What are you watching this summer?

[Brent]

CBS ANNOUNCES RETURN OF ORIGINAL EPISODES OF COMEDY AND DRAMA SERIES

SERIES
ANTICIPATED RETURN
EXPECTED # OF NEW EPISODES

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
March 17
9

THE BIG BANG THEORY
March 17
9

TWO AND A HALF MEN
March 17
9

CSI: MIAMI
March 24
8

COLD CASE
March 30
5

CRIMINAL MINDS
April 2
7

CSI: NY
April 2
7

CSI
April 3
6

WITHOUT A TRACE
April 3
6

GHOST WHISPERER
April 4
6

NUMB3RS
April 4
6

NCIS
April 8
7

MOONLIGHT
April 11
4

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
April 14
6

SHARK
TBA
4

* THE UNIT, CANE and SHARK are on previously announced hiatus to accommodate the mid-season launches of BIG BROTHER, JERICHO and DEXTER.

**The drama series SWINGTOWN, which hasn't been scheduled yet, will also resume production.

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx ... 80213cbs01

[Brent]

NBC announces the return of scripted shows, and FOX has announced it's summer schedule ALREADY.

NBC ANNOUNCES BROADCAST RETURN OF SEVERAL SCRIPTED SERIES WITH ORIGINAL EPISODES IN APRIL

Series Include "The Office," "30 Rock," "My Name Is Earl," "Law & Order," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Scrubs," "ER" and "Medium"

BURBANK - February 13, 2008 - NBC will resume the broadcast of many of its scripted series in April with new original episodes following the settlement of the Writers Guild of America strike, including "The Office," "30 Rock," "My Name Is Earl," "Law & Order," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," among other programs, it was announced by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, and Marc Graboff, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.

The list of comedies and dramas includes: "My Name Is Earl" (Thursdays, 8-8:30 p.m. ET), which will return with a one-hour episode on Thursday, April 3; the Emmy Award-winning "30 Rock" (Thursdays, 8:30-9 p.m. ET) will begin on Thursday, April 10; likewise, the Emmy-winning "The Office" (Thursdays, 9-9:30 p.m. ET) also resumes with new episodes on Thursday, April 10; and "Scrubs" (Thursdays, 9:30-10 p.m. ET) will come back with original episodes beginning Thursday, April 10.

"ER" (Thursdays, 10-11 p.m. ET) also will come back on Thursday, April 10 with new episodes following the complete run of "Lipstick Jungle," which concludes on March 20.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (Tuesdays, 10-11 p.m. ET) will return with fresh episodes on Tuesday, April 15. "Law & Order" (Wednesdays, 10-11 p.m. ET) resumes with original episodes on Wednesday, April 23. Meanwhile, "Medium" (Mondays, 10-11 p.m. ET) continues in originals.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- FOX has confirmed its summer plans, which will once again include new seasons of "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Hell's Kitchen."

Joining them this time around: newcomer "When Women Rule the World" as well as fresh installments of "The Moment of Truth."

Things kick off on Thursday, May 22 with the two-hour season premiere of "So You Think You Can Dance." Two-hour editions of the series will run on Wednesdays and Thursdays through June 5. Then on June 12, "The Moment of Truth" will fill the 8:00/7:00c hour on Thursdays followed by "Dance's" one-hour results shows at 9:00/8:00c.

Next up is the two-hour premiere of "When Women Rule the World" on Monday, May 26. Subsequent weeks will feature "Rule" at 8:00/7:00c and repeats of "Bones" at 9:00/8:00c.

Tuesdays will showcase repeats of "House" at 8:00/7:00c with the new season of "Hell's Kitchen," which bows April 1 as previously announced, continuing at 9:00/8:00c.

Rounding out the network's summer slate will be movies on Friday nights, mainstays "Cops" and "America's Most Wanted" on Saturdays and repeats of "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" and its animated quartet on Sundays.

To review, here's a recap of the aforementioned plans:

Monday, May 26
8:00/7:00c - "When Women Rule the World" (Two-Hour Series Premiere)

Mondays (June 2-July 21)
8:00/7:00c - "When Women Rule the World"
9:00/8:00c - "Bones" (Repeats)

Monday, July 28
8:00/7:00c - "When Women Rule the World" (Two-Hour Season Finale)

Monday, August 4
8:00/7:00c - "Teen Choice 2008" (Two-Hour Special)

Tuesdays (May 27-July 8)
8:00/7:00c - "House" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "Hell's Kitchen" (Continues New Season)

Tuesday, July 15
8:00/7:00c - "2008 MLB All-Star Game" (Three-Hour Special)

