Of course, the network DID cancel every new series that launched last season except for David E. Kelley's Harry's Law. Every network cancelled the bulk of their new show, though, so that's not a bold move by NBC. The move speaks more to an inability to develop good script shows. The network lucked out when the people of America decided that they needed to watch another singing competition, which turned The Sing-Off into a success and caused entertainment writers and TV critics to ponder whether or not Cee-Lo Green and company harm the launch of Simon Cowell's The X Factor. I can't criticize the network too much because they're obviously trying to develop sustainable shows. They developed the most shows during the developmental season and they picked up quite a few (and half will launch in 2012). The executives aren't married to their returning shows. SVU's bound for cancellation in a year or two; Chuck's done after their season; Harry's Law will never receive a third season. The Thursday comedy block should remain in tact but the executives need some of their new shows to hit with the audience (as I wrote on Friday). NBC's dedication to development might pay off mid-season with the launch of (at least) two promising shows.
Anyway, I doubt the majority of people wonder about the NBC lineup and its future. People are much more interested in who replaces Michael Scott as boss. People are interested in Michael K. Williams on Community as well as Tammy I in Parks & Recs. I don't have any insight into the writers' rooms for any of the aforementioned shows. After all, I can't even successfully acquire press photographs. I have some info to offer about the majority of the shows, though. For example, on SVU, someone will commit a crime that Mariska Hargity will solve by the end of the episode. Read on for the premiere dates and thoughts on each returning series.
CHUCK returns on Friday, October 21 at 8PM
Chuck is the little show that could. The audience hasn't grown in two or three years but NBC continued to renew it because they had nothing to replace Chuck with. Why drop a show that performs decently for the network? Season 5 will be the last for Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak's show. From what I know, their season four finale was a game-changer. The Intersect went to another character while Chuck, Sarah, Casey and Morgan opened their own freelance spy business. Chuck learned that he'd been manipulated his entire spy career, landed a billion dollars, and opened the aforementioned spy business. Morgan accidentally uploaded the Intersect into...himself. There's tons of intrigue for the final season. The show has Mark Hamill for the final season. It should be a tearjerker for the devoted fans when Chuck battles his last villain.
COMMUNITY returns on Thursday, September 22 at 8PM
When we left the Greendale campus, we learned that Pierce had been enrolled in Greendale Community College for the last twelve years. Also, he abandoned the study group. As the new semester begins, Pierce remains separate from the group. John Goodman joins the show as assistant dean and Michael K. Williams joins the show as the group's just-released-from-prison biology professor. Dan Harmon stated that the episodes would be more grounded. In an interview with A.V. Club's Todd Vanderwerff, Harmon talked about the grand narrative of the show. It's important for he and his writers to progress the grand narrative of the series, involving Jeff earning his degree from the college.
Community's the funnest and funniest show on TV. I'm looking forward to seeing the group again. I'm excited to see how the Pierce arc is resolved. Most of all, I look forward to heart-felt, funny, and entertaining storytelling. I hope the show explores the characters lives away from campus more. I hope the show doesn't lose its ability to produce moving episodes like "Mixology Certification" and "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas." Harmon knows his show, so I trust that he'll continue telling the stories I want to see, even if it'll drive him insane by February.
HARRY'S LAW returns on Wednesday, September 21 at 9PM
Harriet will continue defending questionably innocent people who the viewer perceives as guilty because the teaser establishes the guilt of the criminal (I think). No one seems to like the show except for Ed Bark. Many people expressed a certain amount of shock when NBC renewed the show. David E. Kelley's earned a second season on name alone. Despite the poor quality of Ally McBeal, Kelley's one of those one man brands in the TV industry. Kathy Bates' presence doesn't affect the show negatively because she's a successful film actress. Harriet's one of those characters looking to redeem herself after a long and hard fall from the top.
LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT returns on Wednesday, September 21 at 10PM
Law & Order is a dying franchise. Dick Wolf claims he possesses a lifetime of stories for the show; however, he'll eventually have no medium to tell those stories that fill his brain. SVU's embarking on its 13th season. Christopher Meloni's gone. Mariska Hargity will appear in fewer episodes. The producers added Kelli Giddish and Danny Pino to investigate murders when Hargity's on break. People continue to watch. Will they stop when they realize that Meloni's not coming back? Who knows.
THE OFFICE returns on Thursday, September 22 at 9PM
Dunder-Mifflin-Scranton branch remains an office without a boss. James Spader's been added as the Big Boss of the company. The jury's out on whether the series should've ended when Steve Carrell left. The revolving door of guest stars hurt the series, according to fans and bloggers. I haven't watched the show in several years. The documentary style with its never-ending talking heads pushed me away from the series. In the season premiere, a list will drive the employees insane as they try to decipher its meaning and you just might find out who permanently replaces Michael Scott. There's another surprise but it might not surprise long-time viewers. I'm not sure. Tune in, if interested.
PARENTHOOD returns on Tuesday, September 13 at 10PM
Jason Katims took the majority of his FNL writers with him to Parenthood. After 35 episodes, the show's dismissed as a worthwhile soap. I don't understand why Friday Night Lights avoided the dreaded 'soap' term because FNL had many soapish stories throughout its five seasons. Nevertheless, Parenthood's entering its third season. The show uses personal stories from the writers for its episodes and they've found a devoted audience of parents who have autistic children. Jason Ritter's returning to the show. I don't know what's planned for season three. I'm not sure what happened in season two or season one.
PARKS & RECREATION returns on Thursday, September 22 at 8:30PM
Parks & Recs was an afterthought last year. Fans were furious that NBC relegated the show to mid-season. Critics worried about the third season airing at all. Now, Parks & Recs is the most-talked about comedy on network television. The show seemingly does no wrong. For its fourth season, Leslie's making an electoral run despite some skeletons in the closet. Besides that, I'm not sure what will happen in Pawnee. Well, Patricia Clarkson's been cast as Tammy I. Schur commented about the importance of putting the characters in very different places at season's end from where they were when the season began. So, there's that.
THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK
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