Upfronts 2011: What do the networks have planned?
(CBS) TV lovers, get ready for the Christmas of the television season. This week ,you're going to find out for sure what's coming from ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox when they officially announce their new shows.
We have a sneak peek at what to expect.
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FOX - Monday, May 16
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jorge Garcia will have a new home on Fox in JJ Abrams' "Alcatraz," a crime drama about the "mysterious reappearance of its 1960s inhabitants in the present." (Shades of "The 4400"?)
Another potentially big-deal series, "The New Girl," which New York magazine called one of the 20 most exciting pilots of the season, stars Zooey Deschanel as a woman with three men as roommates. It's a single camera comedy.
Deschanel's sister, Emily, has long been a star of "Bones" and the series will get a spin-off called "The Finder," according to THR.
Another new show on Fox will be "I Hate My Teenage Daughter," starring Jamie Pressly. A pilot that Fox had picked up, "Exit Strategy," starring Ethan Hawke, will likely be retooled, reports THR. An "Exit Strategy" co-star, Tom Sizemore, has been in the news recently regarding a missing person case in Los Angeles.
And what about Christian Slater? His latest show, the comedy "Breaking In" got the ax earlier in the week but on Friday news comes that the show may be saved.
NBC - Monday, May 16
After the brouhaha we've heard all spring about the "Wonder Woman" pilot - she's wears nearly the same outfit that Linda Carter did! - THR reports NBC will NOT pick it up. The horror! A blow to series mastermind David E. Kelley, for sure, but he still has "Harry's Law" and Michelle Pfeiffer. He's going to be fine.
The shows that reportedly made it are "The Playboy Club," the Jason Isaacs/ Wilmer Valderrama--starring "Awake," "Smash," a sort-of musical starring Debra Messing, "Prime Suspect," an American reimaging of the British show, starring Maria Bello and "Up All Night," a comedy starring Christina Applegate, Maya Rudolph and Will Arnett.
And, good news for all you Lauren Graham fans: "Parenthood" is coming back.
ABC - Tuesday, May 17
Jimmy Kimmel will almost certainly tell a bunch of jokes at the upfront before the network gets down to what's new and what's renewed. "Modern Family"? Check. "Grey's Anatomy"? Check. "Desperate Housewives"? Check.
As for the new stuff, ABC seems to be the latest network to try out a (potentially) bad Jenna Elfman series (Failures: "Townies," "Courting Alex," "Accidentally on Purpose"; Success: "Dharma & Greg"). Expect to see her "Bad Mom" on the list.
Leslie Bibb-starrer "Good Christian Bitches," one of New York Magazine's 20 most exciting pilots, is generating buzz as a pick-up. The show is about a divorced woman returning to her hometown ("catfighting Dallas").
Another hot pilot is "Pan Am," starring Christina Ricci, about flight attendants and pilots in roughly the same time period as "Mad Men."
CBS - Wednesday, May 18
Perhaps the biggest news that CBS could have unveiled at its upfront is Charlie Sheen's replacement on "Two and a Half Men." On Friday, the network announced that Ashton Kutcher has the gig and the series' ninth season will begin shooting this summer. Will Kutcher show at the upfront?
CBS has already revealed some of its renews ("Two and a Half Men," for example) and expect all the alphabet shows - The "CSI" and "NCIS" franchises - to return as well.
THR reports that the pilots ripe to be picked up include JJ Abrams' "Person of Interest," about a CIA agent and a shady millionaire (played by Michael Emerson from "Lost"), Minnie Driver's vehicle "Hail Mary," and "The Ringer," starring Sarah Michelle Gellar .
Some things could change between now and all the networks' upfronts. Until you can set your DVR to record these new shows, don't count on anything being a lock. That way ,you'll never be disappointed.
What do you think of the new TV lineups? Let us know in the comments.