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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)





[02.09.10 - 01:02 PM]
INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY REVEALS THE TRUTH BEHIND THE TRAGEDY WITH TRUE CRIME WITH APHRODITE JONES
The newcomer launches Thursday, March 11 at 10:00/9:00c.

[02.09.10 - 12:43 PM]
GABRIELLE ANWAR AND CRAIG SHEFFER STAR IN 'LIES BETWEEN FRIENDS' A HALLMARK CHANNEL IN HD ORIGINAL MOVIE PREMIERING APRIL 10
The pair topline the project about "what happens when the lies friends tell to protect each other are revealed."

[02.09.10 - 12:04 PM]
CBS'S SUPER SUNDAY=SUPER WEEK
CBS spins the numbers for the week of February 1-7.

[02.09.10 - 11:23 AM]
SUPER BOWL CAN'T TOPPLE FOX'S SEASON HIGH!
FOX spins the numbers for the week of February 1-7.

[02.09.10 - 11:19 AM]
ABC MARKS ITS 2ND-STRONGEST WEEK SINCE NOVEMBER IN VIEWERS AND ADULTS 18-49
NBC spins the numbers for the week of February 1-7.

[02.09.10 - 10:19 AM]
ABC ADDS TWO "BROTHERS & SISTERS"
The network has extended the current season of "Brothers & Sisters" to 24 episodes.

[02.09.10 - 10:02 AM]
NICKELODEON'S ICARLY AND BIG TIME RUSH ARE TOPS WITH TOTAL VIEWERS ON FRIDAY NIGHTS
Nickelodeon spins the numbers for Friday, February 5.

[02.09.10 - 09:51 AM]
SUPER NIGHT FOR CBS'S COMEDY POWER HOUR
CBS spins the numbers for Monday, February 8.

[02.09.10 - 09:34 AM]
EMMY AWARD WINNER JEFF PROBST TO RETURN AS HOST AND AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF "SURVIVOR" FOR THE 2010-11 BROADCAST SEASON
Probst will return as host and an executive producer for the show's 21st and 22nd installments.

[02.09.10 - 09:04 AM]
'HGTV DESIGN STAR' CHAMP ANTONIO BALLATORE SHOWCASES HIS EDGY STYLE IN 'THE ANTONIO TREATMENT'
The series premieres Sunday, March 14 at 10:00/9:00c.