CHICAGO– The full 2013-2014 Fall TV schedules for the five broadcast networks will be announced next week. Will NBC give “Hannibal” more time to find an audience? Will The CW close the book on “The Carrie Diaries”? Can CBS viewers plan to visit “Vegas” again?
Let’s take a look at the choices facing the major networks and break them down with final predictions for what to expect and what show to begin a letter-writing campaign for now.
CBS
The Eye Network made it incredibly easy on TV pundits this year by early-renewing nearly everything that is likely to return in the Fall. In fact, if it wasn’t renewed and isn’t named “Criminal Minds,” it’s probably NOT going to be renewed. “Minds” (and “Two and a Half Men”) had some contract issues to iron out and so wasn’t included in the wave of renewals. If somehow those contracts can’t be finalized, it could theoretically not be on the schedule but that wouldn’t be due to ratings.
Let’s start with the good news. Don’t worry about the following shows:
 Vegas Photo credit: CBS |
“2 Broke Girls”
“48 Hours”
“60 Minutes”
“The Amazing Race”
“The Big Bang Theory”
“Blue Bloods”
“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”
“Elementary”
“The Good Wife”
“Hawaii Five-0”
“How I Met Your Mother”
“The Mentalist”
“Mike & Molly”
“NCIS”
“NCIS: Los Angeles”
“Person of Interest”
“Survivor”
“Two and a Half Men”
“Undercover Boss”
What does that leave on this network of smash hits? Well, the network canceled “Made in Jersey” before some other shows had even premiered. It leaves only “CSI: NY,” “Vegas,” “Golden Boy,” and “Rules of Engagement” as question marks. I predicted they’d cancel “CSI: NY” last year and there’s even more reason to do so this time around. I don’t see how it’s back. “Vegas” is well-liked and could survive for some time on Friday nights but it’s too expensive to be given that fate. They can’t pay the star salaries for a modest Friday night performer. What happens in “Vegas” is not happening again next year. “Golden Boy” has mediocre reviews and mediocre ratings. The #1 network doesn’t abide mediocre. And I think the axe will FINALLY fall on “Rules of Engagement” now that it’s reached syndication. Yes, there are enough episodes of the David Spade comedy that most people forget is even on so they can forget it’s on in repeats for years to come.
Predicted CBS Renewals:
“Criminal Minds” (presuming contracts get signed)
Predicted CBS Cancellations:
“CSI: NY”
“Golden Boy”
“Rules of Engagement”
“Vegas”
Predicted Moves:
Expect Monday nights to look the most altered from last season. I expect Chuck Lorre’s new sitcom “Mom” to fit well between the final season of “HIMYM” and “2 Broke Girls” and I think they’ll move “Hawaii Five-0” to Fridays to take the spot now occupied by “Vegas” and free up prime real estate for a new program. Everything else probably stays where it is right now although CBS always throws one or two scheduling curveballs.
NBC
We can officially call this the feast or famine network. They feasted on the success of the Olympics, “The Voice,” and the pushes they gave to new shows like “Go On” and “Revolution.” When they’re not on and through the rest of the schedule? It’s brutal. As I often say on WGN when listeners call in, “they can’t cancel everything.” The problem is that using this “lesser evil” concept to predict renewals and cancellations can be brutal. Let’s start with what we do know.
We shall never see “Do No Harm,” “Deception,” or “Animal Practice” again. “30 Rock” and “The Office” are over, two hits for a network deeply deprived of new comedy smashes, which means there’s no WAY they don’t renew “Parks and Recreation,” their best option left for comedy in several key demos. It can’t JUST be “Parks” though. So what are the other comedies they renew?
 Hannibal Photo credit: NBC |
Hold on. We’re getting ahead. As expected, NBC already renewed reliable performers “Grimm,” “Parenthood,” and “Law & Order: SVU,” while also giving “Revolution” and “Chicago Fire” second chances to find bigger audiences.
It leaves a whopping 10 shows for potential renewal or cancellation although several of the choices are obvious. “Smash” was ostensibly canceled when it was shuffled off to Saturdays to burn off remaining episodes. It’s not coming back. The only cast member remaining on “Up All Night” is the baby. That show’s done. “1600 Penn” and “Guys with Kids” get ratings so low that they would have been canceled already on most networks. And, as mentioned, Leslie Knope and the Pawnee gang are coming back.
With those obvious choices, we can cut the NBC bubble list in half, down to 5 — “Hannibal,” “Community,” “Go On,” “Whitney,” and “The New Normal.” Based on what else is going to be on the Fall schedule, I think they renew two of the comedies and my gut says that they’ll be “Community” and “Go On,” the former staying on Thursday nights and the latter airing right after it as a solid lead-in to “Parks” (with a new comedy after). “Whitney” could be that show instead or could be saved as a mid-season replacement. “The New Normal” is gone.
And what of “Hannibal”? I’ve said before and I’ll say it again — if a show as good as “Hannibal” can’t survive on network TV, the people who write quality drama will give up on doing so for the big five. I think NBC knows this and the uptick last week in the key 18-49 demo along with raves across the board will keep “Hannibal” alive. If it gets canceled, NBC may as well stop trying to produce original dramas altogether and SOMEBODY there has to realize that fact. If it is renewed, it’s probably held till midseason. Just renew it. Don’t make me beg.
Predicted NBC Renewals:
“Community”
“Go On”
“Hannibal” (mid-season)
“Parks and Recreation”
Predicted NBC Cancellations:
“1600 Penn”
“Guys with Kids”
“The New Normal”
“Smash”
“Up All Night”
“Whitney” (maybe with the allowance that it could return mid-season)
Predicted Moves:
“Parks and Recreation” slides into the slot occupied by Dunder Mifflin for years and “Go On” serves as a quality lead-in, hopefully building an audience in the process. Watch it. It’s pretty good.
