NBC, ABC, FOX and the WB Set Initial 2005-06 Season Orders

[Miss Golden]

Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 11:46 AM
NBC, ABC, FOX and the WB Set Initial 2005-06 Season Orders
By The Futon Critic Staff

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- NBC, ABC, FOX and the WB have leaked their initial 2005-06 season orders as well as nearly all their renewals and cancellations of existing series.

The news comes with barely 12 hours until NBC presents its fall 2005 schedule to the advertising community, a presentation which for all intents and purposes remains a complete mystery. Nearly a half-dozen variations on NBC's schedule have floated around this weekend with everything from "The West Wing" moving to Sundays to "Joey" moving to Tuesdays. Nevertheless with executives and producers heading to New York City over the weekend, the series that did and didn't make the cut have become pretty clear.

Among the surprise renewals - FOX's "The Bernie Mac Show," ABC's "Jake in Progress" and "Less Than Perfect" - three shows widely considered longshots to return. Conversely, ABC has pulled the plug on "My Wife and Kids" and "Eight Simple Rules," two series thought to have brighter prospects than "Jake" and "Perfect."

Overall here's a breakdown of the pickups thus far. Note that this list comes from a complication of various trade publications and industry insiders. Look for the final rundown as each network presents this week:

NBC

NEW COMEDIES (3):
"four kings"
"my name is earl"
"thick and thin"

NEW DRAMAS (3):
"e-ring"
"fathom"
"inconceivable"

RETURNING SERIES (15):
"apprentice, the"
"crossing jordan"
"dateline nbc"
"er"
"fear factor"
"joey"
"las vegas"
"law & order"
"law & order: criminal intent"
"law & order: special victims unit"
"medium"
"office, the"
"scrubs"
"west wing, the"
"will & grace"

NOT RETURNING (13):
"american dreams"
"committed"
"contender, the"
"father of the pride"
"hawaii"
"last comic standing"
"law & order: trial by jury"
"lax"
"medical investigation"
"most outrageous tv moments"
"revelations"
"sports illustrated: swimsuit model search"
"third watch"

The WB

NEW COMEDIES (1):
"misconceptions"*

NEW DRAMAS (4):
"just legal"
"pepper dennis"*
"related"
"supernatural"

RETURNING SERIES (9):
"blue collar tv"
"charmed"
"everwood"
"gilmore girls"
"living with fran"
"one tree hill"
"reba"*
"seventh heaven"
"smallville"

NOT RETURNING (8):
"big man on campus"
"drew carey's green screen"
"grounded for life"
"high school reunion"
"jack & bobby"
"mountain, the"
"starlet, the"
"summerland"

STILL TBA (2):
"steve harvey's big time"
"what i like about you"

* all contingent on 20th Century Fox Television and the WB working out a deal

ABC

NEW COMEDIES (5):
"crumbs"
"emily's reasons why not"
"freddie"
"hot properties"
"sons & daughters"

NEW DRAMAS (6):
"commander-in-chief"
"the evidence"
"in justice"
"invasion"
"the night stalker"
"what about brian"

RETURNING SERIES (17):
"according to jim"
"alias"
"america's funniest home videos"
"bachelor, the"
"boston legal"
"desperate housewives"
"extreme makeover: home edition"
"george lopez show, the"
"grey's anatomy"
"hope & faith"
"jake in progress"
"less than perfect"
"lost"
"monday night football"
"rodney"
"supernanny"
"wife swap"

NOT RETURNING (8):
"benefactor, the"
"blind justice"
"complete savages"
"eight simple rules"
"eyes"
"life as we know it"
"my wife & kids"
"n.y.p.d. blue"

STILL TBA (7):
"20/20"
"bachelorette, the"
"extreme makeover"
"extreme makeover: home edition - how'd they do that?"
"life of luxury"
"primetime live"
"wonderful world of disney, the"

FOX

NEW COMEDIES (4):
"freebirds"
"kitchen confidential"
"the loop"
"the war at home"

NEW DRAMAS (4):
"bones"
"deviant behavior"
"head cases"
"reunion"

