The New Fall Season Is Here!

Fall 2007 Primetime Preview

We’ve compiled our thoughts on the new fall lineup based on casting, storylines and the competitive landscape. Our views are not the gospel – just our opinion. We invite you to sample the new programming and together we will navigate this new and challenging season. Set your DVR’s, sample something that peaks your interest and Happy Viewing!


Grid:
Hit
Likely to succeed
Potential Challenge
Unlikely to Succeed
Doomed from the start

8 New Comedies

Aliens in America: Monday 830-9P / CW Premiering October 1
This fresh new comedy explores racial stereotypes and works as the perfect companion to Everybody Hates Chris.
Outlook: Likely to succeed

Back to You: Wednesday 8-830P / FOX Premiering September 19
Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton return to network television as a reunited anchor team. This series is the only comedy in the time period and is expected to be a solid performer for FOX.
Outlook: HIT

The Big Bang Theory: Monday 830-9P / CBS Premiering September 24
While not one of CBS’ strongest comedies in recent years, this series features two nerds who aspire to break out of their shell and score with women with a little help from their new neighbor.
Outlook: Unlikely to succeed

Carpoolers: Tuesday 830-9P / ABC Premiering October 2
Ever wonder what men talk about when they get together? This series explores a group of carpoolers and their daily encounters. While the series looks interesting it will suffer from its weak Cavemen lead-in.
Outlook: Potential challenge

Cavemen: Tuesday 8-830P / ABC Premiering October 2
Inspired by the Geico commercials, this series has generated a great deal of buzz but lacks appeal with audiences.
Outlook: Doomed from the start

Chuck: Monday 8-9P / NBC Premiering September 24
A unique 1-hour comedy featuring an unassuming nerd who is targeted by a group of assassins after he discovers their top secret files. The series enters a very competitive time period opposite Dancing with the Stars and Prison Break. It should benefit from the heavy promotions during NBC’s NFL games on Sunday and the Heroes lead-out.
Outlook: Likely to Succeed


Reaper: Tuesday 9-10P / CW Premiering September 25
A dark, but funny 1-hour comedy featuring a bounty hunter who is working to return escaped souls to hell. While the premise of this series seems odd, its unique storyline may be well received by the CW’s younger audience base.
Outlook: Likely to succeed.

Samantha Who: Monday 930-10P / ABC Premiering October 15
Samantha (Christina Applegate) must reinvent herself when she wakes up from a coma and has no recollection of her past and the mean girl that she once was. The series should get some help from its Dancing with the Stars lead-in.
Outlook: Likely to succeed.

14 New Dramas

Big Shots: Thursday 10-11P / ABC Premiering September 27
This series is billed as a sexy male version of Desperate Housewives featuring four dysfunctional CEO’s facing serious relationship issues. ABC has placed Big Shots in a premium location as the lead-out of Grey’s Anatomy. The all-star cast and the steamy story lines should draw viewers to this new series.
Outlook: Likely to succeed.

Bionic Woman: Wednesday 9-10P / NBC Premiering September 26
A smart, yet modern remake of the classic series bring yet another hero to NBC. The series will launch in a very crowded environment with Wednesday as the new Must See TV night but it should carve out its own following on NBC.
Outlook: Likely to succeed.

Cane: Tuesday 10-11P / CBS Premiering September 25
Wow, CBS is launching a non-crime themed series. Cane is a family drama that follows the longstanding tradition of Dallas and Dynasty however the focus of this series is a Latino family’s rum business and the rivals, secrets, and lies that begin to unfold as the family’s assets are divided. Cane enters a solid time period and should benefit from The Unit as a lead-in.
Outlook: Likely to succeed.

Dirty Sexy Money: Wednesday 10-11P / ABC Premiering September 26
The title sums up the storyline. This series follows an affluent NYC family and all of the trouble that their lawyer will have to rescue them from. Dirty Sexy Money joins a very competitive night of programming and wraps up ABC’s brand new night of programming.
Outlook: Likely to succeed.

Gossip Girl: Wednesday 9-10P / CW Premiering September 19
Among the season’s most talked about series, Gossip Girl also joins the very competitive Wednesday landscape but will benefit from the solid America’s Next Top Model lead-in.
Outlook: Hit

Journeyman: Monday 10-11P / NBC Premiering September 24
A unique time travel series in which the past must be altered in order to move forward. While the concept of “heroes” caught on with viewers last season, two series of the same genre may be overkill. Journeyman will benefit from the Heroes lead-in but faces tough competition form CBS’s CSI Miami.
Outlook: Potential Challenges

