Thoughts on the 2006 Fall TV Schedule

Well it's that time again. TV networks are launching the 2006-2007 TV Line-up. Changes have been made, and a lot of shows added.

NBC is wanting to make a comeback as a top-three network, ABC wants to hold onto its lead, FOX wants to prove it's now the drama channel, CW is trying to make an identity, and CBS likes CSI.

My source for this information is Yahoo!TV.

ABC

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Sundays: I don't think it's a smart to move Grey's Anatomy out of Sunday. They had a good thing going with Desperate Housewives. It's was a nice matchup. But replacing Anatomy on Sundays is a new drama called Brothers & Sisters (Premieres Sep. 24). Brothers & Sisters has a good cast (with Calista Flockhart and Rachel Griffiths from Six Feet Under.) I just don't know if it's the right fit for Sunday.

Monday has WifeSwap, The Bachelor: Rome, and What About Brian. I could actually care less about any of those shows.

Tuesday: This night starts with Dancing With the Stars, which I'll only watch for Sara Evans. It's followed by two comedies, Knights of Prosperity Knights of Prosperity, about a man who wants to own a bar and decides to get the money for it by robbing Mick Jagger. (Really, that's what it said.) Then is Help Me Help You (Premieres Sep. 26) with Ted Danson. If it's done right, that show has potential. Then Boston Legal. I like this show only because it doesn't take itself too seriously; it knows it's a tv show and references that.

Wednesdays starts of with the Dancing results, followed by Lost at its old time. Lost really can't go wrong on Wednesdays. But following Lost is The Nine (Premieres Oct. 4) Here's what it's about, direct from Yahoo!:

"The lives of nine strangers are connected after they are held hostage during a bank robbery, with each episode flashing back to 10 minutes of the standoff. Written by the creator of "Without a Trace," it features Tim Daly ("Wings") and Kim Raver ("24")."

While it does sound interesting, the viewer has to get really involved in the plot, and I'm not sure a lot of people want to do that after Lost, in which viewers get really involved in the plot. It sure didn't work for Invasion last year.

Thursdays starts off interesting with Ugly Betty, about a non-fashion model looking girl who works for a New York Fashion magazine. If it has charm, it'll work. (Not on my watch list, though.) Then comes Grey's Anatomy. While it'll be missed on Sundays, it might find a home on Thursdays; but it's going against NBC's Deal or No Deal. While I don't think the demographics are the same, it might hurt this show. At 10pm is J.J. Abrams (creator of Lost's) Six Degrees, about six New Yorkers who are somehow connected.

Friday has America's Funniest Home Videos and 20/20 bookending the new show, Men In Trees, about a relationship expert who can't find a man. It reminds me of a show, the title of which I can't recall, that had a moose in it. (Not Twin Peaks, something else.)

And Saturday evening is for sports.

Looks like ABC hasn't lost its edge. While I don't agree with its Anatomy move, the lineup does look impressive.

CBS

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I don't watch CBS, so I really can't comment on its lineup. One if its new shows that interests me is Jericho, about life after a nuclear detonation in small-town America. m Wednesdays premiering on Sep. 20. (Might be a good lead-in for Lost on ABC.)

The rest of the line-up seems to be crime related. (At least a large portion of it.)

The CW

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I wasn't a fan of UPN or the WB. They both had their good shows (Enjoyed some of Enterprise; saw a few episodes of Smallville,Veronica Mars, and early Everwood) but their comedies didn't interest me at all.

Now that they've combined their shows into one network with an odd-sounding name, we get a mish-mash of shows. With Everwood gone, and VM not really on my tv dinner plate, the CW is the network that wont be seen much in my home.

NBC

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NBC wants a hit show. No, it needs a hit show. Will it happen this year?
Sunday: Football.

Monday: Starts with Deal or No Deal. Then it has two new shows, one of which looks interesting, and the other one, well, I have no idea what it's about. Heroes at 9pm (Premieres on Sep. 25) might be the hit they're looking for: ordinary people getting super-powers. If the cast is any good (as well as the writing) it might be really good. Then we have Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip about the "late-night world of a comedy tv series." This one, I'm not too sure about. Sounds quirky. Sounds like something you'd find on The CW.

Tuesdays is Law & Order night on NBC. At 9pm and 10pm, you have two hours worth of it with Criminal Intent and SVU. But before that, at m, is the high school football series Friday Night Lights. (Why it's not on Fridays.... and when I see the ads for it, I always think of the movie Varsity Blues for some reason.)

Wednesday nights on NBC starts with a comedy block of 20 Good Years (staring John Lithgow (3rd Rock) and Jeffery Tambor (of Arrested Development fame) about two mismatched friends living life to the fullest. Strong actors might make this work! (20 Good Years Premieres on Oct. 4). Following that is 30 Rock, which is about being behind the scenes of a tv variety show. SNL members star. After that at 9pm is the Biggest Loser. At 10pm is the new drama Kidnapped (Premieres on Sep. 20). This just may be the run-of-the-mill crime drama, or something that's actually good.

Thursdays. Ah, Thursdays. Remember Must Watch TV? Cheers? Night Court? Well, now we have My Name is Earl and The Office, two hits from last year. After that, it's another Deal or No Deal, followed by ER. (Wait, ER is still on?)

Fridays give us nothing new: Crossing Jordan (which I'm suprised is still around), Las Vegas (ditto) and Law & Order.

Saturdays is encore night at 9pm, with Dateline NBC (you know, the "To Catch A Predator" show) at m.

Fox

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Sundays. Fox wins with its lineup. Simpsons, American Dad, Family Guy, and The War At Home. (I'm a bit suprised The War survived.)

Monday has Prison Break and Vanished. Prison Break will last, but I'm pretty sure Vanished wont make it to Christmas. (Remember Reunion last year?)

Tuesday starts with House (which is one of my favorite TV shows) and then Standoff, a new show about FBI investigators. I don't fully get the concept (two FBI negotiators who are sleeping with each other) and how it'll make good tv. Is it supposed to be Moonlighting with more guns?

Wednesday brings us Bones (I have a feeling this will be its last season) and the new crime/lawyer show Justice. We don't have that many lawyer shows, so why not another?

Thursdays starts off with comedy. 'Till Death (which is advertised ad nauseum on Fox) and Happy Hour (which isn't). Then the OC. (Nothing to add here.)

Friday and Saturday are the So-Called Reality Nights on Fox, with Nanny911 and Trading Spouses on Friday and COPS and America's Most Wanted on Saturday. I guess they work for Fox.

EndNotes

Thoughts on the line-ups? Will NBC make a hit with Heroes? Will 'Till Death die an ugly death? Will Ugly Betty take a long look in the mirror? Will Men in Trees come down to watch it?

Will sweeps week be actually worth watching?