or


[05/26/04 - 12:00 AM]
2004 Broadcast Upfront Presentations Wrap-Up, Part 2
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- While over 50 new projects are set to debut over the course of the 2004-05 season on the six major broadcast networks, nearly twice that amount that were in development won't ever see the light of day.

One of the most commonly asked questions now that the upfronts - when the networks announce their 2004-05 season plans - are over is what are the chances one of the various pilots that weren't picked up will get a midseason order?

Realistically the chances are pretty slim. To illustrate our point we've gone over the upfront presentations from last season of ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, UPN and the WB and compared them with what eventually made it to air.

Aside from additional reality series, the development of which generally doesn't follow that of scripted programming, only seven comedies or dramas were given series orders by the broadcast networks beyond those announced at their respective upfront presentations:

"The Big House" (ordered by ABC on 6/27/03)
"The D.A." (ordered by ABC on 11/24/03)
"Becker" (ordered by CBS on 6/17/03)
"Century City" (ordered by CBS on 7/8/03)
"Come to Papa" (ordered by NBC on 8/13/03)
"Game Over" (ordered by UPN on 6/27/03)
"Summerland" (ordered by the WB on 8/18/03)

Overall, here's a comparison of what did and did not appear in each network's upfront presentation's midseason plans:

ABC (announced at upfront) - "Line of Fire," "Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital"

ABC (eventually ordered) - "The Big House" (6/27/03), "Celebrity Mole: Yucatan" (3/17/03), "The D.A." (11/24/03), "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (11/13/03)

CBS (announced at upfront) - "The Stones"

CBS (eventually ordered) - "Becker" (6/17/03), "Century City" (7/8/03), "Star Search" (11/25/03)

FOX (announced at upfront) - "American Idol 3," "Banzai," "Cracking Up," "The Ortegas," "Still Life," "Wonderfalls"

FOX (eventually ordered) - "Forever Eden" (12/22/03), "My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance" (1/5/04), "Playing It Straight" (8/21/03), "The Simple Life" (2/11/03), "The Swan" (10/9/03), "Totally Outrageous Behavior (12/19/03), "World's Craziest Videos" (12/19/03)

NBC (announced at upfront) - "The Apprentice," "Crossing Jordan," "The Tracy Morgan Show"

NBC (eventually ordered) - "Average Joe" (4/23/03), "Come to Papa" (8/13/03), "The Restaurant 2" (11/13/03)

UPN (announced at upfront) - None.

UPN (eventually ordered) - "Game Over" (6/27/03), "I'm Still Alive" (3/16/04)

The WB (announced at upfront) - "Fearless", "Gilmore Girls Spin-Off", "Make My Day", "The Help," "The Mayor", "High School Reunion 2," "The Surreal Life 2"

The WB (eventually ordered) - "Summerland" (8/18/03), "Superstar U.S.A." (4/15/04)

It's also worth mentioning that a half-dozen of the projects announced for midseason at the upfronts were never made or shelved completely - "The Ortegas," "Still Life," "Fearless," "Gilmore Girls Spin-Off," "Make My Day" and "The Mayor." In addition, "The Stones" and "Fearless" were both targeted for fall bows however over the course of the summer CBS and the WB respectively opted to go with a new season of "Becker" and the then new drama "One Tree Hill" in their place.

Nevertheless, despite such odds more than a few projects that didn't make the cut last week have been mentioned as being considered for midseason orders: "My 11:30" (NBC), "Nevermind Nirvana" (NBC), "Point Pleasant" (FOX), "Beck and Call" (UPN) and "The Bad Girl's Guide" (UPN). Also more than a few pilots are being shot or are potentially in the works for early 2005: "Nice Guys" (CBS), "Vinyl Cafe" (CBS), "Washington Street" (CBS), "The Perez Family" (FOX), "Spellbound" (FOX), "Untitled Chris Rock Project" (FOX), "Never in My Wildest" (NBC), "Untitled R. Lee Fleming Jr. Project" (NBC), "I Do, I Did, Now What?" (UPN), "Two Kings" (UPN), "Global Frequency" (WB), "Rocky Point" (WB) and "Untitled Schimmel/Stern Project" (WB).

Fans of any of the projects that didn't get picked up should also note that the options on the cast of the majority of the pilots shot generally expire by late July or early August.

Click here to read ABC's original 2003 upfront presentation press release.

Click here to read CBS' original 2003 upfront presentation press release.

Click here to read FOX's original 2003 upfront presentation press release.

Click here to read NBC's original 2003 upfront presentation press release.

Click here to read UPN's original 2003 upfront presentation press release.

Click here to read the WB's original 2003 upfront presentation press release.





