Upfronts are this week, the twice-yearly blood-in-the-water presentation of networks to advertisers in hopes of picking up some sweet ad money during the recession.
Here’s what we know about the upcoming TV season thus far:
- The CW has picked up How To Teach Filthy Rich Girls as a new series, which shows them trying to cash in on their reputation as “the channel that shows Gossip Girl.”
- The CW also picked up the new 90210 spin-off, but here’s the kicker: Tori Spelling is coming back! Yup, that’s the sound of the simultaneous groans from 90210 fans.
-Buzzing is solid that CBS is going to pick up The Unit for another season, which means we probably won’t see President Palmer resurrected in Season 7 of 24. Thank God.
-FOX has shown surprisingly good taste by picking up Joss Whedon (Buffy, Firefly) for his new show Dollhouse. Dollhouse will swing in as a mid-season replacement.
-CBS has picked up two new drama pilots: The Mentalist and 11th Hour, while the only comedy that have picked up so far is the Untitled Ed Yeager Project.
- David Kelly had to cut the licensing fees to keep Boston Legal on, but it will get a 5th season on CBS. Kelly is still patently waiting for his other series Life On Mars to get picked up, probably by ABC.
-CBS has rejected a Gina Davis pilot called Exit 19. It WAS an hourlong drama. Now, it IS nothing.
- FOX again impresses us by turning down the American adaptation of Spaced, which – if you remember – many people were against.
- FOX might earn our respect back. They picked up JJ Abrams’ Fringe about an FBI agent that teams up with a scientist to investigate paranormal activities (yes, it sounds like the X-Files).
- FOX also picked up The Inn, a Jason Bateman directed pilot about a upper-crust New York hotel’s staff.
And THE BEST NEWS THUSFAR:
- Fox picked up Mitch Hurwitz’s “Sit Down, Shut Up,” an animated comedy featuring Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and the Fonz! The show is about a dysfunctional high school faculty and it’s the closest thing we are going to get to more Arrested Development anytime soon.
More this week as upfronts continue…
