SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

ABC 2007-08 Upfront: Fall 2007 Schedule; CBS Returning Series News; CW and Fox Upfront Update

Scoop! Your FIRST look at ABC's official line-up!

ABC 2007-08

Fall 2007

Sundays
7:00PM America's Funniest Home Videos
8:00PM Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00PM Desperate Housewives
10:00PM Brothers & Sisters

Mondays
8:00PM Dancing with the Stars
9:30PM Sam I Am (NEW)
10:00PM The Bachelor

Tuesdays
8:00PM Cavemen (NEW)
8:30PM Carpoolers (NEW)
9:00PM Dancing with the Stars: The Results
10:00PM Boston Legal

Wednesdays
8:00PM Pushing Daisies (NEW)
9:00PM Private Practice (NEW)
10:00PM Dirty Sexy Money (NEW)

Thursdays
8:00PM Ugly Betty
9:00PM Grey's Anatomy
10:00PM Big Shots (NEW)

Fridays
8:00PM Men in Trees
9:00PM Women's Murder Club (NEW)
10:00PM 20/20

Saturdays
8:00PM College Football

Mid-Season:

Cashmere Mafia, Notes from the Underbelly and October Road will premiere after Dancing with the Stars and The Bachelor conclude their fall seasons.
Coming later in the year is the return of Lost for 16 straight episodes, new sitcom Miss/Guided, new drama Eli Stone, the alternative series Oprah's Big Give, and the returns of Supernanny & Wife Swap.

Discuss ABC's 2007-08 line-up here.

Tomorrow is CBS's turn at the upfronts. We will have the schedule for you in the morning, but first we have just found out that Jericho and Close to Home will NOT be picked-up now. They were both reportedly picked-up for at least 13 episodes, but now that will not happen. The Class was officially canceled, which is no surprise. Other on the bubble series How I Met Your Mother, The Unit, Rules of Engagement and The New Adventures of Old Christine will return next season, the latter for mid-season. And they made these obvious renewals official: Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer, Shark and NUMB3RS joining previous renewals.

Meanwhile, The CW has announced that it is very likely that Veronica Mars will NOT return. Fans will be upset, but it makes sense because the ratings have not been good. The CW confirmed that All of Us will not return, but Smallville, The Game, Girlfriends, Supernatural and One Tree Hill were renewed an you'll see them this fall, joining the already renewed Everybody Hates Chris, America's Next Top Model, and WWE Smackdown! Among the new series pick-ups, we have dramas Gossip Girl, The Reaper, Wild at Heart and the sitcom Aliens in America. The CW has also confirmed that they will air unscripted series Sundays at 7, called Online Nation (AFV type show featuring online videos) and CW Now (ET type show on pop-culture).
Fox has renewed 24 through the end of the 2008-09 season, so you will get more Jack! More on Fox's actual pick-ups tomorrow.

Monday, May 14, 2007

NBC 2007-08 Upfront: Fall 2007 Schedule; More Upfront News

Your first look at NBC's official line-up!

NBC 2007-08

Fall 2007

Sundays
7:00PM Football Night in America
8:00PM Sunday Night Football

Mondays
8:00PM Deal or No Deal
9:00PM Heroes
10:00PM Journeyman (NEW)

Tuesdays
8:00PM The Biggest Loser
9:00PM Chuck (NEW)
10:00PM Law & Order: SVU

Wednesdays
8:00PM Deal or No Deal
9:00PM Bionic Woman (NEW) (Will air on Sci Fi Channel a few days later)
10:00PM Life (NEW) (Will air on USA Network a few days later)

Thursdays
8:00PM My Name is Earl
8:30PM 30 Rock
9:00PM The Office
9:30PM Scrubs
10:00PM ER

Fridays
8:00PM 1 vs. 100 / The Singing Bee (NEW)
9:00PM Las Vegas
10:00PM Friday Night Lights

Saturdays
8:00PM Dateline
9:00PM-11:00PM Crime Repeats
(Law & Order: Criminal Intent second run is reportedly here.)

Mid-Season:

January (Sundays after NFL ends)
7:00PM Dateline
8:00PM Law & Order
9:00PM Medium
10:00PM Lipstick Jungle (NEW)

NBC will kick-start the weekend on Fridays (8-9 p.m. ET) with "Game Night," a rotation of game shows that features 1 vs 100 (hosted by Bob Saget) for eight weeks, followed by six weeks of the new variety competition series The Singing Bee in the fall. The program is a competition that challenges contestants to accurately sing the lyrics to popular songs -- even when the band stops playing.
Later in the fall, NBC plans to introduce the unscripted series, World Moves, a talent competition program from executive producer Randy Jackson ("American Idol") that features dance teams from around the world auditioning for their shot to come to Los Angeles and compete for a global championship and an international touring contract.
Single camera sitcom The I.T. Crowd will join for six weeks in mid-season. Some other notes: The Office will have 30 half-hours of the hit series, including five hour-long episodes, and also has increased the season order for My Name Is Earl to 25 episodes. NBC "bulks up" with 30 combined episodes of Heroes and Heroes: Origins, an innovative new spin-off that each week will introduce a new character -- one of whom will be chosen by viewers through the Heroes website on NBC.com to become a cast regular the following season. Finally, Jerry Seinfeld, star of the classic NBC mega-hit Seinfeld, returns to the network to create and star in 20 unique live-action comedy "minisodes" inspired by his experiences creating the upcoming DreamWorks animated feature film Bee Movie, in theaters November 2.
Discuss NBC's 2007-08 line-up here.

