Upfront with Fox (and The CW, if you must) - 2007

Fox and The CW release their Upfronts today for the Fall/Winter 2007-2008 schedules
(will be updated throughout the day)

Here's the Fox schedule:

Sundays:
8:00pm - 8:30pm The Simpsons
8:30pm - 9:00pm King of the Hill
9:00pm - 9:30pm Family Guy
9:30pm - 10:00pm American Dad

Mondays:
8:00pm - 9:00pm Prison Break
9:00pm - 10:00pm K-Ville (new drama series)

Tuesdays:
8:00pm - 9:00pm New Amsterdam (new drama series)
9:00pm - 10:00pm House

Wednesdays:
8:00pm - 8:30pm Back to You (new comedy series)
8:30pm - 9:00pm 'Til Death
9:00pm - 10:00pm Bones

Thursdays: - They pretty much gave up on Thursdays didn't they?
8:00pm - 9:00pm Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
9:00pm - 10:00pm Kitchen Nightmares (new reality series)

Friday:
8:00pm - 9:00pm The Search for the Next Great American Band (new reality series)
9:00pm - 10:00pm Nashville (new reality series)

Saturday:
Cops and America's Most Wanted. Does it really matter? You won't be watching.

Midseason: 24, American Idol, The Return of Jezebel James (new comedy series) , Canterbury's Law (new drama series), The Sarah Connor Chronicles (new drama series)

Shows that are cancelled: Drive, Happy Hour, Justice, The OC, Vanished, The Wedding Bells, The Rich List

New Series Info (Apparently Fox doesn't know how to be concise in their press releases):

Back to You - In the 90s, the local TV news scene in Pittsburgh was dominated by one team: CHUCK DARLING (Kelsey Grammer, "Frasier," "Cheers") and KELLY CARR (Patricia Heaton, "Everybody Loves Raymond"). They had that elusive quality all news teams need: chemistry ... at least on-screen. Off-screen, Chuck was a bit of an egomaniacal womanizer, Kelly a bit of an uptight know-it-all. So when Chuck got the call to move up to a larger market, no tears were shed. Now, after an embarrassing newscast tirade ends up on the Internet, Chuck finds himself on the downswing career-wise. He's even questioning whether his lifestyle of chasing women and living in hotels is as exciting as it used to be. So when he gets the call to return to Pittsburgh, to reunite with Kelly and try to take the newscast back to No. 1, it's an offer he can't refuse. Back in Pittsburgh, Chuck has a couple of new co-workers: MONTANA DIAZ HERRERA (Aimee Garcia, "A Lot Like Love"), the perky, sexy, somewhat inept weather anchor, and RYAN CHURCH (Paul Campbell, "Battlestar Galactica"), the overstressed news director. There are also familiar faces like MARSH McGINLEY (Fred Willard "Everybody Loves Raymond"), the affable, endlessly inappropriate sports anchor, and GARY CREZYZEWSKI, pronounced Kre-shoov-ski (Ty Burrell, "Out of Practice"), the perennially put-upon field reporter who always seems to get left out in the snow. But, mostly, there's Kelly, now a single mom to 10-year-old GRACIE (Laura Marano, "Without a Trace"). There was magic between them once. Can they find it again?

CAST:
· Ayda Field as Montana Diaz Herrera
· Fred Willard as Marsh McGinley
· Josh Gad as Ryan Church
· Kelsey Grammer as Chuck Darling
· Laura Marano as Gracie Carr
· Patricia Heaton as Kelly Carr
· Ty Burrell as Gary Crezyzewski

CREW INFORMATION:
· Christopher Lloyd as CRTR/EP
· Steven Levitan as CRTR/EP

This actually sounds great and could be quirky, fast paced and a little different. Or it could end up being really lame but I'm hoping for the best. Then I hope Fox recognizes THAT and doesn't cancel it right away (which they tend to do). Still, I liked the original title Action News better.

