The Future of the Freshman Shows

As we come up on November Sweeps starting next week, we take this time to take a look at what shows need to step it up for November Sweeps and which shows look to be getting the full 22 in terms of episodes for their first season on the air! Let's start it off with...

NBC

For NBC, this was supposed to be the season they could look at their slate and see shows that were consistently critically loved as well as getting amazing ratings. They had brought out a slate of shows that should've amazed everyone, like Heroes, Studio 60, Friday Night Lights, and 30 Rock. While all four of those shows have gotten favorable reviews, only one of those shows have gotten the ratings it deserves, and that would be Heroes. Let's take a look at NBC debuted this year and what they have on slate.

Heroes: This is the show that NBC and many people were worried wouldn't get good ratings, but it has surprised everyone by being one of the top rated new shows on television, and this week looks to be cracking into the top 20 in terms of viewers. NBC has obviously loved this show that got 14 million viewers this week, and have been given a full season pickup. NBC has one show that they can be proud of ratings wise.

Verdict: Already picked up.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip: A show that was critically hailed by all has proven to be lackluster in the ratings. It debuted to twelve million viewers and have since dropped to 7.7 million. Now, apparently Studio 60 is number in ratings when it comes to those who income is greater then $100,000 and that could be something to boast. However, NBC needs this show to get ratings, and they need to get it fast. This show got a 13 episode commitment, and if NBC takes it off the air beforehand then NBC will have to pay a big penalty. NBC has said before that they're committed to this show, and I think they will be. I see NBC giving it a full season pick-up in an effort to give it every single chance it has. If the show ends the season with less than ten million viewers though then I see it not returning for a second season, mainly because it's doing better then so many of the other NBC shows.

Verdict: Will be picked up as long as it doesn't bleed more viewers throughout November, and will need ten million viewers to stick around for Season Two.

Friday Night Lights: The show that everyone is falling in love with just can't seem to get the viewers it needs. Last night's showing got 6.3 million viewers after getting roughly 6.5 million the week before. Also, last week it saw an increase while this week saw a decrease. However, NBC is being faithful to this show as they're giving it an attempt by ordering more scripts which is good for the show. One of the best new dramas on television, Friday Night Lights has a chance because of the fact that NBC is trying to show that it is a quality network in terms of their scripted shows, and they're going to take a lot of flak if they cancel this show with the kind of reviews it's getting. Next Monday night, Friday Night Lights gets the chance to see if it could do well in another timeslot as it replaces Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip for one week when Studio 60 was originally going to air a rerun.

Verdict: The show is going to continue to slowly grow throughout the season to get a full season pick-up. It should see a season two as well because of the fact that the critics love it, and that does mean something in television today.

30 Rock: This show is a difficult one as it's getting roughly 5 million viewers, but already NBC has plans for it, and they will stick to those plans for a few weeks to see if 30 Rock will excel in the 9:30 slot on Thursday evenings for NBC as I mentioned earlier. However, I see that show dying against the likes of C.S.I. and Grey's Anatomy, and NBC will axe the sitcom before it ever really gets a chance. The fact that the critics don't love this show means that NBC has to play favorites with those shows that the critics do love.

Verdict: Cancelled after the original thirteen.

20 Good Years: I'm not going to even go in-depth with this one. Just cancel it already.

Verdict: Cancelled tomorrow if I'm lucky.

On tap: Their big show could be The Black Donnellys which is about four Irish brothers who take on the MOB on their home turf. After seeing the pilot, I saw why NBC wanted to place it in E.R.'s timeslot for a while, but with E.R. doing so well this season they nixed those plans. This show should be a show that airs at 10PM after Heroes or somewhere so that it can get the opprotunity to be gritty. I see this show going on Sunday Nights.

Other shows that could be prove to be something is Andy Barker, P.I. and The Real Wedding Crashers. NBC also has The Singles Table, You're The One I Want, and Raines. The Singles Table will get the lucky rub as it's given 30 Rock's slot in the second half of the season if 30 Rock is cancelled in my opinion. They also have The Apprentice, Crossing Jordan, America's Got Talent, and Last Comic Standing.

CBS

CBS continues to be the king of television and they've done so again so far this season. CBS easily has the most solid line-up on television as they're not bogged down with game shows or reality shows outside of Survivor which always does good ratings. This season, they launched four new shows, with another one debuting in November, and a few more in 2007.

Smith: Unfortunately, this show was cancelled before it had a chance, but CBS isn't the kind of network to wait long on shows. They've got a few holes in their schedule, and they want to patch them immediately. While I loved it, I could see where others would have an easy time getting into the show.

Verdict: Already cancelled.

Shark: Shark got the season pick-up already, and it's well worth it as it just cracked the top twenty in terms of total viewers. Rather impressive for the rookie show.

Verdict: Already picked up.

Jericho: Picked up as well. Ratings were rocky at first, but they've been solid at ten million and slowly growing. Well worth it, and fills another hole in CBS' schedule.

Verdict: Already picked up.