RETURNING SERIES (18):
"american dad"*
"american idol: the search for a superstar"
"america's most wanted"
"arrested development"
"bernie mac show, the"
"cops"
"family guy"*
"house"
"king of the hill"
"malcolm in the middle"
"nanny 911"
"o.c., the"
"renovate my family"*
"simple life, the"
"simpsons, the"
"stacked"
"that '70s show"
"twenty four"

* will continue to air new episodes this summer

NOT RETURNING (15):
"complex, the: malibu"
"jonny zero"
"kelsey grammer presents: the sketch show"
"life on a stick"
"my big fat obnoxious fiance"
"next great champ, the"
"north shore"
"point pleasant"
"quintuplets"
"rebel billionaire, the: branson's quest for the best"
"swan, the"
"totally outrageous behavior"
"tru calling"
"who's your daddy?"
"world's craziest videos, the"

STILL TBA (1):
"trading spouses: meet your new mommy"

[ClassicTV4Ever]

Wow! 8 Simple Rules and My Wife & Kids got canned? I'm shocked.

[TVJunkie101]

Wow, didn't expect ABC to renew Less Than Perfect. I'm *very* surprised 8 Simple Rules was canceled altogther. No midseason chance for it? Jake in Progress is either going to hit it's stride or collapse. I know it has it's fans, but I'm betting on the latter. So now ABC has *10* sitcoms? Interesting. Obviously not all will probably make the fall schedule (I guess they could). It's still too bad 8 Simple Rules didn't make the cut. What's so special about Rodney? It's just another "According to Jim".

The WB adding only ONE new comedy? Interesting.

In all my theories, not once did I ever figure NBC would drop Martha Stewart's Apprentice on Sunday, LOL. Oddly enough, I never suspected it would go there. Interesting variations on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I actually expected Joey to go to Tuesday's.

[vashti1999]

Jack and Bobby and My Wife and Kids are the biggest not-returning surprises for me. And maybe L&O Trial By Jury.

[Brent88]

Jake in Progress comes back over 8SR? Stunned, just stunned. :rolleyes:

[Superbowl]

I think I am more stunned by Less Than Perfect coming back over 8SR. 8SR had better ratings and a better buzz. LTP cannot even hold the meager ratings from Hope and Faith. Personally, I am stunned and don't get it. I could have seen both either be canceled or both back, but if it had to be one I would have bet everything on 8SR over LTP.

In fact, I wonder did anybody have Less Than Perfect on their projected ABC lineup ? I can remember a few Rodney's on people's projection but I could not remember one single Less Than Perfect. I am still in a state of disbelief over this one. :confused:

[Brent88]

I think I am more stunned by Less Than Perfect coming back over 8SR. 8SR had better ratings and a better buzz. LTP cannot even hold the meager ratings from Hope and Faith. Personally, I am stunned and don't get it. I could have seen both either be canceled or both back, but if it had to be one I would have bet everything on 8SR over LTP.

In fact, I wonder did anybody have Less Than Perfect on their projected ABC lineup ? I can remember a few Rodney's on people's projection but I could not remember one single Less Than Perfect. I am still in a state of disbelief over this one. :confused:

Nope. I didn't have Jake, LTP or 8SR on my schedule. I did correctly predict MWAK would be gone though.

[vashti1999]

Jake in Progress comes back over 8SR? Stunned, just stunned. :rolleyes:

I didn't notice that. Jake In Progress coming back is a surprise.

[Mr. Monitor]

I'm shocked that MWAK was canned. I thought that it would at least comeback for a final season.

[Brian Damage]

I'm surprised L&O Trial by Jury is gone.

[James"Thunder"Early]

ABC and WB have shocked me by retaining low rated series and cancelling popular ones. I expected 8 Simple Rules to go down, but My Wife and Kids getting the boot surprises me since it still seemed to have some steam. Less Than Perfect, Rodney and Jake in Progress returning is a shock and I expect them to fall by mid-season. the WB's cancellation of Summerland and Jack and Bobby I didn't expect, because they seemed popular, but I guess their ratings were not good enough. NBC is right on the mark, although I disagree with Law and Order: Trial by Jury being canned, it seemed to be promising. FOX is not a surprise either, but I am anxious to find out what will happen to their plans for an American version of EastEnders.

[barwars]

I'm surprised L&O Trial by Jury is gone.

So am I. I wish I would have recorded every episode. Hopefully there'll be a DVD release.