Caterbury's Law - A courtroom drama about a rebellious female defense attorney who's willing to bend the law in order to protect the wrongfully accused. ELIZABETH CANTERBURY (Julianna Margulies, "ER") is a force of nature. An attorney on the rise, she puts her career on the line to take on risky and unpopular cases, even when they take a toll on her personal life. Elizabeth and her law professor husband MATTHEW CANTERBURY (Linus Roache, "Batman Begins" ), haunted by the disappearance of their young son, have settled in Providence, Rhode Island, in an attempt to distance themselves from the tragedy and put their relationship back together. But those goals become elusive whenever Elizabeth's work provides a stark reminder of the justice absent in their own lives. At the office, Canterbury has surrounded herself with a brilliant but motley crew of attorneys. RUSSELL CROSS (Ben Shenkman, "Angels in America") was forced out of the Providence District Attorney's Office when he went toe-to-toe with his morally bankrupt boss, D.A. ZACH WILLIAMS. His reputation tarnished, Russell turned to Canterbury, the only attorney willing to take him in. Now Russell provides a much-needed voice of reason for Canterbury even when she doesn't want to hear it, his position of influence well-earned by their years of friendship. CHESTER FIELDS (Jocko Sims, "Dreamgirls") and MOLLY McCONNELL (Trieste Dunn, "United 93") are the associates rounding out Canterbury's legal crew. Chester is a blue-blooded congressman's son who is embarrassed by his privileged upbringing and has turned his back on politics. Molly, in contrast, is headstrong, passionate and quick to take sides even if she finds herself in the opposite corner from Canterbury. introduces an attorney like no other: whose professional battles are as vivid as her personal ones; whose strengths and vices, victories and demons all combine to serve those in need of justice.

CAST:
· ??? as D.A. Zach Williams
· Ben Shenkman as Russell Cross
· Jocko Sims as Chester Fields
· Julianna Margulies as Elizabeth Canterbury
· Linus Roache as Matthew Canterbury
· Trieste Dunn as Molly McConnell

CREW INFORMATION:
· Dave Erickson as CRTR/CO-EP
· Denis Leary as EP
· Jim Serpico as EP
· Julianna Margulies as PROD
· Mike Figgis as EP/DIR (Pilot)

Sounds promissing, based on director Figgis and the cast alone (love Ben Shenkman and Linus Roache). Too bad the premise sounds BOOOORING.

K-Ville - When everything changes, so do the rules. An explosive police drama set in New Orleans America's new Wild West. Two years after Katrina, the city is still in chaos. Criminals roam the streets with AK-47s, many cops have quit, and the jails, police stations and crime labs still haven't been rebuilt. But the cops who remain have courage to burn and a passion to reclaim their city. MARLIN BOULET (Anthony Anderson, "The Shield") is a brash, funny, in-your-face veteran of the NOPD's Felony Action Squad, the specialized unit that targets the most-wanted criminals. Even when his partner deserted him during the storm, Boulet held his post, spending days in the water saving lives and keeping order. Now, two years later, he's unapologetic about bending the rules when it comes to collaring bad guys. The stakes are too high, and the city too lawless, for him to do things by the book. Boulet's new partner, TREVOR COBB (Cole Hauser, "The Break-Up"), was a soldier in Afghanistan before joining the NOPD. He's tough and committed, but if he's less than comfortable with Boulet's methods, it's because he's harboring a dark secret. Cobb has come to New Orleans seeking redemption, but redemption can be dangerous. Will Boulet be able to trust him? Will Cobb's past endanger them both? Rounding out the crew of cops are hotheaded BILLY "K-9" FAUST (Maximiliano Hernndez, "Shark"), who often speaks before thinking; wisecracking JEFF "GLUE BOY" GOODEN (Blake Shields, "Sleeper Cell,"), the team's comic relief; tough-as-nails GINGER "LOVE TAP" LeBEAU (Tawny Cypress, "Heroes"), the only female on the squad, who gives as good as she gets; and Captain JAMES EMBRY (John Carroll Lynch, "Zodiac,"), who wrangles the eclectic personalities of his squad with equal parts humor and tenacity. Through its no-holds-barred crime stories, this intriguing series will take viewers from the Victorian mansions of the Garden District to the rubble of the Lower 9th Ward. In the aftermath of Katrina, with the future of New Orleans hanging in the balance ... the stakes could not be higher in K-VILLE.

