the Informer

COURTESY OF NOISEFROMTHEBASEMENT.WORDPRESS.COM

As May upfronts creep closer, it’s decision time for the major networks on which shows to keep and which shows to get rid of come Fall 2010. 

For some shows the decision comes easy, a quick pick up or cancellation. For others, their fate is decidedly harder to determine and for the time being they reside “on the bubble.” The May upfronts (or in NBC’s case infronts) are when networks preview their Fall TV pilot offerings and look for initial advertising bids.

Already renewed for next season are the best shows to premier this past season— “Modern Family,” “Community,” “Cougar Town,” (arguably for me) “Archer” and “Glee.” The usual suspects also got renewed or are considered a safe bet for renewal, including “Law & Order,” “The Office,” “30 Rock,” “NCIS,” “CSI” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Those already canceled include a couple of surprises. While we knew “Lost” would come to an end this season, we didn’t know that “24” would be finishing its run this season.

Joining these two are “Scrubs,” whose reboot this year faired just as miserably as its previous seasons, “Ugly Betty” and the once controversial, now bland “Nip/Tuck.”

The remaining shows are either fairly safe for renewal or riding the bubble until their fate is decided. NBC appears to be in the biggest trouble since the cancellation of the ill-fated “Jay Leno Show,” leaving its 10 o’clock spot mostly un-programmed. To make matters worse, they have the largest list of shows performing poorly. One of these is a show that has evolved creativity ten-fold over the past season, “Chuck.”

“Heroes,” the show that had only one good season, may only get a single season to tie up loose ends (if that) and new medical dramas “Mercy” and “Trauma” have not lived up to expectations over the past season and are hemorrhaging ratings.

ABC follows with the second highest number of shows in doubt. “Better of Ted,” probably one of the smartest shows around is doubtful to return. Their other two new dramas from the Fall, “FlashForward” and “V” are both on the bubble.

“V” stands a better chance of being renewed into the new season due to slightly higher ratings since its Spring return.  

Over at Fox, this year’s new show, “Human Target,” finds itself in doubt. It is not alone, joined by last year’s premier, “Lie To Me.” CBS may be looking to cancel “Medium” for the second time after it was canceled by NBC last year. A threesome of half-hour comedies “Accidentally on Purpose,” “Gary Unmarried” and “The New Adventures of Old Christine” join “Medium.”

For many of these shows whose fate is undetermined, their life span may be determined by the quantity of shows presented at the Network upfronts.

NBC already has a large segment of programming up in the air, so shows that are in danger of being canceled may fair better than those at other networks. 

The constant revolution of TV shows means that shows will die, some before their time, but they will get replaced by (hopefully) something better.

We can always hope it’s just the shows that we don’t like that get replaced and not the ones that we really enjoy. What has always mattered to the networks is viewership and not critical acclaim—if a show isn’t hitting key demographics (18-49), its life will be shorter than those that do.