topic? Putting that against “Lost” is like the kiss of death!

THURSDAYS

A lot of watching, not much reviewing, with one major exception. I love “The Office” and “My Name is Earl”, and since I usually loathe comedies, that’s saying a lot. I will definitely be checking out “Studio 60”, if only because I’ve reconciled my annoyances with Sorkin long ago. I plan on capsule reviews there, but it will switch to podcast commentary quickly if the capsule review slate gets jammed up once all the upfronts are released! Oh, and why can’t they put “ER” out of its misery already?

FRIDAYS/SATURDAY/SUNDAY

The only thing noteworthy here is Sunday Night Football, because I’ll be jumping to that here and there in the fall. Oh, and look…”The Apprentice” is now in a Sunday night death slot. Take a look at “West Wing” this season, Donald. Even a creative surge wasn’t enough to overcome the ABC juggernaut. I’m guessing the next “Apprentice” will be the last!

So…for NBC, I’ll be following five shows, three of which will be reviewed to one extent or another (2 written capsule reviews, 1 podcast only).