May 20, 2004

UPN: Star Trek lives...for now, at least...

UPN rounded out Upfront week by announcing their fall schedule this morning.

The biggest question over UPN was what would happen to Star Trek Enterprise, who limped through their third season on Wednesday nights, while getting creamed even among science fiction fans by WB's Smallville.

Well, Trek-fans, your pleas have been heard and answered, with Enterprise moving to Friday nights at 9.

UPN is relying on breakout hit America's Top Model and Smackdown as their powerhouse shows.

UPN 2004-2005 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

MONDAY
8:00-8:30 PM ONE ON ONE
8:30-9:00 PM HALF AND HALF
9:00-9:30 PM GIRLFRIENDS
9:30-10:00 PM SECOND TIME AROUND

TUESDAY
8:00-8:30 PM ALL OF US
8:30-9:00 PM EVE
9:00-10:00 PM VERONICA MARS

WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAÂ’S NEXT TOP MODEL
9:00-10:00 PM KEVIN HILL

THURSDAY
8:00-10:00 PM WWE SMACKDOWN!

FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAÂ’S NEXT TOP MODEL (R)
9:00-10:00 PM STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE

Some long time Trekkies might note that Friday nights is where NBC finally killed the original Star Trek more than 35 years ago.

Current word is that the "suits" at Paramount have given the word that this year will be the last for Enterprise and by extension, for the Star Trek franchise for the forseeable future.

Congratulations, Berman & Braga (franchise runners - and egomaniacs - Rick Berman & Brannon Braga): You've killed the golden goose. I hope you both enjoy great agony for your honorless "work."

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Fox: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, all year long.

Fox one-upped the other networks recently by announcing an "all year round, seasonless" show introduction schedule. They stuck to their guns in their 04-05 Upfront presentation this morning.

Fox continues to crank out one reality show after another, starting in June with The Casino and The Simple Life 2: Roadtrip. The Fox reality wheel copies other formats as well, with Virgin's Richard Branson as The Billionaire (not unlike The Apprentice) and Oscar De La Hoya's The Next Great Champ (which mirror's NBC's upcoming Sylvester Stallone vehicle, The Contender).

Fox plays fast and loose with scheduling as well, with the biggest point being the move of 24 to Mondays beginning next January.

Fox has broken out their scheduling into three parts, June-October 04; November-January 04/05 and January-June 05.

FOX BROADCASTING COMPANY 2004-2005 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE
(All times PM ET/PT)

JUNE TO OCTOBER 2004

MONDAY
8:00-9:00 NORTH SHORE (Premieres June 14)
9:00-10:00 THE CASINO (Premieres June 14)

TUESDAY
8:00-8:30 THE BERNIE MAC SHOW
8:30-9:00 METHOD & RED (Encores, starting June 22)
9:00-10:00 THE JURY (Premieres June 8 with back-to-back episodes)

WEDNESDAY
8:00-8:30 THAT '70s SHOW
8:30-9:00 QUINTUPLETS (Premieres June 16)
9:00-9:30 THE SIMPLE LIFE 2: ROAD TRIP (Premieres June 16)
9:30-10:00 METHOD & RED (Premieres June 16)

THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 NORTH SHORE (Encores, starting June 17)
9:00-10:00 TRU CALLING

FRIDAY
8:00-8:30 TOTALLY OUTRAGEOUS BEHAVIOR
8:30-9:00 WORLD'S CRAZIEST VIDEOS
9:00-10:00 THE JURY (Encores, starting June 11)

SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 COPS
8:30-9:00 COPS
9:00-10:00 AMERICA'S MOST WANTED
11:00-Midnight MADtv

SUNDAY
7:00-7:30 OLIVER BEENE (Starting June 6)
7:30-8:00 KING OF THE HILL
8:00-8:30 THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
9:00-9:30 MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE
9:30-10:00 QUINTUPLETS (Encores, starting June 20)

NOVEMBER 2004 TO JANUARY 2005

MONDAY
8:00-9:00 NORTH SHORE
9:00-10:00 THE SWAN 2

TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 THE BILLIONAIRE: BRANSON'S QUEST FOR THE BEST
9:00-10:00 HOUSE

WEDNESDAY
8:00-8:30 THAT '70s SHOW
8:30-9:00 QUINTUPLETS
9:00-9:30 THE BERNIE MAC SHOW
9:30-10:00 METHOD & RED

THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 THE O.C.
9:00-10:00 TRU CALLING

FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 THE NEXT GREAT CHAMP
9:00-10:00 THE JURY

SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 COPS
8:30-9:00 COPS
9:00-10:00 AMERICA'S MOST WANTED
11:00-Midnight MADtv

SUNDAY
7:00-7:30 KING OF THE HILL
7:30-8:00 MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE
8:00-8:30 THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
9:00-10:00 THE PARTNER

JANUARY TO JUNE 2005

MONDAY
8:00-9:00 ATHENS
9:00-10:00 24

TUESDAY
8:00--9:00 AMERICAN IDOL
9:00-10:00 HOUSE

WEDNESDAY
8:00-8:30 THAT '70s SHOW
8:30-9:00 RELATED BY FAMILY
9:00-9:30 AMERICAN IDOL

9:30-10:00 THE BERNIE MAC SHOW

THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 THE O.C.
9:00-10:00 TRU CALLING

FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 THE INSIDE
9:00-10:00 JONNY ZERO

SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 COPS
8:30-9:00 COPS
9:00-10:00 AMERICA'S MOST WANTED
11:00-Midnight MADtv

SUNDAY
7:00-7:30 KELSEY GRAMMER PRESENTS: THE SKETCH SHOW
7:30-8:00 KING OF THE HILL
8:00-8:30 THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE
9:00-9:30 ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
9:30-10:00 AMERICAN DAD

My guess? This year-round thing will fall apart as soon as Fox has a real bomb of a show (or a real unexpected monster hit for that matter), and they have to reshuffle the entire deck.

Notice that though 24 is moving to Monday, it won't show up until after Monday Night Football finishes its' run for the year. They're definitely shrewd, I have to hand that to 'em...

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May 19, 2004

CBS: Eye on battle Wed. at 10

First place network CBS released it's fall schedule this morning in New York, with designs on setting up a battle for NBC's coveted Law & Order audience Wednesdays at 10. CSI: NY will go head to head in what promises to be a real battle.

L&O lead detective Jerry Orbach is leaving on tonight's episode (with plans to most likely come back to the L&O fold in the new Law & Order: Trial by Jury, set to premiere this winter), with new lead Dennis Farina set to replace him on the franchise mothership.

The Tiffany network figures they've got a shot at dethroning the longevity champ by placing its' own new francise player CSI: NY in the slot. CSI: NY stars Gary Sinise & Melina Kanakaredes in a slightly different take on the CSI formula, focusing on the two leads more than the other two franchise series' (CSI & CSI: Miami) do.

Reality powehouse Survivor remains on Thursday, with CBS' other "big" reality piece, The Amazing Race taking over Saturdays from the now-cancelled The District. CBS will round out Saturday with reruns of the CSI franchise & Cold Case (ironically, NBC is using a similar strategy with L&O franchise shows on Saturdays).

CBS TELEVISION NETWORK 2004-2005 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE
(N=New; NT=New Time; all times ET/PT)

MONDAY
8:00-8.30 PM STILL STANDING (NT)
8:30-9:00 PM LISTEN UP (N)
9:00-9:30 PM EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND
9:30-10.00 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN
10:00-11:00PM CSI: MIAMI

TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM NCIS
9:00-10:00 PM CLUBHOUSE (N)
10:00-11:00 PM JUDGING AMY

WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM 60 MINUTES II
9:00-9:30 PM THE KING OF QUEENS
9:30-10:00 PM CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE (N)
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: NY (N)

THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR: VANUATU
9:00-10:00 PM CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
10:00-11:00 PM WITHOUT A TRACE

FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM JOAN OF ARCADIA
9:00-10:00 PM JAG
10:00-11:00 PM dr. vegas (N)

SATURDAY
8:00-9:00 PM 48 HOURS MYSTERIES
9:00-10:00 PM THE AMAZING RACE (NT)
10:00-11:00PM CRIME TIME SATURDAY

SUNDAY
7:00- 8:00 PM 60 MINUTES
8:00- 9:00 PM COLD CASE
9:00-11:00 PM CBS SUNDAY MOVIE

Rob Lowe, who bowed out early last season in NBC's failed law series The Lyon's Den, tries his hand as a doctor in Dr. Vegas. I'm guessing Lowe's on the early out list again -- at least at first glance.

Everybody Loves Raymond will have a shortented season as it's swan song; that seems to be the norm any more; The Parkers took that route this past season, and NYPD Blue looks to do the same this year.

Posted by: mhking at 07:58 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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