[vashti1999]

So am I. I wish I would have recorded every episode. Hopefully there'll be a DVD release.


With the way they've pumped out all the various L&O dvds so far, I'd say you don't need to worry.

[Brent88]

FOX has ordered a second season of TRADING SPOUSES: MEET YOUR NEW MOMMY.

In season two of the unscripted series, more moms and dads will try out the ultimate life change, leaving their own family to take over – for one week – a family much different from their own. While some parents are welcomed with open arms, others face mutiny from their new household. For all involved it's the ultimate chance to find out if the grass actually is greener on the other side.

Families participating in the show will again receive a $50,000 prize but, unbeknownst to the participants, how the cash is spent will be up to the surrogate parent. The twist is one of many in the unscripted FOX series that ups the ante on the classic fish-out-of-water story. TRADING SPOUSES: MEET YOUR NEW MOMMY is from Rocket Science Laboratories, the producers of "My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancé" and "Joe Millionaire." Jean-Michel Michenaud and Chris Cowan serve as executive producers. Jeff Cvengros is co-executive producer. Charles Duncombe serves as executive in charge of production.

[barwars]

Im just thrilled about Arrested Development returning.

[vashti1999]

Im just thrilled about Arrested Development returning.

And 24.

I'll be looking forward to seeing Joan of Arcadia return when CBS announces its sked, even though I haven't seen any of the second season yet.

[Mr. Monitor]

Bernie Mac is gonna reach 100 episodes!!! :dance: :clap

[Dragonflies]

I'm surprised L&O Trial by Jury is gone.

Yeah I'm surprised too, but I read somewhere that without Jerry Orbach, even though he was only in a few of the episodes, it just wasn't the same without him :(

[barwars]

Yeah I'm surprised too, but I read somewhere that without Jerry Orbach, even though he was only a few of the episodes, it just wasn't the same without him :(

I actually liked it more without him. More than anything, I hope Bebe Newirth's Kibre character resurrects on one of the other L&Os.... she's easily the best L&O character aside from Orbach's Lenny Briscoe.

[Superstar]

Is this information 100% reliable? I really hope that Dirtbags still has a chance for Fox to pick it up.

[Caffeine King]

*tear* no Eyes yet they renewed....Jake in Progress :confused:


I'm happy about Bernie Mac being renewed. If they give it an actual [decent] timeslot then I'll try to remember to watch it.

[Dean Winchester]

1. I am shocked they cancelled Summerland, or did Jesse McCartney say he didn't wanna come back, and that's the reason? next to Chad Michael Murray, he's the biggest heartthrob on the WB.

2. 8 Simple Rules was crap without Ritter, the only reason it lasted as long as it did after his death was a testament to his legacy. Let's face it, David Spade was NO SUBSTITUTE. If anything, they should've gotten Ed O'Neill to come in, he's the only person besides John Ritter who had any chemistry with Katey Sagal. The show has good intentions, but it lost it's heart and soul when John Ritter died, without him, it's just a standard family sitcom. Imagine if he had died when he was on Three's Company, you think the show would've been good if they carried on without Jack? I doubt it.

3. Say what you will about Arrested Development, it is gonna be a cult classic. It doesn't get ratings, but people will be still talking about it in 10 years. All of these hot (actually, not so hot anymore, reality's on it's way out) reality shows that score ratings won't be. So ratings worshippers... enjoy the reality wave while it lasts, AD will have the longer lasting fanbase.

4. I am kinda surprised Charmed is coming back. Myself and another friend who have been fans since the Shannen Doherty era were both saying we thought this was the right time to go out (the season finale is titled "Something Wicca This Way Goes" is a great bookend considering the series pilot was called "Something Wicca This Way Comes"), I don't know where else they can take the show. It's still decent but it's a far cry from the Prue and Cole years IMO.

5. I am surprised at Trial By Jury getting cancelled. It has probably the best cast of a L&O show (Bebe and Candice), yet NBC didn't give it time to grow. They forget the first L&O didn't exactly set the Nielson's on fire the first few seasons.

6. Jake In Progress coming back is a good thing. I think the show has potential, it needs time to grow. I see it becoming a male Sex And The City.

7. I'm glad to see Less Than Perfect come back because it's nice to see Popular alumni Sara Rue having a successful show.

