If you spy extra cartons of Maalox being smuggled into the executive offices of the six major broadcast networks this week, it's understandable. This week (May 12-16) marks the annual ritual called the "upfronts." This is when the networks meet with potential advertisers and sets in stone (for the most part) the upcoming fall lineups.
This is one of those rare seasons in which I don't really have a favorite show on the fence. Most of the programs that I care about have already found out if they're returning in the fall. Fox's "24," "King of the Hill" and "The Simpsons" have already been picked up for TWO more seasons. "Firefly," which deserved a much better fate has already been killed. Over on ABC, "Life with Bonnie" will see a sophomore season, and "Alias" will return. UPN will presumably re-up "Enterprise," and on CBS "Without a Trace" is a bona fide hit. WB will cancel "Family Affair." That pretty sums up all the programs that I cared about on the broadcast networks this season.
If I had a "bubble" show, it would be "Scrubs" on NBC. This season, for the first time since 1992, the network scheduled a decent program on Thursdays at 8:30pm. The last time they scheduled an actually decent program there, by the way, it was "Friends." "Scrubs," however, wrapped its season early, so that NBC could capitalize on extra episodes of "Friends" and the inexplicably popular "Will and Grace" during May sweeps, which is not a solid sign of support.
ABC needs desperately to establish itself next season, and thanks to the modest success of sitcoms such as "According to Jim," "Bonnie" and "8 Simple Rules for Dating my Teenage Daughter," it is expected to do so with a slate of new comedy series.
NBC has problems, as well. Both "Frasier" and "Friends" are slated to end their profitable runs next season (although I wouldn't be surprised to see another year or two on "Frasier" with the announcement last week of the return of former writers Christopher Lloyd and Joe Keenan), and the network has had difficulty with new comedy series. The closest thing to a sure bet on the new lineup will be an American version of the British comedy series "Coupling."
CBS is "king of the world" right now, but it could also use new funny blood. CBS has struck a multi-million dollar deal to keep "Everybody Loves Raymond" on the air for two years at least, but there's very little else to laugh at on the net. Its reality slate, however, with "Survivor" and "The Amazing Race" has done well for them, not to mention a little ol' franchise called "CSI."
Over on FOX, the future looks bright. The success of "American Idol" has breathed new life into critical darlings "24" and "The Bernie Mac Show." FOX may work on tweaking its dramatic lineup, since foundering with "Fastlane" and "John Doe." As the "Firefly" experience may show us, however, the network has a notoriously quick trigger finger.
WB is still floundering for its own identity. It's failed with urban shows; failed with family shows; it's been shockingly inept at reality programming. If it's smart, the network will stick with the marginally rated "Angel," and build on the success of such family-friendly programming as "Gilmore Girls" and "Everwood."
Like WB, UPN's new lineup could probably be drawn out of a hat. "Enterprise" is in a critical tailspin, but producer Rick Berman is tweaking the format of the fourth "Star Trek" saga and the network will certainly pick it up and see how well it runs. "WWF Smackdown," as the network's most popular program, will certainly return as well. The rest is anyone's guess.
Expect frequent updates this week in this space as the networks announce their hopefuls. Here's the schedule for the week:
Monday: NBC
Tuesday: ABC, WB
Wednesday: CBS
Thursday: UPN, FOX
By Bill Wilson
Tuesday
August 5th, 2025
10:12PM