K-Ville: Monday 9-10P / FOX Premiering September 17
The aftermath of Katrina left New Orleans with serious challenges. This series will offer an authentic look at the crime that continues to plague the city as it attempts to rebuild. Although the subject matter is dark and gritty, it pairs well with the Prison Break lead-in.
Outlook: Likely to succeed

Life: Wednesday 10-11P / NBC Premiering September 26
A police officer returns to the force after spending twelve years in jail for a crime that he did not commit. While he is given another chance at life, he is burdened with finding those responsible for his wrongful conviction. Despite the strong Bionic Woman lead-in, this freshmen series may not be strong enough to take on CSI Miami and ABC’s new hour, Dirty, Sexy, Money.
Outlook: Potential challenges

Life is Wild: Sunday 8-9P / CW Premiering October 7
This family drama follows the tradition of 7th Heaven. It is shot on location in South Africa and tells the story of a family that relocates to Africa in hope of reconnecting with each other. In the past, dramas of this caliber have been very successful on the WB- we expect the CW to find similar success.
Outlook: Likely to succeed.

Moonlight: Friday 9-10P / CBS Premiering September 28
A private investigator who happens to be a vampire has decided to use his power to do good rather than evil. Sci-fi dramas tend to work on CBS’ Friday night lineup and this series should pair will with its Ghost Whisperer lead-in.
Outlook: Likely to succeed.

Private Practice: Wednesday 9-10P / ABC Premiering September 26
One of the season’s most highly anticipated new series. As the spin-off to Grey’s Anatomy, ABC is banking on this series to fuel viewers to a brand new night. Remember, we loved Grey’s Anatomy because of the strong ensemble cast. . Not sure if this series will have that same drawing power.
Outlook: Potential challenge


Pushing Daises: Wednesday 8-9PM / ABC Premiering September 26
This series breaks they cycle of tradition with typical legal, crime and medical dramas. It introduces a character who has the ability to bring the dead back to life with a simple touch but then take life if a person is touched twice. After being recruited by a private detective the two team up solve murders and collect the reward money. The series has generated a great deal of buzz in part to its unique storyline. It will lead off ABC’s new Wednesday night lineup.
Outlook: Likely to succeed.

Viva Laughlin: Sunday 8-9P / CBS Premiering October 18
Part drama, part musical, this British import attempts to do it all in this new series. Viva Laughlin follows an aspiring businessman as he attempts to open a casino in the middle of the desert, Laughlin, Nevada. The quirkiness has not moved the critics and is likely not to move CBS viewers either.
Outlook: Doomed from the start

Women’s Murder Club: Friday 9-10P / ABC Premiering October 12
The series follows three friends who mix work and pleasure as they solve crimes. Respectively they are the local district attorney, medical examiner and reporter. When they are not busy solving a crime the are usually dealing with their complicated personal lives. The Women’s Murder Club is based on a collection of James Patterson novels and will feature Patterson as an executive producer. If Patterson fans rally behind the show, it has the potential to flourish.
Outlook: Likely to succeed


6 New Reality Series

Kid Nation: Wednesday 8-9P / CBS Premiering September 19
Already noted as the most controversial series of the season, Kid Nation follows 40 kids who are abandoned for 40 days and challenged to establish their own community. The series will draw viewers out of sheer curiosity.
Outlook: Likely to succeed

CW Now: Sunday 7-730P / CW Premiering September 23
This series will search the web bring to viewers the best of user generated online content. This is the place to catch all of the notable videos circulating on portals such as YouTube and MySpace. Likely to be a hit with younger viewers.
Outlook: Likely to succeed.

Online Nation: Sunday 730-8P / CW Premiering September 23
A newsmagazine for everything that is hot on the web. The series will follow music, fashion, and technology and mix in a little Hollywood gossip. Paired with CW Now, these two series will pack an interesting hour of hip new offerings prevent in young adult culture.
Outlook: Likely to succeed.

Kitchen Nightmares: Wednesday 9-10P / FOX Premiering September 19
Chef Gordon Ramsay is at it again this time helping failing restaurants get on track. Watch the transformation occur in about a week’s time. Scheduling will be its biggest challenge. This series launches on one of this season’s most competitive nights – Wednesday opposite the CW’s Gossip Girl and ABC’s Private Practice.
Outlook: Potential Challenge

Nashville: Friday 9-10P / FOX Premiering September 14
Come follow eight very talented individuals as they embark on their music careers and look for their big break. Set in Nashville, TN, the series depicts the highs and lows of making it in a small southern town. Friday has always been a challenge for FOX to program. Perhaps music will give them an opportunity on this night.
Outlook: Potential Challenge.

Next Great American Band: Friday 8-9P / FOX Premiering October 19
The band version of American Idol. If the formula worked for solo artists, it should remain successful for a band.
Outlook: Likely to succeed.