CAST:
· Anthony Anderson as Marlin Boulet
· Blake Shields as Jeff "Glue Boy" Gooden
· Cole Hauser as Trevor Cobb
· John Carroll Lynch as Captain James Embry
· Maximiliano Hernández as Billy "K-9" Faust
· Tawny Cypress as Ginger "Love Tap" LeBeau

CREW INFORMATION:
· David Burns as EP
· Deran Sarafian as DIR (Pilot)
· Jonathan Lisco as CRTR/EP
· Kelly A. Manners as PROD

Um, Sure, Eh, Maybe. No. Is this actually shot in New Orleans? Maybe. Just for some "support".

New Amsterdam - Is the story of a New York homicide detective unlike any other. He is brilliant, mysterious, reckless, magnetic, unknowable. And he has a profound secret he is immortal. In 1642, JOHN AMSTERDAM (Nikolaj Coster Waldau, "Kingdom of Heaven"), then a Dutch solider in the colony of New Amsterdam later to become New York City stepped in front of a sword intended for a Native Indian girl during a massacre of her indigenous tribe. The girl in turn rescued Amsterdam, weaving an ancient spell that conferred immortality upon him. Amsterdam will not age, she told him, until he finds his one true love. Only then will he become whole and ready for mortality. But Amsterdam has found this to be a mixed blessing. Over the course of three centuries, he's experienced endless adventure and honed his many talents. But everyone Amsterdam meets must leave him in time; lovers and children die while he remains young. His sole confidante and lifelong friend is the sage jazz club owner OMAR (Stephen Henderson, "Law & Order: SVU"), the keeper of Amsterdam's secret, as well as a few of his own. As the exhilaration of eternal life has given way to emotional isolation and bitter loneliness, Amsterdam discovers the blessing has become a curse. Having witnessed its entire history, from colonial outpost to mega-metropolis, John Amsterdam is the living embodiment of New York City. He and the island of Manhattan are now part and parcel of each other. Bringing to bear the unorthodox techniques and unique knowledge gained from his vast life experience, Amsterdam today is one of the NYPD's best homicide detectives, sparring with his vibrant, strong-willed partner EVA MARQUEZ (Zuleikha Robinson, "Rome,") as they solve difficult murder cases. But when Amsterdam suffers and then recovers from what appears to be a massive heart attack while chasing a suspect, and Dr. SARA DILLANE (Alexie Gilmore, "Find Love") pronounces him dead in the ER, he realizes that the Indian girl's prophesy may have come true he felt the pain in his heart that she had foretold so long ago. His soul mate must have been nearby. As he works to find a killer on the streets of New York, Amsterdam understands that his own life and possibly his death have changed forever. This intriguing series invites viewers to explore the enduring mysteries of life, death, and true love.

CAST:
· Alexie Gilmore as Sara Dillane
· Nikolaj Coster Waldau as John Amsterdam
· Stephen Henderson as Omar
· Zuleikha Robinson as Dr. Eva Marquez

CREW INFORMATION:
· Allan Loeb as CRTR/EP
· Christian Taylor as CRTR/EP
· David Mason as EP
· Lasse Hallstrom as EP/DIR (Pilot)
· Leslie Holleran as EP
· Michael Hausman as EP
· Steven Pearl as EP

Yeah, sure, whatever.

The Return of Jezebel James - Can two estranged sisters, polar opposites, really raise a baby together? SARAH THOMKINS (Parker Posey, "For Your Consideration") is a bright, optimistic, determined woman who seems to have it all a great job as a children's book editor, an eager-to-please assistant, BUDDY, who helps keep her life together, and a no-strings-attached relationship with successful businessman MARCUS SONTI (Scott Cohen, "Kissing Jessica Stein"). Nevertheless, as her father, RONALD (Ron McLarty, "Law & Order,"), is constantly pointing out, something is missing from Sarah's life. Her hard work may garner accolades, but when she goes home at night, she is very much alone. All too aware that she isn't getting any younger, Sarah decides to have a baby on her own and gets the shock of her life when the doctor tells her she can't get pregnant. Having no concept of the term "can't," she wills herself to execute a plan. With nowhere else to turn, Sarah sets up a meeting with her quirky younger sister, COCO (Lauren Ambrose, "Six Feet Under"), and asks her to carry her baby. They haven't seen each other in a while, and at first Coco refuses to go along with such a huge favor. But something happens when Sarah mentions that she's turned Coco's imaginary childhood friend Jezebel James into a children's book. Even though she doesn't say so out loud, Coco is clearly touched, and, realizing that her current living situation sharing a couch with her friend's sick cat isn't working out, Coco decides this just might be worth a try. THE RETURN OF JEZEBEL JAMES comes from executive producer Amy Sherman-Palladino ("Gilmore Girls").

