BLOGS
NBC had their "infront" presentation today in 30 Rock's Studio 8H (aka SNL's studio) and while media types were treated to a look at their new slate of shows, we really didn't get that many answers or any kind of a schedule. All of that will apparently be magically revealed on May 19 at another NBC event -- until then we're left hanging about the fates of bubble shows like Chuck, My Name Is Earl, Law & Order and Medium. NBC Entertainment co-chairman Ben Silverman did confirm, however, that sadly Life is dead. The NBC execs also confirmed that SVU will be back, with or without Chris Meloni and Mariska Hargitay, which would be weird since they're sorta the heart and soul of that show. Also, no word on whether or not they'll chop The Biggest Loser in half (we hope so; it really doesn't need to be more than an hour) or how they are going to fit all of their new programs in with no 10 PM timeslots available thanks to Jay Leno.
But here's what we do know: Heroes will be back on Mondays, SVU will be back (in some form) and possibly on Wednesdays, The Biggest Loser will be on Tuesdays, there will be scripted dramas on Fridays and Dateline will move on over to Sunday nights. Parks and Recreation gets to come back to fill the big pit in NBC's comedy lineup, along with 30 Rock, The Office and special 30-minute SNL Weekend Updates on Thursday. During the presentation, Amy Poehler showed up wearing a surgical mask due to a fear of what she called monkey sniffles. She touted the big P&R season finale cliffhanger, in which "the Others return to the island and everyone finds out they are in purgatory." She also said something sincere about her show, but I didn't hear her because I was still chuckling over the intro that Silverman gave her, which made it sound like Amy had sacrificed her child to the television gods: "Amy, you've had an incredible year... You've had a baby and you killed it on Saturday Night Live... You launched your own sitcom..." We'll blame it on the teleprompter.
We'll also be getting more Celebrity Apprentice next year, which led to Silverman bringing Donald Trump up on stage. Trump, of course, hyped his show and added that "Joan and Annie are tough and they truly hate each other. There's a lot of venom out there." Yeah, no kidding. He wouldn't hint at who wins, but he did remind us all that there's a three hour "scenario" (his word, not mine) on Sunday, as if we could forget with the constant commercials.
As for the new stuff - usually the high point of these presentations -- it was a bit of a mixed bag. They of course spent a long, long time talking about the upcoming historical passing of the Tonight Show torch between Jay and Conan and so much chatter about The Jay Leno Show. Frankly, I don't care if he is getting out from behind the desk and getting celebrities up off the couch, or that his Jaywalking segments will transition with him, I'm still not going to watch five hours of him a week during primetime. The cute promos they showed us touting how his show will have 98% less murder than the other 10 PM shows made me smirk a bit, but only because Leno shot Rainn Wilson, while Jessica Alba looked vaguely confused about the whole bit. To me, this "DVR-proof" show means I've got five more hours a week in my TiVo for other programming.
Trauma was my favorite of the new dramas previewed, as it seemed like an ER substitute. (I love Southland, but I'm a sucker for medical shows). This one is about paramedics in San Francisco and it looks like there is a lot of chaos, blood and plenty of explosions. It should not to be confused with Mercy, their other new medical drama, this time about three nurses. (Those vague one word titles are killing me.) Mercy has one awesome tough gal (who sort of reminds me of Edie Falco on the upcoming Nurse Jackie, but with less issues), another sexy girl and then Michelle Trachtenberg as a newbie nurse. I like Trachtenberg, but only in small doses and it looks like there is a lot of her on this show. On the other hand, it does have James Tupper, who's wonderful, so they probably cancel each other out. I'm undecided about the whole love triangle/Grey's Anatomy vibe the show seems to have going on, though.
Parenthood is based on the 20-year-old Ron Howard movie that no one except TV execs remember since this is the second time it's been adapted for the small screen, and is stuffed full with famous faces trying to cope with the perils of having children at various life stages. It looks just fine, for a convoluted family drama, sort of like Brothers & Sisters without all the wine, and with more small children. Not really my particular cup of tea, but Friday Night Lights' Jason Katims and West Wing's Tommy Schlamme are working on it, so it might be worth a gander.
Then there is midseason drama Day One, which is your garden-variety apocalyptic series. Aussie actor David Lyons (who played the irksome Simon Brenner on ER) and Julie Gonzalo (Mac's annoying college roommate on Veronica Mars) head up an ensemble group of people trying to survive after the world has been destroyed by aliens, or something like that. The execs were careful to say it was still in the early stages, but the preview didn't really grab me. Based on the premise and the hugely expensive production values, it could have potential in a War of the Worlds meets Independence Day meets Jericho kinda way.
