NBC has picked up the freshman dramas "Chuck" (Mondays, 8-9 p.m. ET) and "Life" (Wednesdays, 10-11 p.m. ET) for nine more episodes -- or the balance of the 2007-08 season -- it was announced today by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.If the strike goes on and on, a back nine is moot, but as the release says, these two shows will get to make as many episodes as any other show with a full season order if/when the strike ends.
We all know that "Bionic Woman" is basically dead (expensive, constant backstage turmoil, nobody much likes it), so that just leaves "Journeyman" among NBC rookies with an undecided fate. That show's creator says the final episode they produced will provide some level of closure, which is something.
Don't know whether the announcement suggests real progress was made today in the WGA/AMPTP negotiations, or simply that NBC had to make decisions around now to avoid losing their options on the casts, producers, etc., but as I like both shows, I'm pleased.
23 comments:
Back nein?
I sure hope Journeyman gets picked-up. I find myself really looking forward to it every Monday night. I prefer it to Chuck, which I is a bit too "light" for me.
According to Law & Order's NBC Page, it's coming back on Wednesday, January 9. So Bionic Woman's days are definitely numbered.
Well too bad for Michelle Ryan, whom I like a great deal, but they can't all be BSG. I hope Journeyman get picked up because it is the best Drama on TV right now. If not I hear Kevin McKidd has got some movies to make.
The difference between "Chuck" and "Bionic Woman" is simple: One's fun, the other isn't. Luckily for us, it's the fun one that's sticking around.
As for "Journeyman," I like it enough to watch it, but not enough to really enjoy it. So while I'm not sorry it's on the air, I won't really miss it if it goes, either. (The creator recently said it has nothing to do with "The Astronaut's Wife" or "Quantum Leap" -- but if you took away the elements that are exactly like them, you'd barely have anything left.)
PBS reran the Forsyte Saga, Series 2 from 2003, this weekend. It's the older Soames, Soames the doting father. Lewis was riveting to watch. Interesting contrast to his weekly L.A. character.
Very pleased by both of these. Chuck is obviously fun and competes with Pushing Daisies as my favorite new show of the year, but I've been really surprised by how much I've enjoyed "Life." I still can't quite figure out why, but I do.
Is the final Journeyman episode even gonna air? I read on Aintitcool that NBC might only air the first 11.
Thanks for the link to my piece, Alan. I'm typing this as I watch the latest "Journeyman," actually...so I hope everyone else is doing the same!
NBC has picked up the freshman dramas "Chuck" (Tuesdays, 9-10 p.m. ET)
Alan, is that time in the release correct and mean that Chuck is moving to Tuesdays in 2008?
And the news that it got the back 9 pickup, well, stunned me. This never happens to new shows that I like.
Figgs, the time/date thing for Chuck was a misprint in the first press release. They sent out a revised release a little later.
Wow, what a misfire with Bionic Woman, eh? Even Callum Keith Rennie in a white dinner jacket couldn't make me dig that mess. sigh.
Re Life: More Adam Arkin, please.
That is great, great news about "Chuck."
Journeyman has consistently improved, as it developed both a sense of humor and started to put together an interesting arc.
Similarly, Chuck has managed to find just the right tone--sort of a more comedic Alias, if Will Tippin were the lead rather than Sydney. On the other hand, Bionic Woman can't find any sort of balance, while the other new competitors in that slot (Gossip Girl and Private Practice) have been pretty consistently improving.
Mo,
Thanks for the tip! I was about to do some Googling to see if I had to once again change my viewing habits.
And I second the comments about Life. I have no idea why I like it, but when I happen to stumble upon it I'm always pleasantly surprised. Any show with Adam Arkin is worth it.
All the good stuff I've heard about "Life", any word on if NBC will do a marathon on USA or Bravo? I gave up after the first few episodes and "South Park" returned.
Both it and "Journeyman" have to be the most quickly improved shows on the air.
Well, at least if the fanboys disappointed by a Journeyman mount a campaign, they'll have to send 20 dollar bills to the network rather than peanuts.
I heard NBC was planning to relaunch "Bionic" in January.
As for "Law & Order," where does it say that it's coming back January 9? If that's the case, NBC should be promoting the hell out of it.
I just saw Journeyman's overnight numbers (for the LA market) from last night, and it did even worse than October Road.
Yeah, but it DID jump up by 14% from last week's performance.
Hmm, I just hope this doesn't hurt Isaiah Washington's spin-off chances...
"October Road" had the benefit of massive non-stop promotion on ABC pretty much all week and the halo effect of "Dancing With The Stars." (Apparently, lost to "Journeyman" in the national overnights, though.)
Still confused by why the hell "CSI: Miami," which is the worst of the three CSI shows, continues to go gangbusters. It ain't just leadin--they get 4M viewers flipping over at 10.
Yes, more "Life"! Such a great show.
the awesome-o power of david caruso's magic sunglasses and of course the carefully worded and very very carefully enunciated opening one liner. that and of coruse the unforgettable characters and the witty dialog and wacky scrapes these characters get themselves into
yes characters such as the blond chick, the muscular hispanic guy, the thin skinny white guy, the coroner Alex (hey at least i know her name!) the fat bald cop, the other red haired woman, all led by their equal to none in the charisma dept. one david H. caruso. The H. stands for Herculean!
Man why hasn't there been a show in the six (6!!!!) years its been on that's been able to at least somewhat siphon off viewers. Medium managed to do solidly against it its first year on, what happened? I really hope NBC decides to give Journeyman a chance. Even if they end up moving it whereever, i'd love to see them give it a chance, its one less hour they'd have to try and fill with reality crap. Plus the last two eps were actually quite good...it feels like their active trying to go somewhere with their story now! about time yes...but still i'd hate to see it go just yet. Hooray for Life though! That show completely surprised me by actually being good! Thank god! prob the best new show this fall. (I'm sorry, i respect the originality of pushing daisies but its just too too much for me to take on a weekly basis i know that sounds lame but its too much whimsy! eeee i feel like i just ate a gingerbread house after watching it) oh yeah kudos to dirty sexy money as well..that show is also surprisingly solid as well.
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