Upfronts Week Round

 

This week saw the return of Upfronts week, where networks present their Fall schedule to the advertisers. With COVID and last year's strikes, we haven't seen one of these in a bit. It wasn't a complete return to form as CBS launched its schedule well in advance, on May 2. But it was nice to get a roll out and to be targeting a Fall Network Schedule for 2024.

With that said, we see some interesting trends. Networks are scaling back on scripted content with a rise in reality, and live sports, on the Fall Schedule. Perhaps that's an effect of the strike both in the expected contraction but also in the fact that networks saw success with a return to reality shows (which are cheaper) and live sports (which are a big ratings grab). Either way, it's clear we're seeing a decline of new scripted shows.

Particularly hard hit have been comedies. In fact, ABC only has a single sitcom on its Fall schedule while FOX doesn't have any sitcoms (outside of the Animation Domination lineup) on its Fall schedule. We're also seeing a flood of new shows tied to nostalgia, stable genres, and existing franchises. Below, I look at the four network schedules.

CBS:

Number of New Series: Five

New Series: Poppa's House (Mondays); NCIS: Origins (Mondays); George and Mandy's First Marriage (Thursdays); Matlock (Thursdays); Watson (Sundays)

About: CBS has five new shows, including two new sitcoms. The network is one of the most comedy heavy with two blocks of comedies at the 8 p.m. hour on Mondays and Thursdays. Both are getting a new series replacing two comedies that ended their runs last year. Additionally, CBS not only has the most scripted content on its schedule, it has the most new series. Between two shows that ended and three that were cancelled, they will welcome two comedies and three dramas in the Fall. They've gone back to familiar wells, too. One comedy is a spin-off of Young Sheldon, which itself was a spin-off of The Big Bang Theory. On the drama side, we have another NCIS spin-off, this one a prequel featuring a young Gibbs. We also have a new version of Matlock, starring Kathy Bates, and a series set in the world of Sherlock Holmes starring Morris Chestnut. In addition, a staple of the CBS schedule, Blue Bloods, will call it quits after a brief run in the Fall, while S.W.A.T. was unexpectedly renewed again. With an FBI block on Tuesdays and a reality block on Wednesdays, the network's schedule also looks fairly stable.

Most Interesting New Show: This was a tough one, but I'm going with Watson. I like the basic premise that it focuses on John Watson in the wake of the death of his partner, Sherlock Holmes, as he returns to medicine. It's a different kind of concept, but we'll see how it works. It seemed more interesting to me than some of the other options.

NBC:

Number of New Series: Three

New Series: Brilliant Minds (Mondays); St. Denis Medical (Tuesdays); Happy Place (Fridays)

About: NBC was the second most active with new content and has the second most scripted content available. That comes despite giving Sunday nights to the NFL and Mondays, and a chunk of Tuesdays, to The Voice. NBC is also the other network that still believes in Comedy. Like CBS, it has two comedy blocks in the week at the 8 p.m. hour. And, like CBS, it features a new sitcom in each of its blocks--on Tuesday and Friday nights. In fact, of the three new shows, two of them are sitcoms. In addition, NBC has a stable block of Chicago series on Wednesdays and Law & Order mostly taking up Thursdays (though Found now anchors the night), it's a stable schedule. We get a dose of Dateline on Fridays, but with a family-themed comedy block to kick off the night. The only new drama is, surprise surprise, a medical drama, this one starring Zachary Quinto. Overall, it's about what you'd expect.

Most Interesting New Show: I'm going with St. Denis Medical. It's a hospital sitcom from the creator of Superstore and American Auto. I enjoyed both those series and the style of both series, so I'm interested to see if this one can also work.

FOX:

Number of New Series: Three

New Series: Rescue: Hi-Surf (Mondays); Murder in a Small Town (Tuesdays); Universal Basic Guys (Sundays)

About: FOX continues to re-shape its schedule and network brand, which means only two nights of traditional scripted programming, plus its standard Sunday Animation Domination Lineup. That lineup features one of the network's new shows, while sidelining Family Guy until mid-season. But the schedule does return 9-1-1: Lone Star and The Accused, both of which sat out this strike-shortened season. They serve as anchors on Monday and Tuesday nights, with the other new scripted series behind them. Then FOX has reality shows on Wednesdays and Thursdays, followed by sports on Fridays and Saturdays. Among the new shows is a lifeguard series set in Hawaii and a new murder mystery. It's a strange schedule, but there are some interesting draws.

Most Interesting New Show: Rescue: Hi-Surf is the one of the two I'm most interested in and, believe me, I'm surprised about that, too. In some ways, it feels like a Baywatch re-boot. But I'm not as taken with the animated series and the other new offering feels like the kind of murder mystery we've seen a lot. I like the potential pairing of this series and Lone Star on Monday nights, too.

ABC:

Number of New Series: Two

New Series: High Potential (Tuesday); Doctor Odyssey (Thursday)

About: ABC has the biggest departure in the Fall. Last Fall, during the strike, it was almost entirely free of scripted content. This year, despite a return to form, it's still shying away from scripted fare with only five scripted series on the air in the Fall. You read that right--five. There are a few series, like Will Trent, that are being held to mid-season, too. In addition, the network only has one comedy on its Fall schedule, Abbott Elementary, which will be sandwiched between two big reality pieces in The Golden Bachelor and the original news magazine Scamanda. It's an odd choice, but we'll see how it works. ABC will go with Monday Night Football on Mondays, Dancing With the Stars on Tuesdays, reality programming Fridays, College football on Saturdays and The Wonderful World of Disney on Sundays. That leaves just a single scripted series on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, plus a full scripted lineup, including Grey's Anatomy and 9-1-1, on Thursdays. It's an interesting swing but it might return more stable ratings results. We'll see how it all morphs going into the Spring, when more scripted offerings make a return.

Most Interesting New Show: I'm going with Doctor Odyssey here. It comes from Ryan Murphy and will be the middle lynchpin between veterans 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy. It's also about a doctor, played by Joshua Jackson, on a cruise ship. So, consider me intrigued.