Attention, TV lovers: The dreaded "bubble season" is upon us, and networks are scrutinizing their lineups, trying to decide which existing series to pick up for the fall season, and which to bag up and toss in the dumpster. A story in today’s Variety notes that the following series are still awaiting their fates, and that ratings from the coming weeks could be a deciding factor: ABC’s Men in Trees, Six Degrees, What About Brian (UGH! Cancel it!), The Knights of Prosperity, According to Jim, and George Lopez; CBS’ Jericho, The Class, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Close to Home, and Rules of Engagement; Fox’s The War at Home, ‘Til Death, Standoff, and newcomers The Winner and The Wedding Bells; the CW’s Veronica Mars, All of Us, and 7th Heaven; and NBC’s 30 Rock, Friday Night Lights, Medium, Crossing Jordan, Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. (I’d count Scrubs, too, but if NBC doesn’t pick it up for the 2007-2008 season, it appears ABC will.)
There are at least four or five series on the list that are currently on my DVR rotation, but I thought it would be fun to force myself (and all of you) to use this blog item to argue for the renewal of one show — and one show only. So with apologies to Tina Fey and Anne Heche, here goes my pitch:
Dear NBC,
I was horrified to see my beloved Medium’sfuture in jeopardy — especially since any ratings decline the show hasexperienced is your own stupid fault. Why couldn’t you have left thesupernatural detective series back in its old Monday at 10 p.m.timeslot, where it would’ve been a perfect lead-out from your breakoutfreshman hit, Heroes? Instead, you gave the position to the incompatible Studio 60, which has squandered Heroes‘ big audience (and wasted several hours of my life that I’ll never get back). Not only that, Mediumcontinues to cook up spooky, innovative storylines — like that doozyfrom a few weeks back about the murderous doll — while also serving asthe sweetest, most realistic portrayal of a modern working family onnetwork TV. Did I mention Medium is often a hoot, too, thanksto the versatile Patricia Arquette (pictured), and the adorable Maria Lark asmiddle child Bridgette? Plus NBC, if Variety is right, and it’s gonnacome down to either Medium or Crossing Jordan, just remember which one scored an Emmy for its leading lady.
Hopefully,
Michael Slezak
Okay,now it’s your turn PopWatchers. Pick only one of the above shows andtell us why it deserves to live. Ready, set, advocate!
UPDATE: We’ve enjoyed your recommendations so much that we’ve selected our favorite comments from below and turned them into a photo gallery. Are you paying attention, network execs?
Comments (1-30) of 677 Add your comment
There are only 2 shows on the list that I watch religiously: George Lopez and Jericho. I have no idea why, but I love George Lopez’s show. It is smart, funny and sometimes endearing. Jericho is a great show. Bits of it are far-fetched, but what show isn’t? It is intelligent, thought provoking and very well written and acted. I hope neither of these shows gets the axe!
I find it pretty hard to believe that 30 Rock would be cancelled after this season. It has gotten consistently funnier and funnier every single week, and it seems as though they’ve gotten their focus now and are making a great show because of it. I don’t even need to factor in Alec Baldwin’s hillarious performance as a factor for keeping this around. I’m confident it will be back anyways.
Save The Class! I love that show! Also save 7th Heaven– even though I don’t even watch it anymore.
30 Rock is the funniest show on TV! Old Christine is good too. As for the rest…but what I can’t believe is that the Law and Orders could be cancelled! That show has been on since I was in high school! And I’m in my fifties!
Dear NBC,
Friday Night Lights is the smartest show on TV. It has such real characters and is shot in a really original way. Please give Coach Taylor and the kids, especially Riggins, another season to develop. I will be devastated if you take my FNL away.
Cancel the Old Adventures of Old Christine. I’ve tried watching that show and it’s not funny.
But most of all because the Emmy went to Christine instead of our beloved Valerie Cherish.
Friday Night Lights!!! The stories are compelling and it is so well acted. People are probably staying away because they think it is just about football, but it is so much more.
Dear NBC, Friday Night Lights could be the most important show to grace television since Seinfeld or even MASH. It just needs a little more advertising (hello, subway posters!). If you send it to the big static in the sky, I, nay, HISTORY, will never forgive you. I’m just saying.
Veronica Mars or Friday Night Lights … Veronica Mars or Friday Night Lights … hmm
30 Rock has to be one of the most creative, funny shows on tv and is a prime example of comedies having a renewed success (although sometimes not ratings-wise). We love Ms. Tina Fey and Mr Alec Baldwin. They’ll be triflin if they let that show go!
I completely agree with every point made about saving Medium. It was a big hit until NBC freaked it up. Yet the show continues to go to neat places – the doll episode was wonderful yes – and last week’s show about Alison as a teenager was terrific. On a side note – Look how many outstanding shows are on NBC’s list. If you have that many good ( and diverse ) programs on the endangered list then it is obviously the network’s fault ( see Medium comments ) that they aren’t pulling in viewers. C’mon NBC – why don’t you fire your programmers and leave the shows alone?
