It may only be Wednesday, but the networks didn't take a whole week this year to unveil their plans for the 2009-10 tube season, and while there are plenty of returning favorites ('Chuck' lives! So does 'Dollhouse' -- what?!) and new shows that will potentially snag spots on our TiVos, the biggest news of Upfront Week has been all the shows that have been kicked to that big TV cancellation heap in the sky.
Top TV Headlines
CBS Announces Fall Schedule
CBS' fall schedule is out, reports Variety. Sure to make headlines is 'The Mentalist,' which will now air Thurs. at 10PM after 'CSI.' Meanwhile, timeslots have also been filled for debut series like 'Accidentally on Purpose' (Mon., 8:30PM) and 'NCIS: Los Angeles' (Tues., 9PM), airing in-between 'NCIS' and 'The Good Wife.' And as an added bonus: the schedule reveals renewal orders for shows like 'How I Met Your Mother,' 'Old Christine' and Friday-night pick-up for 'Medium,' which was previously cancelled by NBC. Get the latest updates with our 2009 upfronts grid. (May 20)
CBS
CW Adds 'Melrose Place,' 'Vampire'
The CW is moving forward with three new drama series for next season. According to Variety, the network has given the OK to 'Melrose Place' -- a remake of the Fox series with Ashlee Simpson. Also getting a pick-up is Mischa Barton's 'The Beautiful Life,' along with the previously announced 'Vampire Diaries,' starring 'Lost''s Ian Somerhalder. No word on which show the CW will redo next. Get the latest updates with our 2009 upfronts grid. (May 20)
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NBC Wanted Oprah, Letterman First
In an unprecedented move, NBC is bringing 'The Jay Leno Show' to prime time this fall. But according to Variety, Leno wasn't actually the first person picked for the job. NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker says Oprah Winfrey declined a spot two years ago for a nightly series airing at 8PM. A similar offer was made to ratings rival David Letterman 10 years ago, who also declined. Third time's the charm? (May 20)
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Mitchell Returning to 'Lost'
Elizabeth Mitchell will reportedly be back for the last season of 'Lost,' scoops the Ausiello Files. Sources claim Mitchell will appear in an "unspecified number of episodes," despite a new role on ABC's 'V' remake and, you know, the fact that her character, Juliet, detonated a bomb at the end of this season's finale. This should keep 'Lost' fans guessing until next season. (May 20)
ABC
'Monsters vs. Aliens' Coming to TV
Nickelodeon is bringing 'Monsters vs. Aliens' to the small screen. The network has ordered a pilot of the box office smash hit, says the Hollywood Reporter, joining another big screen transfer: 'Kung Fu Panda: The Series.' Premiere dates for both series have yet to be determined. (May 20)
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ABC Unveils Fall Schedule
ABC has announced its fall schedule, reports Variety. Among the highlights: A new two-hour comedy lineup on Wednesdays, kicking off with Kelsey Grammer's 'Hank' at 8PM. And returning: 'Castle' will air Mondays at 10PM after 'Dancing With the Stars,' 'Ugly Betty' moves to Fridays, while 'Scrubs,' 'Better Off Ted' and 'The Bachelor' will sub in after 'Dancing''s ninth season ends. Meanwhile, newbies 'Deep End,' 'Happy Town' and 'V' wait for midseason. Noticeably absent from the schedule: 'According to Jim,' 'In the Motherhood' and 'Cupid' -- cancelled alongside 'Samantha Who?' and 'The Unusuals.' Get the latest updates with our 2009 upfronts grid. (May 19)
ABC
NBC Plots Fall Schedule
NBC is the latest network throwing its hat into the upfronts ring, reports EW.com. The network launched its 2019-10 lineup this afternoon, with shake-ups that include moving 'Southland' to Fridays and replacing 'My Name Is Earl' with 'SNL Weekend Update Thursday.' 'SNL' will later be replaced by 'Community,' which holds the 9:30PM spot until '30 Rock' returns. Newbie dramas 'Trauma' and 'Parenthood' will air Mondays and Wednesdays this fall, while shows like 'Day One,' '100 Questions' and 'Mercy' will have to wait for midseason. 'Chuck' fans will also have to wait for a midseason return -- but hey: at least it's coming back. Get the latest updates with our 2009 upfronts grid. . (May 19)
