JustTV Talk: March 22, 2004|
JustTV Talk: March 22, 2004 |
| JustTV
|
The New Season
You may think it's a bit early to be talking about next season, but not me. with the next ordering new pilots every other day, the fall line-up are starting to take shape. I'm going to run down what I tihnk will happen and make some fearless predictions, with nothing guaranteed.
To Be Expected: My Wife & Kids, According To Jim, Alias, George Lopez, 8 Simple Rules, Less Than Perfect, Hope & Faith, Funniest Videos, The Bachelor/ette, Extreme Makeover/Home Edition, Who Knows?: Life With Bonnie, It's All Relative Good As Gone: I'm With Her, Line Of Fire, 10/8, Threat Matrix, Married To The Kelley's Monday: Football, of course, if the mainstaya nd I see "PrimeTime Monday" going in an hour before it starts, just like this season. Tuesday: "8 simple Rules" and "According To Jim" are staying, but what goes in the half hours is anybody's guess. ABC may want to try new comedies, but I do see "Less Than Perfect" staying put. Wednesday: The big question marks here come at 10pm and 8:30pm. A new drama (yawn) is likely at 10pm, while a new comedy will likely come at 8:30pm. But, ABC may want to move "Extreme Makeover" to 10pm and revamp Thursdays, but who knows? Thursday: Here's the night where ABC has the most opportunity. Consdering that it's very possible that there will only be two sitcoms airing on the night next season (both on NBC), ABC would go with what its been moderately successful at. "Less Than Perfect" would be the 9pm anchor, and I could see the new Jessica Simpson comedy going in at 8pm. "It's All Relative" would go at 9:30pm and a new comedy would go in at 8:30pm. You may think it's crazy, but ABC built TGIF from scratch this season with only 'George Lopez" to anchor the night. Besides, ABC will see no growth next season if it sticks to the current plan. Friday: I can very well see "Hope & Faith" moving up to 8pm and "George" moving back to 9pm, which is a much more appropriate timeslot for the sometimes-too-adults "Lopez." If "Bonnie" does come back, which is a question mark considering the number of comedy pilots ABC has, it would go at 9:30pm, with a new comedy at 8:30pm. Saturday: The Disney Movie is nothing spectacular, but it's probably the best ABC can do. As for 10pm, it's back to the drawing board. Maybe this time come up with a drama with a little wider appeal? Sundays:
7-10pm
is a virtual lock, and the new "Practice" spin-off is more than likely
at 10pm.
To Be Expected: Steve Harvey, Grounded For Life, Smallville, Reba, Everwood, The Surreal House, One Tree Hill Who Knows?: All About the Andersons, JKX, High School Reunion, The Help Good As Gone: Run Of The House, What I Like About You, Like Family Monday: The WB won't mess with success, but it will need to find a successor to "7th Heaven" as the show is aging fast and will likely be in its last season. Tuesday: Again, the WB has been moderately successful with this line-up, so it's won't change a thing. And "One Tree Hill" will be back especially conisdering the growth its showing versus its dismal premiere numbers. Wednesday: "Smallville" is a lock for 8pm, and a new drama will go in at 9pm. But what? Do I hear "Dark Shadows" ? Thursday: Before the WB scraps this night, it should look at the fact that it's up quite a bit in viewers over last season and is really not doing that badly. That said, the WB just needs to brand itself on the night. "Steve Harvery" and "All About The Andersons" did well together, but move "The Andersons" to 9pm and find two new black-led sitcoms. It worked for the WB before (well, before "Charmed" came along and broke up the night) and it will work again. Friday: "Reba" and "Grounded For Life" are the constants, and again, the WB needs to brand itself. Instead of single-girl crap like "What I Like About You," go for the suburban family sitcom to create a flow on the night. Sundays: "Charmed" will stay, and the reality wheel will likely return in the spring, but finding a new drama for 9pm is a must. How about "Superman" ? Wait, you already have that one. what about girls with superpowers? Wait, that already failed. What about witches? Wait. Vampires? Wait. Holy cow, WB, you need to break the mold again! Got some ideas of your own? Talk about it on the message board! |
