The Upfronts are here! The Upfronts are here!
Yes, I am a dork, but I just love the Upfronts. Of course I'm always on the edge of my seat hoping that my favorite shows will come back, but I also love to see what shows the networks have picked up. What are the television trends? What shows look good? What shows look so bad that network suits should be fired?
Last week I listed the hot pilots. This week I'm sharing what shows have already been picked up, or are almost a done deal. (I've only included synopses of shows that I did not discuss last week.)
NBC will likely pick up Friday Night Lights, Heroes, Raines,(starring Jeff Goldblum as a cop who solves crimes because dead people talk to him), Kidnapped, Twenty Good Years and Aaron Sorkin's Studio 60 is a lock, although the Untitled Tina Fey project is still in limbo. With the possible exception of Studio 60,I don't think I'll be watching much NBC in the fall.
ABCwill most likely announce their support for Ugly Betty(starring America Ferrera as an assistant to a JFK Jr-type), Day Break(Taye Diggs as a cop on the run while he tries to find out who framed him for murder), Six Degrees (a J.J Abrams project), and Traveler. Comedies will be In Case of Emergency starring David Arquette, and Help Me Out starring Ted Danson, and Notes From the Underbelly. I'm also hearing that Grey's Anatomy will move to Mondays, Lost won't premiere until November 22, and The Bachelor won't go until mid season. I think Betty and Traveler look watch-worthy.
CBS will pick up Shark(an LA defense lawyer becomes a prosecutor), Jericho(a small town after most of America is destroyed), Smith(crime from the criminals point of view), and 3 lbs (about high powered brain surgeons). Clearly "short title" is the watchword at CBS. Just as clear is that CBS needs to bring in some new blood. These shows look like tired retreads.
Foxhas already picked up American Crime, Primary and Vanished. Despite being a hot pilot, 13 Graves is now ice cold. I'm totally sold on Primary, it was one of the best scripts I read.
As for the CW, rumor has it that they aren't happy with any of their drama pilots, which might explain their saving 7th Heaven (Nooooooo!!!) Pilots in contention are Mercy Reef (aka Aquaman), Palm Springs, executive produced by Kevin Williamson (troubled teenager and his family move to Palm Springs), Runaway (a family decides to become fugitives in the hope of buying Dad enough time to prove his innocence after a murder conviction [wait - isn't that Day Break?]), and Split Decision (a teenage girl takes the opportunity to make herself over when her family moves.) I don't blame them for being disappointed. All these pilots sound awful. Bring back Veronica! Bring back Veronica!
Now, I'm off to the edge of my seat.