  [may 2004]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· AMERICAN IDOL (ABC)
· APPRENTICE, THE (NBC)
· AVERAGE JOE (NBC)
· BAD GIRL'S GUIDE, THE (UPN)
· BANZAI (FOX)
· BECK & CALL (UPN)
· BECKER (CBS)
· BIG HOUSE, THE (ABC)
· CENTURY CITY (CBS)
· COME TO PAPA (NBC)
· CRACKING UP (FOX)
· CROSSING JORDAN (NBC)
· DA, THE (ABC)
· EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS (CW)
· EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION (HGTV)
· FEARLESS (WB)
· FOREVER EDEN (FOX)
· GAME OVER (UPN)
· GLOBAL FREQUENCY (WB)
· HELP, THE (WB)
· HIGH SCHOOL REUNION (TV LAND)
· I DO, I DID, NOW WHAT? (UPN)
· I'M STILL ALIVE (UPN)
· LINE OF FIRE (ABC)
· MAKE MY DAY (TV LAND)
· MAYOR, THE (WB)
· MOLE, THE (ABC)
· MY 11:30 (NBC)
· MY BIG FAT OBNOXIOUS BOSS (FOX)
· NEARLY NIRVANA (NBC)
· NEVER IN MY WILDEST (CBS)
· NICE GUYS (CBS)
· ONE TREE HILL (CW)
· ORTEGAS, THE (FOX)
· PEREZ FAMILY, THE (FOX)
· PLAYING IT STRAIGHT (FOX)
· POINT PLEASANT (FOX)
· RESTAURANT, THE (NBC)
· ROCKY POINT (WB)
· SIMPLE LIFE, THE (E)
· SPELLBOUND (FOX)
· STAR SEARCH (CBS)
· STEPHEN KING'S KINGDOM HOSPITAL (ABC)
· STILL LIFE (FOX)
· STONES, THE (CBS)
· SUMMERLAND (WB)
· SUPERSTAR USA (WB)
· SURREAL LIFE, THE (VH1)
· SWAN, THE (FOX)
· TOTALLY OUTRAGEOUS BEHAVIOR (FOX)
· TRACY MORGAN SHOW, THE (NBC)
· TWO KINGS (UPN)
· UNTITLED GILMORE GIRLS PROJECT (WB)
· UNTITLED R. LEE FLEMING, JR. PROJECT (NBC)
· UNTITLED SCHIMMEL & STERN PROJECT (WB)
· VINYL CAFE (CBS)
· WASHINGTON STREET (CBS)
· WONDERFALLS (FOX)
· WORLD'S CRAZIEST VIDEOS, THE (FOX)





[05/26/23 - 08:39 AM]
Nickelodeon's "Nick News" Discusses the Future of TikTok in the U.S., Features the Return of Flip Phones and Explores Tech-Enabled Housing Solutions in a Brand-New Episode Premiering Wednesday, May 31
Viewers will also be treated to a broad range of testimonials from kids who are first generation Americans and get an introduction to popular Creator SeanDoesMagic.

[05/26/23 - 06:31 AM]
It's Father vs. Son as "Hoffman Family Gold" Returns to Discovery Channel for a New Season Friday, June 16 at 9PM ET/PT
This new season reveals the ups and downs of a true multi-generational family business and the tumultuous battle between father and son to see who can mine the most gold from the same piece of ground.

[05/26/23 - 05:00 AM]
Prime Video Releases Official First Look at "Citadel: Diana," Starring Matilda De Angelis
Following the finale episode, a post-credits teaser of "Citadel: Diana" reveals an exciting look at what's to come as the "Citadel Spyverse" expands with the next chapter.

[05/25/23 - 06:01 PM]
"Record of Ragnarok II," Episodes 11 to 15 Hit Netflix July 12th
Follow the story of 13 one-on-one matches between representatives of gods and humans from across the entire world, for the survival of humanity.

[05/25/23 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "Bloodhounds" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Two young boxers band together with a benevolent moneylender to take down a ruthless loan shark who preys on the financially desperate.

[05/25/23 - 02:01 PM]
CNN to Air Special Presentation of HBO Documentary "The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart"
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Frank Marshall, the documentary chronicles the triumphs and hurdles of brothers Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb, otherwise known as the Bee Gees.

[05/25/23 - 12:01 PM]
"Sweet Magnolias" Season 3 Arrives on Netflix on July 20
Here's your first look at stars JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Heather Headley and Brook Elliot.

[05/25/23 - 12:01 PM]
ABC News Studios and Part2 Pictures Debut Docu-Series "The Age of Influence," Which Examines the Dark Side of Influencer Culture Through Today's Biggest Social Media Scandals
From sweeping cons to viral cancellation campaigns, each episode of the six-part series gives an unfiltered look at an infamous influencer saga.

[05/25/23 - 11:45 AM]
CBS' "The Greatest @Home Videos" Hosted by Cedric the Entertainer Returns Friday, June 2
Cedric the Entertainer is back with a new batch of humorous and heartwarming summertime videos, from funny dads to goofy grads.

[05/25/23 - 11:03 AM]
E! and Executive Producer Stephen Curry Honor Black Excellence as the Two-Night Special Event "Black Pop: Celebrating the Power of Black Culture" Begins Monday, June 19
Executive produced by Stephen Curry and narrated by La La Anthony, the two-night special event is set to premiere June 19 at 8:00/7:00c with back-to-back episodes.

[05/25/23 - 11:01 AM]
NBC Drama Series "The Blacklist" Will Move to 8 p.m. Thursdays, Beginning June 1
Now in its 10th and final season, the show will conclude with a 2 hour series finale on July 13 from 8-10 p.m.

[05/25/23 - 10:00 AM]
HBO Original Docuseries "Burden of Proof" Debuts June 6
When 15-year-old Jennifer Pandos went missing in 1987, her parents told everyone she ran away. Decades later, her brother Stephen begins a relentless odyssey in search of the truth.

[05/25/23 - 09:37 AM]
Jesse Collins Entertainment to Produce "75th Emmy Awards," Airing Monday, September 18, Live on FOX
Nominations for the 75th Emmy Awards will be announced the morning of Wednesday, July 12.

[05/25/23 - 09:15 AM]
It's Official! CBS Wins the 2022-2023 Season
As previously announced, this ties broadcast television's longest winning streak on record, also held by CBS from 1955-1970.

[05/25/23 - 09:01 AM]
"Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire" Streaming July 5th Exclusively on Disney+
In celebration, the key art for the 10-part collection of original animated short films was also released.