Dancing with the Upfronts 5: Wednesday's Pilot Roundup

Welcome back to what will likely be the last installment of Dancing with the Upfronts, as I attempt to decipher the rumors and facts of the network series orders, renewals, and cancellations before the last of the networks' fall schedules are unveiled to advertisters and the public tomorrow.

Before then, sit back and enjoys today's latest series news. Don't forget to check back here often for updates, as we continue to unveil the fall schedules and debunk some renewal myths.
(Updated at 10:30 am PST)

CW

The Hollywood Reporter and Variety are confirming yesterday's rumors that Veronica Mars and One Tree Hill will in fact cross over onto the new CW network, along with new dramas Runaway, Girlfriends spin-off The Game, and the Kevin Williamson-created mid-season replacement Palm Springs. However, WB drama Everwood will not be found on the combined fall sked, nor will pilot Aquaman, originally thought to be a lock for an order.

CW will also be home to UPN sitcoms Everybody Hates Chris, Girlfriends, and Will Smith-produced All of Us, as well as WB dramas Gilmore Girls, Smallville, and Supernatural. 7th Heaven, as previously reported, will return for an 11th season.

Reality series America's Next Top Model and Beauty and the Geek are also expected to show up on the schedule and current rumors indicate that the two series may in fact be paired together on a single night, most likely Wednesdays (ANTM's current home).

The CW's Monday night schedule is expected to be comprised of former UPN comedies Chris, All of Us, Girlfriends, and new series The Game. Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars may be scheduled together on Tuesday evenings, as widely believed. As for Thursdays? Supernatural and Smallville? Sundays will most likely bring family entertainment in the form of dramas 7th Heaven and Runaway.

Friday evenings remain a mystery, but the CW still needs to schedule One Tree Hill and possibly the Wayne Brady comedy starrer Flirt, which is still expected to be ordered for fall.

UPDATE: Palm Springs, formerly known as Untitled Kevin Williamson, has now been retitled again... this time to the rather icky moniker of Hidden Palms. Ew.

That's all for now, but stay tuned and check back for updates.

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Recap: This week, the networks will unveil their fall schedules before advertisers at the annual upfront presentations. The last of the bunch, FOX and the CW, make their announcements tomorrow (May 18th).

Dancing with the Upfronts 4: Tuesday's Pilot Roundup

Welcome back to another installment of Dancing with the Upfronts, as I attempt to decipher the rumors and facts of the network series orders, renewals, and cancellations during this, the second most exciting week in the television calendar (the first would be the start of the season, natch).

Set your phasers to stunned, gentle readers, as you peruse today's latest series news and check back here often for updates, as we unveil the fall schedules and debunk some renewal myths.
(Updated at 5:00 pm PST)

CW

Ladies and gentlemen, I can hardly control my excitement as I happily announce... (drum roll, please)... that beloved mystery-drama series Veronica Mars WILL be moving to the CW this fall!

According to an extremely high-ranking agency source who happens to reps one of the actors involved with the show, Veronica Mars will be returning to the airwaves this fall (albeit with a new TV address) to provide loyal viewers with another season of Neptune-based mysteries.

(Editor's Note: I am so extremely pleased by this news that I cannot help but jump up and down with glee. Tee hee!)

In other CW news, rumors currently peg Supernatural, Smallville, and the dreaded One Tree Hill as making the cut to land on the fall sked, while Everwood fans are sadly out of luck.

UPDATE: Confirmation of Veronica Mars' renewal has been confirmed by series creator Rob Thomas over at Michael Ausiello's column at TV Guide.com! Today is a day for celebration!

UPDATE: Word on the street is that the CW's drama pilot Palm Springs (formerly known as Untitled Kevin Williamson project) has been picked up for a midseason order... but only for a total of 8 episodes (including the pilot) rather than the standard 13. Curious.

UPDATE: It's official. The CW has given series orders to three pilots: the aforementioned Palm Springs (confirming the above), Runaway, and The Game (the planned Girlfriends spin-off).

ABC

UPDATE: According to a report on The Futon Critic, Commander in Chief's term in office might not yet be finished. While the series was not part of the fall schedule unveiled by ABC earlier today, ABC president Steve McPherson mentioned that he would consider a two-hour movie version of the cancelled series, which is scheduled to begin burning off its remaining three episodes on May 31st.

The two-hour version of Commander in Chief would likely be written and directed by creator and former executive producer Rod Lurie (The Contender), the first of three EPs to oversee the doomed show (the other two were Steven Bochco and Dee Johnson).

Additionally, ABC's news magazine series Primetime, which also failed to appear on the fall 2006 schedule, will also return next season as a series of specials to fill in any gaps in the schedules. However, it's also possible that Primetime might indeed be refashioned once again into a weekly series.

