Not to be outdone by FOX and ABC, NBC has ordered a competitive dance show of its own from the producers of American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance:
The reality program will feature professional dancers from eight countries exhibiting different performance styles. “Lord of the Dance” Michael Flatley will host, and Nigel Lythgoe and Simon Fuller will executive produce. […]
Each country’s team will present two dance soloists, a duet and a group. Their performances will be graded by judges from each participating country.
The judges have a tricky job as each country will perform in a different style unique to their culture — Shaolin monks from China vs. Bollywood dancers from India, for example. Troupes from Ireland, the U.S., Argentina, Russia and South Africa also are represented. […]
Several titles have been considered, with “Dance Masters of the World” and “Superstar Dancers of the World” as two of the top contenders.
NBC plans to launch the show early next year. Do you dancing show fans have enough room on your DVRs for three dancing programs?
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NBC has cancelled gambling drama series Las Vegas after five seasons, leaving last Friday’s cliffhanger as the series finale:
Sources confirm to me exclusively that NBC has opted not to renew the show for a sixth season. Consequently, last Friday’s episode? Yep, that was the series finale. Hope it was satisfying!
NBC had hoped this season’s cast shake-up — Thomas Magnum replacing Sonny Corleone — might re-energize the show, but instead, it led to a double-digit ratings decline. Of course, the Friday time slot didn’t help.
Ah, NBC wasn’t ready to gamble (pun intended) on another season of Las Vegas and executives at the fourth place network continue to prove that they belong at the bottom by disappointing loyal fans with their abrupt decision.
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NBC is renewing Medium for a fourth season after the psychic drama endured a season up against ABC’s Lost:
‘Medium’ is a quality show with an outstanding star that has always delivered a very loyal audience,” said Kevin Reilly, president, NBC Entertainment. “We are pleased to know that we can look forward to more of its unique storytelling next year under executive producer Glenn Gordon Caron’s superb creative vision.”
After cancelling so many of their new dramas, NBC really didn’t have the option of cancelling Medium for next season. At least the show held some of its audience.
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NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly held out hope for renewal of dramas Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Friday Night Lights, but couldn’t quite say the same for the original Law & Order:
As for the fates of Friday Night Lights, Law & Order (original) and Criminal Intent, Reilly says FNL “is a tough time-period nut to crack, while CI has shown it can still be competitive.” The mother ship, though, “is a real discussion,” he adds. “Nothing goes on forever.”
Seemingly spells disaster for Law & Order, doesn’t it?
NBC renewed Tina Fey’s quirky comedy 30 Rock for a second season, despite low ratings:
Though “Rock” has struggled in the ratings, the show has snowballed critical acclaim since its fall debut. Alec Baldwin won a Golden Globe in January for his portrayal of a network executive on the show.
Like NBC’s “The Office,” which also had low ratings in its first season, “Rock” is considered a smart, quirky, single-camera workplace comedy. NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly has said he hopes the show will follow the same ratings trajectory as “The Office.”
NBC giving a show a chance despite poor ratings? Gasp! We’re shocked!
NBC cancelled The Black Donnelly’s, the CW cancelled 7th Heaven, FOX cancelled Wedding Bells, and ABC cancelled Six Degrees today:
The David E. Kelley’s dramedy “The Wedding Bells” has ceased production, but the network plans to air three more episodes. The Friday night drama most recently earned a mere 1.4 rating among adults 18 to 49.
ABC pulled “Six Degrees” last fall, then brought back the show as a March addition to Friday nights. Its last airing earned a 1.1 rating. Repeats of “Wife Swap” will air in its place.
NBC’s mob drama “Black Donnelly’s” filled a Monday night hole vacated by “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” and has bled viewers nearly ever airing. Last night’s episode earned a 2.0 rating. “Donnelly’s” will be replaced by the reality series “The Wedding Crashers.”
The CW’s “7th Heaven” will finish its final season, with a finale to air May 13, but will not return this fall.
There’s no indication why four networks decided to cancel shows all on the same day, but NBC’s cancellation of The Black Donnelly’s really caught us off guard. NBC didn’t give this Irish mob drama a chance. Meanwhile, they’ve given Studio 60, a show with similar ratings, several chances this season.
Viewers must be getting tired of almost every new show being cancelled each season. Why bother trying out new shows if odds are networks will cancel them just as you’re starting to get into the show and it’s characters?
NBC cancelled it’s heavily-hyped Christian Slater drama My Own Worst Enemy and sophomore show Lipstick Jungle today: