Committed on the bubble

[Miss Golden]

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Shows on the bubble

The killing season approacheth: What gets axed

By Kevin Downey

A few bubbles are about to burst on network television.
Several first-season programs are in a state of limbo, with weak ratings signaling they will soon vanish from primetime. But other factors such as critical acclaim and the lack of stronger programs in development could land some of these on-the-bubble shows a second season this fall.
Media researchers say all six networks have programs that are as good as gone. Others may be spared the axe the way Fox’s low-rated but Emmy-winning “Arrested Development” was last year.
Shows on the bubble include ABC’s “Rodney” and “Complete Savages;” CBS’s “Listen Up” and “Wickedly Perfect;” NBC’s “Joey” and “Committed;” Fox’s “Jonny Zero” and “Point Pleasant;” UPN’s “Cuts” and “Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott;” and the WB’s “Blue Collar TV” and “Steve Harvey’s Big Time.”
Media researchers say that on ABC “Desperate Housewives,” “Lost,” “Boston Legal,” “Wife Swap,” and “Supernanny” will be back. However, “Legal” will probably move from Sunday, where it’s an uneasy fit following “Desperate Housewives.” And “Supernanny” may return outside the fall-through-spring broadcast season.
Other ABC programs have less certain futures.
“I think ‘Rodney’ is on the bubble,” says Tom Weeks, associate director of Starcom Entertainment, referring to the rookie sitcom.
“It will depend on what ABC’s comedy slate is next year. Their comedy blocks are aging, so they’ll be looking for a strong show that could be the launching pad for other shows.”
ABC’s drama “life as we know it” will not make it to next fall. And most media researchers say the Mel Gibson-produced “Complete Savages” isn’t likely to return. It’s already off the schedule, although ABC expects to air four remaining episodes.
ABC, like the other networks, will start giving media buyers hints over the next couple of months during pre-upfront development meetings whether these shows will return.
Over at CBS, “CSI: NY” has been greenlit for a second season. But ongoing reality show “Wickedly Perfect” will likely join other canceled shows “dr. vegas,” “Center of the Universe,” “The Will” and “Clubhouse.”
The new drama “Numb3rs” has slipped since debuting to big ratings in January. But most researchers say it will get renewed because it initially had good ratings and because it fits well on CBS’s procedural-focused lineup.
The Jason Alexander sitcom “Listen Up” may also be spared the axe. That will not be because it's a great show--most researchers agree it’s not--but because CBS has a big comedy hole to fill once “Everybody Loves Raymond” bows out this May. Canceling a modest performer like “Listen” could worsen CBS’s situation.
“Having continuity from year to year, even if it’s not a very strong show, might be better than risking the time period by putting on a new show,” says John Spiropoulos, partner and associate research director at MindShare.
Meanwhile, NBC has a few rookie shows that are expected to return this fall.
“Medium” has been renewed, and media people say “Medical Investigation” and reality show “Biggest Loser,” due for a second edition this summer, will almost certainly be picked up.
The sitcom “Committed” isn’t likely to return. But “Joey” will. The show regularly ranks No. 2 behind CBS’s “Survivor” in its Thursday 8 p.m. timeslot and would be on the bubble if it wasn’t a “Friends" spinoff.
“NBC will bring back ‘Joey’ because it’s too embarrassing if they scrap that,” says Shari Anne Brill, vice president and director of programming at Carat.
Like most other networks, Fox has a few modest performers that are expected to make it to season-two. "House" began as a modest performer, but strong ratings in its post-"American Idol" slot earned it a second-season renewal yesterday.
“Trading Spouses” and “Nanny 911” are good bets to appear at some point during Fox’s year-round schedule. The sitcom “Quintuplets” is on the bubble. While hardly a hit, a few media people think Fox will stick with it.
The same is not being said about Fox’s dramas “Jonny Zero,” and “Point Pleasant;” “North Shore” was canceled yesterday. Neither of the other two are expected to return.
UPN’s first-year show “Missy Elliott” is widely expected to get the axe, or at least be moved out of the regular season.
It’s still too early to tell whether “Cuts” will survive, but most media people think it’s unlikely to return. The sitcom “Second Time Around” has been dropped.
But while dramas “Kevin Hill” and “Veronica Mars” are struggling in the ratings, positive reviews and good word of mouth could keep “Kevin” and possibly “Veronica” alive.
Meanwhile, all of the WB’s rookie programs are on the bubble, including variety shows “Blue Collar TV” and “Steve Harvey’s Big Time.”
The drama “Jack & Bobby” is also on the bubble because of weak ratings. But a few media researchers say it could make it to a second season because of critical acclaim and the WB’s long history of giving dramas time to grow.
“It takes strong networks willing to invest time and money in nurturing a show to make sure it catches on,” says Starcom’s Weeks. “But if a show isn’t connecting [the networks] will wisely shut down production because it’s so expensive to shoot these things.”

[Corizzle]

I saw this coming al though I like most of the shows that are on the bubble or got the axe Committed, Listen Up & Clubhouse were the only new shows I actually watched

[slackermonkey]

Can't say I'd miss it. It wasn't a terrible show, had a lot of potential, but I hadn't gotten attached to it.

[robyrob]

There a number of new shows that I will be sad to see go; among them Complete Savages, Committed, Point Pleasant (although it has steadily gotten worse), Numb3rs (which regardless of ratings keeps getting better IMO) - it would be nice to see the networks give new shows more of a chance to gain a following and earn some good ratings as they develop.

Most of the other shows mentioned in that story I either haven't watched or did not like. Committed may not be the greatest of the new shows, but it does have some great characters, good jokes, and a pretty good feel to it - it could be better, if it were given the chance.

[Miss Golden]

Jonny Zero got the axe too soon. It is better than Point Pleasant.