FOX

UPDATE: With FOX's upfront presentation scheduled for Thursday, the network is putting the final touches on the sked before unveiling it. To this end, the network has renamed two drama pilots: Primary and American Crime, which will now be known as Standoff and Justice respectively.

That's all for now, but stay tuned and check back for updates.

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Recap: This week, the networks will unveil their fall schedules before advertisers at the annual upfront presentations. CBS is set for tomorrow (May 17th), with FOX and the CW on Thursday (May 18th) bringing up the rear.

Dancing with the Upfronts 3: Monday's Pilot Roundup

Welcome back to the latest installment of Dancing with the Upfronts, a recurring column where I try to make sense of the sometimes bewildering (and often conflicting) information coming out of the networks regarding series renewals, cancellations, and orders.

With NBC's schedule already locked for fall, all eyes are now on the other four networks as they put the finishing touches on their schedules.
(Updated as of 3:00 pm PST)

CBS

Lips have been sealed at the venerable Eye network as very little information has come out about orders or cancellations. However, CBS has just given series orders to two dramas, just a few days before their official schedule is announced. Jericho, from CBS Paramount Network TV and Junction Entertainment, has been given a greenlight for fall. The drama, which stars Ashley Scott (above), Skeet Ulrich, and Gerald McRaney (among others) concerns a small town after an apocalyptic event.

Additionally, CBS granted a series order to drama pilot Untitled Peter Ocko, from CBS Paramount (sensing a theme here?) and Levinson/Fontana. The series is a medical drama focusing on brain surgeons and stars Reiko Aylesworth, Mark Feuerstein, Lorraine Toussaint, Stanley Tucci, and Indira Varma.

UPDATE: In addition to the above, Variety is reporting that CBS has also given series orders to Smith, Waterfront, and The Class, and the Adam Sandler-produced comedy Rules of Engagement has landed a midseason launch. CBS has also renewed returning series Close to Home, Old Christine, and King of Queens, giving the latter a 13-episode order. Tracking boards are reporting that CBS has also given a greenlight to Shark, but that has yet to be confirmed.

UPDATE: I can now confirm that the James Wood-lead Shark, about a celebrity attorney who becomes a prosecutor, has received a series order from CBS. In other CBS news, an imminent renewal is expected for the David Mamet and Shaun Ryan-produced drama The Unit, while Courting Alex, Out of Practice, and Still Standing will not be returning next season.

FOX

FOX has renewed freshman comedies The Loop (for 13 episodes) and The War at Home, along with fading drama The OC.

ABC

ABC has cancelled Invasion, Hope & Faith, and freshman comedy Freddie. The fate of comedy veterans According to Jim and The George Lopez Show are still up in the air.

CW

Still no official word on any series orders from the fledgling network though The Hollywood Reporter has repeated the word that, of the four drama pilots currently under consideration at the CW, only Darren Star's drama Runaway was said to be in "serious contention," along with CBS' aborted pilot Ultra, as previously reported.

But more promising was THR's indication that fan-favorite drama Veronica Mars is "[looking] likely to make the switch to CW."

That's all for now, but stay tuned and check back for updates.

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Recap: This week, the networks will unveil their fall schedules before advertisers at the annual upfront presentations. ABC and MyNetwork are set for tomorrow (May 16th), CBS on Wednesday (May 17th), with FOX and the CW on Thursday (May 18th).

Dancing with the Upfronts 2: Friday's Pilot Round-up

Welcome back to another installment of Dancing with the Upfronts, where I try to make sense of the sometimes bewildering (and often conflicting) information coming out of the networks regarding series renewals, cancellations, and orders, before the upfronts next week. Whew. (Updated as of 11:30 pm PST)

NBC

As previously reported yesterday, NBC officially gave series orders to pilots 20 Good Years and The Singles Table, which join fellow ordered series Raines, Heroes, and Friday Night Lights.

With pick ups already in for those three dramas plus Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, The Black Donnellys, and Kidnapped, it means that NBC has now ordered all but one of its seven drama pilots for the fall. The only drama not to get the nod from the Peacock is the Cary Elwes-led political dramedy Haskett's Chance about a corrupt politician.

Untitled Tina Fey is still widely expected to get an order for the fall. However, there appears to be a rather significant spanner in the works, according to Variety, which says that "NBC U Television Studio [needs] to hammer out a deal for star Alec Baldwin so that the skein could premiere in the fall."

One rather odd piece of news. Various sources (including yours truly) had heard word that NBC had passed on comedy pilot Andy Barker, P.I. and that the pilot, which stars Andy Richter and Tony Hale (Arrested Development) would be shopped to FOX. However, TV Tracker sent out a Series Pick Up Alert for the pilot this morning and is reporting that NBC has granted the pilot a six-episode series commitment.

