From TV.com:
Four more new series–ABC’s Help Me Help You, The Nine, and Men in Trees and NBC’s Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip–have received orders for additional scripts.
The ABC shows have been picked up for four more scripts, while Studio 60–a high-profile underperformer–has been given an order for three.
Ordering additional scripts of new series in lieu of an early full-season pickup has become the norm for the Big Four networks this season.
Only five freshman series–NBC’s Heroes, CBS’s Jericho and Shark, and ABC’s Ugly Betty and Brothers & Sisters–have been given full-season orders. That is half of the 10 new shows picked up for a full season at this point a year ago.
Well, it’s a start and it’s better than getting canned, especially Studio 60 (the rest I don’t care).
Does seem to be a particularly tough year, and I don’t see it getting any easier. With production costs going up and up all the networks want is guaranteed, instant hits which by it’s very nature means less creativity, more bland, safe crap.
RB
2 Comments
fourthof5 says:
I hated “The Nine”. There should have been at least some acknowlagment to Spike Lee as its premis and indeed cinematic style is almost identical to Lee’s “Inside Man”. The only real difference is that Lee film follows the Criminals and The Nine follows the vitims.
Ross says:
I thought The Nine had lots of promise, but 3 eps in I’m giving up. Whatever interesting things I thought might be there aren’t and I really find it hard to care about any of them. Plus it is verging on difficult to sit through.