The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 29: Let's Be Upfront

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 29. This time around, Kristal and I talked about the new fall schedules, which pilots were excited for, which night of the week will be our busiest, and of course what we've been watching and looking forward to. Check out the breakdown if you want to avoid any spoilers.

Episode Breakdown

Intros: Start - 1:02

TV News: 1:03 - 4:45

• Dan Harmon out as Community showrunner

2012-2013 Fall Schedules: 4:46 - 39:09

• ABC: 5:25 - 15:00
• CBS: 15:01 - 18:06
• The CW: 18:07 - 23:45
• FOX: 23:46 - 32:26
• NBC: 32:27 - 38:35
• Wrap-Up: 38:36 - 39:09

Most Anticipated Pilots: 39:10 - 49:01

• Go On, The New Normal, Nashville and Vegas: 39:10 - 42:30
• 666 Park Avenue, The Mindy Project and Elementary: 42:31 - 49:01

Busiest Night of the Week: 49:02 - 51:33

What We're Watching (SPOILER ALERT): 51:34 - 1:04:55

• How I Met Your Mother

What We're Looking Forward To: 1:04:56 - 1:12:52

• Glee: 1:04:56 - 1:05:32
• So You Think You Can Dance: 1:05:33 - 1:12:52

Closing: 1:12:53 - End

Check out the episode below, or download it over at iTunes:

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My Two-Cents on the 2012-2013 Upfronts

Upfront Week's finally over, so I've decided to take a step back to reflect on what the major networks did this past two weeks.

Most Surprising Renewal: Nikita (The CW)

While I'm still a fan of Nikita, I was pretty sure that it was going to be canceled after another low-rated season, but its renewal could be a case of Fridays being both a blessing and a curse. Sure, its numbers were going to be horrible, but Friday shows tend to have lower expectations, which could have been how The CW justified bringing back our favorite assassin.

Most Disappointing Cancellation: The Finder (FOX)

I made my peace with The Finder's inevitable cancellation weeks ago, but knowing that Walter Sherman will not be back still stings. I've said it multiple times on "The Small Screen Podcast," but I'll say it again; I really want this character to live on, and if that means he's shoe-horned into Bones, then that's fine by me. That being said, the series finale was appropriate, and I'm sorta OK with that being it, but I need more Walter. I don't even need the rest. Just Walter.

Most Anticipated New Comedy: Go On (NBC)

I'm a Matthew Perry fan, so I want Go On to be successful for NBC because the world's a little bit better when he's on our screens. Now, I don't know if Go On will be the savior that the Peacock needs, but the premise sounds interesting enough, and it looks like a role tailor made for Perry. The thing is, the same could have been said about Mr. Sunshine, and the tone might be too dreary for those looking for light-hearted laughs. It also doesn't help that it's going to be on one of the most competitive nights for comedy, but more on that later.

Most Anticipated New Drama: Elementary (CBS)
OK, I'm going to be honest. The only reason I'm looking forward to Elementary is to mock it for ripping off Sherlock. Now, I'll admit that I could be surprised and the CBS version could be just as good as the BBC/PBS one, but it's highly unlikely. I'm also vaguely intrigued to see how this show justifies making Watson a female. We all know it's for unresolved sexual tension, but sometimes that's enough to keep things interesting (see Castle, Bones, Psych and on and on and on).

Least Anticipated New Comedy: The Neighbors (ABC)
ABC has the single-cam, family sit-com on lock down with its Laugh On Wednesday night block, but it's always been tricky to find the fourth piece to the puzzle. So what's the plan this year? How about giving us a show about a family moving into a suburb filled with aliens. Not other worldly humans like Suburgatory, but real extra-terrestrials. I can't believe ABC passed on Mandy Moore for this.

Least Anticipated New Drama: Mistresses (ABC)
I might be wrong, but I think I remember reading online that Mistresses will be held off until summer, so it technically should not be eligible for this post, but the trailer was truly horrendous and it made me feel dirty while watching it (there was a snippet where a woman's upset because the guy picked his wife). I seriously think it's about a club for women who sleep with other women's men. At least there's truth in advertising, but this show's obviously not meant for me.

Most Surprising New Comedy: Partners (CBS)
By "surprising," I mean a show that I had zero interest in before watching clips/trailers/previews, but was won over by something. I've soured on most of CBS' comedies (How I Met Your Mother and 2 Broke Girls), so I didn't expect much from its newest sit-com, but I found myself chuckling at the preview for Partners. Since I cannot quit HIMYM, I'm willing to give this show a few episodes to win me over.

Most Surprising New Drama: Vegas (CBS)
Another CBS show that I was mostly uninterested in until I watched the preview. I'm a sucker for westerns and gangster movies, so this should be right up my alley since it combines both, but I also find period dramas about the 60's to be mostly boring (yes, I'm including Mad Men). I'll probably check out a few episodes, which would be the first time I've made it a point to watch a CBS drama in ages, just to see what it has to offer.

Most Shocking Schedule Move: Two and a Half Men (CBS)
When you have two shows as successful as The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men, logic dictates that you spread them around the schedule as a way to help prop up your line-up. Apparently, CBS felt that dominating Thursday nights is more important than spreading the wealth, so they doubled up on Chuck Lorre shows. I kind of understand the move, but I don't think 2 Broke Girls is strong enough to anchor Mondays, but we'll have to see if this ends up being a calculated risk or a huge gamble on CBS' part.

Biggest No-Brain Schedule Move: Glee (FOX)
It's quite simple when you think about it: Glee needs help since its ratings have taken a hit, The X-Factor/American Idol really haven't helped launch any new shows, and Glee's best ratings came when it had Idol as a lead-in. Moving Glee to Thursday's is win-win for FOX.

