Monday marks the official kick-off of Upfront Week, the annual New York City gathering of TV execs, advertisers and media during which the networks announce their schedules for the TV season ahead. Like every other industry, the TV biz has been hit by the country’s economic downturn and there are lots of TV actors, actresses, writers, producers and other crew members who are waiting to find out if they have a job.
Here’s a schedule of this week’s Upfront presentations, plus a rundown of what is/isn’t/might be popping up on the networks’ 2009-10 primetime schedules, starting with NBC:
NBC (“Infront” presentation was held May 5; fall 2009 schedule announcement: Tuesday, May 19)
Returning series: 30 Rock, The Biggest Loser, Celebrity Apprentice, Chuck, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, The Office, Parks and Recreation, Southland
On the bubble series: Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Medium, My Name is Earl
New series : Jay Leno‘s nightly talk show at 10PM, and …
– 100 Questions (Comedy)
Plot: Charlotte (Red Dwarf‘s Sophie Winkleman) joins an online dating service (where she has to answer the titular 100 questions) to find Mr. Right.
Stars: Winkleman, Heist/Quarterlife‘s David Walton and Coupling‘s Christopher Moynihan
It’s like: Every other Friends knock-off that wasn’t as funny as the original
– Breakthrough With Tony Robbins (Reality)
Plot: The self-help guru helps those in need help themselves
Stars: Uh, Tony Robbins
It’s like: The Biggest Loser for every other challenge someone might be facing
– Community (Comedy)
Plot: Following the students of Greenville Community College, including a lyin’ attorney (The Soup‘s Joel McHale) who needs a degree, fast.
Stars: McHale, Chevy Chase and Greek‘s Danny Pudi
It’s like: The funniest show NBC’s unleashed since 30 Rock
– Day One (Drama)
Plot: The residents of a California apartment building who survived some sort of apocalyptic event try to rebuild society and find out what exactly happened to their world
Stars: ER‘s David Lyons, The Shield‘s Catherine Dent, 24‘s Xander Berkeley and Popular‘s Carly Pope
It’s like: Melrose Place-meets-Jericho. And I mean that as a good thing
– The Marriage Ref (Reality)
Plot: Celebs, comedians and athletes mediate disputes between real-life marrieds. Because, as we all know, nowhere can you find better advice on how to have a good marriage than from Hollywood types
Stars: It’s executive produced by Jerry Seineld
It’s like: Well, getting marriage advice from Hollywood celebs
– Mercy (Drama)
Plot: Medical drama as told through the eyes of a nurse who has just returned from a tour of duty in Iraq
Stars: Newcomer Taylor Schilling, Men in Trees‘ James Tupper, Delroy Lindo, Weeds‘ Guillermo Diaz and Buffy/Gossip Girl‘s Michelle Trachtenberg
It’s like: ER-meets-China Beach
– Parenthood (Drama)
Plot: The Braverman siblings raise their own broods
Stars: Peter Krause, Maura Tierney, Dax Shepard, Monica Potter, Erika Christensen, Craig T. Nelson, Bonnie Bedelia and Mae Whitman
It’s like: An occasionally funny, less annoying Brothers & Sisters
– Trauma (Drama)
Plot: An intense drama about the first-responder paramedics at San Francisco General
Stars: Derek Luke and Jamey Sheridan
It’s like: Rescue Me-meets-Third Watch
– Who Do You Think You Are? (Reality)
Plot: Celebs find out about their family trees
Stars: Episodes will feature Lisa Kudrow (an exec producer on the show), Susan Sarandon and Sarah Jessica Parker
It’s like: E! True Hollywood Story-meets-Ancestry.com
Charlie Sheen, Russell Brand and Louis C.K. are getting most of the attention, but I’m most excited that one of the best new shows of last TV season — Wilfred — returns for its second season on FX tonight (10PM ET). Season one of the series ended with a cliffhanger — had Ryan (Elijah Wood) […]
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