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ShareI have a pretty solid list here of which network shows got canceled and renewed as the nets announced their fall schedules this week, but first, let me tell you a story.
There once was a show named “Jericho,” and ... never mind. You know what happened. CBS dumped it last spring, resurrected it after fans sent the network 40,000 pounds of peanuts, then had “Jericho” average 1 million viewers fewer than when it was canceled the first time.
The point is, save your energy. There won’t be any back-from-the-dead stories this year (unless there’s some odd network switch, but that’s a different issue), no matter how many e-mails, phone calls, or blood donations fans invest in.
The blood donations, if you hadn’t heard, were made in the name of CBS’ vampire series “Moonlight,” which was one of the fatalities this week.
Even CBS entertainment’s Nina Tassler said she was a “Moonlight” fan, but the ratings didn’t pencil out. “I loved that vampire, what can I tell you?” she told reporters at the announcement in New York. Tassler did not say whether she gave blood.
On the plus side, judging by my e-mail and phone, lots of people are celebrating the good news that ABC is giving “Eli Stone” another shot in the fall.
In any case, let’s get to which shows will live and which won’t next season. A reminder that these are broadcast network series. Cable stuff is a different list.
ABC
Coming back: “According to Jim,” “Boston Legal,” “Brothers & Sisters,” “Dancing With the Stars,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Dirty Sexy Money,” “Eli Stone,” “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Lost,” “Private Practice,” “Pushing Daisies,” “Samantha Who?,” “Scrubs” (from NBC) and “Ugly Betty.”
Gone: “Big Shots,” “Carpoolers,” “Cashmere Mafia,” “Cavemen,” “Men in Trees,” “Miss/Guided,” “Notes From the Underbelly,” “October Road,” “Oprah’s Big Give” and “Women’s Murder Club.”
CBS
Coming back: “60 Minutes,” “The Amazing Race,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “Cold Case,” “Criminal Minds,” “CSI,” “CSI: Miami,” “CSI: New York,” “Ghost Whisperer,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “NCIS,” “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” “Numb3rs,” “Rules of Engagement,” “Survivor,” “Two and a Half Men,” “The Unit” and “Without a Trace.”
Gone: “Cane,” “Jericho” “Moonlight,” “Shark” and “Welcome to the Captain.”
CW
Coming back: “America’s Next Top Model,” “Everybody Hates Chris,” “Gossip Girl,” “One Tree Hill,” “Reaper” “Smallville” and “Supernatural.”
Gone: “Aliens in America,” “Beauty and the Geek,” “Farmer Wants a Wife,” “Girlfriends,” “Pussycat Dolls,” “Life is Wild” and “WWE Friday Night Smackdown.”
Fox
Coming back: “24,” “American Dad,” “American Idol,” “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?,” “Bones,” “Family Guy,” “House,” “King of the Hill,” “Kitchen Nightmares,” “Prison Break,” “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” “The Simpsons,” and “Til Death.”
Gone: “Back to You,” “Canterbury’s Law,” “K-Ville,” “New Amsterdam,” “The Return of Jezebel James” and “Unhitched.”
NBC
Coming back: “30 Rock,” “The Apprentice,” “The Biggest Loser,” “Chuck,” “Deal or No Deal,” “ER,” “Friday Night Lights,” “Heroes,” “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Life,” “Lipstick Jungle,” “Medium,” “My Name Is Earl” and “The Office.”
Gone: “Bionic Woman,” “Journeyman” and “Las Vegas.”
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And here are a couple programming notes:
For the Steve Carell faithful (that would include me), a reminder that he’s hosting Saturday Night Live this week (at 11:30 p.m. EDT on NBC).
And for “Law & Order” geeks (me again) who might be missing Jesse L. Martin’s detective Ed Green, TNT is running an 11-hour marathon of Green-centric episodes on Sunday (starting at 2 p.m.).
And if you want a game to play, here’s what you do. Just before the start of the hour, make a bet - couple arguing, cleaning person opening a door, two kids in a park - to guess how they’ll find that episode’s body.
I always go with a dog off leash digging in the bushes.