[L&OFan4Eva]

I'm surprised (in a good way) about Arrested Development, LTP, and Bernie Mac. But how in the entire freakin' world did Jake in Progress get renewed? Deal with the devil, unprintable actions, etc.? Those are the only ways JiP could be renewed. This just shocks me.

[theshark8777]

I'm glad Arrested Development is getting renewed, but I'm somewhat confused about Jack and Bobby. After 3 episodes this year they showed an ad saying it had already been renewed for next year, so what's with the change?

[Dean Winchester]

I'm glad Arrested Development is getting renewed, but I'm somewhat confused about Jack and Bobby. After 3 episodes this year they showed an ad saying it had already been renewed for next year, so what's with the change?

well, when J&B started last September, it was getting really impressive ratings and hype on the WB, but the ratings drastically declined over the course of the season

[Dean Winchester]

I think the problem with Jack And Bobby was because it was too out there for a WB teen/young adult soap.

People don't want a show mostly geared towards teenagers to be so overtly political. Also, the fact that we know that the "dreamy teenage lead" is going to 1. get wounded in a war and 2. ultimately die a tragic death, isn't exactly comforting enough to lure people into being interested in the program.

People come to expect politics from West Wing, they didn't really want it on Jack And Bobby.

[Riff]

I'm somewhat confused about Jack and Bobby. After 3 episodes this year they showed an ad saying it had already been renewed for next year, so what's with the change?

It's called "false advertising." I remember ads on FOX proclaiming what huge hits "Point Pleasant" and "Jonny Zero" were. Yeah, they were such huge hits alright. They were such huge hits that there's a pile of unaired episodes of both of them.

"Jack & Bobby" performed well for exactly one airing -- the first one -- and then tanked. Since it decided to tip its whole hand in the pilot, it wasn't surprising that no one came back. Just like it isn't surprising that the show didn't come back.

[Brent88]

It's called "false advertising." I remember ads on FOX proclaiming what huge hits "Point Pleasant" and "Jonny Zero" were. Yeah, they were such huge hits alright. They were such huge hits that there's a pile of unaired episodes of both of them.

:lol: That's hilarious. Both shows only managed what 5 million viewers on the most-watched night of the week? :rolleyes:

[theshark8777]

Sunday is the most watched night of the week.

[sj]

I'm very surprised Jake In Progress has been picked up, thought it was as good as gone. I'm kind of shocked over the cancellation of 8 Simple Rules. I never followed it, but thought it was doing well and didn't expect to read about a cancellation. Summerland I had never watched but am kind of surprised by it's cancellation since from what I had heard about it, it sounded like it was a pretty popular show, and I had considered giving it a try but never could catch it on the right night.

[db108108]

4. I am kinda surprised Charmed is coming back. Myself and another friend who have been fans since the Shannen Doherty era were both saying we thought this was the right time to go out (the season finale is titled "Something Wicca This Way Goes" is a great bookend considering the series pilot was called "Something Wicca This Way Comes"), I don't know where else they can take the show. It's still decent but it's a far cry from the Prue and Cole years IMO.

The reason for that is that the season finale was also written as the series finale, just in case.

"Summerland" is no surprise- it's spring run didn't stir up any ratings despite airing against mostly repeats.

"Jack & Bobby" was certainly a case of the wrong network, but fans are lucky they got an entire season with ratings as low as they were. They weren't "Mountain" bad, but the hovered around 2 million viewers.

NBC shoulda gave "TBJ" a mid season order. It must be really confident in its series to outright cancel that show. Towards the end of its run, TBJ was drawing 9 to 10 million viewers, but what if a "Boomtown" disaster happens this fall Fridays at 10pm and NBC has nothing to fall back on? They clearly aren't thinking.

I think this is the thinnest I've ever seen NBC. It's got all of its cards on the table and nothing up its sleeve. It only has four mid season replacements, two new sitcoms, "Scrubs" and "Fear Factor," both of which are purging viewers.

[Dean Winchester]

"Summerland" is no surprise- it's spring run didn't stir up any ratings despite airing against mostly repeats.