Most Logical Schedule: The CW
Say what you will about The CW, but its 2012-2013 makes the most sense from a thematic standpoint. You have your spoiled rich kids on Mondays (90210 and Gossip Girl), your cute female doctors on Tuesdays (Hart of Dixie and Emily Owens, M.D.), your old-school WB block on Wednesdays (Arrow and Supernatural), your supernatural soaps featuring brunettes on Thursdays (The Vampire Diaries and Beauty and the Beast) and everything else on Fridays (America's Next Top Model and Nikita). You have to admit, every night have a clear direction and the show's do complement one another.

Least Logical Schedule: NBC
I guess we're supposed to think that scheduling five hours on comedy on four nights was a bold move, but it's hard to wrap my head around some of the moves. The pairing of Animal Practice and Guys With Kids makes zero sense, as does the combo of Whitney and Community. If anything, they should swap partners, but I doubt NBC would want to banish a new comedy to Fridays just so it could be a better match with Whitney. NBC conceding Thursday nights also felt a bit odd since it should be the time for them to rebuild the brand, but it hasn't worked yet so I guess they're throwing in the towel.

Busiest Night of the Week: Tuesdays
For me, Tuesday nights are going to be the busiest when it comes to TV watching because NBC, FOX and ABC all decided to schedule comedy blocks containing show's I'm interested in against one another. We have Go On/The New Normal going up against New Girl/The Mindy Project and Happy Endings/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23. While I like New Girl well enough, and I want Matthew Perry to be a hit, my heart belongs to Happy Endings, so I'll be watching ABC live and catching up on everything else later.

So there you have it; my random thoughts about what happened during this year's Upfront Week. On a whole, I have to admit that nothing really wowed me, and next season's shaping up to be somewhat of a bore, but I'll definitely be tuning in regardless.

TV Upfronts: ABC's New Shows for 2012-2013

When Scrubs moved from NBC, and I got hooked on Castle, I started watching ABC more than any other network, and the trend's continued mostly due to Happy Endings and Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (which are coming back!) I bring this up because for the first time in while, I don't care for any of ABC's new offerings, so the time I spend watching the Alphabet may be drastically reduced, but we'll just have to wait and see.

666 Park Avenue

So, it's a supernatural soap opera in a haunted apartment building? No thanks.

The Family Tools

I did find myself laughing a few times during the trailer, but this show's destined for a short lifespan since Kyle Bornheimer's involved. Poor guy can't catch a break.

How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life)

I'm a big Sarah Chalke fan (except for when she's dating Ted or Bobby or the guy who bangs pies), so I'll probably check out a few episodes of How to Live With Your Parents. It feels very on-brand for ABC, but I'm curious about why it's going to be on Tuesdays instead of Wednesdays.

Last Resort

You'd think I'd be all about a show about nuclear submarines starting its own nation, but I'm really not. I just have to come to terms with the fact that Shawn Ryan doesn't make shows that are targeted at me as a viewer.

Malibu Country

I'm glad that ABC's bringing back a lighter version of TGIF since traditional, multi-cam, family sit-coms are rare, but that doesn't mean I'm going to watch it. It's safe to say that I'll probably be skipping Malibu Country (even though I might still watch Last Man Standing.)

Nashville

This is probably the only new ABC show that interests me, mostly because Nashville looks like what Smash should have3 been. If I can give the latter an entire 15 episodes, then I'm sure I can give Nashville a few shots.

The Neighbors

This is the show that's getting the plumb post-Modern Family spot? Seriously? Now, I know that I should reserve judgment until I actually see an episode or two, but really?

Red Window

I still have no idea what this show's about. Skip.

There's also Zero Hour, but for some reason ABC's made the trailer private, so I couldn't post it here. I will if it becomes available.

TV Upfronts: The CW's 2012-2013 Fall Schedule

Upfront Week wrapped up with The CW announcing its 2012-2013 schedule, and from the looks of it Supernatural fans have a lot to thankful for as it gets shifted out of the Friday death slot (despite the fact that it did fairly well there). Also, The CW will be rolling out its new slate of shows in October instead of September which could work in its benefit ... in theory. Other than that, it's a pretty straight forward line-up from the networklet.

2012-2013 Fall Line-up (NOTE: New shows are in UPPER CASE and times are Eastern Standard)

Mondays
8-9p: 90210
9-10p: Gossip Girl

Initial Thoughts: OK, The CW made some other changes besides just moving Supernatural out of Fridays. Gossip Girl's been in the 8pm on Mondays spot since 2008, so the fact that it's being pushed back to 9pm for its final season feels like its more for The Carrie Diaries' benefit since it will take over at mid-season. 90210's also been a Tuesday night staple, so its move to Mondays seems like a tactical move to help launch the aforementioned Sex and the City prequel.

Tuesdays
8-9p: Hart of Dixie
9-10p: EMILY OWENS, M.D.

Initial Thoughts: Lady doctors are going to be taking over The CW's Tuesday nights as the new Emily Owens, M.D. (formally known as First Cut) teams up with Hart of Dixie, which makes a lot of sense, but you have to wonder if they are TOO similar. I'm all for tonal consistency, but pairing up shows that also have similar subject matters could be hit or miss.

Wednesdays
8-9p: ARROW
9-10p: Supernatural

Initial Thoughts: For years, the combination of Smallville and Supernatural was one of the most consistent for The WB/The CW, so it's not a shocker that Arrow will be joining SPN on Wednesday nights. Let's just hope the latter proves that it's worthy of its new home.