Well, tomorrow we have ABC coming up at the upfront. We announced a few days ago what series have been picked-up thus far. ABC has picked up 10 new series so far (Private Practice, Big Shot, Dirty Sexy Money, Pushing Daisies, Eli Stone, Cashmere Mafia, Sam I Am, Women's Murder Club, Carpoolers and Cavemen), but now they also have picked-up sitcom Miss/Guided for mid-season. Maybe a 12th will be picked-up soon in sitcom The Middle starring Ricki Lake. We'll find out tomorrow. Football Wives will probably not be picked-up (as we mentioned, expense issues) but ABC will have an option to pick-it up, similar to what they did with October Road last year. And other series that were in the run like The Hill & The Thick Of It seem unlikely. According to Jim might actually return for mid-season, but George Lopez seems unlikely now.
As for CBS, they made it official, they have picked up four dramas and a sitcom so far. Dramas are: Cane, Moonlight, Viva Laughlin, & Swingtown. The latter is expected for mid-season. No mention of Babylon Fields...unless CBS already picked it up. It was slated for mid-season, maybe CBS won't need it now. Sitcom wise so far The Big Bang Theory has been picked-up, with two more likely, possibly the back from the dead I'm in Hell and The Captain. CBS also picked-up game show The Power of 10 hosted by Drew Carey. CBS is expected to bring back shortened seasons of Jericho, Close to Home and The Unit.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

More Upfront Rumbling; Week 34 Numbers (First Four Nights); How the Sitcoms Did

In addition to our updates yesterday, here are some more rumblings: New NBC sitcom The I.T. Crowd has been picked up for mid-season. Also, Law & Order: Criminal Intent has been picked-up, but will now premiere episodes on USA Network and a few days later they will be broadcast on NBC, with Saturdays a likely option on the NBC front. NBC also has picked-up another season of the original Law & Order.
Fox will not pick up new drama The Apostles now. Canterbury's Law was picked-up. No word yet on Nurses, but will likely be picked-up for at least mid-season. The War at Home will not return for a third season...no surprise.
Nothing new to report on ABC, as most of their projects were picked-up. The Middle and Football Wives have shots, but the latter might not get picked-up at all now due to expense issues. Sigh!
CBS is closer to bringing back Close to Home for 13 episodes for at least mid-season. Jericho might return and be slotted for the fall for 13 weeks with new drama Babylon Fields now for mid-season. Finally, The CW is still negotiating with Veronica Mars, but as of now, it doesn't look good for a return.

Come on back for NBC's official fall line-up maybe by later tonight or for sure by tomorrow morning before 9am!

Week 34 numbers (first four nights, Mon-Thu):

Households: Fox: 9.2/14.9; CBS: 8.2/13.5; ABC: 7.6/12.4; NBC: 4.9/8.1; The CW: 2.1/3.4; MNT: 0.6/0.9.
Total Viewers: Fox: 15.22 million; CBS: 12.62 million; ABC: 11.42 million; NBC: 7.52 million; The CW: 3.17 million; MNT: 0.84 million.
Adults 18-49: Fox: 5.6/15.9; ABC: 3.8/10.5; CBS: 3.7/10.3; NBC: 2.9/8.0; The CW: 1.4/4.0; MNT: 0.3/1.0.

Analysis: The 34th week saw Fox in front again with the usual leader American Idol. Through the first four nights, Fox has the lead, followed by CBS and ABC battling for second in HH, viewers and 18-49. NBC still remains a distant 4th place in all categories. As usual, Friday and Saturday numbers are not above, since final numbers are not available yet. Tonight has ABC airing all-new episodes and CBS is also all new with the finale of Survivor, the battle will be with them for viewers with ABC in command for 18-49. Fox's comedies are also all-new (except 7p & 8:30) and NBC has yet another Dateline followed by the movie Shrek and for some reason an encore of Thank God You're Here. I am afraid to look at NBC's numbers for this night. Expect ABC to win.
On Monday Dancing with the Stars continued to rule Mondays for ABC. 19.44 million, slightly up from the previous week...it should be even higher tomorrow for the semifinals! CBS's CSI: Miami was all-new at 10pm and did 17.18 million, down a bit from last week and the 100th episode of NBC's Deal or No Deal was way down against Stars, with 10.43 million, down from last week by nearly two million. 8-9pm sitcoms were hurt the most for CBS, doing 7.69 and 7.22 million, up a bit from last week...they have been going up, so a good sign. Two and a Half Men rose from those numbers and did 13.27 million, down slightly from last week, followed by an all-new King of Queens doing 13.42 million, up from last week. Fox aired a repeat of House doing 7.48 million (on par with last week), followed by 24 with 10.92 million, also on par from last week. ABC aired The Bachelor from 9:30-11 and did a decent 10.39 million, up from last week, and NBC aired hit Heroes at 9 with 11.14 million (down from the numbers from last week), followed by The Real Wedding Crashers at just 4.77 million, NBC has pulled the show now. The CW's comedies are still under performing on this night, with Chris at just 2.48 million.
Tuesday was Fox's night. American Idol did 25.47 million at 8 (down from last week) and House did 21.36 million, slightly up from last week. ABC was on the map thanks to Dancing with the Stars: The Results doing 16.86 million at 9 (slightly up from last week), with the one-hour finale of George Lopez episodes preceding it with 4.6 million. Boston Legal at 10 was at its normal levels with 9.98 million. CBS was third with new episodes of NCIS, The Unit from 8-10 (13.88 and 10.74 million, both up from last week), and an encore of Without a Trace aired at 10 with 8.15 million. NBC was fourth for for the night with both Law & Order spin-offs doing 6.94 and 10.94 million from 9-11pm (both keep going down each week), with another Dateline kicking the night off with 4.98 million. The CW aired a new Gilmore Girls (3.99 million) and Veronica Mars (1.85 million). The latter needs to go!
Wednesday again Fox got the boost from that show called American Idol, doing 28.2 million at 9pm, down slightly from last week. Bones preceded with 10.23 million at 8 for pre-Idol tune-in. CBS was second for the night with the Jericho finale doing just 7.72 million (down from last week) followed by a new Criminal Minds and a new CSI: NY doing 12.92 and 12.83 million, both slightly down from previous week. ABC followed with According to Jim & Notes from the Underbelly doing OK to open up the night with 6.35 and 5.7 million (both slightly down from last week), followed by According to Jim & George Lopez encores doing 4.55 and 4.22 million better than last week's 4.02 million of a Lost encore and an all-new Lost closed the night off with a solid 12.11 million. NBC was again fourth for the night with a new Thank God You're Here doing 5.27 million (down a million from last week), Crossing Jordan followed with just 5.34 million for a new episode, down from last week. A new Medium followed built on the lead-in with 7.91 million, up from last week. The CW was in the game at 8 with America's Next Top Model doing a solid 4.92 million, followed by One Tree Hill doing 2.95 million.
On Thursday we saw CBS and ABC take control. Grey's Anatomy for ABC at 9pm did 19.58 million, down from last week. A new Ugly Betty opened the night off with 9.63 million, also down from last week. A special preview of Traveler aired at 10pm and did just 8.61 million...if it can do 6-8 million for its summer airings, that should be good enough. CBS's Survivor: Fiji was first at 8 with 13.77 million, slightly up from last week. A new CSI and a special night & time season finale of Without a Trace followed with 18.75 and 14.31 million. Fox was third with two-hours of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? with 9.32 million and 8.7 million. NBC was fourth in viewers with all-new episodes of its comedies and an all-new ER, which just did 9.39 million, but up from last week's series low. And CW aired new episodes of its Thursday dramas doing 3.43 and 2.9 million, both again down from last week.
Friday (numbers not counted in our ratings), saw CBS win the night with its dramas, but not as much as they were doing in the fall and early winter. NBC did much better from 8-10 with Dateline and it looks like that is helping Law & Order at 10. ABC aired a repeat of Grey's Anatomy from Thursday and was third followed by a two-hour 20/20. The CW did decent for its WWE coverage, but it is not doing as well as in the winter, though up from last week for fourth place. Fox aired a movie for fifth.
Saturday ratings saw CBS (for viewers) and ABC (for 18-49) do decent, with Fox and NBC trailing. ABC saw so-so numbers for an NBA Playoff game. Fox's NASCAR did slightly worse. As for tonight, ABC will win with its normal line-up. As for this week in general, it should be like last week as series continue to go up in anticipation of season finales!

