Sked ideas for coming TV season
Suggestions for approaching fall
The broadcast webs will begin to supply answers to these questions and others next week when they release their skeds for next fall. Here's a look at each net's needs as well as a few suggestions:
ABC
Bubble may pop: "My Wife and Kids," "George Lopez," "8 Simple Rules," "Extreme Makeover," "The Bachelor" and "Primetime Live" are all goner candidates for a net on the upswing.
Biggest needs: Tuesday and Thursday.
Tuesday's comedy block is in need of refreshening as ABC looks to find skedmates for slipping anchor "According to Jim." Improv-esque "Sons & Daughters" could make some noise here, and the net may opt for more femme fare with something like "Hot Properties" or "Love Life."
The 10 o'clock hour may be a good spot for supernatural drama "Invasion," but don't rule out a reality show here.
Thursday at 8 seems the best spot for "Boston Legal," an upscale, older-skewing drama that would be good counterprogramming to "Survivor" and "The OC" -- and wouldn't need to do a big number to survive. The show would also provide a good lead-in for something like "Soccer Moms" or "What About Brian?" to take on "CSI."
And here's a vote to keep the underappreciated "Eyes," which could work in Monday's pre-football hour.
CBS
Bubble may pop: "Judging Amy," "Joan of Arcadia," "60 Minutes Wednesday."
Biggest needs: Monday and Friday.
The Eye doesn't have to change much, but its primary focus should be surrounding "Two and a Half Men" with the right combo of fresh comedies.
A new drama is expected to replace "Judging Amy" on Tuesday as the net seeks to take advantage of hot 9 o'clock entry "Amazing Race," and CBS must be considering dumping "60 Minutes Wednesday" for either a light drama or laffers.
With "Numbers" looking good Fridays at 10, net may opt to keep modest-performing "Joan of Arcadia" at 8 -- especially if it feels it has something that will work at 9.
NBC
Bubble may pop: Laffers "Committed" and "The Office."
Biggest needs: Thursday and Sunday.
It still has some solid pieces, but in-a-funk NBC may try to shake things up, whether with comedies on Saturdays, the shift of "Apprentice" to a new night or maybe something even more radical.
On Thursday, net should revamp "Joey" (he returns to New York, for starters), shift "Will & Grace" back to 9 and plug in its best new laffers on the half-hours. "Earl," about a dim lottery winner, sounds suited for the night, as do "Blue Skies" and "Four Kings."
NBC should also toy with a Saturday comedy block, including the retirement home-set "Early Bird" (remember "Golden Girls" on the night?).
Fox
Might not return: "Arrested Development."
Biggest needs: Friday and Sunday.
Net's Sunday animation strategy (including the new "American Dad" and the revival of "Family Guy") is off to a great start, but that success could mean the end of "Arrested Development." How about letting "AD" kick off Wednesday, a lineup that could also include the promising new "Stacked"?
That leaves Friday, where a high-concept hour like prison drama "The Break" could quietly build a buzz.