Thursdays
8-9p: The Vampire Diaries
9-10p: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Initial Thoughts: It's logical that The CW would use its flagship show to launch new ones, but it hasn't been able to find anything that could hold on to The Vampire Dairies' audience. Nikita and The Secret Circle weren't able to capitalize on their lead-in, but maybe Beauty and the Beast will be able to break the trend.

Fridays
8-9p: America's Next Top Model
9-10p: Nikita

Initial Thoughts: Maybe if I actually watched Top Model, I'd be more inclined to comment on its move to Fridays, but I don't so I'm not. It does make a bit of sense though since reality shows cost less than scripted, so a dip in ratings won't kill ANTM, but moving your signature reality program to the "death slot" is also a bit odd. Honestly, I'm just glad Nikita's back, but it's not moved into an even more competitive hour as it takes on Fringe and Grimm.

Mid-Season: The Carrie Diaries an Cult

For the most part, The CW's new schedule makes sense, but I'm not it's going to be enough to fix the network's ratings issues. Then again, I don't know what will help The CW at this point.

TV Upfronts: CBS' 2012-2013 Fall Schedule

When you're the most-watched U.S. network, you have the luxury of coasting along and not shaking things up which was the exact approach CBS took when putting together its 2012-2013 schedule. The biggest bit of news had to do with 2 Broke Girls, Two and a Half Men and The Mentalist both getting new homes, but even those moves lacked any real pizzazz or risk.

2012-2013 Fall Line-up (NOTE: New shows are in UPPER CASE and times are Eastern Standard)

Mondays
8-8:30p: How I Met Your Mother
8:30-9p: PARTNERS
9-9:30p: 2 Broke Girls
9:30-10p: Mike & Molly
10-11p: Hawaii Five-0

Initial Thoughts: Mondays have become to CBS what Thursdays used to be for NBC, so the fact that the comedy line-up stayed in tack is by no means a shock. What is interesting is Two and a Half Men being shipped to another night and 2 Broke Girls taking its place. I understand that 2BG was last year's comedy darling for the network, but it's still not proven enough to take over the mantel. I guess we'll just have to wait and see if this ends up being a brilliant move by CBS are a bust.

Tuesdays
8-9p: NCIS
9-10p: NCIS: Los Angeles
10-11p: VEGAS

Initial Thoughts: Yawn! The NCIS franchise has become the new crown jewel of CBS, so there was no chance the two shows would be moving, and sticking Vegas at the 10 o'clock hour's really not all that exciting either since it's a hole that needed to be filled.

Wednesdays
8-9p: Survivor
9-10p: Criminal Minds
10-11p: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Initial Thoughts: Double yawn since this is the exact same schedule CBS has right now. I was sure CSI: Original Recipe would have been shipped off to a new night (Fridays) to make run for a new drama, but I guess CBS figured things were just fine on Wednesday nights.

Thursdays
8-8:30p: The Big Bang Theory
8:30-9p: Two and a Half Men
9-10p: Person of Interest
10-11p: ELEMENTARY

Initial Thoughts: Pretty much everyone thought that CBS would expand its Thursday night comedy block so it could crush NBC once and for all, so I'm a little surprised that the Eye's just sticking to an hour. Big Bang staying put makes sense, but having it lead into Two and a Half Men says more about the latter than anything else. It used to be this network's bread and butter, and now it needs to be propped up by its little brother. Since Person of Interest was one of the few dramatic hits of last season, I was sure that it would get a better time slot, but it looks like CBS is banking on Elementary to be a more accessible hit.

Fridays
8-9p: CSI: NY
9-10p: MADE IN JERSEY
10-11p: Blue Bloods

Initial Thoughts: Honesty, I don't have much to say about this night. I did expect CBS to put some shows out to pasture on Fridays (CSI and Good Wife), but once again the network didn't feel the need to shake things up.

Saturdays
8-11p: Crimetime Saturday

Sundays
7-8p: 60 Minutes
8-9p: The Amazing Race
9-10p: The Good Wife
10-11p: The Mentalist

Initial Thoughts: I did not see The Mentalist to Sundays coming because I figured it still had some life, and Sundays tend to be a problematic night for CBS. Again, I was sure The Good Wife was going to be shipped off to Fridays, so I'm a little surprised that its staying put although I shouldn't be.

Mid-Season: Friend Me, Golden Boy, The Job and Undercover Boss

There's a reason why I don't watch a ton of CBS. Its shows tend to be to formulaic and now their schedule reflects the same monotony, but you really can't blame the Eye for playing it safe because it's worked so well up to date.

TV Upfronts: ABC's 2012-2012 Fall Schedule

ABC was next to announce its schedule for 2012-2013, and at least it took some more risks than FOX did yesterday. We finally get the pairing of Happy Endings and Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 but in a somewhat odd location, and the Alphabet made some moves in an attempt to completely dominate Sunday nights.

2012-2013 Fall Line-up (NOTE: New shows are in UPPER CASE and times are Eastern Standard)

Mondays
8-10p: Dancing with the Stars
10-11p: Castle

Initial Thoughts: I was positive that this would be the year ABC moved Castle to another night so it could use DWTS to help launch other shows, but it looks like that will never happen. Don't get me wrong, I'm still a fan of Castle and happy it's getting support from the network, but it's time to try something new on Mondays at 10pm.