CAST:
· Dana Ivey as Molly
· Lauren Ambrose as Coco
· Michael Arden as Buddy
· Parker Posey as Sarah Thomkins
· Ron McLarty as Ronald
· Scott Cohen as Marcus Sonti

CREW INFORMATION:
· Amy Sherman-Palladino as CRTR/EP/DIR (Pilot)
· Daniel Palladino as EP
· Robin Schwartz as PROD

It's Amy Sherman-Palladino with Parkey Posey. Plus Lauren Ambrose, Scott Cohen and Dana Ivey. Apparently it's really really good too from early buzz. This is on Fox?

The Sarah Connor Chronicles - An intense new drama based on the celebrated heroine of the "Terminator" movies: Sarah Connor. At the end of "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," Sarah vanquished the liquid metal Terminator sent from the future to kill her teenage son, John. Sarah and John now find themselves alone in a very dangerous, complicated world. Fugitives from the law, they are confronted with the reality that still more enemies from the future, and the present, could attack at any moment. SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES reveals what happens when SARAH CONNOR (Lena Headey "300") stops running and goes on the offensive against an ever-evolving technological enemy bent on destroying her life, and perhaps the world. Her son, 15-year-old JOHN CONNOR (Thomas Dekker, "Heroes"), knows that he may be the future savior of mankind, but is not yet ready to take on the mantle of leadership that he's told is his destiny. John finds himself inextricably drawn to CAMERON (Summer Glau "Serenity"), an enigmatic and otherworldly student at his high school, who soon proves to be much more than his confidante she assumes the role of Sarah and John's fearless protector. On their trail are not only threats from the future, but an intelligent and tough FBI agent, JAMES ELLISON (Richard T. Jones, "Judging Amy"), who soon becomes a powerful ally. SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES represents an exciting reinvention of the "Terminator" franchise, in which the strong and intrepid Sarah discovers that protecting her son and stopping the rise of the machines is more difficult than she had ever imagined.

CAST:
· Lena Headey as Sarah Connor
· Owain Yeoman as Cromartie
· Richard T. Jones as James Ellison
· Summer Glau as Cameron
· Thomas Dekker as John Connor

CREW INFORMATION:
· Andrew Vajna as EP
· David Nutter as EP/DIR (Pilot)
· James Middleton as EP
· Joel Michaels as EP
· Josh Friedman as CRTR/EP
· Mario Kassar as EP

I can already see the fanboys creaming in their pants at this one, but while I like most of the cast (Thomas Dekker's management has since turned me off him since the de-gaying of his character on Heroes), I'm not really sure I care THAT much about the Terminator to view this every week. We will see.


Sorry, I'm sticking The CW in here because they don't deserve their own post for last years Everwood cancellation and now for keeping Veronica Mars off the Fall 2007 schedule (thus cancelling it by default. Oh they SAY they can still renew it by June 15th but I'm not getting my hopes up anymore because clearly Dawn Ostroff has shown herself to be a complete imbecile in the programming department (maybe she's a nice woman? I don't know. But she cancelled my beloved Everwood and unleashed my wrath)) .

UPDATE: Veronica Mars is Dead. The War has begun.

So at this point, is there anything really worth watching on The CW other than Supernatural? I will say that Reaper has a pretty good cast (including Bret Harrison from The Loop, I guess that means The Loop is cancelled?), and Gossip Girl is Kristen Bell, of Veronica Mars, who will narrate the show (still, Veronica Mars would have been better).