As for the comedies, there's good and horrible. The good is in the form of Community, a single-camera sitcom about a lawyer who has to go back to community college. Sounds dull in theory, but Joel McHale (of The Soup) stars as the lawyer, and he rounds up a group of oddballs (including Chevy Chase) for a study group. This one actually had me giggling, and I don't know where they found this Daniel Pudi guy, but he's a riot. On the other end of the spectrum is 100 Questions which is so terrible that it was actually painful. Do you remember that Ex List show last year where a girl had to go through all her ex-boyfriends in order to figure out which one was her true love? This one is sort of like that, except in three-camera sitcom form, and with a laugh track. Basically Charlotte is a single lady who goes to a dating site and has to answer their 100-question personality quiz. Each question brings back a memory of her relationships in the past. I cannot reiterate how very excruciating the two minutes of this show I sat through were. And I cannot possibly imagine actually watching a 30-minute version without crying.
On the reality (excuse me, "alternative programming") side, NBC's also going to have a new show produced by Jerry Seinfeld called The Marriage Ref, some awful-sounding Tony Robbins thing (I can't look at him... he freaks me out) and a program called Who Do You Think You Are? that has celebs (like Sarah Jessica Parker and Lisa Kudrow) research their genealogy, which sounds tediously dull.
That's pretty much all they had to offer, and we're still left waiting two more weeks to find out about those bubble shows, particularly Chuck. But we hope you all really like Jay Leno, because come next fall, that chin will be everywhere.
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I just found out that every time you refresh the comment confirmation page, your comment gets reposted. The whole "refresh this page to see changes" could be phrased better.
NBC is such a CHUCK tease.
Hm. I hate to disagree with Angel, but the promo video I saw for Trauma makes it look like a real steaming pile. This is a bummer because it takes place in San Francisco, and I like stuff that takes place where I live.
NBC might as well just call itself The Titanic Channel...
They pulled "Life" and could possibly do the same to "Chuck" for a celeb genealogy show and yet more medical dramas? Oh - and more Leno and the Donald. Great - Chin and Hair.
And I've seen P&R once - it is a waste of Amy Poehler's talents.
Wait - so it's positive that Life is canceled? I hadn't read that anywhere yet. Oh please no. I love that show so much... all that I wanted was for Dollhouse and Life to be brought back. =[
And I don't know how anyone likes Southland, that show is clearly trying so, so hard to be 'gritty' and it's just not working.
And I'm STILL pissed about Kings.
Seriously, if Life is for sure canceled, just fuck NBC. I was excited for Community, because I love me some Joel McHale, but I'm sure it'll just be dropped quickly so I may as well not even bother.
The British version of Who Do You Think You Are? is actually very interesting. Sort of a celebrity History Channel mash-up.
Stephanie's right, the British version of Who Do You Think You Are? is excellent.
I love "Who Do You Think Are?" in the UK. It's great to see celebs cry with shame and misplaced guilt when they find out their ancestors suppressed Indians and/or raped Irish peasants.
~(Those vague one word titles are *killing* me.)~
I really think this is a method of combating online piracy. It's much harder to search for shows when you have to sift through piles of irrelevant results.
(NCIS at one end of the spectrum, House at the other.)
I'm a big fan of the British Who Do You Think You Are? as well. Here's hoping it's not yet another Brit series that American TV manages to mangle (ref. Blackpool).
Thank you for remembering that Parenthood was already DONE (and didn't last)at least CHUCK is original...hear me NBC? Chuck is good TV!
Since we have two more weeks to rally for Chuck, does anybody know of any online petitions we can sign, people we can email, hoagies we can purchase, etc., in the name of saving the show?
You know, I used to feel for NBC and its declining ratings. But I really don't anymore. They bring it on themselves. They bring back Celebrity Apprentice and put that pervert Leno on FIVE nights a week in the 10 pm timeslot, but cancel the incredible show Life and aren't sure whether to renew Chuck?! They deserve to fall inot the ratings toilet as far as I'm concerned.
They cancelled Life for this garbage?!
Who can I write to beg for "Chuck" & "Medium"? 2 of my favorite shows. I don't know if I can take anymore "reality" shows.
HA! I love what you called Leno. I saw Tricia Helfer on his show (and I think Shatner was the first guest) and it was just STRAIGHT UP CREEPY. So yes, I agree with you there...Leno the perv should not be on five nights a week. BOO!
and re: Chelsea, in Regards to Southland. I agree. I watch this show b/c I love Ryan Atwood in a police uniform, but I feel like I've seen that plot before...it was called "The Wire" Just the...being an inner city cop is WAY harder than anyone realizes and it's full of self serving beuracrats and tons of red tape? yeah. Been done before. ON HBO where they could actually curse.
And the show itself is already suffering b/c of the super giant cast and not being able to have all the intersting people in the same episode.
(sorry if this post gets done twice, I forgot to put my name and e-mail the first time.)
