TVLookFall2018: 2017-18 Review , 2018-19 Preview

TVLOOKFALL2018 

     Trying something different for the TV upfront week. A look at what's happened and review of  what's  to come.

 ABC
      One thing ABC changed in the 2017-18 TV season was Sunday and trying to figure out what to do with it.  So they've gone with more reality/game/variety programming instead of drama, except in the last hour slot.  A Change for the next season is instead they've gone with no drama on Sunday at all and focused on the other mode that worked for them.  "American Idol" gave them a saving hope for Sundays and they've expanded on that with "Dancing With the Stars : Juniors" (kind of joining NBC on the kid train.) 
       A.B.C  = All Big Comedy ?   ABC has in recent years been focused on comedy  where  2/3rd of Tuesday and Wednesday are comedy series.  Meaning 4 hours a week of their schedule are devoted to comedy.  They had Friday nights  but had to move a drama off Sunday , "Once Upon a Time" and Friday was there.  Read why "Last Man Standing" and "Dr.Ken" ended.    In the next season they are replacing the long running "The Middle" (which was part of ABC's double down on comedy) and replacing a show they tried but they felt didn't work. read: "Alex Inc."  Friday gets comedy again with long runners , "Fresh off the Boat", and "Speechless".   They like to use strong comedy as a launch pad for new series.  The series that followed "Modern Family", the series that followed "The Middle" for example.   "The Goldbergs" and "Black-ish" say hello.   The new seasons of "Roseanne" is their well high rated series , and so of course use that as a lead series.   "The Kids Are Alright" gets that honor.   "Black-ish" isn't being used as  a launch pad this season because the series following it proved it's chance already. "Splitting Up Together".    Wednesday has it's lead comedies of "The Goldbergs" and "Modern Family".  A returning series takes the slot after The Goldbergs - "American Housewife" , while after 'Modern' is a new series so, once again being used as a  launch pad.  "Modern Family" isn't getting younger.   Also Brad Garrett is back on network TV.

   Tuesday 10/9c.  ABC has had a hard time with that slot , so there is once again a new drama in that slot.  "The Rookie"  Question is  will this be a charm for them?

   The Good Doctor,  sometimes a series takes off  and this was one of them , so of course ABC wasn't going to mess with that even keeping it in its slot of  Mondays 10/9c.

Shondaland continues.   "Grey Anatomy"  keeps on going and Thursdays still have Shondaland series. This year they've gone with a spin-off of 'Grey' but with fire fighters. "Station 19"  while "How to Get Away with Murder" finishes up the night as per tradition.  There's only 1 other series left from her company that's "For the People" , which ABC renewed," look for that at mid-season.  Since Shonda Rhimes has made a deal with Netflix , that is the last new series for ABC better hold on tight.

     For the most part ABC kept it the same and focused on what's reliable and what works for them.


More after the jump

Upfront 2018: The CW

The CW  Upfronts  TVLookFall2018 

 
   The CW has released their fall schedule.  We have the details here.

• Sundays are back for the CW almost 10 years after they gave up on the night. It's not as long as they used to do but it's there.  
• With an extra night they've made some moves. "Supergirl" moves to Sundays with the remake of  "Charmed" coming on after it. 
• "Arrow" moves to Mondays at 9/8c with "D.C's Legends of Tomorrow" taking the slot before it. 
• "iZombie" , "Crazy Ex Girlfriend", and "Jane the Virgin" are ending after their seasons wrap up
• Midseason: "The 100", "iZombie", "In the Dark", "Roswell, New Mexico" 

    Here's the schedule , all times ET,  new shows highlighted in Blue 

Monday

8pm  DC's Legends of Tomorrow  

9pm   Arrow (New Time Slot)       

Tuesday

8pm   The Flash                              

9pm   Black Lightning                 

Wednesday

8pm  Riverdale                              

9pm  All American 

Thursday

8pm Supernatural 

9pm  Legacies 

Friday

8pm  Dynasty 

9pm Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (new time slot) 

Sunday 

8pm  Supergirl (new time slot) 

9pm  Charmed  

Press release after the Jump

Upfront 2018 : CBS

CBS Upfront TVLookFall2018  

   
   CBS has released their fall schedule.   Here are some details

• On Mondays they have cut back on comedy by an hour and adding in drama instead
• Mondays start with two new comedies , followed by the remake of "Magnum P.I" and a new time night for "Bull" 
• "Murphy Brown" comes on after Mom on Thursdays 
•  This is the first year in a few where CBS won't have Thursday Night Football
• Midseason : "The Code", "Elementary", "Fam" , "Instinct", "Life in Pieces," "Man With a Plan", "The Red Line" , "The Amazing Race", "Blood & Treasure" , "Big Brother". "Big Brother Celebrity Edition". 

