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Writers Strike Forces Networks To Rework Midseason Schedule Plans

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By WALT BELCHER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 6, 2007

As reruns, specials and the last few remaining original episodes of programs fill out the month; networks are busy trying to fill out their midseason schedules.

Original plans have been scrapped because of the ongoing writers strike.

NBC, for example, has loaded up on unscripted reality stuff and will launch "American Gladiators" with host Hulk Hogan on Jan. 7.

"American Gladiators" will replace "Chuck" at 8 p.m. Mondays. "Chuck" will come back after the strike.

CBS will bring back "Jericho" at 10 p.m. Feb 12. The doomsday drama will replace "Cane" and follow the return of "Big Brother," which usually airs in the summer.

As reported this week, NBC's "Law & Order" comes back Jan. 2 with a two-hour premiere before settling into a 10 p.m. Wednesday slot. It will be preceded by "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," which has been airing on the USA Network.

On "L&O," now that Fred Thompson is running for president, Sam Waterston's Jack McCoy has been promoted to district attorney, replacing Thompson's Arthur Branch. Jeremy Sisto joins the cast as Detective Cyrus Lupo, new partner of Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin).

CBS will bring back the Drew Carey game show "Power of 10" at 8 p.m. Jan. 2. It will air on Wednesdays. A 16th edition of "Survivor" will set up shop on CBS at 8 p.m. Feb. 7.

On Jan. 28, CBS will add a new comedy, "The Captain," to the Monday lineup. It stars Chris Klein, Jeffrey Tambour and Raquel Welch as eccentric residents of a Hollywood apartment building. It replaces "Big Bang Theory" at 8:30 p.m.

"The New Adventures of Old Christine" returns to CBS at 9:30 p.m. Jan. 28, replacing "Rules of Engagement."

On New Year's Day, NBC will launch another season of "The Biggest Loser," which will feature two-person teams in this cycle.

The game show "1 vs. 100" will return Jan. 4, sliding into the Friday spot occupied by "Deal or No Deal."

NBC has set Jan 3 for the debut of Donald Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice."

Fox brings back "American Idol" on Jan. 13, along with a new action-thriller, "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles."

Fox also adds the lie-detector reality show "The Moment of Truth" on Jan. 23.

Fox's midseason thriller "New Amsterdam" (about a 400-year-old immortal cop) starts Feb. 22. The Julianna Margulies legal drama "Canterbury's Law" comes to Fox on April 11. The new Fox comedy "The Return of Jezebel James" debuts March 7.

NBC plans to bring back "Medium" to Sunday nights, but a firm date has not been announced. NBC has set Feb. 7 for the debut of "Lipstick Jungle," a female comedy-drama based on a book by "Sex and the City" author Candace Bushnell. It stars Brooke Shields, Kim Raver and Lindsay Price.

The CW trots out the mother-daughter beauty pageant "Crowned" on Wednesday. On Jan. 8, it will also launch a new season of "One Tree Hill," with its characters jumping ahead four years.

ABC adds "Dance Wars" (a "Dancing With the Stars" spinoff) on Jan. 7.

BELATED HONORS: There won't be any surprises when the Family Television Awards air on The CW on Dec. 27. The awards were handed out Nov. 28.

The honors, presented by the Family Friendly Programming Forum, apparently aren't in the same league as the Emmys or even the People's Choice Awards.

Winners for the most family-friendly programming included "Ugly Betty" for best comedy, "Heroes" for best drama, "Planet Earth" for best miniseries, "High School Musical 2" for best musical, "Pushing Daises" for best new series, "Kyle X" for top cable series and "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" for best reality show.

The most family-friendly actors included Zac Efron of "High School Musical 2, Kyle Chandler of "Friday Night Lights," America Ferrera of "Ugly Betty" and Zachary Levi (Sylar) of "Heroes."

This was the fourth award for Ferrera, who also won a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award and an Emmy for her role as the fashion-challenged Betty Suarez.

The forum is funded by a group of advertisers who encourage the networks and producers to develop shows that families can watch together. The forum helped develop "Gilmore Girls," "Everybody Hates Chris" and "Chuck."

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