Tuesdays
8-9p: Dancing with the Stars Results
9-9:30p: Happy Endings
9:30-10p: Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23
10-11p: Private Practice

Initial Thoughts: Not so surprising details: teaming up Happy Endings and Apt. 23 on their own night away from the family block. Somewhat surprising details: Giving them a DWTS lead-in AND pitting them against New Girl/Mindy Project and Go On/The New Normal. Talk about mixed messages, ABC.

Wednesdays
8-8:30p: The Middle
8:30-9p: Suburgatory
9-9:30p: Modern Family
9:30-10p: THE NEIGHBORS
10-11p: NASHVILLE

Initial Thoughts: Honestly, I think it's a mistake to keep Suburgatory at 8:30 instead of moving it to the cushier post-Modern Family spot where it could grow. I guess there's something to say about consistency, yet ABC decided to move one of its few drama hits to a completely new night. Again with the mixed messages. Another aside: I don't understand why they'd use MF to launch a sitcom about aliens (sure families of aliens) instead of the more accessible  How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life).

Thursdays
8-9p: LAST RESORT
9-10p: Grey's Anatomy
10-11p: Scandal

Initial Thoughts: Part of me wonders if ABC has a total lack of faith in Last Resort based on its location on the schedule. For the last few seasons, Thursdays at 8 has been a black hole for ABC (FlashForward, My Generation, Charlie's Angels), so that's already a red-flag. Then you add the fact that it sticks out like a sore thumb. Sorry, but a show about a rogue nuclear submarine doesn't mesh well with any Shonda Rhimes vehicle. I'm interested to see how Last Resort performs, but Shawn Ryan could got 0 for 3 thanks to ABC.

Fridays
8-9p: Shark Tank
9-10p: Primetime: What Would You Do?
10-11p: 20/20

Starting in November
8-8:30p: Last Man Standing
8:30-9p: Malibu Country
9-10p: Shark Tank
10-11p: Primetime: What Would You Do?

Initial Thoughts: Yes, ABC Fridays look dreadfully boring, but things will get more interesting in November when Last Man Standing and Malibu Country debut. I'm all for a new TGIF, so I want LMS and Malibu to do well even if I don't watch them, and they very well could since they'll be going up against Touch and Whitney/Community. CBS will be the deciding factor.

Saturdays
8-End: Saturday Night College Football

Initial Thoughts: Let's just skip to Sundays.

Sundays
7-8p: America's Funniest Home Videos
8-9p: Once Upon a Time
9-10p: Revenge
10-11p: 666 PARK AVENUE

Initial Thoughts: And we finally get to ABC's plot to take over Sunday nights as it pairs up its two biggest sophomore successes. I can kind of understand moving Revenge to Sundays since ABC doesn't have a natural heir apparent to Desperate Housewives, but why couldn't they spread the wealth instead of piling everything on Sundays? Plus, Revenge doesn't seem like a natural fit with OUAT and 666, but whatever. Genre consistency's overrated in this day and age anyway.

Mid-Season: Body of Proof, Family Tools, How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life), Mistresses, Red Window, Wife Swap and Zero Hour.

While some of ABC's moves have me scratching my head, I do have to applaud them for taking some bigger risks than it would have done in the past. This schedule's a pretty clear sign that ABC's ready to make a comeback, so kudos.

TV Upfronts: FOX's New Shows for 2012-2013

FOX's has also officially unveiled its 2012-2013 schedule, and has provided trailers for the five new shows gracing its line-up.

Ben & Kate

From the looks of it, FOX is going to take a run at the single-cam, family comedy that's become synonymous with ABC with Ben & Kate and The Goodwin Games. Well, I suppose sibling comedy is more accurate, but I digress. This one has potential, but I got a creepy rom-com vibe from the trailer which was a little off-putting since it's supposed to be about siblings. Weird.

The Mindy Project

Speaking of rom-coms, one of the buzziest shows of the new season may also be one of the weakest because I was not impressed by the trailer for The Mindy Project. It just felt too cliched and worn out, and we haven't even seen a full episode yet. I like Mindy Kalling, but this one could be problematic.

The Mob Doctor

For me, the key to whether or not I'll be watching The Mob Doctor will be its format. If it's a heavily serialized crime drama, then I could be all-in. If it's another edgy procedural with some mildly interesting overarching elements, then I might have to pass.

The Following

The way I feel about The Mob Doctor is pretty much the same way I feel about The Following, but the idea of a cult of serial killers is inherently more intriguing than a doctor for the mob.

The Goodwin Games

I disliked the concept of The Goodwin Games the second I read it, but I think that had more to do with the fact that I'm tired of being screwed over by How I Met Your Mother. After watching this trailer, I'm more inclined to give this one a shot because it seems like it has the right amount of humor and heart which is always a winning combo.

TV Upfronts: NBC's New Shows for 2012-2013

With NBC's Upfront essentially in the books, it's time to take a look at the crop of new shows that it's offering viewers next season. The following are trailers for the upcoming fall series. If you want more about what's in store for mid-season, check out NBC's official site.

Animal Practice

For some reason, I'm getting a Scrubs with animals vibe from this trailer, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing. I'll definitely give it a shot (mostly because of the monkey), but I'm not going to have high hopes for it.

Chicago Fire

We already know that people are going to ship Chase and Mason Lockwood, so they might as well just cut out the subtext and have them hook up by the end of the pilot. Seriously, this one could have potential, but my interest will depend on what else is on at 10/9c on Wednesdays.

Go On

It' Matthew Perry at his Matthew Perry-iest, but that's always something I can get behind. From the looks of it Go On's a little more accessible than Studio 60 and Mr. Sunshine, which is a good thing, but it feels like it should be a 60-minute dramedy instead of a 30-minute sitcom. Maybe NBC's trying to replicate Showtime's success with this new format.

