By Shawn Estes
from WillametteLive, Section Screen
Posted on Mon May 19, 2008 at 01:57:15 PM PDT
Oprah canceled her own showOprah's Big Give is not coming back next season. Even the increase of ratings on Sundays couldn't convince Oprah to bring the show back again. Yes, it was Oprah's decision to cancel her own show. "We loved that show and absolutely would have loved to bring it back," ABC entertainment president Steve McPherson said in a statement. "But it was something [Oprah] didn't want to do."
Other schedule news:
ABC
"Boston Legal" will return for its fifth season. Thirteen episodes will finish out the series, which will air at 10 p.m. on Mondays. "Scrubs" has been picked up for 18 episodes and is airing on Tuesdays starting on premiere week, September 22. Cancellations include: "Big Shots", "Cavemen", and "Cashmere Mafia."
FOX
J.J. Abrams new show "Fringe" will debut in the fall. It is being called a cross between "The X-Files" and "The Twilight Zone." Joshua Jackson is the lead. The pilot is rumored at costing $10 million dollars.
Joss Whedon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Angel", "Firefly") returns to TV midseason with "Dollhouse." The non-descriptively titled show revolves around a group of people known as "Dolls" who work in the "Dollhouse." The idea is that they give up five years of their lives and get a big paycheck at the end of the stint. The "Dolls" are imprinted with new memories/personalities and then are hired out for jobs that range from crimes to fantasies. The story follows Echo (Eliza Dushku) who begins to become self-aware. "Dollhouse"'s time slot will lead into "24."
Other new shows coming next season include, a comedy "Do Not Disturb", a new reality show "Secret Millionaire", and two animated comedies; one, is a spin-off of "Family Guy" centered on Cleveland, named "The Cleveland Show"; the other is "Sit Down, Shut Up".
CBS
On the comedy front, CBS is bringing back "The Big Bang Theory" which will return for a second season. They are also launching two new comedies. "Worst Week" is a comedy starring Kyle Bornheimer ("Jericho"), who sets out to do anything to impress his girlfriend's parents, but instead only messes it up completely. Kurtwood Smith (Red from "That '70s Show"), Erinn Hayes ("Kitchen Confidential"), and Nancy Lenehan ("My Name is Earl") co-star. "Project Gary" is a new comedy starring Jay Mohr and Paula Marshall about Gary Barnes, a recently divorced contractor who faces post-divorce mayhem after 15 years of marriage. It doesn't seem like a Jay Mohr comedy, but we'll see how it goes.
In cancellations, both "Shark" and "Moonlight" have been canceled due to low ratings.
The CW
A little good news for scripted show fans, The CW has picked up "Reaper" for a second season, which will begin in the midseason. "Smallville" and "Supernatural" will return on Thursdays. The CW isn't changing too many things -- their big push will be on "90210" making a splash in the fall. "Gossip Girl" will return, which should leave many teenage girls "txting" their "OMG!" to each other.
NBC
As predicted after a stellar ratings performance in the TV movie special, "Knight Rider" is on schedule for fall. "Friday Night Lights" will return midseason, after DirecTV subscribers have watched the season starting in the fall. "Chuck" and "Heroes" will return on the same night. "Life" will return as well, despite being cut short due to the writer's strike last season.
Post A Comment| State of TV: New and cancelled shows | 3 comments
Post A Comment| State of TV: New and cancelled shows | 3 comments