The Class: This show has gotten solid ratings this season thus far, and have gotten an order for three more scripts in the past few days. I've not watched the show, but I do know it wasn't critically well received. However, it seems to be finding a solid audience for the sitcom hour with How I Met Your Mother. CBS does have two sitcoms in the wings, one is King of Queens which has proven to get good ratings and will be returning mid-season while they have a new sitcom with Rules of Engagement. If The Class continues to do well in the ratings and holding it's own, it could get the full season pickup. If it starts slipping again, then it could get axed rather quickly as CBS has the replacements waiting.

Verdict: Full season pick-up, but season two is iffy. Depends on their development slate.

On Tap: They have 3 Lbs. debuting in November following doctors in New York City. I imagine it to be a more clinical show then Grey's Anatomy, but will probably find an audience with the CBS viewers. Also on tap is a show called Creature Comforts, a show of animated shorts from the creators of Wallace and Gromit. Not sure where I see that falling in the schedule. CBS already got rid of Waterfront, a show about a colorful mayor in Rhode Island, but it doesn't look like they're going to need it if the other shows on deck live up to their end of the bargain. It should make for an interesting developmental season for CBS as to what shows they're going to pick-up and not.

FOX

Fox had a mixed bag of shows debut this year, with solid shows in Justice and Standoff, and shows that were horrible in 'Til Death and Happy Hour. Let's take a look at what looks to be in store for Fox's new shows.

'Til Death: Looks to be on it's deathbed, and rightfully so. Horrible ratings and horrible reviews. The new sitcoms from Fox were just horrible this season.

Verdict: Dead by the end of November, if not sooner.

Happy Hour: Same as it's counterpart. Please, get it off the air.

Verdict: Deader then dead in due time.

Justice: Solid ratings, though it lost 800K viewers in it's new Monday night timeslot compared to before. Looks like they should've left it where it was. I think this show is picked up based on the fact that they have to keep some shows around. It'll probably get moved back to Wednesdays or take over the 8PM slot on Thursday's to lead-in to O.C.

Verdict: Full season pick-up. Season Two doesn't look too good though.

Standoff: Hard to say right now as it was getting good ratings before, but November Sweeps will be interesting to see. Got a few more scripts ordered during it's Baseball hiatus, and that should lock it in for the rest of the season.

Verdict: Full season pick-up. Season Two looks iffy if it doesn't grow with House.

Vanished: Already done. At least Fox is wrapping up it's thirteen episodes on Friday nights.

Verdict: Adios.

On tap: Well, FOX has this show called 24. Have you ever heard of it? No? Didn't think so. They've also got a reality show in the form of On The Lot, a comedy with The Winner and a drama with The Wedding Album. No telling how those shows will do, but at least they have 24 and oh, yeah! American Idol. Fox always has a strong second half. Plus, The O.C. debuts next week. They've also got Hell's Kitchen, King of the Hill for it's Sunday night comedy line-up, and The Loop.

ABC

ABC easily rolled out the most new shows of the season, and seem to be winning with a few of them while losing with the others. As you can also see, I'm not writing as much as I wrote at the beginning of this piece. I blame it on the fact that I have a splitting headache and am a tad bit tired. So, we're going to zoom through this.

Ugly Betty: Already got the pickup, and with the ratings it's getting it looks like it's going to be around for good. But, can we stop classifying it as a comedy? It really is a drama.

Verdict: Already picked up.

Six Degrees: This is going to be difficult, because I'm enjoying this show, but if Six Degrees doesn't stop losing viewers, then it's going away forever. It's losing to E.R. and Shark, and losing way too much of the lead-in from Grey's Anatomy, which is the most viewed program this season. It's going to be cancelled by the middle of November Sweeps unless it gets a reprieve or does a magical comeback.

Verdict: Dead in three weeks.

Brothers and Sisters: Already picked up, and well deserving. One of the surprise shows of the season.

Verdict: Picked up.

The Nine: One of the most raved about shows has suffered in the ratings badly, and the curse of being on after Lost continues. Look for it to be cancelled after sweeps in a hope that they can wrap up the story so not to alienate people.

Verdict: Done after thirteen episodes.

Men in Trees: Seems to be doing horrible on Friday nights. Then again, it's Friday Nights.

Verdict: Dead very soon.

Help Me Help You: Will stick around as ABC wants to stick with another one of their new shows, Day Break.

On tap: ABC has several shows in development still, with Day Break replacing Lost while it goes on hiatus, and the previously mentioned sitcom, Day Break. Shows on tap for 2007, though who knows where they're going to go at this rate, are Greg Behrendt's Wake-Up Call, In Case of Emergency, Just for Laughs, The Knights of Prosperity, which got good reviews leading up to it's premiere before ABC tossed it to 2007, Masters of Science Fiction, Notes from the Underbelly, Set for Life, and Traveler which will probably get stuck after Lost if The Nine is cancelled. They also still have According to Jim, American Inventor, The George Lopez Show, and Super Nanny returning in 2007.

CW

There are only two shows of interest here, and we're going to get right to them.

Runaway: Cancelled. That didn't take long at all.

Verdict: Done.

Veronica Mars: This is the little show that could, and finally with it being paired with a good lead-in it's getting some good ratings as last night they had the most viewers all season. This show got greenlit for something like 15 episodes, and should get the remaining 7. I also think you'll start seeing it get full season pickups from here on out.

Verdict: Picked up for good!

On tap: Reba. Why? Who knows...

That's all for me today. See you guys tomorrow.

Thanks.

The Pulse