Home » Film & TV » American Television » Networks Start To Think About Next Season

Networks Start To Think About Next Season

© F. Colin Kingston

News and notes from the world of television

NBC Renews Three Dramas
NBC has renewed three first-year dramas for a second season. WEST WING, LAW AND ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT and THIRD WATCH were all picked up for next year. This marks the first time in 13 years that NBC has renewed three one-hour series that debuted in the same season.

In the coveted 18-49 age group, the critically acclaimed WEST WING is averaging 13 million viewers, SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT 12.4 million and THIRD WATCH 11.4 million. In years past, those numbers would have meant cancellation. However, with today's fragmented world of cable and broadcast television, those numbers are good enough to get these series renewed.

UPN Orders Two New Series
UPN has ordered two new series for next year. One, GIRLFRIENDS, is being produced by the company owned by FRASIER star Kelsey Grammer. GIRLFRIENDS is a situation comedy which is said to feature an all-minority, all-female cast. No word yet on whether or not the show is actually funny.

UPN is also trying something different by ordering some 15-minute programs for the upcoming season. One such series, THE CHOPPY SHOW, is about a nerdy guy who speaks his mind. (Just wondering: Unless that guy is Bill Gates, will anyone bother to listen?)

Monday Night Football Fallout
Last week we reported that ABC sacked former quarterback, turned color commentator Boomer Esiason from MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (MNF). Things were a bit hot and Boomer wasn't very happy about the situation. He told one reporter, "Right now, Al Michaels has what I think he's always wanted and that's a single-man booth."

Those are harsh words, directed toward one of the industry's best play-by-play men, especially since Michaels was one of the few industry people who stood up for Boomer when he faced so much criticism for his work last season.

Also let go in the MNF shakeup was Ken Wolfe, producer of the series for the past 14 years, and Craig Janoff, longtime MNF director.

SYNDICATED NEWSMAGAZINE RATINGS:
Here are the top daytime newsmagazines.

1. ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT
2. EXTRA
3. INSIDE EDITION
4. ACCESS HOLLYWOOD
5. NATIONAL ENQUIRER TV

Here are my television viewing picks for the week beginning March 18, 2000. Enjoy.

Saturday, March 18th

WHITE SQUALL, ABC, 8:00 - 10:00 p.m., PST
Scott Wolfe and Ryan Phillippe are among the stars of this true-life tale about a ship full of young crewmen who sail into a dangerous Caribbean storm.

HE TOUCHED ME: THE GOSPEL MUSIC OF ELVIS PRESLEY, PAX-TV, 9:00 - 10:00 p.m., PST