The Upfronts: My thoughts—a wrapup

So the upfronts have come and gone, and, well, here are my thoughts.

CBS: Bleh. Still won't be watching anything there. They didn't pick up that many new shows, but they also have the least to lose. So how really cares.

ABC: Taking the opposite strategy from CBS by adding nine new shows. By doing this, they can either gain quite a bit of ratings, but they also stand to lose quite a bit. Which is saying a lot since none of their new shows really have a big draw-in when it comes to originality. The most original they have is probably Let's Rob, but that will probably get really old, really fast. And they're banking a lot on Grey's Anatomy stealing viewers from CSI. They're also trying to bank on the Americanizing telenovelas thing (which MyNetwork TV is doing) with Betty the Ugly, but going about it the wrong way by making it an ongoing show, which goes against the telenovela format. Hope the Grey's move works for them.

NBC: Also taking the opposite strategy from CBS. The network with the least to lose is the one with the most new shows, with 12 debuting in the fall. The most promising show they have is with Heroes, which I really hope does the same thing Medium did and surprise with its draw (and ratings). NBC is also risking a lot by having two shows with the same premise on the same network (30 Rock, Studio 60). While its nothing new for several shows with the same premise to be on the air at the same time, they're usually on different networks and have more of a difference than one being a comedy and one being a drama. This is, again, a really risky move, and one or both may fail. But then again, NBC really has nothing to lose. I just hope Andy Barker makes it to the air.

Fox: The O.C. wrote itself into a hole this season, with one character killed off, two going off to college, one staying behind, and now another high schooler getting added to the cast after the main four just graduated. The show is in for some major changes which it'll either handle well or lead to it's cancellation. It'll also be up against Grey's Anatomy, CSI, and the new Studio 60. Good luck. Like the other networks (except for Heroes on NBC), none of Fox's new shows really appeal to me, but I can see how they'll maybe draw in some reviewers that are loyal to shows like 24 and other procedural dramas. And no matter how much I wish, hope, a sacrifice small puppies, it looks like American Idol ain't going nowhere. Sigh.

The CW: With a really solid line-up, The CW is pleasing many people and will probably get great ratings on Tuesday with the Gilmore Girls/Veronica Mars sked. The schedule just works, and with only two new shows, The CW can only improve upon the good things UPN and The WB were doing. This is the network I'm looking forward to the most.

And I'll close with what I'll be watching in the fall.
Monday: All My Children repeat (7 p.m., SOAPnet), Heroes (8 p.m., NBC), Medium (9 p.m., NBC)
Tuesday: Gilmore Girls (7 p.m., The CW), Veronica Mars (8 p.m., The CW), Law & Order: SVU (9 p.m., NBC), and Scrubs (whenever it comes back, NBC)
Wednesday: All My Children repeat (7 p.m., SOAPnet), 20 Good Years/30 Rock (8 p.m., NBC), General Hospital repeat (9 p.m., SOAPnet)
Thursday: Smallville (7 p.m., The CW), The O.C. (8 p.m., Fox), General Hospital repeat (9 p.m., SOAPnet)
Friday: I'll be watching rented movies (or watching SOAPnet) and drinking
Saturday: Same as Friday
Sunday: Fox's animated line-up, 7-8:30 p.m. (The Simpsons, American Dad, Family Guy)