Question: I know it's still summer, but have the networks announced tentative dates for their season premieres?
Answer: As of now, the only network not to announce premiere dates is CBS, which will likely launch most of its new and returning shows the weeks of Sept. 17 and 24.
Here's how the others shape up: The season kicks off early on Fox, with Prison Break and Vanished on Aug. 21; then the limited reality series Duets on Aug. 29; Justice and Bones on Aug. 30; House and Standoff on Sept. 5; the comedies 'Til Death and Happy Hour on Sept 7; Nanny 911 on Sept. 8; Cops and America's Most Wanted on Sept. 9; Fox's animated comedy lineup plus The War at Home on Sept. 10; and MADtv Sept. 16. (The O.C. won't return until after postseason baseball on Nov. 2.)
On ABC, 20/20 officially kicks off Sept. 8; Dancing with the Stars returns Sept. 12 and 13; Wife Swap premieres Sept. 18; Grey's Anatomy and Six Degrees on Sept. 21; Ugly Betty and Men in Trees on Sept. 22; Extreme Makeover: Home
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Question: I'm not sure if this "question" will warrant a response/spot in your column, but I've been wondering about it since the CW sked was announced. Where does CW think 7th Heaven can go at this point? After 10 years, I feel the show has told everything there is to tell. The older kids have gone through the trials and tribulations that most teens and young adults go through. And now that the three oldest kids have children of their own (or will), what's left? I guess my point or my question is: After the "finale," everything was wrapped up, and now they (CW) plan to "unwrap" everything and do it all over again for at least another season? Weren't some of the cast members planning on moving on after the show was nixed a few months ago? I was never a follower of Everwood, and sporadically caught 7th Heaven over the years, but between the two, I'd have to go with Everwood because there's still plenty of "story" left to tell. The problem with WB and UPN was their lack of programming, ...
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After attending the networks' upfront presentations all week, the Biz has this analysis of the coming season. (Click here for next fall's grid and new-show descriptions.)
CWYou've got to wonder what went wrong in CW's new-series development process if the network had to bring back 7th Heaven — even though the show lost a reported $16 million for WB this past season.
But the decision to have CW's inaugural schedule made up of established shows from WB and UPN may end up being a blessing. Many of the shows have small but rabid followings, and promoting new shows on a new network will be tough. The fans of shows like One Tree Hill and Veronica Mars will track them down on their own. Viewers in the 18-to-34-year-old demographic that CW targets don't watch networks, they watch shows. (According to recent survey, only one in four 1
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Don't hate Girlfriends' Joan Clayton because she's beautiful. And has a successful business. And a great house. And, according to recent episodes, a great hookup for free clothes. When tonight's season finale gets under way (at 9 pm/ET on UPN), the lawyer-turned-sports-bar-owner will be a heartbroken mess because, well, after Joan dumped two of the three — yes, three! — guys she was dating, she got kicked to the curb by the third. Will Toni, Maya and Lynn be around to pick her up? Girlfriends star Tracee Ellis Ross dishes (sort of) about her character and (definitely) her own opinions on life.
TV Guide: This has been some s
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Question: As I mourn the fact that Gilmore Girls will never be the same again due to Amy Sherman-Palladino's departure, I find myself wondering how many shows left on the air are run by women. The only shows I can think of off the top of my head are Grey's Anatomy, 7th Heaven (which is almost gone) and Everwood. Are there any others? It's a shame that Gilmore Girls is losing one of the few amazingly creative women out there who are given the opportunity to be a creative force in the business. Hopefully, she will be behind another amazing show soon. One thing is for sure, Gilmore Girls won't be the same without her.
Answer: You may be right, but to cut off the Amy-bashers before they chime in again, given the shaky quality of this most recent season, maybe some fresh blood will help get things back on track for what I can only hope will be its final season on CW. As for female creators, the list also includes Cold Case's Meredith Stiehm, New Adventures of Old Christine's Kari Lizer,
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