Now here's the schedule , all times ET,  new series highlighted in blue

Monday 

8PM  The Neighborhod

8:30   Happy Together 

9PM   Magnum P.I 

10PM  Bull (new time slot) 

Tuesday 

8PM NCIS

9PM  FBI

10PM NCIS :New Orleans 

Wednesday 

8PM  Survivor 

9PM  SEAL Team 

10PM Criminal Minds  

Thursday

8PM  The Big Bang Theory 

8:30   Young Sheldon 

9PM   Mom 

9:30pm Murphy Brown  (revival season) 

10pm     S.W.A.T 

Friday

8PM MacGyver 

9PM  Hawaii Five-O

10PM  Blue Bloods 

Saturday

8PM  Crimetime Saturday

9PM Crimetime Saturday

10PM 48 Hours 

Sunday

7PM 60 Minutes 

8PM  God Friended Me 

9PM  NCIS: Los Angeles 

10PM  Madam Secretary 

Press release after the jump 

Upfront 2018: ABC

ABC  Upfronts TVLOOKFALL2018

         ABC has released their fall schedule.   Here the details first. 

•  "Roseanne" is ready to going to be ready to go in the fall.
•   ABC relies on game shows and reality shows on Sunday again  "Dancing With the Stars: Junior" will air Sundays , followed by "American Idol" in the midseason. 
• "The Alec Baldwin Show" will air on Sundays  as well. 
• ABC brings back comedies to Fridays.  After canceling "Last Man Standing" , and "Dr.Ken" at the end of the 2016-17 season and with FOX picking up the first show.  "Fresh off the Boat" and "Speechless" move to Fridays
•  "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D" does return but it's been pushed to midseason
•  Also ABC is loaded with comedy  airing  2 hours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 1 hour on Fridays means they have 5 hours  a week of Comedy 
• "Grey"s Anatomy"'s spinoff  , "Station 19" gets a Thursday slot right after it's parent show. 
• Midseason returns :  "American Idol", "The Bachelor", "The Fix", "For the People", "Grand Hotel", "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D", "Schooled', and "Whiskey Cavalier".

    Here's the full schedule  all times ET , new series highlighted in blue 

   

Monday 

 8PM  Dancing With the Stars

10PM   The Good Doctor 

Tuesday 

  8PM  Roseanne 

  8:30  The Kids Are Alright 

  9PM   black-ish 

  9:30  Splitting up Together 

 10pm  The Rookie 

Wednesday 

 8PM  The Goldbergs  

8:30    American Housewife (new time slot) 

 9PM  Modern Family

9:30  Single Parents 

10PM  A Million Little Things 

Thursday

8PM Grey's Anatomy 

9PM   Station 19 

10PM   How to Get Away with Murder 

Friday

8PM  Fresh Off the Boat  (new time slot) 

8:30   Speechless (new time slot) 

9PM  Child Support (new time slot) 

10pm  20/20  

Saturday 

8PM  Saturday Night Football 

Sunday 

7PM  America's Funniest Home Videos 

8PM Dancing with the Stars :Juniors 

9PM Shark Tank 

10PM The Alec Baldwin Show 

Upfront 2018 : FOX

FOX  TVLookFall2018  Upfronts

            Fox has released its fall schedule and we have the details.   But first, some notes.

• "Last Man Standing" returns after a year off  from cancellation on ABC where it aired Fridays at 8/7c the  show is taking the same night and time.  
• "The Cool Kids" is new comedy coming and it will air Fridays after "Last Man Standing" 
• "9-1-1"  moves to  Mondays after  "The Resident"  
• "The Gifted" moves to Tuesdays at 8/7c 
• "Lethal Weapon" is back and has  a new actor.
• "The Orville" returns December 30th after an NFL Double Header and then moves to its Thursday Night slot
•  FOX now has the rights to the simulcast of Thursday Night Football 
• "Gotham" returns  for a fifth and final season is coming to midseason , along with a new drama, "The Passage".  
• A new "Cosmos" limited series will air in the spring. 
• "LA to Vegas" and "Ghosted" are still TBD if renewed or not. 
• "Bob's Burgers" moves from 7:30/6:30c ot 8:30/7:30c 
• Midseason : The Four, Beat Shazam, Gordon Ramsay's 24 hours to Hell and Back,  Love Connection, Masterchef, MasterChef Junior , Showtime at the Apollo, The Passage (new) , Proven Innocent (new) . 