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of April 30-May 6)

King of the Hill (Fox) 2 episodes - 3.09 million for a repeat and 4.19 million for a new episode, new episode was up slightly from previous week.
The Simpsons (Fox) 2 episodes - 7.77 million for a new episode followed by a repeat at 8.08 million...new was up a bit from previous week and the repeat was down a bit from previous week.
Family Guy (Fox) - 7.95 million for a new episode, slightly down from lead-in for a second straight week, but up in other categories such as HH and 18-49.
American Dad (Fox) - 6.31 million, down from last week a bit.

Monday Sitcoms

How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode did 7.69 million...up from previous week.
Old Christine (CBS) - 7.82 million, up 1/2 million from last week.
Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 13.27 million...down about 1/2 million from last week.
King of Queens (CBS) - 13.42 million ... up nearly 1/2 million from last week.
CW Monday Comedies: Chris, All of Us, Girfriends. All-new episode of Chris started it off with 2.48 million, followed by a new episode of All of Us at 2.29 million, and the one-hour finale of Girlfriends did 2.89 million.

Tuesday Sitcoms

George Lopez (ABC) - One-hour finale did 4.6 million...not too good.

Wednesday Sitcoms

According to Jim (ABC) - New episode did 6.35 million, slightly down from last week.
Notes from the Underbelly (ABC) - 5.7 million, slightly down from last week's 6.0 million, but down still from three weeks ago's 6.26 million.

Thursday Sitcoms

My Name is Earl (NBC) - 6.94 million for another expanded episode thru 8:42, down from last week.
The Office (NBC) - 7.17 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating for an expanded episode through 9:23. Both a bit up from last week.
Scrubs (NBC) - 5.31 million for an expanded episode that started at 9:23 thru 10:01, up slightly from last week.

Friday Sitcoms
None.

Saturday Sitcoms
None.

Airing tonight (Sunday) are new episodes of Fox comedies.

Summing it up. Two and a Half Men, Old Christine, and King of Queens were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as The Office, My Name is Earl) or just plain old terrible (George Lopez, All of Us).

Remember to come join us all this week, for the official fall 2007 schedules for the networks, in edition to our news!

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Upfront Rumblings; Mini-DVD Review: The Chipmunks Go to the Movies (May 22)

We interrupt our regular scheduled Saturday blog for an update on the network upfronts. This is probably the busiest TV weekend of the year--the weekend before the network upfronts start. Latest buzz:

ABC:
Drama Pick-Ups: Dirty Sexy Money, Private Practice, Cashmere Mafia, Big Shots (aka Perfect Gentlemen), Pushing Daisies, Eli Stone, and Women's Murder Club.
Sitcom Pick-Ups: Sam I Am, Cavemen, and Carpoolers.
Still Could Be Picked Up Dramas: Football Wives
Still Could Be Picked Up Sitcoms: The Middle, The Hill, Miss/Guided
No Shot: Marlowe
Possible On the Bubble Current Series Renewals: Notes from the Underbelly (13 episodes), Knights of Prosperity (9 episodes), October Road (TBD episodes)
Comments: There have been some expense issues for some series like Football Wives & Marlowe. Women's Murder Club will be very cheap to produce so ABC will pick that up over Marlowe. Football Wives could still get picked-up as it could be a key series for ABC next season. They can premiere it in January or even after the Dancing with the Stars season finale in mid-November. Sitcom wise, ABC's only sure thing was Sam I Am...rumor was The Middle and Miss/Guided were going to be picked-up for the fall, but now they decided to pick-up Cavemen and Carpoolers instead, but both most likely will be for mid-season. ABC can still pick up The Middle and a traditional sitcom like The Hill. As for the current series, look for Underbelly and October Road to be renewed and their is an outside chance that The Knights of Prosperity will return with 9 new episodes to go along with the few unaired episodes from this season. Mix reports so far for George Lopez...some sources say it is canceled and some say it will return mid-season. According to Jim has a less of a chance to return. And What About Brian looks like will not return for a third season.

CBS:
Drama Pick-Ups: Swingtown, Viva Laughlin, Cane (AKA: Los Duques), Babylon Fields.
Sitcom Pick-Ups: None.
Still Could Be Picked Up Dramas: The Man
Still Could Be Picked Up Sitcoms: 1321 Clover
No Shot: I'm in Hell
Possible On the Bubble Current Series Renewals: Jericho (13 episodes), Close to Home (13 episodes), The Unit
Comments: CBS might not pick up a sitcom for the fall as the slate has been weak and they might be forced to bring back New Adventures of Old Christine in the fall rather than mid-season. 1321 Clover is the only sitcom in contention now, with series like The Big Bang Theory far behind. There is word that Jericho will be back for 13 episodes and same goes for Close to Home. Both will probably not be part of fall though. The Unit might also not be, as The Man has gotten closer to a pick-up, CBS might try that on Tuesdays for the fall. The Jason Biggs comedy I'm in Hell is dead and has no shot really of a pick-up...and The Class has no shot of a second season really. The Amazing Race will likely return in January or March.

