or


[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.





  [may 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· ACCORDING TO JIM (ABC)
· AMERICA'S TOUGHEST JOBS (NBC)
· BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
· CHOPPING BLOCK (NBC)
· CRUSOE (NBC)
· CUPID (ABC)
· DEAL OR NO DEAL (CNBC)
· 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)





[03/28/26 - 10:11 PM]
Video: "Sparks of Tomorrow" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The newest work from Kyoto Animation, "Sparks of Tomorrow" begins streaming worldwide on July 5, only on Netflix.

[03/28/26 - 09:16 PM]
Video: "BAKI-DOU: The Invincible Samurai" - Official Teaser - Netflix Anime
Baki and the strongest Underground Arena fighters face a threat of historical proportions: the resurrected Musashi Miyamoto, Japan's greatest samurai.

[03/28/26 - 03:30 PM]
Lion Forge Entertainment Announces Premiere Date for Second "Iyanu" Animated Movie
"Iyanu: The War of Twin Princes" will debut on Cartoon Network on July 11, 2026, and be available on HBO Max the following day.

[03/28/26 - 02:46 AM]
Video: "STEEL BALL RUN JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" 2nd STAGE - Official Teaser - Netflix
In the 2nd STAGE, the racers must cross a 750-mile expanse of desert.

[03/27/26 - 09:16 PM]
Video: "Dandelion" - Official Trailer - Netflix
At an afterlife agency where angels guide lingering souls, Tetsuo and Misaki take on any challenge to help the dead find peace in their own offbeat style.

[03/27/26 - 06:46 PM]
Video: "Blue Box" Season 2 - Official Teaser - Netflix
Season 2 is coming to Netflix in October 2026.

[03/27/26 - 03:16 PM]
Official Trailer for HBO's Harry Potter Series, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," Shatters Records as HBO and HBO Max's Most-Watched Ever by More Than Double, Amassing +277 Million Organic Views in 48 Hours
The series will debut Christmas 2026 on HBO and will be available to stream exclusively on HBO Max.

[03/27/26 - 01:01 PM]
Hugely Popular "Chicago" Series Set to Return to NBC in the Fall
"Chicago Fire" will begin its 15th season in the fall, "Chicago P.D." its 14th and "Chicago Med" its 12th.

[03/27/26 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix Rounds Out Cast of "Kennedy" with Production Underway in London
The new drama series based on Fredrik Logevall's book, "JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956," will explore the triumphs and tragedies of the Kennedy family from Chernin Entertainment.

[03/27/26 - 09:48 AM]
FOX Sports Assembles Top-Tier Roster for 2026 Major League Baseball Regular Season Coverage
Entering their fifth season together, first-ballot Hall of Famer John Smoltz and Emmy Award-winning play-by-play announcer Joe Davis call FOX Sports' top regular season and playoff games.

[03/27/26 - 09:46 AM]
ABC News Is #1 in Total Viewers in Late-Night, Friday Night and Sunday Morning
"20/20" scored its best Adults 25-54 performance in 11 months.

[03/27/26 - 09:21 AM]
"The Morning Show" News Incoming - Sean Hayes Joins the Cast of Season 5
Apple TV confirmed the news on social media this morning.

[03/27/26 - 08:01 AM]
HBO Original Documentary Series "The Dark Wizard" Debuts April 14
The four-part documentary series is an up-close and unflinching portrait of Dean Potter, one of the world's most influential and controversial climbers, BASE jumpers, and highline walkers.

[03/27/26 - 07:01 AM]
ESPN Original "Why Not Us: UMES Volleyball" to Premiere March 30
Presented by Andscape and produced by Sport & Story, the latest installment follows the inspiring journey of the newly formed men's volleyball team at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore - the first men's volleyball program at a Division I HBCU.

[03/26/26 - 02:05 PM]
"The Madison" Marks Taylor Sheridan's Biggest Debut Season Launch with 8 Million Views Globally for Paramount+
The debut of the six-part series also marks the biggest freshman season launch for the prolific creator among women 35+.