Ensemble skeins run with the herd
'Table,' 'Case,' 'Class' boast huge casts
Buoyed by the ongoing success of ensemble skeins like "Lost" and "Grey's Anatomy," the nets crafted fall skeds heavy on big-cast skeins.
Laffers like NBC's "The Singles Table," ABC's "In Case of Emergency" and CBS' "The Class" boast huge casts.
And you'd be hard-pressed to find a new drama that doesn't feature a large ensemble. NBC's "Studio 60" and "Heroes," ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" and "Six Degrees," CBS' "Jericho" and "Smith" and Fox's "Justice" and "Vanished" are just a start.
Given the success of "My Name Is Earl" and "The Office," nets were also high on single-camera comedies this development season. All four of the Alphabet's new laffers are single-cam, as are three of NBC's four chucklers.
In drama, after years of sticking with close-ended procedural crime dramas, the pendulum has swung to serialized skeins. Even CBS -- the net that most embraces procedurals -- is getting into the serial game more aggressively, with "Jericho" and "Smith."
Still, serialized shows don't repeat well -- and don't have the long-term staying power of a "Law & Order" or "CSI." And single-cam comedies are still a tough sell with auds.
That has some execs quietly wondering whether the nets are traveling down a dangerous ratings path.
"All I can guarantee is a lot of body bags in October," says one net exec.