NBC:
Drama Pick-Ups: Chuck, Life, Journeyman, Bionic Woman, Lipstick Jungle.
Sitcom Pick-Ups: None.
Still Could Be Picked Up Dramas: None.
Still Could Be Picked Up Sitcoms: Business Crowd, I.T. Crowd, Lipshitz Saves the World
No Shot: Mastersons of Manhattan
On the Bubble Current Series Renewals: Friday Night Lights, Scrubs (18 episodes)
Comments: As for NBC, so far no sitcom pick-ups but word is Business Crowd or I.T. Crowd will be picked-up for the fall while the other is saved for mid-season. Lipshitz Saves the World is also in consideration. On the drama front, there is word that Lipstick Jungle has been picked-up, but for mid-season. So NBC could potentially have two series that starts with "Lip"...odd. NBC has announced that Scrubs will indeed return to the network for one final season for 18 episodes...maybe for the fall or another January start. Still no word on Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, but Crossing Jordan is about as good as dead right now it seems.

FOX:
Drama Pick-Ups: Sarah Connor Chronicles, New Amsterdam, K-Ville
Sitcom Pick-Ups: Back To You, The Return of Jezebel James, Rules for Starting Over
Still Could Be Picked Up Dramas: Nurses, The Apostle, Them, Canterbury's Law, Company Man
Still Could Be Picked Up Sitcoms: Animals
No Shot: Supreme Courtships
On the Bubble Current Series Renewals: 'Til Death
Comments: Fox has picked-up three sitcoms so far and three dramas. They are in contention to pick-up a few more dramas even and maybe an animated sitcom. It looks like Kirstie Allie's sitcom is dead and the drama Supreme Courtships was written off days ago. Fox will bring back 'Til Death for a second season to join the three new comedies on the new Wednesday comedy block with Bones either moving to Thursdays or Fridays.

The CW:
Drama Pick-Ups: Gossip Girls, Reaper
Sitcom Pick-Ups: None
Still Could Be Picked Up Dramas: Wild at Heart, World According to Barnes
Still Could Be Picked Up Sitcoms: Aliens in America, Hell on Earth, Eight Days a Week
No Shot: Spellbound
On the Bubble Current Series Renewals: One Tree Hill, Supernatural
Comments: No Veronica Mars has not been picked-up yet! I don't think it will be either. So far no sitcoms have been picked up but Aliens in America, Hell on Earth are close to...one will be for the fall, one will be for mid-season. It seems Girlfriends and The Game will return. Two new dramas so far have been officially picked-up, with two more possibly to follow. Look for Supernatural and One Tree Hill to return but with new nights. Everybody Hates Chris, America's Next Top Model and Smallville will be the only locks to stay in their current positions...and well WWE Smackdown!

Check back periodically as we get more updates all-weekend long! I don't sleep during upfronts week!

Join us all next week (May 14-17) bright and early for the fall schedules. I assure you we will be among the first ones to post the fall line-ups for each network.

And now back to our regularly scheduled blog programming:

Welcome to another edition of mini-DVD reviews. This week we take a look at Paramount Home Entertainment's The Chipmunks Go to the Movies. The Chipmunks Go to the Movies is a continuation of Alvin and the Chipmunks from 1990 where the Chipmunks re-enact your favorite classic movies like Star Trek, Batman and Honey I Shrunk the Kids! See my mini-DVD review of The Chipmunks Go to the Movies:

Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Chipmunks Go to the Movies (Paramount, $14.99) brings three episodes from the short-lived 13 episode series. This is the fourth set from Paramount featuring the Chipmunks series. The last set was the Valentine's set set. Previously we had the Halloween and Christmas specials releases. Paramount has also released the Chipmunk feature film from 1987 on a separate set...so five sets really. This set has three episodes from the 1990 series featuring spoofs on Batman, Star Trek & Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. The episode titles are "Star Wreck," "Batmunk," and "Funny...We Shrunk the Adults." Why not just bring all 13 on two discs or something? It doesn't make sense to me why just three episodes. Each episode runs 21:30 or so, but there are NO closing credits! Very strange! No chapter stops like previous Chipmunk sets. Packaging is simple and in the same line as the previous sets--a nice simple case with the disc inside with an insert for Chipmunks.com. The menu screen has Play All and Episode Selection. The video and audio are decent and very watchable.
I highly do recommend any fan to pick up this set. New fans might also want to see this hilarious take on popular films, but I am hoping Paramount (or any other studio) releases the series on DVD in order with the classic episodes, and not just select episodes from The Chipmunks years. I like the old style animation the series had on NBC from 1983-87...why aren't they coming to DVD first?? I want to see The C-Team episode with Mr. T again! So, hopefully we get the series on DVD from the start next, but for now go out and buy this set and watch Alvin as The Joker and more!
-- Reviewed by Pavan

(4/5 stars)

To purchase the DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
Amazon.com

Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com Full DVD Reviews Page
Alvin & the Chipmunks TV.com Page
Chipmunks.com

Friday, May 11, 2007

SitcomsOnline.com 2007-08 Upfront Preview: The CW; TV Land July Highlights; ION Television June Highlights

With potentially 4 or 5 veteran series leaving, it will be up to The CW development slate to find some hits. Say goodbye to favorites 7th Heaven, Gilmore Girls, Reba and possibly Veronica Mars. Smallville and America's Next Top Model will carry the network.
Here is the SitcomsOnline.com The CW 2007-08 preview:

New Series Already Picked-Up: None.
New Series We Think That Are Almost Good To Go: Aliens in America (sitcom), Gossip Girl (drama), Reaper (drama), Spellbound (drama) and Wild at Heart (drama).
New Series Perhaps Picked-Up for Mid-Season: The World According to Barnes (drama) and Hell on Earth (sitcom).

OUR FALL 2007 PREDICTION:

Sundays
5:00PM Various Repeats
6:00PM Various Repeats
7:00PM America's Next Top Model Encore
8:00PM Supernatural
9:00PM Spellbound (NEW)

Mondays
8:00PM Everybody Hates Chris
8:30PM Aliens in America (NEW)
9:00PM Girlfriends
9:30PM The Game

Tuesdays
8:00PM Wild at Heart (NEW)
9:00PM One Tree Hill / Pussycat Dolls

Wednesdays
8:00PM America's Next Top Model
9:00PM Gossip Girl (NEW)

Thursdays
8:00PM Smallville
9:00PM Reaper (NEW)

Fridays
8:00PM WWE Smackdown!