Daniel Pudi = butt dialer
His butt just hung up on you... sorry!
Okay, while I appreciate most of that update (including the cliffhanger on Chuck--Medium has since been confirmed for a midseason replacement slot), I'm rather annoyed that you folks couldn't remember that Julie Gonzalo played Maggie Dekker on the enjoyable and unjustly axed Eli Stone.
As long as we're at it, can I blame NBC for the end of Sarah Connor, too? No? Too bad. I'm hating on NBC right now, and that would make the anger even more satisfying.
That said, I actually really like P&R. Sure, it's dangerously close to The Office, but Amy Poehler is so delightful. And the student government nerd in me just loves all the local govt insight. (Come on - Amy P. filibustering her own subcommittee meeting? where else can you find that on TV?)
[quote]Wait - so it's positive that Life is canceled? I hadn't read that anywhere yet.[/quote]
It's in the first paragraph of this actual article - right under the picture.
That's why you search for television torrent sites, not the specific show.
I saw all the little previews on NBC.com and the ones that grabbed me the most were Community and Trauma.
Community because it seemed to be absolutely hilarious and still have a little heart. Joel McHale is awesome, plus Chevy Chase will probably steal scenes. And bonus points for not being The Office 3.0.
Trauma seems like it wants to be some sort of action movie, and if that is what it sets out to be, then go for it! The fact that it is set (and hopefully will be shot) in San Francisco sells it for me.
I am looking forward to Day One. Disaster movies are always enjoyable to watch and if it is at least as passable as the original 10.5 miniseries, it should be okay, especially as an "event series."
The other shows were unappealing on first look.
ChuckTV.net has lots of info on writing letters, etc to get Chuck renewed.
"I like Trachtenberg, but only in small doses and it looks like there is a lot of her on this show."
Unless this means she's naked most of the time, I have no reason to watch this show. Dawnie, you're no John Carter.
They should drop P&R and the SNL Thursday gig and put Chuck in those timeslots. It would fit perfectly around The Office, great comedies.
If NBC doesn't bring back Chuck, there wont be any reason for me to watch NBC anymore. I think NBC was stupid to put Jay Leno on 5 days a week, what were they thinking?
The only thing I watch on NBC is Life. I don't know why they would cancel that show, it's fantastic.
I don't understand why they gave Jay Leno 5 hours of primetime. Why didn't he just stay on The Tonight Show?
I agree wholeheartedly about Chuck, Life and the incredible suckiness of Leno. Unfortunately, it's all just because of money. Leno and stupid "alternative programming" are super cheap compared to scripted dramas and even sitcoms. It's just going to keep getting worse until network tv turns into 24 hrs of "reality" crap. I think that we've just got to accept that the only quality tv will be on the channels you have to pay for.
"To me, this "DVR-proof" show means I've got five more hours a week in my TiVo for other programming."
Word! to that. I am pissed about Life getting the ax, and it's just mean to make us wait on word about Chuck. NBC is full of bastards, apparently. While NBC still has a few gems, IMO, I hate how they have treated the good shows, and keep trying to cram The Donald, The Chin and a million hours of The Biggest Loser down our throats. These are the same people who thought The Bionic Woman and Knight Rider reboots were worth a bajillion million promos, and nary a peep for the good stuff... BAH!
@Lola: So you blame NBC for being in a ratings dump...and then don't expect it to cancel the shows with bad ratings? Life is over, at least it got 2 seasons. Many better shows don't even get to finish their first season.
Chuck better be renewed, but it's not the end of TV if it isn't. Though I believe the Chuck-is-on-a-bubble fan anger is greater than Jericho and Moonlight combined.
But then again...more people watch Chuck.
@Heradite:
I am awfully glad that "Life" got a 2nd season, and I thought the last episode was one of the best finales of any show I've ever seen. I am not surprised it ended, though. It wasn't exactly a straight up procedural, it competed against American Idol this season, and I can count on one hand the number of promos I saw for it in the entire time the show ran.
NBC had a gem in "Life" and didn't do it justice, in my opinion.
As for Chuck, I agree with you - the fan anger seems to be much greater (with critics and sponsors joining in conspicuously) than other 'save my show' campaigns. Hopefully NBC smartens up with "Chuck" and renews it and puts it in a slot where it can gain more viewers. The current fans will follow it wherever it lands...
So disappointed about Life! It was one of their best shows.
Chuck is literally the only NBC show I watch, so I really will be done with the network if they cancel it. I'm glad I never got into Heroes, and all these years later I am still bitter about Quantum Leap.
If they cancel Chuck, it will be the last time I watch NBC.
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Sophie Golden Girls dangling her arm. Or the grandmother collect her bag white patent leather summer or will a set basket of goods for the day was hazy in 1950 crazy and 60? Aaah the simple life.
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