WB should've decided to just keep it as a summer series. It got phenomenal ratings last summer on WB. Considering most summer options are reality shows and reruns, WB should've just decided to keep Summerland as a June-August 13 episode show for the next season or two. Because in the summer, the ratings it got were impressive. Plus, Jesse McCartney is becoming a heart teen sensation and has had success in music as well, WB would be stupid not to keep him on their network. The only reason One Tree Hill (which has good ratings now, but didn't last season) was renewed for a second year was because of Chad Michael Murray's teen magazine appeal, why wouldn't Jesse McCartney be different?

[JT]

ABC would be stupid not to pick up something soapy (coughSOLDcough) to air before or after DH...

[Dean Winchester]

ABC would be stupid not to pick up something soapy (coughSOLDcough) to air before or after DH...

I think Grey's Anatomy is kinda soapish. However, I do agree that they need to get rid of Extreme Makeover:Home Edition. That show is sappier than the worst of 7th Heaven and Full House combined.

[dawsongirl]

ABC

NEW COMEDIES (5):
"crumbs"
"emily's reasons why not"
"freddie"
"hot properties"
"sons & daughters"

RETURNING SERIES (17):
"hope & faith"
"jake in progress"
"less than perfect"


NOT RETURNING (8):
"eight simple rules"
"eyes"

pissed: I don't get some of that. They give Jake in Progress a renewal after it was killed by its competition just as much as Eyes was. And some of those comedies...I hope that they're better than their names sound. Emily's Reasons Why Not...why not what??

[Dragonflies]

I think Grey's Anatomy is kinda soapish. However, I do agree that they need to get rid of Extreme Makeover:Home Edition. That show is sappier than the worst of 7th Heaven and Full House combined.

So? There's nothing wrong with being sappy. EM:HE is the only reality show I actually watch once in awhile. It's the only one that isn't a waste of airspace :) Grey's is more than kinda soapish, it's very soapish. ;)

[Brent88]

So? There's nothing wrong with being sappy. EM:HE is the only reality show I actually watch once in awhile. It's the only one that isn't a waste of airspace :) Grey's is more than kinda soapish, it's very soapish. ;)

Yeah... it's a "feel good" show, but it gets old. The same thing over and over again accompained by some sob story. I'm not a fan of sob stories in my primetime viewing. I expect that on 20/20 or Primetime Live or Dateline, not a reality show.

Grey's is VERY soapish. :p

[Steve M.]

I see CBS wasn't accounted for. Not yet, anyway. This is probably just a hunch, but "Listen Up" won't be returning next year, will it? Ahh, who cares? I actually got very tired of the show very quickly. :p

[Steve M.]

Oh yeah, CBS's corporate sister UPN isn't here either. So what? I'm 39 - you think I watch that kiddie weblet?

[Adamantium]

I'm very happy about the renewel of "Less Than Perfect". It's my favorite ABC sitcom. However, I'm also very shocked. I was sure it was cancelled. Even though I would like 8 Simple Rules to come back for another season, it still had a nice run with about 76 or so episodes. Once I heard it was going on without John Ritter, I didn't think it would make it to a third season. So the third season was a real treat. I'm sure it'll come to DVD one day. And now that will be sooner, since there's no syndication deal (That I know of).

As for FOX, I'm glad Arrested Development is returning. Although I really don't watch it, I'm glad Bernie Mac is returning also. I plan to watch the series when more seasons come to DVD.

I don't watch a thing on NBC, so I don't care. However, I'm planning on getting into Scrubs through the DVD set.

Andy Dick, who's in Less Than Perfect, was also in NewsRadio back in the 90's. The similarities of those shows is that they are both office shows that started okay in the ratings and then got really low in the ratings and, yet kept coming back.

[katefandream04]

the only reason jake in progress is renewed is because John Stamos urged his fans to renew it on his official site.

[Dean Winchester]

the only reason jake in progress is renewed is because John Stamos urged his fans to renew it on his official site.

Trekkies petitioned UPN to renew Enterprise, even raising over $2 million, did UPN listen? no.

Last year, hundreds of thousands of Angel fans petitioned WB to renew it, and they didn't.

[slackermonkey]

I'm kind of bummed that "Committed" got canceled. I thought it had potential. Although I'm actually a little happy to see "Jake in Progress" back... for me, it was one of those fluff shows you don't really watch except to kill time.