Guys with Kids

Since I'm a fan of Jimmy Fallon, I really wanted to like Guys with Kids, but I was underwhelmed by the trailer. There's a chance that I'll try it out just to be sure, but I won't be holding my breath.

The New Normal

Ryan Murphy and Ali Adler's new show also feels like it should be an hour long dramedy based on the trailer alone. I'll admit that I found myself laughing at most of the jokes, but it has a semi-serious tone that could be confusing. Plus, all of the familiar Glee faces made me wonder if I was watching a spec trailer for a spin-off. Odds on how long it takes before Matthew Morrison shows up as one of the guy's exes?

Revolution

Not gonna lie, I was intrigued by the Revolution trailer even though it looks like Falling Skies without aliens or The Walking Dead without zombies. These kind of post-apocalyptic shows can be wildly hit or miss, and I'm betting that Revolution's the latter, but it could be the surprise breakout of the year.

TV Upfronts: FOX's 2012-2013 Fall Schedule

It was FOX's day to cart out its new fall schedule, and for the most part it was exactly what most people predicted. We finally get the two-hour comedy block that everyone's been buzzing about, and Glee once again gets one of the network's best lead-ins. So, really it was much ado about nothing.

2012-2013 Fall Line-up (NOTE: New shows are in UPPER CASE and times are Eastern Standard)

Mondays
8-9p: Bones
9-10p: THE MOB DOCTOR

Initial Thoughts: With House bowing out, it only made sense to keep Bones on Monday nights to help launch new shows. Initially, I saw Kevin Williamson's new show in the post Bones spot (which it will be mid-season), and while I don't know much about The Mob Doctor, it does sound compatible so good on FOX for making the most logical pairing.

Tuesdays
8-8:30p: Raising Hope
8:30-9p: BEN AND KATE
9-9:30p: New Girl
9:30-10p: THE MINDY PROJECT

Initial Thoughts: It shouldn't surprise anyone that FOX decided to go with a two-hour comedy block on Tuesdays since it now has a moderate hit to build around in New Girl. I'll admit, I'm a little stunned that Raising Hope is kicking off the line-up since it's never been a ratings hit, and I thought FOX would've taken a risk by having a new sitcom start the night.

Wednesdays
8-10p: The X-Factor

Initial Thoughts: Nothing of note here. Let's move on.

Thursdays
8-9p: The X-Factor Results
9-10p: Glee

Initial Thoughts: I'm sure there are some out there who are surprised by FOX's decision to move Glee to Thursday nights, but I'm not one of them. Glee to Thursdays makes sense because while it's not what it used to be, the show's still one of the network's best rated scripted series, so why not reward it by giving it a plump spot. Also, its ratings have been slipping, so having an X-Factor/Idol lead-in can help out an already ailing show. Plus, this season has already proven that X-Factor and Idol don't really launch new shows, so why waste it on a gamble?

Fridays
8-9p: Touch
9-10p: Fringe

Initial Thoughts: Why renew Touch if you're just going to put in on Friday nights when you could have just picked up The Finder which was starting to establish itself? OK, mini-rant over. In theory, I can see why Touch and Fringe are paired up since they both have outside-the-box concepts, but it seems like an odd move since Touch was supposed to be the next big thing. If FOX was just going to throw it under the bus, why bring it back at all?

Saturday
8-End: Fox Sports Saturday

Initial Thoughts: Sports on Saturday makes sense.

Sunday
8-8:30p: The Simpsons
8:30-9p: Bob's Burgers
9-9:30p: Family Guy
9:30-10p: American Dad

Initial Thoughts: No real changes to see here.

Mid-Season: American Idol, The Cleveland Show, Cops, The Following, The Goodwin Games, Hell's Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares.

Honestly, FOX's schedule is as straight-forward as you can get. It made some vital moves, but they all make sense and they don't leave people scratching their heads. Sure, it may not set the world on fire either, but it looks to be reliable enough for the network.

TV Report Card: Week of May 6, 2012

Since TV Upfronts, pick-ups, renewals and cancellations have been taking up most of my time over the last couple of days, this installment of the TV Report Card may lack some punch. I apologize in advance.

Sunday
Sherlock: "A Scandal in Belgravia"

What Worked: Of course you tune into Sherlock for the amazing chemistry between the title character and his trust sidekick, and Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman just might be the best television duos on the screen today. Add in a sexy, smart and formidable Irene Adler, and you have one heck of an episode of TV.

What Didn't Work: The run time of Sherlock's episodes will always been a problem because the story sometimes meanders in order to fill up the allotment. It's a classic example of less is more, but since we only get three episodes a series, I don't see anything changing in the near future.

GRADE: A

Monday
Castle: "Always"

What Worked: They finally went there! After four seasons of mind-numbing unresolved sexual tension, Beckett finally admitted her feelings to Castle after she almost died. Now, I don't have to watch Castle ever again because what's the point now that they're together. Right?

What Didn't Work: The execution was a bit clumsy despite the fact that the case was tied to the bigger mystery revolving around the death of Kate's mom. For some reason, I didn't really buy her moment of truth, and I expected it to be bigger and more impactful. Instead, it just kind of happened.

GRADE: B-

Smash: "Previews"

What Worked: I actually liked the parts that had to do with the musical and prepping for previews. I even found myself digging some of the numbers like "Smash!," but that was about it.

What Didn't Work: Once again, anything that had to do with the personal lives of the characters made me groan and roll my eyes. And they even tried to squeeze church and religion into an already over-the-top situation. Don't even get me started on Katharine McPhee's acting. I don't get how some people actually think this show's better than Glee.