      Here's the schedule  all times ET , new series highlighted in blue
 Monday 
   8PM  The Resident (new time slot)
   9PM  9-1-1 (new time slot)

Tuesday
    8PM  The Gifted (new slot)
    9PM Lethal Weapon (new time slot)

Wednesday
    8PM  Empire
    9PM  Star


Thursday
   8pm/ 5pt   Thursday Night Football

Friday
   8pm  Last Man Standing
   8:30PM  The Cool Kids 
    9PM   Hell's Kitchen

Saturday
  8PM  College Football

Sunday 
    8PM The Simpsons
    8:30PM  Bob's  Burgers (New Time Slot)
    9PM      Family Guy
    9:30PM   Rel 


Press release after the jump

Upfront 2018: NBC

NBC  TVLookFall2018  Upfronts 

        

            NBC released their fall schedule  for the 2018-2019 season.  There are some changes for the season and we note those now.

•     Law and Order : SVU moves to Thursday Nights following the comedy block 
•    The Chicago series of shows  get their own night , Wednesdays 
•    "Midnight, Texas" moves from summer to fall
•    "Brookyln Nine-Nine"  is coming to NBC in the mid season
•     "The Blacklist" returns in mid season 
•    Also, moving from summer is "World of Dance" which will take Sundays after Football.
•     "A.P Bio" and "Good Girls" are back in midseason.  
•   "Good Girls will air after "World of Dance" on Sundays  and "The Blacklist"  returns January taking the 9PM ET slot. 
•  "Abby's"  , "The Enemy Within" , "The Village" ,and "InBetween" are set to come in mid season. 

  Full schedule below  (new shows highlighted in blue) 

  All times ET

Monday

8PM    The Voice

10PM   Manifest  

Tuesday 

8PM The Voice

9PM  This is Us 

10PM  New Amsterdam 

Wednesday

8PM  Chicago Med (new time) 

9PM  Chicago Fire (new time) 

10PM   Chicago P.D 

Thursday 

8PM Superstore

8:30  The Good Place

9PM   Will & Grace 

9:30   I feel Bad  

10PM  Law &Order : SVU  (new night) 

Friday 

8PM  Blindsport 

9PM   Midnight Texas (new time slot ) 

10pm  Dateline 

Saturday 

8PM  Dateline Saturday Night 

10PM  Saturday Night Live (encores) 

Sunday 

7PM   Football Night in America 

8:20   NBC Sunday Night Football 

press release after the jump 

A Charlie Brown Lookback: It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown

Peanuts 

           Charlie Brown has a lot of baseball specials.   This is our second one in a row to cover.  We are looking "It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown".  This special came out in 1996 it was the only special that aired on TV didn't premiere on a  network.  It was supposed to air on CBS in 1992 but  CBS changed their minds and it never aired then it came out on VHS  in 1996 with Nickelodeon airing the special in 1998. (If Nick didn't air it, this would have been the the a third special that never aired on TV)     Did CBS pass this up for a reason? Let's find out.

               The special begins with snow. (What ? It CAN snow in spring you know)  Charlie Brown is shoveling the snow and then starts on a snow mound to be  a pitcher's mound because he's really into baseball.  Charlie Brown keeps yelling that it's spring training. (Poor CB is losing it)  All his player leave and he starts talking to a a snowman.

       Now it's not snowing and well it's now really time for some spring training .  Though, I am not sure how well the team will do.  Hey, there's Leland ,a minor character from the comics, who apparently might be Freida's brother. (In this special he apparently is)  Leland wants to try out for  a baseball team and he of course, goes to Charlie Brown's team.  Leland also thinks Lucy is pretty. (awww)  He asks Charlie Brown to try out and C.B gives him a chance.   (Honestly, Leland is a good as the other players on that team)

Leland  is an icon/ Copyright Peanuts 

     I'm going to note music here, because why not?  This is also the last special not have any scoring music written by Vince Guaraldi. Other specials after this one did reuse cuts or had other music but still used Guaraldi's cuts as well.  The music in this special for example  when Lucy and Charlie Brown are practicing  sounds very early 90's like the two of them are about to start rapping kind of sound.    This was the last special where Judy Munsen was a composer for , she worked on 14 Peanuts specials and two movies. 
 
     Lucy also wonders why the team doesn't have uniforms. (She didn't watch Charlie Brown's All Stars) Linus says that Lucy is right (I'm scared) they are the only team without uniforms.  Inspeaking of Charlie Brown's All Stars, Mr.Hennessey  is back. Yep, the hardware store owner says he will sponsor the team's uniforms if they win. (He's not a gambling man) They visit his hardware store where Snoopy gets attacked by hardware.  To be exact they have to win the first game of the season. Off note: When did Marcie leave Peppermint Patty's team to join CB's team?

See Marcie randomly there/ copyright Peanuts 

   It's the big game day. The best way to start a baseball game is the hockey pokey then Franklin raps.  It's the most 90's scene ever.
        