NBC
'Earl,' 'Unit' Cancelled; 'Medium' Eyes CBS
Two more shows have bitten the dust today. According to the Hollywood Reporter, CBS' 'The Unit' has been canceled, while NBC is parting ways with 'My Name Is Earl' after four seasons. However, hope remains for the karma-filled comedy, as both ABC and Fox are reportedly in talks to pick it up. Also eyeing another network is 'Medium.' The Ausiello Files scoops the Emmy-winning series will not be renewed by NBC, but CBS will snag it for a Friday-night launch opposite 'Ghost Whisperer.' Get the latest updates with our 2009 upfronts grid. (May 19)
NBC
Lifetime Meets 'Sheri'
Sherri Shepherd is coming to Lifetime. The network has picked up 12 episodes of 'Sherri,' reports the Hollywood Reporter, a new comedy series about a woman who lets her husband's girlfriend and illegitimate kids move into their house. Meanwhile, Shepherd will continue to serve as co-host of 'The View,' which should give 'Sherri' plenty of material to work with. (May 19)
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'Law & Order' Celebrates 20 Years
NBC has reportedly renewed 'Law & Order' for an impressive 20th season. It's all part of a 16-episode order that is scheduled to kick off sometime in midseason, according to Variety. However, NBC has yet to comment. Get the latest updates with our 2009 upfronts grid. (May 19)
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Canceled shows:
ABC:
- 'According to Jim'
- 'Cupid'
- 'In the Motherhood'
- 'Life on Mars'
- 'Samantha Who?'
- 'The Unusuals'
CBS:
- 'Eleventh Hour'
- 'Harper's Island'
- 'The Unit'
- 'Without a Trace'
- 'Worst Week'
Fox:
- 'King of the Hill'
- 'Sit Down, Shut Up'
- 'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles'
NBC:
- 'Kath & Kim'
- 'Kings'
- 'Knight Rider'
- 'Life'
- 'My Name Is Earl' (which has started a save-the-show campaign via Twitter (http://twitter.com/EarlTwitition )
Survivor' Photos
SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS Taj's husband Eddie, on Exile Island during the twelfth episode. Airs Thursday, May 7, 2009.
CBS
SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS Stephen Fishbach, John "JT" Thomas Jr., Erinn Lobdell, and Benjamin "Coach" Wade, during the thirteenth episode. Airs Thursday, May 14, 2009.
CBS
SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS Benjamin "Coach" Wade during the thirteenth episode. Airs Thursday, May 14, 2009.
CBS
SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS Taj Johnson-George, during the thirteenth episode. Airs Thursday, May 14, 2009.
CBS
SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS Erinn Lobdell, during the thirteenth episode. Airs Thursday, May 14, 2009.
CBS
SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS Benjamin "Coach" Wade, Erinn Lobdell, Taj Johnson-George, John "JT" Thomas Jr. and Stephen Fishbach, during the thirteenth episode. Airs Thursday, May 14, 2009.
CBS
SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS Erinn Lobdell, Taj Johnson-George, John "JT" Thomas Jr. and Stephen Fishbach, during the thirteenth episode. Airs Thursday, May 14, 2009.
CBS
SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS Erinn Lobdell, Taj Johnson-George, and Stephen Fishbach, during the thirteenth episode. Airs Thursday, May 14, 2009.
CBS
SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS Stephen Fishbach, during the thirteenth episode. Airs Thursday, May 14, 2009.
CBS
SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS Taj Johnson-George, Benjamin "Coach" Wade, Stephen Fishbach, John "JT" Thomas Jr., and Erinn Lobdell during the immunity challenge, "Chimney Sweep" during the thirteenth episode. Airs Thursday, May 14, 2009.