GRADE: D

Tuesday
Glee: "Prom-asaurus"

What Worked: OK, maybe this wasn't the week to throw stones at Smash because Glee was dreadful. This episode was by the worst yet, and I really cannot think of anything I liked  about it except for a few moments that involved Puck, Mike and/or Sam. I'm still mad about this one.

What Didn't Work: Everything that had nothing to do with the aforementioned characters. To add salt to the wound, Ryan Murphy actually made his characters regress as an allusion for growth. Seriously. Usually, I can defend this show with my dying breath, but not this time. "Prom-asaurus" sucked. Plan and simple.

GRADE: D-

New Girl: "See Ya"

What Worked: I'm a fan of scenes where the main characters just sit around and goof on one another, so I pretty much dug everything that took place in the middle of nowhere. Plus, everyone had some decent jokes/one-liners, so there's that.

What Didn't Work: I'm over the Jess/Nick UST dynamic, and at this point I'd prefer them as strictly platonic friends. I don't even care if the writers lay off the gas and try again in a few seasons. I just don't care. Also, what was the point of having Nick move out if he was going to be back by the end of the episode. At least keep him out of the loft until the Season 2 premiere.

GRADE: B-

Wednesday
Modern Family: "Disneyland"

What Worked: I like Dylan, so I was happy to see him back even if it was due to a major contrivance. Watching Luke and Phil just be wacky together's also worth a few laughs.

What Didn't Work: The time honored tradition of ABC family sitcoms going to Disneyland was one I hope died with TGIF, but apparently Modern Family's bringing it back. I've never been a fan of the trick, and I still didn't care for it, and I'm usually a fan of when the entire family's together. Not this time.

GRADE: C+

Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23: "Making Rent"

What Worked: As always, JVDB stole the show with his extremely tight fitting pants line, an unfortunate billboard ad and starting a trend by pitting the gays, hipster and Japanese people against one another. Brilliant stuff. I even liked the Chloe tricks June into being on a fetish website, but that's probably because Happy Endings did it first.

What Didn't Work: I'm still not feeling the outlying characters, so the fact that they took up so much time during this episode didn't help it. It's just sad that Liza Lapira has to be on this show instead of Traffic Light.

GRADE: B-

Thursday
Community: "Curriculum Unavailable"

What Worked: For the most part I enjoyed this sequel to last year's "Paradigms of Human Memory" mostly because Troy had some good lines, but I also liked the idea of the Study Group being crazy people who invented Greendale while in asylum. It's just too bad that was just a ruse.

What Didn't Work: The ruse itself because it progressed the ill-advised "Chang takes over Greendale" arc that's wrapping up the season. I've shared my thoughts on Chang before, so I don't want to get into it. Let's just say I'm disappointed about the end of Season 3 so far.

GRADE: B-

The Vampire Diaries: "The Departed"

What Worked: At least the killed Alaric once and for all just to bring him back as a ghost. Seriously, this show cannot just kill people...

What Didn't Work: I think I'll warm up to the idea of Elena being a vampire, but for now it felt like just another cheat, and I'm so over them. The fact that Klaus also found a way to stick around was an effective twist, but I'm not a fan of the Originals, so I'm skeptical about keeping him on the show. At least he'll make Tyler interesting for once. It's just too bad that it's taken them so long to do so.

GRADE: B-

Friday
Grimm: "Big Feet"

What Worked: We got more Monroe which is always a good thing. I was also happy to see Hank and Juliette get sucked into the Grimm world little by little. I don't know how the show's going to manage this new development, but they couldn't have stayed in the dark for much longer.

What Didn't Work: The creature of the week (Sasquatch-like beasts) didn't really work for me, but at least they were better than last week's bats posing as Cinderella. The sooner I forget about that episode, the better.

GRADE: B-

Nikita: "Crossbow"

What Worked: This show got entertaining again the second Percy took over Division, so watching him steal a satellite that could be used as a weapon just so he could blackmail the President of the United States as a way to buy his way into some secret group of terrorists was interesting. Plus, Birkoff planted on on Nikita before a supposed suicide mission ... and then made a Star Wars reference.

What Didn't Work: Still too much Alex and Sean, but at least we got a Season 1 callback in the form of that one recruit who was supposed to be dead but ended up being turned into a cleaner. I forgot about him.

GRADE: B-

Between Upfronts and season finales, I'm not quite sure how next week's Report Card will look like, but I'll try to put something together.

TV Upfronts: NBC's 2012-2013 Fall Schedule

Even though officially Upfront presentations don't start until Monday, NBC tends to get the ball rolling sooner than everyone else by announcing its schedule a day early, and this year was no different. All I can say is, next year's NBC schedule looks a little funny ... literally. Since most of its comedies are getting long in the tooth, NBC decided to schedule five hours of comedy a week to see if any of the new shows can gain traction.

2012-2013 Fall Line-up (NOTE: New shows are in UPPER CASE and times are Eastern Standard)

Mondays
8-10p: The Voice
10-11p: REVOLUTION

Initial Thoughts: I think we all knew that The Voice would get a fall start date instead of a mid-season one, but I can't help but wonder if NBC will really crank out two cycles in a year especially after it ran out of steam this season. I'm a little surprised that Revolution got such a plumb spot since it screams, "Friday night!" but I guess NBC liked it enough to give it a decent shot.

