Here are some answers to recent e-mail questions. The questions are composites rather than actual e-mails.
Question: When is the NBC upfront? Your site list it as Tuesday, May 5th, but I keep seeing reports that it's Monday, May 4.
We originally just copied our information for NBC from a schedule we saw earlier. Again this year NBC isn't holding a traditional upfront, but rather a series of meetings and conference calls that kick off on May 4. Multiple sources have the May 4th date (along with a comedy showcase NBC will be doing later in the month on May 19 featuring Jay Leno). My guess is we will probably see the schedule announcements sometime Monday. The sad passing of NBC exec Nora O'Brien could further complicate things. We'll be looking for the announcements on Monday unless we hear otherwise.
Question: How final are the upfront decisions? How final are any mid-season schedules they announce?
I'd frame it like this, if a show you love isn't on any announced schedule, that does not bode well, and I'd take it to mean the show has been canceled. But nothing is definitive, and any mid-season schedules announced are particularly subject to change.
If you're a fan of say Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles or Dollhouse and you don't see those shows mentioned by FOX on any schedule announced at its upfront, even if there is no cancellation announcement, you should assume they are canceled and not coming back. That doesn't mean there are never situations where shows that are canceled can't return, but they are very rare and they usually involve some special event like huge DVD sales.
Question: If Chuck isn't picked by NBC, what are the chances it gets picked up by another network?
I've done about 5 posts on this over the last two months already. In my opinion, the chances of any show that gets canceled being picked up by another network are never good. There are exceptions, though in recent history, they seem to involve sitcoms, and not hour long dramas. And I'm not talking about something like Law & Order: CI that had already been on for years when it was moved from the NBC Universal owned NBC to the NBC Universal owned USA Network.
Robert is free to post a clarification, but here would be my answer to question 2.
If your show is not announced at the upfront as being on the schedule at any time during next season (fall or midseason) it’s dead, gone, buried, history. Move along.
Some pilots that are announced as being on next season’s schedule will simply never make it. The chance is small, but real.
no clarification, I agree.
Thank you Mr. Gorman and mr. seidman, i look forward to monday!
^^^ I don’t…
I look forward to Tuesday when it’s all over.
“NBC will announce its new and returning pickups Monday, but its fall sked won’t be disclosed until the week of May 18, when the rest of the broadcast nets hold their traditional upfronts.”
“As for NBC’s on-the-fence renewals, signs are pointing to a third-season pickup for “Chuck”"
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003070.html?categoryid=14&cs=1
I really think the CW should pick up Chuck if it gets canceled. I know they have this whole thing about only having female-centric series (which is why they are happily murdering Reaper) but their strongest rated night is the male-centric Thursday block. Does this not compute with Dawn Ostroff? What’s wrong with a little cross-gender appeal? Besides, it is already a Warner Bros. series and CW is enamored of Josh Schwartz as are their viewers. Why not make use of his name as a brand with the very young skewing, action-adventure series Chuck? It would surely fit in a lineup with either Smallville, Supernatural, or expected pick-up The Vampire Diaries. Think about it, CW.
Thanks for all clarifications and quick answers to our questions
I gotta wait until May 18 for the TSCC fans to shut up (uh, wishful thinking, Hack!)
I agree with Julia. Can’t wait ’til it’s done one way or the other. Eve if they don’t renew the shows I like I would just love for the speculation to end. Most of all the speculation on Chuck.
P.S. Hack the TSCC fans will never give up on it I tihnk. They are a little off the rocker. I believe they will hold out in hopes even if it isn’t on the schedule.
I apologize for my horrible spelling errors. Going to bed now.
Bill or Robert, in your experience with these renewals how accurate do the reports like the one Mike posted from variety tend to be? I’m a huge Chuck fan, but I was trying not to get excited about that article in case it’s complete speculation with no actual knowledge of the situation.
i swear i swear, next year, chuck or not chuck airing i will not follow the ratings of my shows, too many tension; i’m becoming old and my heart starts to feel the effects.
Buddy, I know Reaper is likely to be canceled, but how awesome would Chuck and Reaper on the same night & network be next season? They can keep Smallville/Supernatural together and match Vampire Diaries w/ Lily or 90210 or another female-centric show…
In all seriousness, we the TSCC will NEVER shut up. If FOX drops the show our anger will propel further campaigns and internet mobilization, and we will hope for a Sci-Fi pick-up or at the very least a Serenity-type movie.
How often do announced new shows really not make it to the air anymore though?
I vaguely recall a Shannen Doherty show that was recast and then canceled on the WB without airing, and a Rachel Leigh Cook show that had a couple episodes produced for Fox but never aired, but both of those examples are years old.
Doesn’t just about everything produced nowadays end up on the air, even if merely as summer burn offs (cough*The Philanthropist*cough)?
Um, haven’t there already been 3 Terminator movies, with a 4th one coming out soon?
I remember that WB show Tom, it was called “Fearless” IIRC. For the 06-07 season CBS had a midseason show called “Waterfront” that never aired. They had produced 5 episodes of it. Also for the 06-07 season, NBC had “The Singles Table” that never aired.
T:TSCC – NO SURRENDER!
“I vaguely recall a Shannen Doherty show that was recast and then canceled on the WB without airing”
I think u mean UPN’s Love, Inc., which aired one season.