Comments: This is another tough prediction. Veronica Mars is probably dead and One Tree Hill & Supernatural will return I think. Mondays I think The CW will stick with the comedies, but add another single camera sitcom to go with Chris...possibly Aliens in America or the Kyla Pratt sitcom Hell on Earth. Girlfriends will probably have to come back to go with The Game, as both are traditional sitcoms, and CW has none in development. Tuesdays with Gilmore Girls out of the mix they could go with the Gossip Girl or Wild at Heart, I choose the latter and maybe One Tree Hill can move from Wednesday to Tuesday. Wednesday will of course have Next Top Model followed by Gossip Girl maybe. Thursday I put Reaper out of Smallville with Supernatural moving to Sundays leading into new drama Spellbound. You can say goodbye to favorites 7th Heaven, Gilmore Girls, Reba, All of Us and Veronica Mars. And shows like Runaway. Reality hit Beauty and the Geek will probably be back for mid-season in between Top Model cycles. Pussycat Girls could start for the fall and delay One Tree Hill a bit.

Remember, next Thursday (May 17) is the actual date when we will find out The CW's plans for the 2006-07 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 next week for all the final schedules released by all the networks! We will put them up as soon as they are released by the networks, so this will be your home to see them first!

TV Land announced its July highlights today. The summer marathons (we announced last week) which will air 10pm-4:30am starting June 4, will continue in July through July 22. Starting July 23 the regular scheduled shows from 10p-4:30a will return. The other July highlights include The Jeffersons Go to Hawaii 4-part episode airing on the 4th of July to-be-continued-free from 8-10pm. Friday movies include the premieres of The Negotiator, Dragnet, and the Elvis movie Speedway.
TV Land Confidential returns for a second season starting July 11 airing Wednesdays a 10! Just when you thought you heard it all. TV Land Confidential brings you the stories behind your favorite TV shows from the people who were there: the stars, producers, network executives and others in the know. Sure, you’ve seen the shows. You know all the characters. You know all the storylines, but here are the stories you haven’t heard. TV Land Confidential reveals all the behind-the-scenes secrets! Some of the topics that will be covered this season include: How did What's Happening!! get a second chance at life and why didn't Larry Hagman appear in the Jeannie reunion movies? And how did Balki come up with that crazy accent on Perfect Strangers?
And for you What's Happening Now!! fans, as of now no new episodes are scheduled for July. We will get the entire first season in June on TV Land. Let's hope we get more new episodes soon after.

ION Television has announced its June schedule. There are no changes to the regular line-up. Remember when we said they will air the series Calvin Ayre Wild Card Poker the week of May 28 at 10pm? It is now confirmed that it is only a week-long series. The finale will air Saturday, June 2 from 8-11pm. Diagnosis Murder will return to the weekday line-up after a week off on June 4 in its regular 9pm slot, shifting The Wonder Years back to its 10pm slot after a week at 9pm.
ION weekend movies include Superman: The Movie and The Principal. Joining ION on June 29 every Friday through Sunday from 7-11PM will be programming from the RHI Entertainment library. Classic TV movies, mini-series and new original movies will be airing. The TV movies for this month include Broken Vows and Lonesome Dove.
You will want to come back next month when we announce the ION July line-up. There is expected to be changes to the line-up with some new additions, including possibly fan favorite Perfect Strangers! Don't be ridiculous! Great stuff! We will have more on July when announced, and of course more RHI programming will air with even original new movies.
But for now click HERE for the June highlights!

Finally, To celebrate Mother's Day - Princess Cruises is reuniting television's favorite mothers and daughters to christen its newest cruise ship, Emerald Princess: Florence Henderson & Susan Olsen of The Brady Bunch and Marion Ross & Erin Moran of Happy Days! The TV icons will crack the bottle of champagne to christen the ship in Athens, Greece -- the birthplace of Mother's Day -- on May 13. Gavin McLeod, former "Captain Stubing" of The Love Boat, will officiate.

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.

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

SitcomsOnline.com 2007-08 Upfront Preview: CBS; Notes on ABC, TV Land, AmericanLife and TV One

CBS continues to be the network that will have the least amount of changes to its fall schedule. I think we will see a few moves and some cancellations though.
Here is the SitcomsOnline.com CBS 2007-08 preview:

New Series Already Picked-Up: None
New Series We Think That Are Almost Good To Go: The Man (drama), Los Duques (drama), Big Bang Theory (sitcom) and Babylon Fields (drama).
New Series Perhaps Picked-Up for Mid-Season: Swingtown (drama), Viva Laughlin (drama), and Kohan & Mutchnick Project (sitcom)

OUR FALL 2007 PREDICTION:

Sundays
7:00PM 60 Minutes
8:00PM Cold Case
9:00PM The Man (NEW)
10:00PM Without a Trace

Mondays
8:00PM How I Met Your Mother
8:30PM The Big Bang Theory (NEW)
9:00PM Two and a Half Men
9:30PM Rules of Engagement
10:00PM CSI: Miami

Tuesdays
8:00PM Navy NCIS
9:00PM The Unit
10:00PM CSI: NY

Wednesdays
8:00PM The Amazing Race
9:00PM Criminal Minds
10:00PM Shark

Thursdays
8:00PM Survivor
9:00PM CSI
10:00PM Los Duques (NEW)

Fridays
8:00PM Ghost Whisperer
9:00PM Babylon Fields (NEW)
10:00PM NUMB3RS

Saturdays
8:00PM Crime Repeats
9:00PM Crime Repeats or Close to Home
10:00PM 48 Hours Mystery

Comments: CBS will probably only pick up one sitcom for the fall. Their sitcom development has been terrible quite frankly so we might see on the bubble sitcoms return. This is what I said last year about Close to Home: "Close to Home is on the bubble for CBS, yet it wins its slot regularly on Friday nights, so I think it will return. Maybe CBS can try it on Saturdays to spice up that night." And I was right on the money...and I think this time it might move to Saturdays or just be gone outright as CBS wants to get a bit younger on Fridays.
Series canceled or will be include The Class, Jericho, Smith, 3 LBS, & The King of Queens. I think CBS will have to bring back Old Christine for mid-season as its sitcom development was bad...maybe they pick up one newbie for mid-season. The Class and Jericho are most likely done, but Jericho has a slight chance, but CBS's drama pilots have come out better than expected. Their best drama is probably Swingtown, but it is nothing like a CBS show, so I had no idea where to slot it in the fall. Maybe they can find a fit for mid-season, to say Wednesdays at 8? Wednesdays at 8 is very hard to schedule for CBS. Maybe they will have Amazing Race to that slot in the fall. I really think CSI: NY will move to the cursed CBS Tuesday at 10 slot. That will help that slot and CSI: NY has battled the original Law & Order well in the past, so I think it can tackle a declining Law & Order: SVU. Maybe they will try Shark out of Criminal Minds so CBS can try something else post-CSI, like Los Duques.