Veronica Mars is the only quality show on the CW. Why on earth would they cancel it? For another season of Finding the Next Pussycat Doll??? If that network ever wants to compete at the same level as the other networks, it can’t get rid of the best show that it offers.
That being said, I would miss 30 Rock and Jericho (but mostly because I would be very upset if it ended with a lot of unanswered questions)
Friday Night Lights is quite possibly, the best new show to air on TV in a while, and the fact that it’s struggling is so, so sad to me. I don’t like Texas, or football, but I love this show. They HAVE to get another season. It might kill me if they don’t.
I totally agree … KEEP MEDIUM! I love that show. Allison and Joe are the best, most realistic married couple on TV and they need to keep airing shows that show a loving, normal (relatively speaking) family. MEDIUM! MEDIUM! MEDIUM! (Did I say “Medium”? ‘Cuz I meant to say “MEDIUM!”
Please save Veronica Mars!!!!!!!!!!!
Don’t cancel Old Christine or Class…….. those are 2 of the 6 funniest shows on TV….. the other 4 being How I met your mother, EXTRAS, Curb your enthusiasm & Scrubs….. Everyone I work with loves class…… give it more time to catch an audience & think of the money you’ll make in sindication. For Christine…. make Wanda sykes an every episode character & show it twice a week…. this always help gain the audience.
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Studio 60 needs to stay. ‘Til Death needs to go – good Christ, what a horrible show that is.
I think ‘30 Rock’ (which is hilarious) is pretty safe since the network is planning to move it to the 9pm slot.
I really do hope they cancel ‘Studio 60′ (aka the incestuous result of ‘Sports Night’ and ‘Studio 60′). I gave that show a chance but it started annoying the hell out of me. The network could save a lot of money without having to pay Sorkin and that big cast.
Sorry, ‘Studio 60′ is the incestuous result of ‘Sports Night’ and ‘The West Wing.’
Dear NBC,
Please, please, please keep Friday Night Lights. It is the best new show with brilliant acting and awesome story lines. Even my husband who is a “24″ guy loves this show. Sincerely, A Huge FNL Fan
Veronica Mars…Veronica Mars…Veronica Mars. I don’t know if I could live without her cleverness invading my life every week. Please Save Veronica.
I agree with Colbyfan, the NBC shows are the ones worth watching, and most should not be axed, even Law and Order(But not Studio 60, which should have been killed mid-season). The only non NBC show worth saving on that list however is Veronica Mars.
Keep: 30 Rock (one of the funniest shows on TV – it’s got Baldwin, Krakowski, Fey and wit to spare – it’s everything Studio 60 should be); Medium (the show has a loyal fan-base, Arquette is consistently solid, and it really is quite frightening at times); Jericho (it has potential, people!); and The Knights of Prosperity (it’s funny and brief).
Get rid of: Studio 60 (it’s not funny, it’s not cute, and it tries too hard to impress with run-on sentences (pardon me, I meant blistering intelligence). People don’t talk like that, Sorkin! Oh, and the opening theme music makes me shudder each time – what’s it supposed to evoke? Pride?); Friday Night Lights (okay, the show’s alright, but football-themed shows/films are so over (look at the ratings), and that’s where its heart is); What About Brian (you said it, Slezak); and, of course, “The War at Home” (the anti-Christ of all sitcoms).
Veronica Mars, 30 Rock, and Friday Night Lights better return or I’m chaining myself to both the CW and NBC’s exec’s offices. I can do both at once.
Veronica Mars. Accept no substitutes.
Dear CW,
Why would you cancel “Veronica Mars”? It is the only bright spot on my otherwise dim TV-watching schedule. If you cancel my show, I’ll be forced to cheat on TV with books, and it’ll be all your fault.
Veronica Mars won’t be axed for the same reason Buffy wasn’t axed: cult following, critical darling. They wouldn’t have stuck with it past the first season if ratings were going to make or break this show. (And they really know just what a find Kristen Bell and Rob Thomas are…)
The real question is Gilmore Girls. When will we know about its fate?
Please save VERONICA MARS!!!!!! It’s one of the best shows on television. It has the best writing, characters, and acting on the CW by far!
Medium is one of the best shows on TV. The creative plots using the whole Dubois family make it so much more than just a regular procedural drama. Its focus on the family makes for some great character development, too. Please, for the love of god, don’t cancel Medium!
Pretty sure 30 Rock is safe. Love the relationship between Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy. On top of being hilarious, it is oddly sweet. But c’mon, save Friday Night Lights. This show needs to be seen. Turns out the best shows are on NBC. Along with the Office, these are the three best shows on right now.