It appears that NBC's high asking price to other networks may be a sticking point to bringing back "Friday Night Lights" for next season.
Variety is reporting that the network has been talking with The CW, E!, G4 and TNT about sharing "FNL," airing it first on one of those networks, then re-airing them on NBC (similar to the arrangement NBC has with its sister network USA for "Law & Order: Criminal Intent.")
Leave it to NBC to try and milk a show for all its nickels even when it is considering cancelling said show. The irony is, despite its small ratings, "FNL" does extremely well with the groups advertisors most covet.
Whatever happens with "FNL," "Bionic Woman" won't be joining it. Though it's not official, insiders say the disappointing NBC action series is kaput.
Meanwhile, "Law & Order" will be back on NBC next season, but Jesse L. Martin won't be. After nine years, he's stepping away from his role as one of the long line of NYC detectives featured. One rumor Variety is floating is that Anthony Anderson is being considered as a replacement, even though Anderson's "K-Ville" has yet to receive an official cancellation from Fox (though it's very likely).
Over at ABC, the network has announced the remainder of its lineup for this season. Both "Ugly Betty" and "Grey's Anatomy" will return for five new episodes apiece, beginning April 24, the same night "Lost" switches to 10 p.m.
"Desperate Housewives" will run five new episodes, plus a two-hour finale, beginning April 13. On April 20, it will be joined on Sundays by the first of four new "Brothers & Sisters." "Samantha Who?" returns April 7 and "Boston Legal" April 8, each for six new episodes. "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice" and "Dirty Sexy Money" will all be back next season.
THURSDAY'S BEST BETS: As if watching "Lost" (ABC, 9 p.m.) isn't reason enough, in of itself, tonight's episode is Kate-centric, reportedly featuring both flashbacks and flash-forwards. Will we learn identity of who Kate is living with in the future? It's followed by a new "Eli Stone" at 10 p.m.
"Supernatural" (CW, 9 p.m.), which paid a brilliant tribute to "Groundhog Day" last week, looks to tackle "Assault On Precinct 13" this week as the boys are trapped in jail as a town has zombies attacking it.
On the so-called reality front, "American Idol" (Fox, 8 p.m.) announces the winners and losers from the first round of voting, Piers Morgan and Lennox Lewis mix it up on "Celebrity Apprentice" (NBC, 9 p.m.) and fans battle favorites on "Survivor" (CBS, 8 p.m.)
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Quick Tidbits
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6 comments:
Have you come across anything about the possibility of a fourth season for "Supernatural?" With this being the final season of "Smallville," a great counterpart, I was kind of curious what the network was thinking about doing with it.
Although I wouldn't be shocked if they brought "Smallville" back for one more season considering that the writer's strike did impede the progress of some new projects for the fall. Or maybe they'll go the route of having a "JLA" show which I would not be opposed to in the least. However, I was just curious if you knew anything.
Jonathan-
It does appear, in fact, both Smallville and Supernatural will return - the writer's strike in fact sorta closed the deal on that.
The fact is, both are valuable brand name players at this point for the CW.
My reaction is I could take or leave another season of "Smallville". I think the show is long played out. But I would eagerly await multiple new seasons of "Supernatural", the most underrated show on Television. Last week's "Groundhog day" episode was genius - Phillip was dead on.
Phillip,
From that article in Variety, I read the same thing and I couldn't disagree with you more. Boy, you really are way too damned pessimistic.
The article clearly showed what a value NBC considers it has in the property of FNL. It appears pretty clear cut that no matter what, FNL ends up somewhere for 1 more season of the Dillon Panthers.
Zod is right, both shows will be back, although Smallville will be minus Michael Rosenbaum's Lex Luthor full-time next year. (He'll be a recurring part).
JLA seems to be a natural, but is very unlikely. Here's why: Warner Bros. owns DC comics, so it owns all of the characters. A few years ago, WB quashed a "Young Bruce Wayne Adventures" series, which would have been similar to Smallville, because it didn't want it detracting from Batman Begins.
Similarly, WB is investing lots of money in the JLA feature that was postponed because of the strike. It wants to use the movie to launch other franchises, such as Wonder Woman and Flash. So i'm thinking that it won't want to put those characters on TV, even though a JLA spinoff of Smallville would stand a decent chance of success for the CW.
I am stunned to hear the news about Rosenbaum moving to a recurring role on the show - I haven't seen this news anywhere - when did this get decided?
If anyone's role should be reduced, it should be Kristin Kreuk as Lana Lang. Gorgeous but annoying.
Disgusting how NBC is abusing SNL.
Why no coverage on the Jane Austin series on PBS. The shows are much better than the stuff you are discussing
Jane Austin f***ing sucks.
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