Tuesdays (as of July 22)
8:00/7:00c - "Bones" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "House" (Repeats)

Wednesdays (May 28-August 6)
8:00/7:00c - "So You Think You Can Dance" (Two-Hours)

Thursdays (May 22-June 5)
8:00/7:00c - "So You Think You Can Dance" (Two-Hours)

Thursdays (June 12-July 31)
8:00/7:00c - "The Moment of Truth" (New Time Slot)
9:00/8:00c - "So You Think You Can Dance"

Thursday, August 7
8:00/7:00c - "So You Think You Can Dance" (Two-Hour Season Finale)

Fridays (April 25-August 1)
8:00/7:00c - "FOX Friday Night Movie"

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

Sundays (as of June 1)
7:00/6:00c - "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" (Repeats)
8:00/7:00c - "The Simpsons" (Repeats)
8:30/7:30c - "King of the Hill" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "Family Guy" (Repeats)
9:30/8:30c - "American Dad" (Repeats)

[Cyclenall]

"The moment of Truth" is a FOX show. Why is it coming to NBC?

[Brent]

"The moment of Truth" is a FOX show. Why is it coming to NBC?

LOL, you're getting confused. The schedule below the NBC announcement is FOX's summer schedule. It's not coming to NBC.

[Cyclenall]

"The moment of Truth" is a FOX show. Why is it coming to NBC?

LOL, you're getting confused. The schedule below the NBC announcement is FOX's summer schedule. It's not coming to NBC.

I know that, but why is FOX and NBC mixed in that article? I don't even know what timetable that is for.

[lurkey]

Why is ER still on?? Seriously .. . . Yeah, I know about NBC being contractly obligated to air it, but someone please put it out its misery.

[lurkey]

NBC RENEWS DRAMA SERIES 'CHUCK, 'LIFE' AND 'HEROES' FOR 2008-09 SEASON

BURBANK - February 13, 2008 - NBC has picked up its freshman drama series "Chuck" and "Life" -- as well as its hit "Heroes" -- for the 2008-09 season, it was announced today by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, and Marc Graboff, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.

[Miss Mary]

I'm an ER fan but I would have gladly had it fade away, if they had kept Studio 60 (a show I still miss). I don't know why NBC has hung onto ER like this. It's as if it's two different shows now - the former, beloved cast of Anthony Edwards, George Clooney, et al to the current cast (which is quite good, but they're on a show that premiered way back in 1994!). When I watch ER, it feels as though it's almost real - a hospital setting where each year you have a new batch of interns and some stay or move on. It's just been a revolving door of characters. And I still miss Mark Greene - that was my favorite ER character of all time.

Yeah for Chuck though - next to Big Bang Theory, Chuck is our second most favorite new show from the 2007/08 TV season.

[Brent]

CBS Renews 11 Shows for 2008-09
While 'Big Bang Theory,' all three 'CSIs' and 'Ghost Whisperer' are safe, but what about 'Moonlight' and 'HIMYM'?

Late Thursday (Feb. 14) afternoon, CBS gave Valentine's Day gift to freshman comedy "The Big Bang Theory," plus 10 other scripted hits.

The network announced that 11 of its most successful shows, including eight of the 20 top-rated scripted offerings on television, will be back for the 2008-09 season. Joining "The Big Bang Theory" on the pick-up front are "Cold Case," "Criminal Minds," all three shows in the "CSI" franchise, "Ghost Whisperer," "NCIS," "Numb3rs," "Two and a Half Men" and "Without a Trace."

The network had previously ordered another installment of "The Amazing Race," plus two more seasons of "Survivor."

None of those renewals is particularly surprising, as most of the shows represent the foundation of CBS' long run as TV's most-watched network.

CBS also announced on Thursday that even if other networks are feeling doubts about how to handle the upfronts season this year, The Eye will hold a presentation for advertisers on Wednesday, May 14 at Carnegie Hall. The may turn out to be Judgment Day for fans of a number of currently unrenewed shows.

Among the shows that remain in limbo are beloved Monday comedy "How I Met Your Mother," slightly less beloved Monday comedy "Rules of Attraction," the James Wood drama "Shark" "The Unit" and cult vampire favorite "Moonlight." All of those shows are being brought back into production and will return in March and April for new episodes likely to determine their eventual fate. Presumably the network's schedule will still have room for several of those shows.

Also on uncertain footing is "Jericho," which was brought back from the dead after a fan campaign, but delivered middling returns in its Tuesday return. "Jericho" has finished shooting its mini-season, but six episodes have yet to air.

[Miss Mary]

They'd never, ever cancel HIMYM!

That show is a bonafied hit!

[Brent]

They'd never, ever cancel HIMYM!

