TV Feature: What Will Happen to Your Favorite Network Shows

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NBC

Things are getting weird at NBC. They just announced that they have officially added five sitcoms (for a total of six) to their Fall schedule. Where do they put them? Not only is this weird given the fact that they haven’t exactly produced a sitcom hit in the last several years, but it also begs the question - has the network just given up on drama? Will it be all reality shows and sitcoms (which is where I see most network TV going in the next ten years as more drama moves to cable)? Or could this be bad news for the NBC’s current “on the bubble” sitcoms like “Up All Night,” “Whitney,” and “Community”? News that “30 Rock” is headed toward a short, final-season renewal is also interesting. I think they’ll hold that until January, opening up a sitcom space for one of their new entries in the Fall.

Are You There, Chelsea Photo credit: NBC

We should start with what we know for sure. “Smash” and “Grimm” have been renewed. “Chuck” is over. “The Firm,” “Free Agents,” “The Playboy Club,” and “Prime Suspect” will never return.

What does this leave? There are a few certain cancellations but just as many question marks.

“30 Rock” will return in some form at some time, but probably not until 2013. “Law & Order: SVU” and “The Office” haven’t been officially renewed but they will be. Don’t worry about them. And “Parks and Recreation” is very safe. Don’t worry about Leslie Knope either.

I wish I could say that I was 100% confident that “Community” would return. I’m 80% sure now with the new sitcom announcements. There’s a good chance, but, with all the new sitcom pick-ups, it’s not a certainty any more.

The confusion at the Peacock network also centers around two shows with older, smaller audiences, but loyal ones — “Harry’s Law” and “Parenthood.” The former gets decent overall numbers, but few people under 50 watch it. The latter gets small overall numbers but does have a loyal fanbase with a high median household income. I think “Harry’s” is done on a network that likes to skew young and “Parenthood” gets another season as it inches closer to syndication totals.

What about the other comedies? The big question marks are “Up All Night” and “Whitney.” The network has already announced seven new shows — five sitcoms and two dramas. Is there room for either of these under-performers? Believe it or not, I think they both get another shot to find an audience and will do so together on Wednesday nights, although I won’t be too surprised if I’m wrong about one or even both. Things are SO weird at NBC right now that I’m not sure there’s ever been a harder fall schedule to predict. So I’ll be conservative…

Predicted NBC Renewals:

“30 Rock”
“Community”
“Law & Order: SVU”
“The Office”
“Parenthood”
“Parks and Recreation”
“Up All Night”
“Whitney”

Predicted NBC Cancellations:

“Are You There, Chelsea?”
“Awake”
“Bent”
“Best Friends Forever”
“Harry’s Law”