Upfront Rumblings (Weekend Before Upfronts Week!)

[Pavan]

Busy weekend! Here are the latest rumblings:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/blog/20...eview-jag.html

[Pavan]

EDIT: The animated comedy Sitdown Shut Up has been picked-up for mid-season on Fox.

[robyrob]

so seriously Pav, are there any more details about some of these new series mentioned in various upfronts that resemble UK shows (at least in name) -

Spaced, Life on Mars, Eleventh Hour, NY-LON (that one HAS to be a remake, although with half of the original series IN New York, it doesn't make a lot of sense to remake it...)

are these really US versions of the same shows?

[Pavan]

Life on Mars, Spaced, NY-LON, Good Behavior (remake of Outrageous Fortunes), and even Sit Down Shutup are remakes of sorts of English or Australian series. I'm sure there are more. Didn't know Eleventh hour was one too.

[robyrob]

thanks Pav, I checked it out and Eleventh Hour IS a remake of the UK series starring Patrick Stewart.

it was a pretty good show, but like many UK series, way too short (only 4 - 90 minute episodes)

[Pavan]

EDIT: The JJ Abrams drama Fringe has been picked-up for Fall on Fox. No surprise here.

[Pavan]

More rumblings from today (see at the end of story):

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/blog/20...ights-how.html

[ryan423]

CBS eyes 'Back to You'

Recently it was reported that FOX was picking up ‘Til Death but taking a pass on Back to You (FOX also decided to pass on New Amsterdam). Now TV Week is reporting that CBS is taking a look at picking up Back to You.

From a ratings perspective, Back to You did not perform much better than ‘Til Death. It had more viewers and households, but on an 18-49 basis both shows were tied for 104th through the week of May 4th. Back to You was #107 in overall household rating compared to 122 for ‘Til Death (ironically, tied with Jericho, but alas, Jericho was 137th in the 18-49 demo).

But production costs for Back to You may be much higher, especially given its two stars, Kelsey Grammer (of Cheers/Frasier fame) and Patricia Heaton (King of Queens). CBS has been rumored to be considering a second night of comedies, and if they stuck back to you on Monday nights following Two and a Half Men it would no doubt perform considerably better than it did on FOX.

TV Week reports that CBS boss Leslie Moonves has received five episodes of Back to You to screen, and to be honest, I’m a little surprised to find that’s falling on Moonves as opposed to CBS Entertainment president, Nina Tassler. I imagine Ms. Tassler is less surprised than I am.

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/05/11...ck-to-you/3715

[ryan423]

Studio Trying to Save 'Back to You'

Fox is getting out in front of the upfront greenlight process, ABC is preparing for "Life on Mars" and CBS is being wooed as a possible new home for the canceled comedy "Back to You."

Meanwhile, the CW is moving forward with two scripted dramas and a new reality show from exec producer Tyra Banks.

Those are among the headlines coming out of New York Sunday as the networks begin their scaled-down upfront week for 2008. Here's a look at some of the details:

—ABC has reached a deal with 20th Century Fox TV and David E. Kelley Productions that will likely result in a series order for "Mars," the Kelley-produced adaptation of the BBC drama. Kelley is expected to depart the project, and in exchange, ABC has renewed Kelley's "Boston Legal" for a fifth season. "Legal" will air in the fall, and it's believed ABC has the right to cut back its episode order on the show to 13, a person familiar with the discussions said.

Kelley would not give his blessing to "Mars" moving forward unless he had a greenlight for "Legal," the source said. Executives at ABC were understandably unhappy about "Mars" being held hostage for "Legal," which has failed to catch fire with audiences (though it does do well with upscale viewers).

As for other upfront buzz at ABC, the game show "Opportunity Knocks" is looking good for a fall or late summer berth, with producer J.D. Roth on board as host. "According to Jim" will be back for another season, while "Scrubs" is moving to ABC from NBC.

—20th has given CBS boss Leslie Moonves episodes of "Back to You" to screen as part of its bid to set up the comedy at the network. Fox canceled the Kelsey Grammer-Patricia Heaton show over the weekend, forcing sister studio 20th to find a new home for the project.