That show is a bonafied hit!

The ratings have been weak this year, not spectacular or that great. I wouldn't be surprised if it was cancelled, but due to the strike(and less new shows coming this year), it probably has a better chance than usual. The other 3 Monday sitcoms are much stronger though.

[lurkey]

THE CW ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE FOR RETURN OF ORIGINAL EPISODES OF SCRIPTED SERIES

SERIES
ANTICIPATED RETURN
EXPECTED # OF NEW EPISODES

THE GAME
March 23
9

ONE TREE HILL
April 14
6

SMALLVILLE
April 17
5

GOSSIP GIRL
April 21
5

REAPER
April 22
5

SUPERNATURAL
April 24
4

*EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS completed 22 episodes. The 12 remaining originals will begin airing March 3.

* ALIENS IN AMERICA completed 18 episodes. The 8 remaining originals will air March 2-March 23 and April 27-May 18.


QUICK TAKE FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2008 (FAST AFFILIATE LIVE + SAME DAY RATINGS)
Released by ABC
[NOTE: The following article is a press release issued by the aforementioned network and/or company. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author. The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed information.]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quick Take for Thursday, February 14, 2008 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Tops Valentine's Day Thursday in Adults 18-49, Winning the Evening for the Third Week in a Row During the 2008 February Sweep

ABC's "Lost" is Thursday's No. 1 TV Show for the Third Consecutive Week

"Lost" Jumps from its Lead-in to Beat its Nearest Competition During The 9 O'clock Hour by 2.6 Million Viewers and by 54% in Adults 18-49

"Eli Stone" is No. 1 with Adults 18-49 in the 10pm Hour for the Third Straight Week

Thursday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC won Valentine's Day Thursday in Adults 18-49 (3.5/10), leading the evening for the third week in a row during the 2008 February Sweep. The Network also delivered the No. 1 position on the evening in Adults 18-34 (2.9/9), Adults 25-54 (4.1/10-tie) and all key men demographics.

ABC's "Lost" qualified as Thursday's No. 1 TV program for the third consecutive week in Total Viewers and across each of the key adult demographics (AD18-34/AD18-49/AD25-54).

"Lost" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Surging from its lead-in (the previous week's episode), ABC's "Lost" moved ABC into a dominant first place at 9:00 p.m., beating its closest competition in the time period by 2.6 million viewers (13.6 million vs. 11.0 million - CBS) and by 54% in Adults 18-49 (5.7/15 vs. 3.7/10 NBC).

"Eli Stone" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Ranking No. 1 in its time period for the third straight week among Adults 18-49, ABC's freshman "Eli Stone" defeated NBC's freshman "Lipstick Jungle" during the 10 o'clock hour in Total Viewers (7.8 million vs. 6.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.8/8 vs. 2.5/7).

A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating trends based on the Live + Same Day data stream may be somewhat distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has nearly doubled from nearly 13% at the same point in 2006, up to more than 22% currently. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

[Miss Mary]

They'd never, ever cancel HIMYM!

That show is a bonafied hit!

The ratings have been weak this year, not spectacular or that great. I wouldn't be surprised if it was cancelled, but due to the strike(and less new shows coming this year), it probably has a better chance than usual. The other 3 Monday sitcoms are much stronger though.

Brent - oh say it isn't so! I am writing the network, right now. We love this show.

[southerngale]

They'd never, ever cancel HIMYM!

That show is a bonafied hit!

The ratings have been weak this year, not spectacular or that great. I wouldn't be surprised if it was cancelled, but due to the strike(and less new shows coming this year), it probably has a better chance than usual. The other 3 Monday sitcoms are much stronger though.

Brent - oh say it isn't so! I am writing the network, right now. We love this show.

What is HIMYM?

[lurkey]

What is HIMYM?

How I Met Your Mother

[Brent]

The official show status list:

Officially Returning
24 (FOX)
Chuck (NBC)
Cold Case (CBS)
Criminal Minds (CBS)
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS)
CSI: Miami (CBS)
CSI: New York (CBS)
Desperate Housewives (ABC)
Brothers and Sisters (ABC)
Dirty Sexy Money (ABC)
Ghost Whisperer (CBS)
Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
Heroes (NBC)
Life (NBC)
Lost (ABC)
NCIS (CBS)
Numb3rs (CBS)
Private Practice (ABC)
Pushing Daisies (ABC)
Samantha Who? (ABC)
The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Two & A Half Men (CBS)
Ugly Betty (ABC)
Without A Trace (CBS)

