The 2004-2005 television season will go down as one of the best in recent memory, although it may also be the saddest as a host of veteran shows leave the air, a new bunch of breakout hits look to take their place.
The season will also be noted for the rise and fall of two separate networks. The rise goes to ABC whose new management has constructed a schedule completed with fewer reality series and more quality dramas. While some of the projects are left over from the previous regime, you can’t deny the likes of Lost and Desperate Housewives as two shows that aided the falling network. The return of Alias (with the best ratings since season one) sure didn’t hurt and David E. Kelly’s return to the courtroom with Boston Legal has solidified ABC’s Sunday night line up.
Unfortunately, where one network sees a dramatic increase in viewers, another must begin a downward trend and last season’s number one network, NBC, is that such network. After heavy promotion due to Olympic coverage, the viewers just didn’t want anything to do with the expensive Father of the Pride and LAX. Let us not forget the forgettable Hawaii and completely unfunny Committed. NBC dropped from 1st to 4th in the 18-49 demographic rankings this year and while new hits like Medium may stave off the stench of decay for a while, executives at NBC need to realize that they can no longer rest on the laurels of Friends and Frasier. NBC has yet to create a breakout comedy hit in some time, and while Scrubs and The Office are both well written, quirky shows, they have no where near the number of viewers to consider themselves hits.
Over at FOX things look much like they did last year. Arrested Development sits on the fence, waiting to hear its fate as the network sits it out for May sweeps. The ratings for the network’s stalwart franchises like The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Malcolm in the Middle, and That 70’s Show have taken some steep declines this season and American Idol continues to steam a head unfazed. The network has failed on multiple attempts to flesh out its Thursday and Friday night line-ups and, besides the powerhouse of Idol; there isn’t much to crow about. That isn’t to say there isn’t anything good happening over at Rupert Murdoch’s network. House is a bona-fide hit averaging over 15 million viewers a week coming out of American Idol Tuesday and veteran drama 24 has found a great spot on Monday’s routinely leading its timeslot and besting its lead-in in all measured categories. Life on a Stick, a new comedy from the creator of Andy Richter Controls the Universe, is one of the freshest comedies since Arrested Development, although it can’t seem to hold on to its American Idol Wednesday audience. Finally, while the summer programming flopped last season (with all the series being axed or ending) there’s still hope if we aren’t bogged down with inane reality like last year.
CBS has taken a backseat to development this year, having the fewest number of new series, and, in turn, is riding a high wave to the finish line as the number one network in viewers and in a close race with FOX for the coveted 18-49 demographic. Being fueled by three hit CSI series, the top rated reality series (Survivor), another Emmy winning reality series (The Amazing Race), as well as enough crime drama (Cold Case, NCIS, CSI, Without a Trace, et. al.) to shake a stick at, why fix what isn’t broken? Sure CSI: New York has lost some steam since its debut, and CBS’s comedy slate hasn’t exactly been top notch, and with Everybody Loves Raymond ending in May, are things looking bad for the eye-net? Well, not really. Raymond lead-out Two and a Half Men is routinely building upon its lead-in’s audience and is great fun to watch. In all actuality, CBS should continue to lead the pack next season as well.
As previously mentioned, ABC has shown tremendous poise in its turnaround this year. With Lost, from J.J. Abrams the network really broke out, even with the tremendous costs of creating the show on location. Better yet, ABC’s Desperate Housewives has turned into an overnight phenomenon since its debut last year, to the point where fans are beginning to become disgruntled in the re-run cycle. All isn’t rosy for the alphabet-net though. Comedies are still lacking, and its TGIF block is failing once again. There still isn’t much hope for Thursday nights and the persistent dependence on reality series may also come back to haunt them. Still, new shows like Steven Bochco’s Blind Justice show that the creative juices are still flowing over at ABC and pilot season should have some nice additions to an impressive line up.
Last and certainly least (depending on how you look at it) are UPN and The WB. Both networks are in competition with each for leftovers from the big four with The WB holding a slight advantage some nights, UPN on others. Most notable is the cancellation of Star Trek: Enterprise, the fifth series to bear the Star Trek name. While many saw this coming, the drastic turnaround in quality since Manny Coto took over earlier this year showed immense promise in the direction of the drama. I guess it was too little, too late to save the sci-fi series. The WB doesn’t have much to be happy about either, sans the performance workhorse 7th Heaven and variety Blue Collar TV. Everything else on the schedule is either average, or the best they could come up with. By 2005, if you haven’t had a hit reality series yet, it may be time to give up. UPN may be in worse shape with only America’s Next Top Model creating any consumer buzz, although several new dramas have critics in their corners (Veronica Mars being one); ratings have been less than stellar. With a black hole on Friday’s, no schedule on weekends, and wrestling on Thursday’s, the network only has to contend with The WB on three days and usually ends up dead last.
Entertainmentopia has compiled this list via many sources including, but not limited to USA Today, Variety, Media Week, Reuters, Associated Press, E! Entertainment, and the Hollywood Reporter. We hope that you are able to find your favorite shows and see the fates of some of those you may be waiting for the good/bad news on. We will update this list accordingly, and as we approach upfronts at the end of May (where networks detail new shows being added to their schedules) we will certainly know more. If something is missing from this list, please use our contact form and email the team. We’ll be sure to get your favorite show up as soon as possible.