TV Tracker provided following synopsis for the series, which sounds absolutely hysterical:

Andy Barker is a CPA who has never failed at anything – that is until his new accounting business doesn’t take off as planned. When he’s mistaken for the private detective who used to occupy his office, Andy embraces this twist of fate and takes the case. Thus begins his journey back and forth from Andy Barker, CPA to Andy Barker, P.I. Whether chiding criminals headquartered in a warehouse for “renting instead of buying,” or briefing an accounting client about municipal bonds while driving backwards down an alley pursued by Sri Lankan gangsters, Andy will always be a problem solver and a numbers cruncher.

While I am a huge fan of Richter and Hale and am looking forward to the series (if it does make it on the sked), color me confused. Can anyone shed some light on this matter?

UPDATE: I've since received confirmation that the above is true and Andy Barker, P.I. has been ordered for six episodes. Wahoo!

CBS

The Eye is still firmly shut as no official orders have yet to drip out. (And many say that no one will have any idea about the fall schedule until Les Moonves makes his announcement on Wednesday.)

Dramas that CBS is said to be particularly strong on include Jericho, Smith, Shark, and 3 Lbs. Said to be losing steam, according to the tracking boards, are Company Town and Capital Law, with terminally ill pilots Waterfront and Edison clinging to life. Long deceased: The Way, Orpheus, and Ultra (though, as reported yesterday, it might be redeveloped for the CW).

Rumors on the tracking board re: comedy pilots have Inseparable as a strong contender, with Big Bang Theory, Untitled Tom Hertz, and Untitled Paul Reiser still floating about in the mix. Slipping away from this world: You've Reached the Elliotts, Welcome to the Jungle, and Play Nice.

However, it seems as though long-running comedy The King of Queens won't return to CBS next season until mid-season, if at all.

The problem? According to Variety, Star Kevin James is committed to star in feature film I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry with Adam Sandler and is unable to film enough episodes for the fall.

FOX

While FOX didn't officially pick up any other pilots yesterday, rumors are swirling that FOX will add comedy pilot Happy Hour to its fall schedule. Additionally, The Winner and The Adventures of Big Handsome Guy and His Little Friend are said to be close to joining ordered comedy series 'Til Death on FOX's fall schedule as well. Still alive: Julie Reno, 12th Man, and If You Lived Here You'd Be Home Now.

UPDATE: Late in the day Friday, FOX officially ordered the aforementioned comedy Happy Hour from creators Jeff and Jackie Filgo (That 70s Show) and The Winner from creators Seth MacFarlane and Ricky Blitt (Family Guy). Happy Hour is being described by TV Tracker as "a buddy comedy series about two different, but non- complementary guys in Chicago. One's been damaged by love, and another's been blinded by love."

Meanwhile, The Winner is about "a successful man in his forties who looks back at his life in 1994, when he was a neurotic 32 year old man who still lived with his parents, and befriended the teenage son of a woman he was pining for and discovered that they were both going through adolescence."

On the drama-side, no new orders aside from the already-reported Primary (above), Vanished, and American Crime. Other drama series contenders include Southern Comfort, Damages, or Beyond. 13 Graves is clinging to life, while Faceless and The Wedding Album are dead, dead, dead.

UPDATE: Miracles can happen. Even later in the day Friday, FOX gave a series commitment to previously thought deceased pilot The Wedding Album, which stars Bruno Campos (Nip/Tuck) as a wedding photographer. I am speechless.

CW

UPDATE: The award for the series that would not die goes to... 7th Heaven?!? Whah huh? Despite the rumors of the show being cancelled, then returning, then not returning, a well-placed agency source tells me that 7th Heaven WILL BE returning this fall after all. The move doesn't bode well for some of the WB's on-the-bubble series such as Everwood and One Tree Hill, which will most likely not move over to the CW.

UPDATE: The Futon Critic has now confirmed the above rumor regarding 7th Heaven and is reporting that the CW has officially renewed the long-running family drama for an 11th season (and its first on the CW).

ABC

UPDATE: According to another hot-off-the-press Series Pick Up Alert from TV Tracker, ABC has ordered all of the following drama pilots to series: Brothers & Sisters, Men in Trees, Ugly Betty, and Traveler. Four pilots ordered in one fell swoop? Only in this surreal upfront season...

Another rumor, coming to me from a certain talent and lit agency, says that ABC is renewing low-rated relationship drama What About Brian for next season. That's even more shocking than the above pick-ups.

Coming off the tracking boards, dramas on life-support at the network include: Secrets of a Small Town, Twenty Questions, and October Road. Dead with no chance of a sudden revival a la Lost's Libby: Hollis and Rae, Enemies, 60 Minute Man, Women in Law, and House Divided, though the latter may be retooled as a mini-series.

UPDATE: On the comedy side, ABC has just ordered Let's Rob Mick Jagger and A Day in the Life.

