or


[05/26/04 - 12:00 AM]
2004 Broadcast Upfront Presentations Wrap-Up, Part 3
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- Plans change. Nothing is set in stone. That's more or less what one should keep in mind when looking at the broadcast networks' upfront presentations. In recent years this has become especially evident as shuffling the deck chairs over the summer and even during the season itself is quickly becoming a spectator's sport.

A perfect example of this was FOX last season as their fall 2003 schedule announced last May was significantly different from what would eventually make it to air:

FOX'S FALL 2003 SCHEDULE
(as originally announced on May 16, 2004)

Mondays
8:00/7:00c - "Joe Millionaire 2"
9:00/8:00c - "Skin" (New Series)

Tuesdays
8:00/7:00c - "American Juniors 2"
9:00/8:00c - "24"

Wednesdays
8:00/7:00c - "That '70s Show"
8:30/7:30c - "A Minute With Stan Hooper" (New Series)
9:00/8:00c - "The Bernie Mac Show"
9:30/8:30c - "Cedric the Entertainer Presents"

Thursdays
8:00/7:00c - "Tru Calling" (New Series)
9:00/8:00c - "The O.C." (New Series)

Fridays
8:00/7:00c - "Wanda at Large"
8:30/7:30c - "Luis" (New Series)
9:00/8:00c - "Boston Public"

Saturdays
8:00/7:00c - "Cops" (1)
8:30/7:30c - "Cops" (2)
9:00/8:00c - "America's Most Wanted"

Sundays
7:00/6:00c - "Oliver Beene"
7:30/6:30c - "King of the Hill"
8:00/7:00c - "The Simpsons"
8:30/7:30c - "The Ortegas" (New Series)
9:00/8:00c - "Malcolm in the Middle"
9:30/8:30c - "Arrested Development" (New Series)

FOX'S FALL 2003 SCHEDULE
(as it would finally appear)

Mondays
8:00/7:00c - "Joe Millionaire 2"
9:00/8:00c - "Skin" (New Series)

Tuesdays
8:00/7:00c - (Various Programming)
9:00/8:00c - "24"

Wednesdays
8:00/7:00c - "That '70s Show"
8:30/7:30c - "A Minute With Stan Hooper" (New Series)
9:00/8:00c - "The O.C." (New Series)

Thursdays
8:00/7:00c - "Tru Calling" (New Series)
9:00/8:00c - (Various Programming)

Fridays
8:00/7:00c - "Wanda at Large"
8:30/7:30c - "Luis" (New Series)
9:00/8:00c - "Boston Public"

Saturdays
8:00/7:00c - "Cops" (1)
8:30/7:30c - "Cops" (2)
9:00/8:00c - "America's Most Wanted"

Sundays
7:00/6:00c - (Various Programming)
7:30/6:30c - "King of the Hill"
8:00/7:00c - "The Simpsons"
8:30/7:30c - "The Bernie Mac Show"
9:00/8:00c - "Malcolm in the Middle"
9:30/8:30c - "Arrested Development" (New Series)

And that was just the beginning of FOX's schedule meddling last season: "Wonderfalls," which was originally set to inherit "Joe Millionaire's" Monday, 8:00/7:00c slot in January 2004, wound up bowing in March on Friday nights; both "The Ortegas" and "Still Life" never made it to air; "Cedric" would never burn off its final installments as previously planned; and "Banzai," originally ordered for midseason 2004, would flounder that summer and never return.

With that in mind, looking at FOX's recently released three-tiered schedule (June-October, November-January and January-June), one can't help but be slightly skeptical that at this time next year said plans will hold true.

Such changes aren't limited to FOX however as virtually all the broadcast networks made adjustments to their 2003-04 season plans:

-- "Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital" was originally slated for Thursdays at 9:00/8:00c by ABC come January 2004 however the network opted to run the series Wednesdays at 10:00/9:00c starting in March 2004. Interestingly enough ABC would go on to move it back to Thursdays at 9:00/8:00c after its floundering in the Wednesday slot.

-- The WB's fall 2003 schedule put the Rachael Leigh Cook drama "Fearless" after "Gilmore Girls" on Tuesdays. By July however, the Frog decided to move up its midseason entry "One Tree Hill" to take its place while "Fearless" wound up never moving beyond the pilot stage.

-- By that same token, the majority of the WB's midseason plans announced at its upfront presentation went the way of "Fearless": the untitled "Gilmore Girls" spin-off, "Make My Day" and "The Mayor" wouldn't find their way to the airwaves.

-- Some projects even underwent title changes between their announcement in May and their premiere dates: UPN's "Eve" was originally titled "The Opposite Sex," ABC's "Married to the Kellys" began as "Back to Kansas," CBS' "Navy N.C.I.S." was initially referred to as "Navy C.I.S.," and the WB's "Tarzan" originally featured "and Jane" in its title.

-- Wednesday comedy "The Stones" was originally set to bow in the fall following "King of Queens" however CBS would opt to run the sixth season of "Becker" in its place. "The Stones" would go on to bomb quickly in said slot in the spring.

Overall, only NBC's 2003 upfront remained in check with its actual schedule. So the lesson learned from all this: like everything else in television, don't believe it until you actually see it. Undoubtedly over the course of the summer you'll see more than one change to what was announced last week in New York City.

