TV: Several shows sitting on the survival bubble
by Amy Robinson
flipside@wvgazette.com
It’s the time of year when speculation about the fate of various shows is running rampant. The verdict on some shows is already official, while others might not have their fates revealed for several months. Here’s a look at some of both:
It turns out Tuesday was indeed the “Jericho” series finale. At least network execs let producers know beforehand so they could attach the proper ending (they filmed two) to give fans a more satisfying conclusion. That’s more than some shows get.
Speaking of endangered shows, the return of “Friday Night Lights” is looking better, but it’s still not a done deal. At Los Angeles’ William S. Paley Television Festival, one of the executive producers said news of a partnership with DirecTV should come within the next few weeks. If the deal goes through, filming for a new season will start in July.
Over at Fox, the network brass just announced the renewal of “Prison Break” for its fourth season. A “Terminator” renewal seems highly likely as well if rumblings in TV land are any indication, but like “FNL,” it hasn’t officially been announced.
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On the other end of the spectrum, “The Return of Jezebel James” has already been axed, and “Canterbury’s Law” looks like it’s headed in that direction. The latter has been booted from its Monday night time slot to 9 p.m. on Fridays — not exactly a vote of confidence from the network.
Though nothing official may be known until the networks announce their lineups at the May upfronts, several shows are sitting on the bubble — some of which are kind of surprising. TV Guide is reporting that should NBC decide to drop “Medium,” apparently a possibility, CBS will likely pick it up since it’s the show’s producer.
Also, it seems that CBS will choose between “The New Adventures of Old Christine” and “Rules of Engagement” rather than keeping them both. Is “Rules of Engagement” really that good? I’m not a “Christine” fan, but I know people who are; I can’t say the same for “Rules.”
Other shows that could be on the chopping block are “Men in Trees,” “Shark,” “Moonlight,” “Aliens in America,” “Back to You,” “Til Death,” “The Game” and “Reaper.” For several of these shows, the ratings of their post-strike episodes may determine their fate. With no new episodes planned, “October Road” and “The Unit” are likely done for.
“Numb3rs” (which returns with new episodes next Friday) will be back in the fall, but cast member Diane Farr will not. No reason has been given for her departure other than a statement that she chose not to renew her contract.
Two other stars who didn’t renew their contracts are Kristen Kreuk and Michael Rosenbaum of “Smallville.” Seeing as how they played longtime core characters Lana and Lex, I’m not sure how this will figure into things next season ... or if anyone will care.
“Gossip Girl” will gain a girl and lose a girl when the show returns with new episodes in April: According to TV Guide’s Michael Ausiello, Nan Zhang, who plays the marginal character of Kati, one of Blair’s sidekicks, departed for Brown University during the writers’ strike and won’t be returning. That probably won’t have much of an impact, but the new character ought to make a big splash — it’s Michelle Trachtenberg (aka “Buffy’s” little sis, Dawn), who has signed on to play troublemaker Georgina Sparks in several episodes.
Returning: “Cold Case,” 9 p.m. Sunday; “Criminal Minds,” 9 p.m. Wednesday and “CSI: NY,” 10 p.m. Wednesday, all on CBS. A new season of “Hell’s Kitchen” debuts at 9 p.m. Tuesday on Fox.
Finales: “Celebrity Apprentice,” 9 p.m. tonight, NBC; “Unhitched” (probable series finale), 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Fox; “The New Adventures of Old Christine” (with guest star Jason Alexander), 9:30 p.m. Monday, CBS.
“Battlestar Galactica” alert: At 10 p.m. Friday, Sci Fi has “BSG: Revealed,” a half-hour special recapping the action of the first three seasons before the debut of the fourth and final season next Friday. That’s followed by “BSG: The Phenomenon,” wherein celebrities — including Brad Paisley — discuss the show’s appeal.
PBS specials: The four-part series “Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?” begins at 10 p.m. tonight. This episode focuses on the effect of socioeconomic inequalities on our health and life expectancy as well as why some people in poor countries live longer than we do. Then at 9 p.m. Sunday, Masterpiece Theatre’s “Sense and Sensibility” — the final program in “The Complete Jane Austen” — begins.
To contact Amy Robinson, e-mail flipside@wvgazette.com.