     
     After all that, the game begins.  Woah wait a minute , back to that  thing: What's Franklin doing on Charlie Brown's team? He's on Peppermint Patty's team , did they trade? I need a back story! Alright back to the game.  In standard Charlie Brown team fashion it doesn't  go well.   Then it starts going well.  (They did that on purpose)  Then it's Leland's turn.   Poor fellow gets two strikes then the ball gets stuck in helmet and he makes it to home,   The team wins 27-26.

ummm great team names/ copyright Peanuts

     Now his team gets their uniforms.  Leland quits the team because his uniform is too big. They play another game but it goes in normal Charlie Brown team fashion and they lose. (27-25)

Yay Uniforms though/ Copyright Peanuts

more after the jump

The Last Episode : Green Acres :When you don't even get a last episode.

The Flashback Essays 

       May is the month that is usually the home of season and series finales, since it's the end of the TV season. Many shows never have a chance to have  a planned finale since most most shows fail in catching on in the first place. This month we take a look at some examples of how shows made their ends. 

           "Green Acres" was a popular show in the 1960's it ran on CBS from 1965 to 1971. Since, this article is about last episode we talk about how ... wait a minute.  Green Acres really doesn't have an official series finale.   Many TV series in the last 50's and all through out the 60's were based in rural and or small town areas , CBS in particular.   They were mostly well revived and popular series that came out in this time.  Over the course of events in the 1960's  things were changing on the outfront and  one thing networks really wanted was to be part of the change.  Seeking younger viewers is something networks strive to do.  The idea was they starting to reject programming that didn't take place in urban areas, that didn't have young  people , or didn't fit with a social narrative of the times.  

     Maybe one day I'll talk about the so-called "Rural Purge" but since we are here to talk about "Green Acres" we are going to get to that but using the purge as a connector.   The Rural Purge as it is called is  what is called  a period of between 1970 to 1975 when networks  (especially CBS) decided to no longer have as much programming set in  non urban (read: hip, city folks) areas.   This series was doing well in ratings for the network. In fact, in it's last season it was in a block of programming where it aired Tuesdays at 8PMET/PT , after the other popular series that was rural purged , "The Beverly Hillbilly's", which aired at 7:30pm (more on that in a second) , and it was on before "He Haw" another show that was Rural Purged and if I ever talk about that show , it had that last laugh there.  

          Now the not last episodes , last episodes. 

         It's as if they were anticipating what CBS was doing  the people working on the show made two episodes that ended up being the last two  as back door pilots for new series that they in hoped to be new series.  Episode called "Hawaiian Honeymoon" which was a backdoor pilot for a hopeful series called "Pam".   The only connector that is was Green Acres was Oliver and Lisa going to Hawaii just to make sure CBS didn't get confused and somehow air the Green Acres theme but pop in a different show.  The next episode called "The Ex-Sectary"  did the same thing it had Oliver and Lisa be there at the start, trying to connect them to the story but the rest of the episode is a back door pilot for a show called "Carol" which also didn't  make.   Both these series pilots focused on a young woman in the working world  , the kind of idea CBS was looking for.  

   So the last episode that is "Green Acres" is the episode that aired on March  9th , 1971. This episode is called "Lisa the Psychologist" and it was a normal episode of the series.  It is a strange case  because there are many series that have not really had a finale because they were canceled before it could have one or the people working on the show didn't know it was going to end. The reason why I picked this case is because of the external things around its end.   

   Bringing back the 7:30pm thing now.  The FCC had made a new rule around early 70's to come into effect in the 1971  was that the hour before 8pm ET/ 7ct had to be given to local stations to help foster independent productions and local programming.  With the 7:30pm/6:30ct half hour not of access for network programming anymore, networks had to shave that time off and many programs got caught in the loop. Green Acres wasn't airing at 7:30  though.  Infact Tuesday of the next season CBS still started at 7:30 for the time being, they moved the "Glen Campbell GoodTime Hour" to Tuesdays taking the Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres slots. So it wasn't even rural purged and replaced with the shows CBS was replacing other things with but with one of the shows that manged to laugh at the purge for awhile. (Though Campbell's show was canned at the end of  the 1971-72 season.)  

     This wasn't a look at an episode in particular but, a look at how one show didn't get it's goodbye chance because of some external factors.  Also ironic because this show was about a city guy who wanted to move to the country to be a farmer and the series was ended because it wasn't in the city. (I will note that Rural purge is also included with series that didn't have a rural theme but also got canned too.)  

 I don't plan it this way but yes I have a blog post  because they did do a reunion movie for "Green Acres" which you can read about HERE . 

  Taking a break from this series of posts as we have other themed things do , but will be back to this topic later with sometimes a last episode is built up as a big going out party with an arc plot and everything. 

 Tune in next time when we replace all programs or remake current shows but they take place in the country now.  Imagine the fun of "Big Acres Theory".