Most Likely Returning
30 Rock (NBC)
American Dad! (FOX)
Back to You (FOX)
Bones (FOX)
ER (NBC)
Family Guy (FOX)
Everybody Hates Chris (CW)
House (FOX)
Gossip Girl (CW)
King Of The Hill (FOX)
Law & Order (NBC)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC)
Medium (NBC)
My Name Is Earl (NBC)
One Tree Hill (CW)
Reaper (CW)
Smallville (CW)
Supernatural (CW)
The Game (CW)
The Office (NBC)
The Simpsons (FOX)

On The Bubble:
Aliens In America (CW)
Boston Legal (ABC)
Cashmere Mafia (ABC)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
Eli Stone (ABC)
Friday Night Lights (NBC)
Las Vegas (NBC)
Lipstick Jungle (NBC)
Men In Trees (ABC)
Moonlight (CBS)
October Road (ABC)
Prison Break (FOX)
Rules Of Engagement (CBS)
Shark (CBS)
The New Adventures Of Old Christine (CBS)
The Sarah Connor Chronicles (FOX)
The Unit (CBS)
Welcome To The Captain (CBS)
Women's Murder Club (ABC)

Dead
Big Shots (ABC)
Bionic Woman (ABC)
Cane (CBS)
Carpoolers (ABC)
Cavemen (ABC)
Journeyman (NBC)
K-Ville (FOX)
Life Is Wild (CW)
Notes From The Underbelly (ABC)
Scrubs (NBC)
Viva Laughlin (CBS)

A Show That Just Wont Die
According To Jim (ABC)

Scripted Shows That Have Yet To Air
Canterbury's Law (FOX)
New Amsterdam (FOX)
Miss/Guided (ABC)
quarterlife (NBC)
Swingtown (CBS)
The Return Of Jezebel James (FOX)
Unhitched (FOX)

[JonathanBelles]

Knight Rider was awesome tonight!!!! a full 10/10 from me. I wish it would become a series.

[lurkey]

Knight Rider was awesome tonight!!!! a full 10/10 from me. I wish it would become a series.

It was predictable, though the last scene was kinda cool. The Ford commercials were driving me nuts.

[lurkey]

Good 'Knight' for NBC Sunday
ABC takes overall title, but 'Knight Rider' performs well



ABC grabbed the biggest audience on Sunday night, but NBC's updating of "Knight Rider" helped the Peacock to a demographic victory.

For the night, ABC averaged a 6.6 rating/11 share to snag the top spot. CBS finished second in households at 5.9/9, but NBC, 5.4/9, had more total viewers (a shade over 10 million, to CBS' 9.22 million). FOX, 4.3/7, came in fourth, while The CW was barely a blip at 0.6/1.

NBC scored a 4.0 rating among adults 18-49 to take the top spot in the advertisers favorite demographic. ABC wasn't far behind at 3.7. FOX, 3.2, took third, followed by CBS, 2.1, and The CW, which drew a puny 0.3.

CBS led at 7 p.m. with "60 Minutes," 8.1/12. "America's Funniest Home Videos," 5.0/8, put ABC in second, just ahead of FOX's coverage of the Daytona 500 and a "King of The Hill" rerun, which averaged 4.9/8. The finale of "American Gladiators" on NBC managed only a 3.2/5 in finishing fourth. The CW aired "CW Now" and an "Everybody Hates Chris" rerun.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," 7.3/11, moved ABC into the lead at 8 p.m. "American Gladiators" improved to 4.3/7 to move NBC into second. CBS' "Big Brother 9," 4.1/6, tied for third in households with "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill" on FOX, with FOX drawing more viewers. A second "Chris" and "Aliens in America" brought up the rear for The CW.

"EM: Home Edition" jumped up to 8.4/13 at 9 p.m., keeping ABC on top. NBC's "Knight Rider" movie/back-door pilot scored a 6.9/10 to take second, beating "Cold Case," 6.1/9, on CBS. "Family Guy," 4.3/6, and "American Dad," 3.3/5, were fourth for FOX. The CW finished its night with reruns of "Girlfriends" and "The Game."

At 10 p.m., "Knight Rider" delivered a 7.3/12 (and a healthy 5.1 adults 18-49 rating) for NBC. ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" posted a 5.7/9, while the debut of a cleaned-up "Dexter" on CBS earned a 5.2/9.

[Brent]

I think Knight Rider got a lot of curious viewers, the reviews have been HORRIFIC all over the internet. I really question if a regular series could succeed(Bionic Woman was a massive disaster).

American Gladiators did AWFUL. Poor move scheduling it at 7pm on Sunday against NASCAR. Big Brother belongs in the summer not in February(and it brought down the rest of CBS though Dexter did decent enough) while Brothers and Sisters is very weak without Desperate Housewives.

The CW needs to close down.