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
      


· 24 (FOX)
· AMERICAN JUNIORS (FOX)
· AMERICA'S MOST WANTED (LIFETIME)
· ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (NETFLIX)
· BANZAI (FOX)
· BECKER (CBS)
· BERNIE MAC SHOW, THE (FOX)
· BOSTON PUBLIC (FOX)
· CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER PRESENTS (FOX)
· COPS (FOX NATION)
· EVE (UPN)
· FEARLESS (WB)
· GILMORE GIRLS (CW)
· JOE MILLIONAIRE (FOX)
· KING OF QUEENS, THE (CBS)
· KING OF THE HILL (HULU)
· LUIS (FOX)
· MAKE MY DAY (TV LAND)
· MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE (FOX)
· MARRIED TO THE KELLYS (ABC)
· MAYOR, THE (WB)
· MINUTE WITH STAN HOOPER, A (FOX)
· NCIS (CBS)
· OC, THE (FOX)
· OLIVER BEENE (FOX)
· ONE TREE HILL (CW)
· ORTEGAS, THE (FOX)
· SIMPSONS, THE (FOX)
· SKIN (FOX)
· STEPHEN KING'S KINGDOM HOSPITAL (ABC)
· STILL LIFE (FOX)
· STONES, THE (CBS)
· TARZAN (WB)
· THAT '70S SHOW (FOX)
· TRU CALLING (FOX)
· UNTITLED GILMORE GIRLS PROJECT (WB)
· WANDA AT LARGE (FOX)
· WONDERFALLS (FOX)





[07/07/25 - 02:01 PM]
"Alice in Borderland" Season 3 Premieres September 25
Once again directed by Shinsuke Sato, Season 3 stars Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya, along with an exciting lineup of new and returning actors.

[07/07/25 - 11:15 AM]
John Slattery, Jessica Henwick, Ellen Robertson and More Join Netflix's "Vladimir"
Kayli Carter, Miriam Silverman, Mallori Johnson, Matt Walsh, Tattiawna Jones and Louise Lambert will also recur on the series.

[07/07/25 - 11:09 AM]
2025 T-Mobile Home Run Derby Exclusively on ESPN Platforms July 14
Karl Ravech will return for his 9th year to call the action, alongside analysts Eduardo Pérez and Todd Frazier and reporters Buster Olney and Alden González.

[07/07/25 - 10:31 AM]
Tubi to Launch AMC Studios' Sci-Fi Comedy Series "Demascus" as a Tubi Original
The six episode half-hour comedic sci-fi series follows Demascus (Okieriete Onaodowan), a Black man who goes on a journey of self-discovery using an experimental reality-bending technology.

[07/07/25 - 10:17 AM]
"LEGO Masters Jr." with Host Kelly Osbourne to Air Over Four Weeks Beginning Monday, August 18 at 8/7c on FOX
Hosted by television personality Kelly Osbourne, the series features celebrity contestants including Ravi V. Patel, Andy Richter, Jordin Sparks, Alison Sweeney and Porsha Williams.

[07/07/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "My Life With the Walter Boys" Season 2 - Official Teaser - Netflix
Hoping for a fresh start in Silver Falls, Jackie discovers second chances aren't guaranteed when unresolved feelings and small-town tensions resurface.

[07/07/25 - 08:02 AM]
Nickelodeon Sets Launch for "Tim Rex in Space," Brand-New Animated Preschool Series, on Monday, Aug. 4
The series follows a Tyrannosaurus Rex (T-Rex) named Tim, his big brother Tommy, little sister Tia, and triceratops bestie Kai, as they tackle kid-shaped adventures with dino-sized solutions in space.

[07/07/25 - 05:01 AM]
Video: "The Sandman" Season 2 - Volume 2 Official Teaser - Netflix
When the Kindly Ones turn a sorrow-stricken mother into a vessel of vengeance, their combined power puts Lord Morpheus' realm - and life - in jeopardy.

[07/07/25 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "She Said Maybe" - Official Teaser - Netflix
From Hamburg to Istanbul. One journey, two worlds, and a decision that changes everything.

[07/06/25 - 10:31 PM]
Video: "Vir Das: Fool Volume" - Official Trailer - Stand-Up Comedy Special - Netflix
Vir Das is back to make you laugh, think, and feel all the feels with his brand new special.

[07/05/25 - 02:11 PM]
Yeeee-haw! "My Life with the Walter Boys" Season 2 Premieres August 28
Netflix confirmed the news on social media this afternoon.

[07/05/25 - 01:31 PM]
From Action-Packed Adventures to Chilling Supernatural Tales: Netflix Invites Viewers to Discover Their Next Favorite Anime
In addition to debuts for "BEASTARS" Final Season, "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2," "Record of Ragnarok III" and "My Melody & Kuromi," Netflix offered sneak peeks at "The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity," "The Summer Hikaru Died" and "SAKAMOTO DAYS," with new episodes launching weekly beginning July 14.

[07/05/25 - 01:01 PM]
First Look at "Reasonable Doubt" Season 3 Premiering September 18 on Hulu
Jax is coming in red hot.

[07/04/25 - 03:31 PM]
Video: Tyler Perry's "Miss Governor" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Tyler Perry's comedy series "She The People" starring Terri J. Vaughn returns with all the laughs and a new name.

[07/04/25 - 02:31 PM]
Video: Tyler Perry's "Beauty in Black" Season 2 - Official Teaser - Netflix
As she takes the reins of the Bellarie empire, Kimmie confronts a vicious family power struggle, where betrayal, greed and danger lurk at every turn.