ABC announced it is renewing Lost, Ugly Betty, Men in Trees, Boston Legal, and a number of other shows for next season:
Getting a jump in planning for next season, ABC announced yesterday that it had ordered new episodes for the programs, which include three series that debuted this season: the hit “Ugly Betty,” the drama “Brothers & Sisters” and Anne Heche’s Alaska sojourn “Men in Trees.”
Most of the other returnees are no surprises. “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Desperate Housewives” and “Boston Legal” will all be back. ABC committed to several of its successful reality shows, including “The Bachelor,” “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” “Dancing With the Stars,” “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” “Supernanny” and “Wife Swap.” […]
None of the network’s comedies, including “According to Jim” or “George Lopez,” received a commitment for next fall. The broadcast networks all announce their fall schedule in May.
ABC will shelve freshman comedy In Case of Emergency earlier than planned to make room for Notes from the Underbelly:
ABC has set a premiere date for its new comedy series “Notes From the Underbelly,” and plans to shelve “In Case of Emergency” earlier than planned. […]
“Notes,” from director/producer Barry Sonnenfeld, focuses on a couple who’re having a baby. The series will debut April 11, replacing “Emergency.”
ABC pulled at least one upcoming “Emergency” episode so that the intended season finale will air sooner, one week before the “Notes” premiere.
We’ve tuned in to watch In Case of Emergency a couple of times and it seemed pretty funny, but the show doesn’t seem to have caught on since going up against American Idol.
ABC has pulled The Knights of Prosperity from their schedule immediately, even though four episodes remain unaired and there’s an outstanding order for nine additional scripts:
They failed in robbing Mick Jagger, and now ABC has cut their mission short: “Knights of Prosperity,” starring Donal Logue as the leader of a ragtag gang of wannabe criminals, has been pulled off the sked, effective immediately.
A repeat of “According to Jim” will fill the “Knight” slot this Wednesday; repeats of “George Lopez” will also take over the spot in future weeks.
Four segs of the quirky comedy — in which the team aims to rob Ray Romano — remain unaired. It’s unclear whether the Alphabet will give the show another spot elsewhere; a network spokeswoman noted the show is being pulled in a “natural spot,” as the new Romano story arc was slated to begin with this week’s episode.
The show probably would have had more luck if it weren’t put up against American Idol before it found an audience. Plus, I thought the show was supposed to rob Kelly Ripa next — what happened to that?
NBC announced it will bet on Las Vegas for a fifth season, despite the series recently hitting a ratings low:
The show averages a 2.8 rating among adults 18 to 49 in its Fridays at 9 p.m. slot. During the past two weeks, however, the show set and then tied a season-low 2.5.
In recent weeks, NBC has placed second for the night on Fridays, behind CBS.
“The cast and producers have consistently given us what we want from ‘Las Vegas’-pure entertainment-and we’re looking forward to another fun ride next season with the show,” said Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment.
This was the right decision for NBC to make. At this point, as the fourth-place network, they can’t afford to turn down shows that people are actually watching, especially a show as fun as Las Vegas.