BLT
05-07-2003, 06:53 PM
To Return or Not Return: Primetime Programs On the Fence for Next Season
Tuesday May 6 5:54 PM ET
As we inch closer to upfront week, here is a listing of the questionable primetime series still waiting word on renewal:
ABC
Dragnet, The Practice, Regular Joe, Whose Line is it Anyway?
Notice the absence of The Drew Carey (news) Show, which could be back at some point in 2003-04 given the sitcom was renewed two years ago for three more seasons. Big oops. Ditto for Carey's Whose Line is it Anyway?, which costs next to nothing to produce. As for The Practice, I smell a made-for movie (or two) for next season but doubt ABC will officially renew the deteriorating -- and costly -- law drama. Last night's two-hour installment was promoted as the finale.
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Considering Dragnet has been losing steam for weeks, I would not count on a renewal. The same is true for short-lived Daniel Stern sitcom Regular Joe, which was pulled after only a handful of episodes.
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CBS
The Agency, Becker, Hack, My Big Fat Greek Life, Still Standing
Although Becker did better than expected on Sunday, was it really enough of an audience to warrant a renewal? And, please, let's hold off on renewing My Big Fat Greek Life until the over-reactive Nia Vardolos gets acting lessons. Chances are both The Agency and Hack will be back. Ditto for Still Standing, which got considerably funnier as the season progressed.
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NBC
A.U.S.A., America's Most Talented Kid, Boomtown, Ed, Good Morning, Miami, Kingpin, Watching Ellie
Ed -- come on down. Now that you're -- finally -- getting together with Carol NBC is likely to give you that fourth season. As for A.U.S.A., Good Morning, Miami and Watching Ellie, with three to four new comedies vying for time periods next fall, there is minimal programming real estate left. As for Boomtown and Kingpin, despite the critical acclaim don't count on either drama returning for a second season. America's Most Talented Kid, which was far from a bust, is a long shot at best because it lost audience as the weeks progressed.
Ratings challenged but critically applauded American Dreams, which was excluded from this list, is a shoo-in for 2003-04.
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Fox
Cedric the Entertainer Presents, Fastlane, Futurama, John Doe, Oliver Beene, The Pitts, Wanda at Large
Most Likely to Be Renewed:
Wanda at Large, which fits better out of lead-in Bernie Mac (news) than Cedric the Entertainer did.
Most Likely to Be Canceled:
The Pitts, which unfortunately lived up to its title.
As For the Rest:
The best of the bunch, John Doe, lost steam in the latter part of the season and is unlikely to return. Ditto to Friday partner Fastlane, Sunday's veteran Futurama, Malcolm-wannabe Oliver Beene and, unfortunately, Cedric.
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UPN
Platinum, The Twilight Zone
True, The Twilight Zone was far from a fizzle. Then again, it wasn't much of a hit either. As for Platinum, patience could be a virtue for this unusual, but minimally sampled, drama. If there is no room for Platinum on the fall schedule maybe a midseason reprieve could be possible.
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WB
Angel, Black Sash, Greetings From Tucson, Jamie Kennedy (news) Experiment, On The Spot, What I Like About You
Best Shot at Renewal:
What I Like About You, which will only get better now than the non-pregnant Jennie Garth (news) can do more physical comedy. Simon Rex (news), though, needs to join Ms. Vardolos in that acting class.
Most Hopeful For a Pick-Up:
Jamie Kennedy Experiment, which is too funny to be given a pink slip.
As For the Rest:
Angel at a 50-50 shot has the best shot of survival. You can forget about recent entries Black Sash and On The Spot.
-- Marc Berman (mediaweek.com)
Tuesday May 6 5:54 PM ET
As we inch closer to upfront week, here is a listing of the questionable primetime series still waiting word on renewal:
ABC
Dragnet, The Practice, Regular Joe, Whose Line is it Anyway?
Notice the absence of The Drew Carey (news) Show, which could be back at some point in 2003-04 given the sitcom was renewed two years ago for three more seasons. Big oops. Ditto for Carey's Whose Line is it Anyway?, which costs next to nothing to produce. As for The Practice, I smell a made-for movie (or two) for next season but doubt ABC will officially renew the deteriorating -- and costly -- law drama. Last night's two-hour installment was promoted as the finale.
ADVERTISEMENT
Considering Dragnet has been losing steam for weeks, I would not count on a renewal. The same is true for short-lived Daniel Stern sitcom Regular Joe, which was pulled after only a handful of episodes.
----------
CBS
The Agency, Becker, Hack, My Big Fat Greek Life, Still Standing
Although Becker did better than expected on Sunday, was it really enough of an audience to warrant a renewal? And, please, let's hold off on renewing My Big Fat Greek Life until the over-reactive Nia Vardolos gets acting lessons. Chances are both The Agency and Hack will be back. Ditto for Still Standing, which got considerably funnier as the season progressed.
----------
NBC
A.U.S.A., America's Most Talented Kid, Boomtown, Ed, Good Morning, Miami, Kingpin, Watching Ellie
Ed -- come on down. Now that you're -- finally -- getting together with Carol NBC is likely to give you that fourth season. As for A.U.S.A., Good Morning, Miami and Watching Ellie, with three to four new comedies vying for time periods next fall, there is minimal programming real estate left. As for Boomtown and Kingpin, despite the critical acclaim don't count on either drama returning for a second season. America's Most Talented Kid, which was far from a bust, is a long shot at best because it lost audience as the weeks progressed.
Ratings challenged but critically applauded American Dreams, which was excluded from this list, is a shoo-in for 2003-04.
----------
Fox
Cedric the Entertainer Presents, Fastlane, Futurama, John Doe, Oliver Beene, The Pitts, Wanda at Large
Most Likely to Be Renewed:
Wanda at Large, which fits better out of lead-in Bernie Mac (news) than Cedric the Entertainer did.
Most Likely to Be Canceled:
The Pitts, which unfortunately lived up to its title.
As For the Rest:
The best of the bunch, John Doe, lost steam in the latter part of the season and is unlikely to return. Ditto to Friday partner Fastlane, Sunday's veteran Futurama, Malcolm-wannabe Oliver Beene and, unfortunately, Cedric.
----------
UPN
Platinum, The Twilight Zone
True, The Twilight Zone was far from a fizzle. Then again, it wasn't much of a hit either. As for Platinum, patience could be a virtue for this unusual, but minimally sampled, drama. If there is no room for Platinum on the fall schedule maybe a midseason reprieve could be possible.
----------
WB
Angel, Black Sash, Greetings From Tucson, Jamie Kennedy (news) Experiment, On The Spot, What I Like About You
Best Shot at Renewal:
What I Like About You, which will only get better now than the non-pregnant Jennie Garth (news) can do more physical comedy. Simon Rex (news), though, needs to join Ms. Vardolos in that acting class.
Most Hopeful For a Pick-Up:
Jamie Kennedy Experiment, which is too funny to be given a pink slip.
As For the Rest:
Angel at a 50-50 shot has the best shot of survival. You can forget about recent entries Black Sash and On The Spot.
-- Marc Berman (mediaweek.com)