Tuesdays
8-9p: The Voice Results
9-9:30p: GO ON
9:30-10p: THE NEW NORMAL
10-11p: Parenthood

Initial Thoughts: NBC must really be hoping that Matthew Perry breaks his one-and-done streak since it's also giving Go On one of the better slots on its schedule. It apparently also sipped the Ryan Murphy Kool-Aid since The New Normal got a cushy placement. No surprises that Parenthood's staying put.

Wednesdays
8-8:30p: ANIMAL PRACTICE
8:30-9p: GUYS WITH KIDS
9-10p: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
10-11p: CHICAGO FIRE

Initial Thoughts: I'm not surprised that NBC's keeping the new Wednesday night comedy block, but I am a little surprised that they're having two new sitcoms kick off a night. Another minor surprise: moving SVU back to 9pm after it's shown that it does better at 10 o'clock, but I guess Chicago Fire needed some sort of lead-in.

Thursdays
8-8:30p: 30 Rock
8:30-9p: Up All Night
9-9:30p: The Office
9:30-10p: Parks and Recreation
10-11p: Rock Center with Brian Williams

Initial Thoughts: Ah, good ole Must See Comedy Night Done Right. NBC obviously wanted to keep to the tried and true formula, and this line-up makes a lot of sense (one that it should have been using the latter half of this season), but I'm a little surprised that a new comedy isn't getting the post-Office spot. Maybe the declining ratings convinced NBC that its biggest hitter can no longer launch new shows.

Fridays
8-8:30p: Whitney
8:30-9p: Community
9-10p: Grimm
10-11p: Dateline NBC

Initial Thoughts: This is going to sound disingenuous, but Community to Fridays isn't all that shocking, and it's a move NBC should have tried once it came back from hiatus. Believe what you will. That being said, NBC should just announce that this is the show's final season because that's what the schedule's yelling at viewers. Let the "Community to TBS" campaigns begin.

Sundays (Fall)
7-8:15p: Football Night in America
8:15-End: NBC Sunday Night Football

Sundays (After football)
7-8p: Dateline NBC
8-9p: Fashion Star
9-10p: The Celebrity Apprentice
10-11p: DO NO HARM

Initial Thoughts: Yeah, no real reactions. Sorry.

Mid-Season: 1600 Penn, Betty White's Off Their Rockers, The Biggest Loser, Hannibal, Howie Mandel's White Elephant, Infamous, Next Caller, Ready for Love, Smash, Stars Earn Stripes and Surprise with Jenny McCarthy.

Well, you can't say that NBC didn't try anything new because having five hours of comedies is unheard of in this day and age. I'm not sure if such bold moves will translate to ratings success, but it will be entertaining to see what happens.

News: CBS' Pick-Ups, Renewals and Cancellations

When you're the 800-pound gorilla, you can do whatever you want, and that's exactly the approach CBS took as it let all of the other networks play before pushing them off the swings. The most-watched network finally made its move by announcing which new shows will be on their line-up and which existing shows will live on to see another day.

The Eye's first no-brain move was the renew Two and a Half Men for a tenth season which was pretty much a foregone conclusion. In addition to Men, CBS also ordered Elementary, Vegas, Made in New Jersey, Golden Boy, Friend Me and Partners.

As for cancellations, CSI: NY got a reprieve (although I haven't read that it's officially coming back either) while its sibling, CSI: Miami, did not. Also not coming back: A Gifted Man, Unforgettable and NYC 22. Still no official word on what's going to happen to Rules of Engagement or Rob. UPDATE: Apparently, I missed the bit of news that confirmed that Rob has been canceled and CSI: NY has been renewed.

The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 28: And Here We Go

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 28. With Upfronts right around the corner, the major networks renewed and canceled plenty of shows in preparation for the 2012-2013 season. Kristal and I talked about which shows are coming back and which didn't make the cut as well as what we've been watching and what we're looking forward to. Warning: we had some connectivity difficulties which led to some noise, so pardon the mess.

Episode Breakdown:

Intros: Start - 1:18

Renewals and Cancellations: 1:19 - 25:36

• ABC: 2:20 - 6:15
• CBS: 6:16 - 8:02
• The CW: 8:03 - 12:32
• FOX: 12:33 - 17:19
• NBC: 17:20 - 24:30
• Wrap-Up: 24:31 - 25:36

What We're Watching (SPOILER ALERT): 25:37 - 36:22

• Castle: 25:37 - 28:00
• The Vampire Diaries: 28:01 - 36:22

What We're Looking Forward To: 36:23 - 39:00

• How I Met Your Mother: 36:23 - 37:59
• Glee: 38:00 - 39:00

Closing: 39:01 - End

Check out the episode below, or download it over at iTunes:

For more, follow us on Twitter:
Kristal: @kristal_bailey
Marcos: @poppas2cents
Screen Invasion: @screeninvasion
Invasion Radio: @invasionradio

News: ABC's Pick-Up-Palooza

Not only did ABC renew and cancel a bunch of shows today, but it also picked up a handful of new ones.

ABC gave series orders to: 666 Park Avenue, Family Tools, How To Live With Your Parents For The Rest Of Your Life, Last Resort, Malibu Country, Mistresses, Nashville, The Neighbors, Red Window and Zero Hour.

News: ABC Renews 4 More, Cancels 4

Earlier today, ABC announced that it would be picking up Happy Endings, and that was it at the time. Then craziness happened and it renewed a few more existing shows while picking up some new ones.

As it stands now, Body of Proof, Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23, Private Practice and Last Man Standing were all picked up for additional seasons. The shows that will not live on: GCB, Missing, The River and Pan Am.

News: And the Floodgates Open

With Upfronts starting on Monday, every major network (and The CW) not named CBS or FOX firmed up their schedules for the 2012-2013. Granted, the Eye could still make some announcements before the day's over, but for the most part it let everyone else stand in the spotlight.