CBS
Other surprises among this week's announcements:
- That 'Scrubs,' which ended its eighth season on May 6 with an episode that was not only one of the best of the last few seasons, but which also could have served as a pretty terrific, fan-pleasing series finale, was picked up for another season at ABC, but with the regular cast returning on a very part-time basis
- That critically acclaimed 'Medium' was ditched by NBC, only to be picked up by CBS and slotted into the post-'Ghost Whisperer' timeslot on CBS' Friday night
- That NBC, in order to accommodate Jay Leno's nightly 10PM show, is "splitting" its season in two -- pre-Olympics fall and post-Olympics spring -- swapping shows in and out of various timeslots (and all this after it was revealed that Leno was the network's third choice -- after Oprah and David Letterman -- to helm to nightly primetime show)
- That CBS moved 'The Mentalist,' one of the only freshman hits this season, from its successful Tuesday night timeslot to Thursdays at 10PM, while the network also shifted its hit comedy 'The Big Bang Theory' from Mondays at 8PM to Mondays at 9:30PM, in an effort to build more buzz for the show
- That ABC finally killed off 'According to Jim,' while the other butt-of-critics' jokes, Fox's ''Til Death,' ironically, lives on
- That several shows that seemed like shoo-ins to make the new schedule didn't, like the CW's 'Gossip Girl' spin-off focusing on young Lily van der Woodsen and ABC's latest Shonda Rhimes creation, 'Inside the Box'
And trends among the new season lineups:
- The return of past TV faves, including Julianna Margulies, Christine Baranski and Chris Noth in CBS' 'The Good Wife'; Kelsey Grammer in ABC's 'Hank'; Patricia Heaton in ABC's 'The Middle'; Courteney Cox in ABC's 'Cougar Town'; 'Married ... With Children' dad Ed O'Neill in ABC's 'Modern Family'; Jenna Elfman in CBS' 'Accidentally on Purpose'; and 'Keen Eddie'/'Boston Legal'/'Fringe' star Mark Valley in Fox's 'Human Target,' one of the most buzzed-about new shows of the upfronts
- Other new series that sparked the most positive response during the upfronts: Fox's 'Family Guy' spin-off 'The Cleveland Show' and NBC's Joel McHale community college sitcom 'Community'
- The proliferation of new dramas that seem anxious to fill the void of the mystery drama genre that will be left when 'Lost' finishes its run on ABC next season, including ABC's own remake of 'V' and its dramas 'Flash Forward' and the 'Twin Peaks'-ish 'Happy Town' and NBC's 'Day One'; a slew of new medical dramas, including NBC's 'Trauma' and 'Mercy' and CBS' 'Three Rivers' and 'Miami Trauma'; and several remakes, including NBC's 'Parenthood,' ABC's 'Eastwick,' and the CW's 'Melrose Place' re-do
Reader Comments (1274)
debitra at 3:05PM on May 20th 2009
Dear CBS, why don't you cancel Survivor and Big Brother and leave the good shows alone!
Bob Davis at 3:08PM on May 20th 2009
I stopped watching TV except for baseball, football and hockey (pro and college plus college basketball). The rest is pure trash and the evening news? is a joke.
Jeanne at 3:10PM on May 20th 2009
debitra - I totally agree. These "Reality TV Shows" or "Talent Shows" are so far removed from "reality" I have seen and heard enough.
Leave the good program alone.
Dick at 3:10PM on May 20th 2009
All I can say is that I'm glad I have Netflix. A real bummer to loose "The Unit". One of the best shows.
Carol A. Westfall at 3:13PM on May 20th 2009
To cancel such a good show like Without a Trace is a travesty. I will not be watching CBS any longer, you take away good interesteing shows to put on such shows as numbers and all the other trash.
Carol A. Westfall at 3:11PM on May 20th 2009
Take off survivor and leave the good shows alone like Without a Trace. People actually enjoy this show.
Laura Gilmer at 3:12PM on May 20th 2009
How can you cancel "Without a Trace"? That is the best show on TV????????????????????????/
karen at 3:15PM on May 20th 2009
how in the world could cbs drop without a trace and pick up medium? iwould like to see trace returned!!!!!!
jlf at 3:13PM on May 20th 2009
Totally agrre! Reality TV has been way over done for year! Too bad The Unit got the axe
Jackson at 3:19PM on May 20th 2009
"Trace" was a quality show. Thus, I'm not surprised it's being cancelled.