Untitled Christine Zander/Patty Heaton, Separated at Worth, and The Guys are said to still be in the mix. Dead as dodo: Untitled Bonnie Hunt, Girls on the Bus, and Women of a Certain Age.

That's all for now, but stay tuned and check back for updates.

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Recap: Next week, the networks will unveil their fall schedules before advertisers at the annual upfront presentations. NBC is up first on Monday (May 15th), ABC and MyNetwork follow on Tuesday (May 16th), CBS on Wednesday (May 17th), with FOX and the CW on Thursday (May 18th).

Dancing with the Upfronts: Thursday's Pilot Round-up

You can almost smell the excitement here in Hollywood as the as the network upfronts rapidly approach. In an unusually exciting development season, some networks have announced pre-upfront series orders while others (ahem, CW) are keeping their cards closer to their vests.

Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter and Variety, below are the current batch of rumors on renewals, cancellations, and orders before the networks' fall schedules are made official next week. Remember, most of the below has yet to be confirmed by the networks, so all info is subject to change.

ABC

ABC has picked up dramas The Nine, Six Degrees (from J.J. Abrams), and Day Break, along with comedies In Case of Emergency, Help Me Help You, and Notes from the Underbelly.

The following dramas will duke it out for a place among the remaining slots: Traveler, Secrets of a Small Town, Ugly Betty, Drift, Men in Trees, and Brothers & Sisters. If Grey's Anatomy does make the move to Mondays at 9 pm, as many insiders are hinting, then ABC may use Six Degrees or Secrets of a Small Town as a companion to the medical series. On the comedy front, the only contenders are the Untitled Burnett/Beckerman and Untitled Hunt/Lake sitcoms. Him and Us, a single-camera sitcom starring Anthony Stewart Heard (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City), will not be ordered by ABC and will instead be shopped around to other outlets.

According to Jim and George Lopez seem like locks to return next season and Freddie is also a possible return as well. Less likely renewals are freshman dramas What About Brian and Invasion. If Invasion is not renewed, it might be shopped to the CW.

Variety has indicated that ABC may schedule Lost for a November return date rather than at the start of the fall season. Reality series The Bachelor is also expected to return for a mid-season slot.

NBC

NBC has cancelled the dismally-received sitcom Teachers. The network is expected to pick up Raines and the Untitled Tina Fey project. Comedies 20 Good Years, Community Service, and The Singles Table are still in contention for the few remaining slots, but NBC is passing on the Andy Richter-led comedy Andy Barker, P.I., which will be shopped to FOX.

Unlike yesterday's rumor, ER now seems to be staying put in its timeslot, rather than relocating to another night. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip might form the basis of a Monday night lineup, paired with The Black Donnellys, as Medium levitates over to Friday nights.

Variety indicates that a fake NBC fall schedule that has made the rounds around town--and which shows Untitled Tina Fey airing Thursdays at 9:30, after a relocated 9:00 The Office--makes a hell of a lot of sense.

UPDATE: According to a report on The Futon Critic, sources close to the productions have confirmed that NBC has given series orders to Raines and The Singles Table.

CBS

CBS is expected to renew freshman crime drama Close to Home. Meanwhile, the network is expected to pick up at least four to five new drama pilots, with as many as three airing this fall. Sharks is said to be a particularly strong contender, along with fellow drama Smith.

Other possible pickups might include Untitled Carol Mendelsohn, Jericho, Untitled Peter Ocko, and Company Town. On the comedy side, CBS is said to be leaning towards The Class, with Inseparable, Untitled Tom Hertz, and The Big Bang Theory right behind it.

FOX

FOX is said to be close to following up its series orders for Primary, Vanished, and American Crime with another order. The Hollywood Reporter pegs Southern Comfort as the front-runner, while Variety picks either Damages or Beyond. And comedy pilot The Winner might join 'Til Death on FOX's fall schedule as well.

CW

The fledgling netlet is said to be "not very pleased" with its drama pilot crop, which includes the Darren Star-created Runaway, Kevin Williamson's Palm Springs, and Aquaman. Given that, the chances are now extremely high for Veronica Mars (wahoo!), One Tree Hill, and Everwood to graduate to the CW. CBS pilot Ultra is now said to be in the running for a fall slot on the net, possibly along with ABC's Invasion. On the comedy side, Wayne Brady's pilot Flirt is most likely to get a series order.

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Next week, the networks will unveil their fall schedules before advertisers at the annual upfront presentations. NBC is up first on Monday (May 15th), ABC and MyNetwork follow on Tuesday (May 16th), CBS on Wednesday (May 17th), with FOX and the CW on Thursday (May 18th).

(N.B.: UPDATED UPFRONT INFO FOR FRIDAY CAN BE FOUND HERE.)