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[05/19/09 - 12:54 PM]
The Futon's Upfront Notes: ABC & Nbc
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- A round-up of the various developments from upfront week that may have gotten lost in the shuffle:

-- NBC has canceled both "My Name Is Earl" and "Medium"... "Earl" creator Greg Garcia took to the pages of the Los Angeles Times to protest the move, saying "I e-mailed Jeff Zucker [president and chief executive of NBC Universal] on Sunday, and I never got a response. But this is show business. The writing was on the wall. When you go to bed the night before the schedule is out, and no one has spoken to you, you know what's happening. You get somewhat frustrated with how it's being handled, but that's the business we work in. I've never fooled myself that it's a fair or friendly business." Garcia and producer 20th Century Fox Television hope to pitch the series to other networks.

As for "Medium," talks are underway with CBS to pick up the show as it's based at corporate sibling CBS Television Studios. "NBC's cancellation of 'Medium' is inexplicable to us," the studio said in a statement. "The ratings don't lie: 'Medium' outperforms many of NBC's renewed shows. Despite inconsistent scheduling, 'Medium' -- under the creative vision of (creator) Glenn Gordon Caron, one of the most preeminent producers in television -- has always performed with distinction both creatively and commercially. Multiple award-winning actress Patricia Arquette and the cast have delivered a stellar series for five consistent seasons. The awards and ratings speak for themselves. We believe the show has a significant future and await developments." A deal however is not expected until after the upfronts.

-- ...as well as "Howie Do It" and "Deal or No Deal," sources have confirmed. Said cancellation doesn't extend to the latter's syndicated version. In total the Peacock will have parted ways with 16 series, the most by any broadcast network (number two: ABC with 12). The dead pool also includes "America's Toughest Jobs," "Chopping Block," "Crusoe," "Kath & Kim," "Kings," "Knight Rider," "Life," "Lipstick Jungle," "Momma's Boys," "My Own Worst Enemy," "Superstars of Dance" and the departing "ER."

-- ABC has likewise pulled the plug on "Cupid" and "According to Jim" however "Surviving Suburbia" remains alive. Alphabet topper Steve MacPherson noted during a press call this morning they'll make a final decision about the series by September when its option expires. "Suburbia" returns with the first of six episodes of Wednesday, May 27 at 9:30/8:30c. As for "Jim," look for the series finale on Tuesday, June 2 at 8:00/7:00c. The 10 other series not returning for the 2009-10 season are "Boston Legal," "Dirty Sexy Money," "Eli Stone," "Homeland Security USA," "In the Motherhood," "Life on Mars," "Opportunity Knocks," "Pushing Daisies," "Samantha Who?" and "The Unusuals."

-- The Alphabet may also order additional comedies for midseason. The Cedric the Entertainer-led "The Law," Jeff Strauss's "Married Not Dead" and the sibling comedy "This Little Piggy" were among the pilots mentioned as possible midseason contenders going into upfront week. The Shonda Rhimes-produced "Inside the Box" is also being eyed for potential redevelopment.





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· ACCORDING TO JIM (ABC)
· AMERICA'S TOUGHEST JOBS (NBC)
· BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
· CHOPPING BLOCK (NBC)
· CRUSOE (NBC)
· CUPID (ABC)
· DEAL OR NO DEAL (NBC)
· DEAL OR NO DEAL (SYNDICATION)
· DIRTY SEXY MONEY (ABC)
· ELI STONE (ABC)
· ER (NBC)
· HOMELAND SECURITY USA (ABC)
· HOWIE DO IT (NBC)
· IN THE MOTHERHOOD (ABC)
· INSIDE THE BOX (ABC)
· KATH & KIM (NBC)
· KINGS (NBC)
· KNIGHT RIDER (NBC)
· LAW, THE (ABC)
· LIFE (NBC)
· LIFE ON MARS (ABC)
· LIPSTICK JUNGLE (NBC)
· MARRIED NOT DEAD (ABC)
· MEDIUM (CBS)
· MOMMA'S BOYS (NBC)
· MY NAME IS EARL (NBC)
· MY OWN WORST ENEMY (NBC)
· OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS (ABC)
· PUSHING DAISIES (ABC)
· SAMANTHA WHO? (ABC)
· SUPERSTARS OF DANCE (NBC)
· SURVIVING SUBURBIA (ABC)
· THIS LITTLE PIGGY (ABC)
· UNUSUALS, THE (ABC)





[05/23/13 - 09:03 AM]
A&E Presents the Final Five Episodes of "Intervention" Beginning June 13 at 9PM ET/PT
"We're honored to have been a part of the 243 interventions since its premiere in March of 2005," said David McKillop.