Remember, next Wednesday (May 16) is the actual date when we will find out CBS's plans for the 2007-08 season. So, come on back next Wednesday 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 Fox's upfront.

ABC has pulled the 9:30pm airing of Notes from the Underbelly for tonight for a repeat of George Lopez. Notes from the Underbelly will still air in its regular 8:30pm slot.
On TV Land, they will be finally airing new episodes of What's Happening Now!! and not the same 12 episodes over and over. Starting Tuesday, May 29 you can catch episodes never seen on TV Land before of the hit follow-up series. The series lasted 66 episodes, so let's hope we see them all. The series airs weekdays at 7am ET/PT on TV Land. Program those DVRs, TiVos, VCRs, or whatever. For more information on the new episodes click HERE.
AmericanLife TV has acquired the classic '60s drama Mission: Impossible to its primetime classic TV line-up! The series will debut October 2007! For full details click HERE.
In addition to the TV One Mother's Day marathon we mentioned in the May highlights, TV One is asking us to vote for the top TV One mom...Mary Jenkins of 227 or Florida Evans of Good Times? Vote for your fav TV mom, plus enter for a chance to win $25,000 by clicking HERE.

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

SitcomsOnline.com 2007-08 Upfront Preview: ABC; Some ABC, NBC Notes; DVD News AND MUCH MORE!

The network with the most talked about pilots will be once again ABC! Again dramas will rule but the one comedy probably getting the most buzz is actually on ABC this year. Will ABC bring back any of their returning comedies? We shall see...
Here is the SitcomsOnline.com ABC 2007-08 preview:

New Series Already Picked-Up: None.
New Series We Think That Are Almost Good To Go: Private Practice (drama, GA spin-off), Dirty Sexy Money (drama), Perfect Gentlemen (drama), Pushing Daisies (drama), Football Wives (drama), Marlowe (drama), Sam I Am (sitcom).
New Series Perhaps Picked-Up for Mid-Season: Cashmere Mafia (drama), Eli Stone (drama), Cavemen (sitcom) and Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office (sitcom)

OUR FALL 2007 PREDICTION:

Sundays
7:00PM America's Funniest Home Videos
8:00PM Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00PM Desperate Housewives
10:00PM Perfect Gentlemen (NEW)

Mondays
8:00PM Dancing with the Stars
9:30PM Sam I Am (NEW!)
10:00PM Brothers & Sisters

Tuesdays
8:00PM Marlowe (NEW)
9:00PM Dancing with the Stars: The Results
10:00PM Dirty Sexy Money (NEW)

Wednesdays
8:00PM October Road
9:00PM Private Practice (NEW)
10:00PM Pushing Daisies (NEW)

Thursdays
8:00PM Ugly Betty
9:00PM Grey's Anatomy
10:00PM Football Wives (NEW)

Fridays
8:00PM Men in Trees
9:00PM Boston Legal
10:00PM 20/20

Saturdays
8:00PM College Football

Comments: For the fall ABC is not likely to have a lot of sitcoms. One at most I think, and that is the most buzzed sitcom probably, Sam I Am, starring Christina Applegate. It will probably not debut until a few weeks after the season starts as ABC is likely to run a few two-hour Dancing with the Stars episodes...I think Brothers & Sisters would do well on this night after Stars those few weeks. I think ABC should keep Stars Mondays at 8 ad Tuesdays at 9, and launch a procedural Tuesday at 8. I would have preferred Women's Murder Club, but it doesn't look like that pilot will make it and Marlowe will. Tuesdays at 10 is what ABC should go after. Boston Legal is declining and I think a Friday move would be ideal...it would draw there, as ABC can make headways in the Tuesday at 10 slot with a high power project, so it is worth the risk. Maybe Dirty Sexy Money could take the hour away from the once unstoppable Law & Order: SVU. Wednesday will also be big if Private Practice does at least 75% of GA's numbers. Lost will return in February most likely for 16 straight weeks, maybe Wednesday at 8 would be good. ABC is likely going to air repeat free for most of its shows, so they can test new mid-season shows more than usual. Hope to see Cashmere Mafia, Eli Stone, etc. Will ABC get Scrubs? And do they really need it? The only thing I can see is Wednesdays at 8, followed by something like Knights of Prosperity or the new Cavemen, then Lost and then maybe Private Practice moving to 10PM for the rest of the season to avoid Idol? I guess ABC will worry about that when the time comes, first priority is the fall. Look for Football Wives to do big...they have to pick it up, I guarantee it will be a BIG hit. Series that will be canceled or are ending include: What About Brian, Six Degrees, The Nine, According to Jim, Show Me the Money, Day Break, The Great American Dream Vote, Big Day, In Case of Emergency, George Lopez and Help Me Help You. I will bring back on the bubble sitcoms Notes from the Underbelly & The Knights of Prosperity and try them somewhere. The Bachelor, Wife Swap & Supernanny will all return for mid-season or maybe December. Looking at the fall line-up, ABC has at least one strong show each night (such as Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy...their 9pm shows are very strong and they anchor the nights well) and hopefully they can build or maintain ratings with new shows such as Dirty Sexy Money and Perfect Gentlemen. It should be another ratings plus for ABC in the fall. They just have to find a way to maintain it for that little lull from December to February. I think they have a plan and will do well, by airing alternate series, movies, and specials in December and January.
Anyway, this season ABC had some decent hits like Ugly Betty and Brothers & Sisters and to some extent Men in Trees and October Road. But this coming year will be bigger I think. I see Private Practice, Football Wives and Dirty Sexy Money breaking out big time...maybe the way Lost, Desperate Housewives & Grey's Anatomy did in 2004-05 season and Perfect Gentleman will be also pretty big maybe.
Click here to see our detailed information on all of ABC's sitcom pilots. And here for ABC's drama pilots.

Remember, next Tuesday (May 15) is the actual date when we will find out ABC's plans for the 2007-08 season. So, come on back next Tuesday 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 CBS's upfront.

