SitcomsOnline.com 2007-08 Upfront Preview: Fox; NBC Renews 'Lights', Picks-Up Four New Series

Thursday, May 10, 2007

SitcomsOnline.com 2007-08 Upfront Preview: Fox; NBC Renews 'Lights', Picks-Up Four New Series

Fox still has the strongest show in television right now but it doesn't premiere in January. But we just got late word that they might ask the creators of American Idol to do a show about the search for the next American Band that will start in August or so and I'd guess go until November. This makes things more complicated to predict for Fox fall.
Here is the SitcomsOnline.com Fox 2007-08 preview:

New Series Already Picked-Up: Back to You (sitcom)
New Series We Think That Are Almost Good To Go: Minister of Divine (sitcom), The Return of Jezbel James (sitcom), The Life & Times of Tim (animated sitcom), The Apostles (drama), K-Ville (drama), The Sarah Connor Chronicles (drama)
New Series Perhaps Picked-Up for Mid-Season: Company Man (drama), Nurses (drama) and Animals (animated sitcom)

OUR FALL 2007 PREDICTION:

Sundays
7:00PM NFL Overrun / Animated Encores
8:00PM The Simpsons
8:30PM The Life & Times of Tim (NEW)
9:00PM Family Guy
9:30PM American Dad

Mondays
8:00PM The Sarah Connor Chronicles (NEW)
9:00PM Prison Break

Tuesdays
8:00PM American Band (wt) (NEW!) / K-Ville (NEW)
9:00PM House

Wednesdays
8:00PM Back to You (NEW)
8:30PM 'Til Death
9:00PM American Band Results Show (NEW) / Minister of Divine (NEW)
9:30PM The Return of Jezbel James (NEW)

Thursdays
8:00PM Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
9:00PM Trading Spouses

Fridays
8:00PM Bones
9:00PM The Apostles (NEW)

Saturdays
8:00PM Cops
8:30PM Cops
9:00PM America's Most Wanted

Comments: Fox is once again tough to figure out. Besides pre-empting regular series for the baseball playoffs and World Series in October, they will probably launch some shows in mid-August, like their Monday dramas and now with word that they will do an American Idol type show for the fall featuring a search for bands, it makes things more complex. Of course 24 and American Idol itself will come back in January. 24 will probably be aired with the mid-season drama Company Man, while Sarah Connor and Prison Break take a break..if Sarah is a hit, who knows maybe they will move it or even keep it in the same slot. Tuesdays and Wednesdays will be tough now with the Band series coming. I think it will inherit the Idol slots (Tuesdays at 8 and Wednesdays at 9...if it even has a results show, but most likely it will). House will probably stay put Tuesdays at 9 with all-comedies on Wednesday. I think Bones will be either benched until mid-season or put to Fridays...I went with the latter. Thursdays I think Fox will remain with the same line-up of 5th Grader and Trading Spouses, or maybe they try a drama at 9...even though it is a death slot against the two highest rated dramas. And so many series are goners: Drive, Happy Hour, Justice, The O.C., Vanished, The Rich List, Wedding Bells, The Winner, & War at Home. I think Nanny 911 will return at some point. Like when anything fails fast. As for mid-season, maybe House can take a 6-week break or something so they can try the new drama Nurses after Idol in January or March? I don't think King of the Hill will really be needed but they will probably bring it back in January or so for the 7-8pm hour and Fox will also try the Adam Sandler animated comedy Animals for mid-season. Fox is the most hardest to predict I think with the many schedule "blocks" of months they have.

Remember, next Thursday (May 17) is the actual date when we will find out Fox's plans for the 2007-08 season. So, come on back next Thursday and we will let you know the details and you can see how much we were right (or wrong). Stay tuned tomorrow for a preview on The CW's upfront.

Monday we gave our prediction on NBC's upfront. We had Friday Night Lights on our schedule and sure enough NBC made it official today that the show will return to NBC for a second season. No word yet if it will be for the fall or January. NBC also announced it has picked-up at least four new dramas to air for the 2007-08 season: Journeyman, Bionic Woman, Chuck and Life. I'm sure two of them at least will be for the fall.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Thursday, December 2

Young Sheldon - "The Grand Chancellor and a Den of Sin" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Sheldon battles President Hagemeyer’s (Wendie Malick) mysterious boss over the university’s science requirements. Also, Mary discovers that Georgie is working at Meemaw’s illegal gambling room.

United States of Al - "Wisdom / Hikmat" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
While Al is heavily medicated following surgery on his wisdom teeth, he mistakenly insults Art, forcing Riley to choose sides. Also, Lizzie tries to broker a peace among Art, Riley and Al.

Ghosts - "Alberta's Fan" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Alberta is thrilled when a super-fan of her music visits the mansion to learn more about her. Also, Thor convinces Hetty to go on a walk with him in hopes that it will spark a special memory.

B Positive - "A Camper, A Compass and a Cannoli" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Gina brings her dog Cannoli to the retirement home where he bonds with the seniors. Also, Drew prepares for his new life driving cross country in a camper van.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 29)

Thursday, December 2

Nicole Byer (Loosely Exactly Nicole) - Catch Nicole on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Ana Gasteyer (American Auto/Lady Dynamite/Suburgatory) and Rachel Dratch (30 Rock) - Ana and Rachel are guests on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. They also talk about A Clüsterfünke Christmas on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
Paul Rudd (Living with Yourself/Friends/Wild Oats) - Paul appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Bill Burr (F Is for Family/Townies) - Bill is a guest on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Glenn Howerton (It's Always Suny in Philadelphia/A.P. Bio/The Mindy Project) - Glenn appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
William Jackson Harper (The Good Place) - William appears on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Trevor Noah at 11pm.
Kathy Griffin (Suddenly Susan) - Kathy chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Skylar Astin (Ground Floor) - Skylar is a guest on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Holly Robinson Peete (Hangin' with Mr. Cooper/For Your Love/Love, Inc.) - Holly will be on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Michael Keaton (Report to Murphy/Working Stiffs/All's Fair) - Michael appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Leah Remini (Kevin Can Wait/The Exes/Family Tools/The King of Queens/Fired Up) - Leah guest co-hosts The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Maya Erskine (PEN15/Casual/Betas) and Anna Konkle (PEN15) - Maya and Anna are guests on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm/Son of Zorn/Suburgatory) - Cheryl will be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Kal Penn (Sunnyside/Deadbeat/We Are Men) - Kal appears on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Michel Urie (Younger/Partners) - Michael is a guest on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Vanessa Lachey (Truth Be Told/Dads) - Vanessa talks about her book Life from Scratch on Access Daily, so check your local listings.