[05/23/13 - 09:02 AM]
Matt Rogers ("American Idol") to Host New USA Network Competition Reality Series "Summer Camp"
As previously reported, the eight-episode series will premiere Thursday, July 11 at 8:00/7:00c.

[05/23/13 - 08:51 AM]
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" Grows Week to Week by 7% in 18-49 Rating and 3% in Total Viewers
NBC spins the numbers for Wednesday, May 22.

[05/23/13 - 08:37 AM]
Destination America and USA Weekend Announce Winners of the Inaugural "Red, White and You" Contest
The contest asked folks across the country to put their patriotism on display to prove why their respective towns were most deserving of an over-the-top Independence Day party.

[05/23/13 - 08:37 AM]
ABC Is #1 in Adults 18-49 on the Final Night of the Season and #1 in the May Sweep for the First Time in 13 Years
ABC spins the numbers for Wednesday, May 22.

[05/23/13 - 08:35 AM]
Grammy-Nominated Recording Artist John Forte Creates Original Theme Song and New Music for CBS News' Six-Part Documentary Series "Brooklyn DA"
His new song, "Brooklyn Now," will kick off each of the six, one-hour broadcasts beginning Tuesady, May 28.

[05/23/13 - 08:32 AM]
Starz to Premiere "The White Queen" on Saturday, August 10 at 9PM ET/PT
Rebecca Ferguson, Max Irons, Janet McTeer, James Frain and Amanda Hale star in the 10-episode series.

[05/23/13 - 08:29 AM]
Wednesday's Broadcast Ratings: CBS Tops Viewers, Splits Demos with ABC
"Criminal Minds" closes the May sweeps period as the most-watched program on the night.

[05/23/13 - 07:44 AM]
CMT Picks Up Exclusive Cable Rights to Hit FOX Series "Hell's Kitchen" from Distributor Debmar-Mercury and Producer ITV Studios America
The series will debut weekdays beginning this Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, at 12 p.m. ET/PT on CMT and will also be available on CMT VOD.

[05/23/13 - 07:01 AM]
VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show" Is Back
Season 12 - featuring the show's 100th episode - will premiere Saturday, June 1 at 11:00/10:00c.

[05/23/13 - 06:49 AM]
IFC to Run "Arrested Development" Marathon This Saturday Just Prior to the Release of All New Episodes Online
IFC will begin running all 53 episodes back-to-back, giving diehard fans and neophytes alike a chance to immerse themselves in the dysfunctional lives of the Bluth family.

[05/23/13 - 06:38 AM]
Sundance Channel and Entertainment Weekly Set to Premiere "The Writers" Room" on Monday, July 29, Hosted by Academy Award(R)-Winning Screenwriter and "Community" Star Jim Rash
"Breaking Bad", "Dexter," "Game of Thrones," "American Horror Story," "Parks and Recreation" and "New Girl" are the featured series.

[05/22/13 - 05:08 PM]
Tuesday's Cable Ratings: NBA Draft Lottery, Playoffs Keep ESPN on Top
Plus: numbers for CNBC's "Crowd Rules," VH1's "I'm Married to a..." and Syfy's "Weird or What?"

[05/22/13 - 04:58 PM]
Oxygen Delivers Best Night In Network History Among All Key Demos
Oxygen spins the numbers for Tuesday, May 21.

[05/22/13 - 04:57 PM]
Exclusive: USA to Open "Summer Camp" on Thursday, July 11
The new reality series will air at 8:00/7:00c followed by "Burn Notice" and "Graceland."