ABC
The only real news coming out of ABC was a-mah-ing (sorry, that joke's required) as it renewed Happy Endings for a reported 22 episode third season. With Cougar Town officially shipped off to TBS, it's up to the HE gang to headline the Alphabet's off-shoot brand of quirky, friends based comedies that don't mesh will with the rest of its family oriented ones. Still no word on Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23 or the other bubble shows like Last Man Standing and Body Proof. UPDATE: Scandal was also renewed for a second season.

The CW
The perpetual also-ran, The CW, also made some moves today as it officially picked up Arrow, Beauty and the Beast, The Carrie Diaries, Cult and First Cut. It also renewed Nikita for a third season, Hart of Dixie for a second, and Gossip Girl for a possible last hurrah. Two shows that did not get a reprieve: Ringer and The Secret Circle. Honestly, the biggest surprise was Nikita's renewal since everyone pretty much had it dead, but somehow managed to stay afloat.

NBC
NBC continued to dominate the day as it announced that Parks and Recreation, Whitney and Up All Night will all be returning next season. Not making the cut: Are You There, Chelsea?, Awake, Bent, Best Friends Forever and Harry's Law. It also picked up Next Caller starring Dane Cook which could help keep the office workplace sub-genre alive on NBC.

So, that's it for now, but I'm sure more news will break once I post this write-up. If it does, I'll make sure to jot some stuff down.

News: ABC Renews 7 Shows

ABC finally got into the game by picking seven current shows for the 2012-2013 season.

According to TV Line, the Alphabet will be bringing back Castle, Grey's Anatomy, The Middle, Modern Family, Suburgatory, Once Upon a Time and Revenge. No word on the fates of Happy Endings, Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23 or any other bubble shows, but at least fans don't have to worry about Cougar Town.

Honestly, this has to be the most boring renewal update since all seven shows were expected to come back. Now, all of those millions of Modern Family fans no long have to wait on pins and needles.

News: More Out of the NBC Camp

Pre-Upfronts craziness continued as NBC picked up more new shows while renewing some old favorites.

According to Deadline, Parenthood has been renewed, and both Community and 30 Rock will be coming back with shortened orders which will probably spark some interesting theories. It's been documented that 30 Rock would have only 13-14 episodes as a way for the show to put together an appropriate series finale. As for Community, it could be renewed for an additional 9 episodes based on how the newbies perform, but my guess is Dan Harmon and Company should start prepping for the end.

Speaking of newbies, NBC sent Do No Harm and Infamous (formally known as Notorious) to series. The former is supposed to be a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde type medical drama while the latter's trying to build off Revenge's success.

As always, check back later for my more in depth takes once the schedules are finalized. Until then, don't forget the Armchair Programmer Series.

News: The Cul-De-Sac Crew is Packing Up & Moving to TBS

Various news outlets on the 'net have confirmed that ABC's low-rated but highly adored comedy Cougar Town has been renewed for a fourth season but will be leaving the Alphabet for TBS. This marks the second time a Bill Lawrence show has left a network for greener (i.e. more episodes = more syndication dollars) pastures. A few years ago, ABC picked up Scrubs after NBC canceled it as a way to pad its episode number. Also included in the deal, TBS gets the rerun rights to CT's first three seasons.

The move to TBS may seem a bit odd, but it makes some sense when you think about it. The cable network's been working really hard at rebranding itself as the place to go for comedies and has stocking a roster of strong syndicated shows, but its original shows really haven't made a splash since My Boys left the air. Speaking of My Boys, it's the prime example of why Cougar Town fits in at TBS since the two shows have similar sensibilities although very different tones.

While my love for Cougar Town has diminished to the point where I only watch it out of habit, I am happy for the show's cast, crew, writers and producers. Television can be a tough business, and I'm always happy when a beloved cult classic gets to live on. Whether I'll be following it to TBS is another question, but congrats to the Cul-De-Sac Crew who gets to drink another day.

News: FOX Joins NBC in the Early Upfront Game

Yesterday unofficially kicked off the television upfront season as NBC picked up five new shows. The Peacock continued to chug along today, but this time FOX joined in on the fun by sending five newbies to series while renewing one show and cancelling two others.

Joining Grimm, Smash, Go On, Save Me, The New Normal, 1600 Penn, Animal Practice, Revolution and Hannibal on the 2012-2013 NBC schedule will be the Jimmy Fallon produced Guys with Kids, Chicago Fire and the returning Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. What's interesting about the Fallon pick up is the fact that it's a multi-cam show which means NBC is still committed to bringing back the format, but what will it be paired up with? Could this be a good sign for Whitney?

Meanwhile, FOX made its first moves since renewing Bones, Glee, New Girl, Raising Hope, Fringe and the entire Animation Domination line-up (sans Napoleon Dynamite and Allen Gregory). On the comedy side, the network picked up Mindy Kaling's It's Messy as well as Ben & Kate and The Goodwin Games from the HIMYM guys. As for dramas, the other no-brainer, the Kevin Williamson FBI/serial killer pilot, was added to the roster along with The Mob Doctor and Touch. Unfortunately, the news was not good for Alcatraz and The Finder; both were officially canceled. I won't go into my disappointment about the cancellation of The Finder because that's a topic for another blog post, but I can't say that I was surprised by any of FOX's moves.

Once again, I'll hopefully be sharing my thoughts on the entire 2012-2013 schedule once Upfronts are officially done, so come on back. Until then, don't forget to check out my Armchair Programmer Series.