ABC
ABC still continues to impress in terms of quality programming and surprise hits despite notable failures like “Zero Hour” and “Red Widow.” And yet they’ve given few signs of what they’re going to do in advance of next week’s announcements. In fact, we know less officially about ABC than any other network. CBS, FOX, and The CW are essentially decided already. Not so for ABC. It’s not surprising. At this point last year, they had yet to renew anything officially as well. Like last year, I don’t expect many changes.
Another factor in common with last year is that ABC seems likely to say goodbye to a critically-liked comedy with a loyal fanbase that I expect to end up on cable. USA has been in talks to take “Happy Endings” off ABC’s hands and they’ll gladly let them do so. The show that ABC never really supported, moved numerous times and put in different timeslots, is not going to be on the network’s fall schedule.
 Happy Endings Photo credit: ABC |
Once again, getting ahead of myself. There are some clear, obvious, duh renewals — “Modern Family,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Nashville,” “The Middle,” “Scandal,” and “Revenge.” I’d be stunned if any of those missed the cut.
On the other side of the bubble, “Red Widow” and “Happy Endings” are merely waiting for the news to be official and “Don’t Trust the B——,” “Last Resort,” “Zero Hour,” “Private Practice,” and “666 Park Avenue” were already given their walking papers. Expect “Family Tools” to be shuttered soon as well.
That leaves six shows in some state of bubble-dom, most of them comedies. It may come down to a decision as to how many nights of comedy the network wants to schedule. “The Middle” &“Modern Family” aren’t going anywhere and I expect “Suburgatory” to be given another chance to find a larger audience with them on Wednesday nights. “How to Live with Your Parents” has done surprisingly well and should likely fill out that quartet at least for the Fall. I also expect the network to leave Fridays as is — “Last Man Standing” is nearly certain, “Malibu Country” less so but I don’t see them trying a new program there when they could better employ marketing a new pilot in a different spot. New comedies are likely to be paired on Tuesdays, possibly with a moved “Suburgatory” or “The Neighbors,” which, and there’s no real reason for this other than that I think “Parents” makes a better fit, I’m predicting will just miss the cut.
It leaves only one show — “Body of Proof.” It’s never found an audience. I predicted it would be canceled last year. I’ll make the same call this year. Eventually I’ll be right.
Predicted ABC Renewals:
“The Bachelor”
“Castle”
“Dancing With the Stars”
“Grey’s Anatomy”
“How to Live with Your Parents”
“Last Man Standing”
“Malibu Country”
“The Middle”
“Modern Family”
“Nashville”
“Once Upon a Time”
“Revenge”
“Scandal”
“Suburgatory”
Predicted ABC Cancellations:
“Body of Proof”
“Happy Endings”
“The Neighbors”
“Red Widow”
Predicted Move:
Rather than try and start yet another hit on Sunday nights why not move “Castle” into that block with “Once Upon a Time” and “Revenge” and use “Dancing with the Stars” to launch a new show on Monday nights, especially with a relatively weak “Revolution” and new show on CBS to compete against? I think “Castle” or possibly “Scandal” will move so the network doesn’t have to worry about using Sundays to launch another new show.
FOX
Thanks, FOX. We love when you make it this easy. They’ve renewed almost everything in their lineup and the two shows they haven’t renewed are DONE. In fact, they’ve already announced that production has stopped on “The Cleveland Show,” essentially pulling the plug on it and just waiting for it to die. The other show? Did you know “Touch” was still on the air? You wouldn’t be blamed for not knowing since it barely gets advertised in any way. It’s done. Um, that’s it. Thanks again.
 Touch Photo credit: FOX |
Already Renewed:
“American Dad”
“American Idol”
“Bob’s Burgers”
“Bones”
“Family Guy”
“The Following”
“Glee”
“The Mindy Project”
“New Girl”
“Raising Hope”
“The Simpsons”
“The X Factor”
Predicted FOX Cancellations:
“The Cleveland Show”
“Touch”
Predicted Moves:
While the lineup may be set, I expect some things to move around. I wouldn’t expect “The Following” to return until Fall and I think “Glee” needs to move, maybe back to its old spot. That Tuesday night comedy block didn’t work. Everything could shuffle on FOX. Except for Animation Domination, that’s going to outlast all of us.
THECW
Yep, it’s still on the air. For now. Like NBC but even more exaggerated, it’s really difficult to discern between a hit and a bomb on The CW. Like FOX, they answered a lot of the questions for us early. They renewed “The Vampire Diaries,” “Supernatural,” “Arrow,” “Hart of Dixie,” “Beauty & the Beast,” and “America’s Next Top Model.” They canceled “Cult,” “90210,” and “Emily Owens, MD,” while “Gossip Girl” is over. Basic math as to what they have in terms of pilots makes it clear that they’re going to renew one and cancel one of their remaining pair — “Nikita” and “The Carrie Diaries.” The choice is obvious.
Predicted The CW Renewals:
“Nikita”
Predicted The CW Cancellations:
“The Carrie Diaries”
Predicted Move:
“Beauty & the Beast” goes to Monday nights to help anchor a new drama so a spot can be opened to use “The Vampire Diaries” as a lead-in for their other new drama. Just a guess but it makes more sense than two new shows on Mondays.
Come back every day next week for each Fall 2013 schedule as it’s announced.
 | By BRIANTALLERICO |