As for some network news, as we mentioned up top, ABC has decided to air 16 episodes next season of Lost. The series will end in May 2010, so ABC will air three more seasons of 16 straight episodes...that's the final 48 episodes. Everything will be answered and it will not just end without anyone knowing. There is a planned ending. Can't wait, but I surely want the time to go slow so we can enjoy it!
Meanwhile, NBC has picked up Medium for 2007-08, which is no surprise. And in immediate news, NBC has pulled The Real Wedding Crashers from Mondays at 10 and will move Law & Order: Criminal Intent there for its final two episodes of the season. Its current Tuesday at 9 slot will be encores now. So maybe it looks good for that show to return next season and the original will be on the bubble?

Warner Home Video had their annual chat last night at HTF. While there were no definite news on sitcoms, series such as Perfect Strangers & Family Matters are being evaluated for a release in 2008. Finally! Warner will consider season two's of Night Court, Growing Pains, but there are no plans yet. And they flat out said nothing in the works for sitcoms such as Hogan Family & Head of the Class. You can read the full chat transcript here. TVShowsonDVD.com has a good highlight item, if you want to read that instead.

Mother's Day is on Sunday, but the Biography Channel is celebrating the day all-week with bios on your favorite TV moms past and present! The week-long stunt started last night actually with a Biography on Julia Louise-Dreyfus, the mom on The New Adventures of Old Christine. The Bios air all week at 8pm ET/9pm PT: Tonight it is Carolyn Jones from The Addams Family; Wednesday it is Elizabeth Montgomery of Bewitched; Patrica Heaton of Everybody Loves Raymond is Thursday; and Donna Reed of The Donna Reed Show is on Friday.

Monday, May 07, 2007

SitcomsOnline.com 2007-08 Upfront Preview: NBC; TV Land June Change

For NBC it will be all about starting the night off with a reality/game show to set up the dramas. NBC's Thursday comedy block is not what it used to be, but it has a cult audience and maybe another one of those shows will be launched this fall. NBC is looking for a drama hit as some of the older series are running out of gas.
Here is the SitcomsOnline.com NBC 2007-08 preview:

New Series Already Picked-Up: None.
New Series We Think That Are Almost Good To Go: Lipstick Jungle (drama), Journeyman (drama), Fort Pit (drama), and The I.T. Crowd (sitcom).
New Series Perhaps Picked-Up for Mid-Season: The Mastersons of Manhattan (sitcom), Life (drama), and Bionic Woman (drama)

OUR FALL 2007 PREDICTION:

Sundays
7:00PM Football Night in America
8:00PM Sunday Night Football

Mondays
8:00PM Deal or No Deal
9:00PM Heroes
10:00PM Journeyman (NEW)

Tuesdays
8:00PM 1 vs. 100
9:00PM Fort Pit (NEW)
10:00PM Law & Order: SVU

Wednesdays
8:00PM Thank God You're Here
9:00PM Medium
10:00PM Lipstick Jungle (NEW)

Thursdays
8:00PM My Name is Earl
8:30PM The I.T. Crowd (NEW)
9:00PM The Office
9:30PM 30 Rock
10:00PM ER

Fridays
8:00PM Deal or No Deal
9:00PM Friday Night Lights
10:00PM Las Vegas

Saturdays
8:00PM Dateline NBC
9:00PM Drama Repeats
10:00PM Drama Repeats

Comments: So what about Crossing Jordan, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Law & Order? I say they will be benched until January after the NFL ends and they will bring them to Sundays for a repeat free season...but maybe one will be a goner. The Apprentice might not be back until next winter either...I wish that would just die already. The Black Donnellys, Studio 60, Kidnapped, Identity, Raines, 20 Good Years, Andy Barker, and Real Wedding Crashers are all (or will be) canceled or ended. I really think NBC will only go with one comedy night once again, as we saw what happened to Wednesdays 8-9pm last year. Scrubs is probably gone from NBC, and on the way to ABC for next winter. There is a good chance that The Office will be an anchor show on Thursdays at 9, but I don't think it will do as well as it did at 8:30, but they have to move it to 9pm to try and launch another similar sitcom, as 30 Rock is not a strong show to anchor an hour. So NBC will be multi-camera sitcom-less in the fall, but I have them picking up The Mastersons of Manhattan for mid-season. Life and Bionic Woman could get orders for mid-season. Maybe another drama called Chuck could get in. NBC only has a total of eight drama projects, so that means maybe 1/2 or more could get picked up. NBC had a dismal season once again, but Heroes was a bright spot, as the high power project Studio 60 was a bust. Friday Night Lights was not a good either, but I see them bringing it back to try again. They can use Deal or No Deal on Fridays again as Sundays will be Football, and have 1 vs. 100 on another night, say Tuesday. Will NBC revamp the schedule they released at upfront once again after releasing it, like it did last year? We shall see.

Remember, next Monday (May 14) is the actual date when we will find out NBC's plans for the 2007-08 season. So, come on back next Monday 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 ABC's upfront.

TV Land has announced that it has changed its late night schedule starting for June. Starting June 4, each weeknight starting at 10pm will have three nightly mini-marathons lasting until 4:30am. Each marathon will consist of four episodes. Mondays will be The Cosby Show, Three's Company & Good Times; Tuesdays will be M*A*S*H, Sanford & Son, & The Jeffersons; Wednesdays will be Sanford & Son, M*A*S*H, & All in the Family; Thursdays will be The Andy Griffith Show, I Love Lucy & Leave it to Beaver; and Fridays will be the Friday Movie, M*A*S*H & Star Trek. Other changes include all Andy Griffith Saturday from 9pm-1:10am with a reairing on Sundays from 7-10pm. So, this means the current 10pm-4:30am line-up will only be on Sundays. The only other change is at 4:30am everynight with The Jeffersons taking over for Sanford & Son. There are no other changes in the daytime and will remain the same as it is now.
What's Happening Now!!, which is airing weekdays at 7am, will get more new episodes starting May 29, but we will let you know when we learn more.
For now click HERE for the list of changes for this nightly marathon changes.

We shall be back with more news, if any.

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Week 33 Numbers (First Four Nights); How the Sitcoms Did

We interrupt our regularly scheduled Sunday blog for an important announcement! Stay tuned all this week for our annual upfront previews! We will take a look at each network all this week and what we think will happen this fall. First up will be NBC tomorrow, followed by ABC on Tuesday, CBS Wednesday, Fox Thursday and The CW Friday. The upfronts start a week from Monday on May 14 with NBC..let's see if we will be close to being right. We now return to the Weekly Ratings post right here on the SitcomsOnline.com News Blog!