Here's the The CW schedule:

Sundays:
8:00pm - 9:00pm Life is Wild (new drama series set in South Africa)
9:00pm - 10:00pm America's Next Top Model - Repeat

Mondays:
8:00pm - 8:30pm Everybody Hates Chris
8:30pm - 9:00pm Aliens in America (new comedy series)
9:00pm - 9:30pm Girlfriends
9:30pm - 10:00pm Game

Tuesdays:
8:00pm - 9:00pm Beauty and the Geek
9:00pm - 10:00pm Reaper (new drama series)

Wednesdays:
8:00pm - 9:00pm America's Next Top Model
9:00pm - 10:00pm Gossip Girl (new drama series from Josh Schwartz (The OC))

Thursdays:
8:00pm - 9:00pm Smallville
9:00pm - 10:00pm Supernatural

Friday:
8:00pm - 11:00pm Friday Night Smackdown

Midseason: One Tree Hill (this is still on?) , The Pussycat Dolls Present, Farmer Wants a Wife, Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants. Wow. CLASSY stuff.

Shows that are cancelled: Gilmore Girls, All of Us, Reba, Runaway, Seventh Heaven (FINALLY)

New Series Info:

Aliens in America - Single-camera comedy about an unpopular 16-year-old (Dan Byrd) and a 16-year-old Pakistani Muslim (Adhir Kalyan) who comes to live with the boy's family in Wisconsin as an exchange student.

CAST:
· Adhir Kalyan as Raja Musharaff
· Amy Pietz as Franny
· Dan Byrd as Justin Hobgood
· Lindsey Shaw as Claire
· Patrick Breen as Gary

CREW INFORMATION:
· David Guarascio as CRTR/EP
· Moses Port as CRTR/EP

I've actually always been a sucker for the fish-out-of-water storylines so this could end up being cute and a bit scathing, though I somehow doubt the second.

Gossip Girl - Drama based on the popular book series, about the world of privileged teenagers attending elite private schools in New York City as told through the eyes of an anonymous blogger.

CAST:
· Blake Lively as Serena
· Chace Crawford as Nate
· Ed Westwick as Chuck
· Florencia Lozano as Eleanor
· Kelly Rutherford as Lily
· Leighton Meester as Blair
· Matthew Settle as Rufus
· Penn Badgley as Dan
· Taylor Momsen as Jenny

CREW INFORMATION:
· Bob Levy as EP
· Josh Schwartz as CRTR/EP
· Leslie Morgenstein as EP
· Mark Piznarski as DIR (Pilot)
· Stephanie Savage as CRTR/EP

Who are these people who aren't Josh Schwartz? It's Josh Schwartz but then again, it's Josh Schwartz. It can go either way. Plus it's on The CW, which I am now in a war with.

Life is Wild - Drama about a New York veterinarian who moves his second wife and their two sets of children to a South African game reserve run by his father-in-law.

CAST:
· Andrew St. John as Jesse
· Brett Cullen as Danny Trevanion
· Calvin Goldspink as Oliver
· Jeremy Sheffield as Colin
· Judith Hoag as Jo
· K'Sun Ray as Chase
· Leah Pipes as Katie
· Mary Matilyn Mouser as Mia
· Rutger Hauer as Art

CREW INFORMATION:
· Bryan Gordon as DIR (Pilot)
· Charlie Pattinson as EP
· George Faber as EP
· Michael Rauch as CRTR/EP

If this is actually filmed in South Africa with real animals, totally cool. If this is filmed in the deserts of California as South Africa. Lame. Rutger Hauer? hahahahahahahahaha.

Reaper - Drama about a young man who essentially becomes satan's bounty hunter, reclaiming souls that have somehow escaped from hell.

CAST:
· Andrew Airlie as Dad
· Bret Harrison as Sam
· Nikki Reed as Andi
· Ray Wise as The Devil
· Rick Gonzalez as Ben
· Tyler Labine as Sock
· Valarie Rae Miller as Josie

CREW INFORMATION:
· Deborah Spera as EP
· Kevin Smith as DIR (Pilot)
· Mark Gordon as EP
· Michele Fazekas as CRTR/EP
· Tara Butters as CRTR/EP
· Tom Spezialy as EP

I love love love Bret Harrison who elevates The Loop to 4 Star Status (though Philip Baker and Mimi Rogers certainly do help) so IF I forgive The CW, I might check this out since Kevin Smith also directed the pilot (so there's a bit of out-of-duty requirement there).

New Reality Shows:

I'm not even going to touch the new reality shows with a ten foot pole, a pole that I might add, is probably used for "dancing" in The Pussycat Dolls Present.

Check here for the CBS Upfronts 2007
Check here for the ABC Upfronts 2007
Check here for the NBC Upfronts 2007