Ironically, CBS had been mentioned as a home for "Back to You" a year ago, before it landed at Fox. Heaton is the former star of CBS's "Everybody Loves Raymond," while CBS several years ago tried to get Grammer to star in a spinoff of "Frasier." The network is hoping to open a new night of comedy beyond its Monday lineup, and a Grammer-Heaton project could be a solid anchor for such an extension.

CBS is expected to make the bulk of its 2008-09 series orders Monday. It may also decide the fate of bubble shows "How I Met Your Mother," "Shark" and "The Unit"-- all from 20th Century Fox TV.

—While Fox isn't officially saying anything, the network has given a thumbs up to "Fringe," an "X-Files"-like drama from exec producer J.J. Abrams; the Jason Bateman-directed comedy pilot "The Inn"; and the animated half-hour "Sit Down, Shut Up" (from "Arrested Development" creator Mitch Hurwitz). And while "Back to You" was canceled, the network did greenlight a third season of Sony's "'Til Death."

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/05/s...ve_back_to.php

[benjamoon]

Originally Posted by ryan423

But production costs for Back to You may be much higher, especially given its two stars, Kelsey Grammer (of Cheers/Frasier fame) and Patricia Heaton (King of Queens). CBS has been rumored to be considering a second night of comedies, and if they stuck back to you on Monday nights following Two and a Half Men it would no doubt perform considerably better than it did on FOX.

... odd haha

But anyways, I just started watching BTY and I have enjoyed it so I hope it gets revived somehow!

I think CBS could pull off a second comedy night if they perhaps send "How I Met Your Mother" over as an anchor - they could have Big Bang/Two and a Half Men one night and HIMYM/Back to You on the other with Old Christine, Rules of Engagement, and new shows mixed in

[JulieSomoski]

Originally Posted by benjamoon

... odd haha

But anyways, I just started watching BTY and I have enjoyed it so I hope it gets revived somehow!

I think CBS could pull off a second comedy night if they perhaps send "How I Met Your Mother" over as an anchor - they could have Big Bang/Two and a Half Men one night and HIMYM/Back to You on the other with Old Christine, Rules of Engagement, and new shows mixed in

I think no matter what, CBS will have a second comedy night this season. Sure, they have their dramas that do well for them, but their sitcoms also do very well - they are the network for sitcoms. My guess is all their sitcoms will come back next season, with new ones, and hopefully Back to You, which actually does now have a shot on the network. I'd personally love to see this:

Monday:
8pm How I met Your Mother
8:30 Big Bang Theory
9:00 Two And a Half Men
9:30 Back to You

Wednesday
8:00 Rules of Engagement
8:30 New Sitcom
9:00 Old Christine
9:30 New Sitcom

That, or if BTY does end up on CBS, I'd love to see it Wednesdays at 8:30 up against it's old FOX slot.

[dawsongirl]

I have honestly never seen Back to You, but from the commercials, it seemed like something you'd see more on CBS anyway. They could easily replace Old Christine and Rules of Engagement with BTY.

[Pavan]

CBS won't create two full sitcom nights. Criminal Minds is too strong to leave Wednesday. Don't get excited about BTY moving to CBS, because I really don't think that will happen.

[Superbowl]

I think we will see 6 sitcoms on CBS. They will probably open up one more hour, probably on Wednesday. They also will probably have 2 or 3 on the bench for a total of about 8.

I am suprised you do not think BTY to CBS will not happen. It seems like a natural fit to me. I think it has a good chance of happening.

Originally Posted by pavanbadal

CBS won't create two full sitcom nights. Criminal Minds is too strong to leave Wednesday. Don't get excited about BTY moving to CBS, because I really don't think that will happen.

[Pavan]

TVWeek is the only one reporting it. Variety and HR made no such mention. It is all speculation at this point. The cost is the main reason. It's not that simple for them to just get it. CBS passed on it already once. It could happen and get picked-up, but don't have false hope.

As of now, this is how CBS sitcoms are shaping up to be in the Fall:

Mondays
8:00PM Big Bang Theory
8:30PM Rules of Engagement
9:00PM Two and a Half Men
9:30PM New Jay Mohr Comedy

Wednesdays
8:00PM How I Met Your Mother
8:30PM Worst Week/Old Christine

My Secret Public Journal would be picked-up for mid-season. Looks like Single White Millionaire and My Best Friend's Girl could be passed on.