Week 33 numbers (first four nights, Mon-Thu):

Households: Fox: 8.9/14.1; ABC: 8.3/13.3; CBS: 7.9/12.8; NBC: 5.2/8.3; The CW: 2.1/3.3; MNT: 0.6/1.0.
Total Viewers: Fox: 14.83 million; ABC: 12.66 million; CBS: 12.4 million; NBC: 7.92 million; The CW: 3.29 million; MNT: 0.92 million.
Adults 18-49: Fox: 5.6/15.2; ABC: 4.9/12.2; CBS: 4.7/11.6; NBC: 3.4/8.4; The CW: 1.2/3.1; MNT: 0.4/0.9.

Analysis: The 33rd week saw Fox in front again with the usual leader American Idol. Through the first four nights, Fox has the lead, followed by ABC and CBS a close third in HH, viewers and 18-49. NBC still remains a distant 4th place in all categories. As usual, Friday and Saturday numbers are not above, since final numbers are not available yet. Tonight has ABC airing all-new episodes and CBS is also all new, the battle will be with them for viewers with ABC in command for 18-49 for sure. Fox's comedies are also all-new (except 7p & 8:30) and NBC has yet another Dateline & Deal or No Deal and a two-hour special SL: In the '90s. Expect ABC to win.
On Monday Dancing with the Stars continued to take over Mondays for ABC. 18.97 million, slightly up from the previous week. CBS's CSI: Miami was all-new at 10pm and did 17.24 million, up a bit from last week and NBC's Deal or No Deal was way down against Stars, with 12.09 million, but up from last week by over a million. CBS's sitcoms were all-new tonight. 8-9pm sitcoms were hurt the most for CBS, doing 7.24 and 7.32 million, up a bit from last week. Two and a Half Men rose from those numbers and did 13.71 million (up over 1.5 million from last week), followed by an all-new King of Queens doing 13.03 million, also up from last week. Fox aired a repeat of House doing 7.43 million (almost up 3 million from Drive last week), followed by 24 with 10.93 million, slightly up from last week. ABC aired The Bachelor from 9:45-11 and did a decent 9.8 million, up from last week, and NBC aired hit Heroes at 9 with 11.92 million (slightly down from the numbers from last week), followed by second episode of the new reality show The Real Wedding Crashers at just 5.61 million, down over a million from the premiere. The CW's comedies are still under performing on this night, with Chris down from last week's 3.01 million to just 2.42 million.
Tuesday was Fox's night. American Idol did 26.73 million at 8 (up slightly from last week) and House did 21.13 million, slightly up from last week. ABC was on the map thanks to Dancing with the Stars: The Results doing 16.26 million at 9 (slightly down from last week), with two George Lopez episodes preceding it with 4.45 and 4.61 million. Boston Legal at 10 was at its normal levels with 9.88 million. CBS was third with new episodes of NCIS, The Unit from 8-10 (13.83 and 9.7 million, both slightly down from last week), and an encore of CSI: NY aired at 10 with 7.73 million. NBC was fourth for for the night with both Law & Order spin-offs doing 7.36 and 11.41 million from 9-11pm, with another Dateline kicking the night off with 5.39 million. The CW aired a new Gilmore Girls (4.08 million) and the return of Veronica Mars (2.35 million).
Wednesday again Fox got the boost from that show called American Idol, doing 28.75 million at 9pm, up nearly 2 million from last week's two-hour edition. Bones returned with 10.56 million at 8. CBS was second for the night with Jericho doing 8.03 million (up from last week's low) followed by a new Criminal Minds and a new CSI: NY doing 13.28 and 13.0 million. ABC followed with According to Jim & Notes from the Underbelly doing OK to open up the night with 6.4 and 6.0 million (both up from last week), followed by a Lost encore from last week doing just 4.02 million (they listened to me, as the encores are gone this week, sitcoms are in!) and an all-new Lost closed the night off with a solid 12.33 million. NBC was again fourth for the night with a new Thank God You're Here doing 6.23 million, Crossing Jordan followed with just 5.95 million for a new episode, down from last week. A new Medium followed built on the lead-in with 7.7 million, up from last week. The CW was in the game at 8 with America's Next Top Model doing a solid 5.23 million, followed by the return of One Tree Hill doing just 3.25 million.
On Thursday we saw ABC dominate with the two hour Grey's Anatomy from 9-11pm with 21.23 million A new Ugly Betty opened the night off with 10.68 million, up from last week. CBS's Survivor: Fiji was first at 8 with 13.74 million, but slightly down from last week. A new CSI and an all-new Shark followed with 19.02 and 12.5 million, both down from last week, especially the latter. NBC was third in viewers with all-new episodes of its comedies and an all-new ER, which just did 7.78 million, a series low as it faced the ABC medical drama head to head. Fox was fourth with Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? with 9.02 million, a series low...and they closed the night with the final part of a two-week sweeps episode of Trading Spouses doing just 4.15 million. And CW aired new episodes of its Thursday dramas doing 3.59 and 3.11 million, both down from last week.
Friday (numbers not counted in our ratings), saw CBS win the night with its dramas, but not as much as they were doing in the fall and early winter. NBC did much better from 8-10 with Dateline and it looks like that helped Law & Order at 10 which did its best ratings in months and almost won the 10pm hour. ABC aired a repeat of Grey's Anatomy from Thursday and was third and 20/20 built on that and did well, but a better third place at 10pm. The CW did decent for its WWE coverage, but it is not doing as well as in the winter, though up from last week for fourth place. Fox aired encores of Nanny 911 & Bones and they were fifth.
Saturday ratings saw CBS (for viewers) and ABC (for 18-49) do decent, with Fox and NBC way behind. Meet the Fockers did well for ABC. As for tonight, ABC will win with its normal line-up. As for this week in general, it should be like last week as series continue to go up in anticipation of season finales!

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of April 6-22)

King of the Hill (Fox) 2 episodes - 3.51 and 4.14 million for two new episodes.
The Simpsons (Fox) 2 episodes - 7.57 million for a new episode followed by a repeat at 8.23 million
Family Guy (Fox) - 8.13 million for a new episode, slightly down from lead-in, but up in other categories such as HH and 18-49.
American Dad (Fox) - 6.71 million, is OK, but could be better.