Actually, I think it's kind of interesting to keep an eye on the types of shows the other networks are eyeing, since you'll often see competing networks launch shows in the same basic genre at around the same time. ...
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NBC is supposedly looking into a supernatural-based pilot with Patricia Arquette called Medium, and Kelsey Grammer is lined up to executive produce.
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Fox has ordered a pilot for the supernatural drama Point Pleasant from former Buffy executive producer Marti Noxon. It involves a quiet beachside community that is turned upside down when the body of a mysterious young girl washes up on the shore, and it's also been described as Peyton Place meets The Omen.
So at the very least it looks like there's a lot of interest in the genre for next season.
Well, these two *may* have already bitten the dust, or it may just be that they're not being considered for the fall but possibly for a replacement or mid-season berth:
Posted: Thurs., Mar. 25, 2004, 7:51pm PT
Peacock sits prettyNBC's fall sked nearly set; Fox in summer huntBy MICHAEL SCHNEIDERTwo months before the May upfronts, NBC has already figured out most of its fall 2004 schedule.
Fox, meanwhile, has zeroed in on which pilots it hopes to have ready for potential summer launches.
Both webs revealed their strategies this week as part of the network pre-upfront meetings with media buyers and ad reps.
Speaking Thursday on the Culver City set of "Las Vegas," NBC topper Jeff Zucker said the net expects to add just four new hours of programming next fall -- including an hour and a half on Tuesday, an hour on Wednesday, a half-hour on Thursday and an hour on Friday.
Otherwise, as it stands now NBC plans to keep its Monday ("Fear Factor," "Las Vegas," "Average Joe"), Saturday (Movie and "Law & Order: SVU" repeats) and Sunday ("Dateline NBC," "American Dreams," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "Crossing Jordan") skeds intact.
According to the exec, that's the net's fewest schedule gaps in at least four years.
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On the reality front, in addition to "The Apprentice," "Fear Factor" and "Average Joe," net has the previously announced Sylvester Stallone/Burnett/DreamWorks boxing entry "The Contender," as well as "Average Joe" spinoff "Plain Jane."
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Fox heats up summer
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"There is no such thing as a fall schedule from Fox any longer," said Fox Entertainment prexy Gail Berman. "The new season will start in June. It will all be laid out in a plan for them at upfront."
Fox has already ordered the dramas "The Jury" and "North Shore," as well as the untitled Method Man/Redman sitcom, to series. Entertainment prexy Gail Berman said the drama projects "Ricochet," "Hollywood Division" and "The Deerings" (formerly known as "One Big Happy") might still get an early nod, while sitcoms "Lucky Us," "Quintuplets" and "Related by Family" are all still in line for a potential summer launch.
"We're moving," Berman said. "There are no flies on us. We will launch quite a few of them, and what resonates with the audience will be able to come back in November (following the World Series) in addition to our already established season."
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Peacock's pilot plans
Over at NBC, where the net's stable schedule doesn't leave much room for many new shows, net nonetheless has five drama pilots, 14 sitcom pilots and the limited series "Revelations" in the works.
According to Peacock primetime development prexy Kevin Reilly, the net has focused its drama projects on closed-ended series that are either procedurals or defined franchises. That includes "Law & Order: Trial by Jury," the fourth installment in the Dick Wolf franchise.
Peacock has not yet officially hammered out a deal for "Trial by Jury," but net execs said the court-based drama (described as a contemporary "Perry Mason") could still be ready for air by fall. ...
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Date in print: Fri., Mar. 26, 2004, Los AngelesI was actually hoping that "Point Pleasant" might have gotten picked up - though I was also a bit apprehensive that it might have been scheduled opposite the WB DS (if, of course, it were to be picked up). Now it doesn't look like that will be an issue...