Upfronts Week

New York is abuzz with Upfronts, the fabulous time of year when television networks invade theaters, conference space and hotel ballrooms all across town to introduce their new Fall schedules to advertisers and the rest of the world. There are shows-a-plenty being unwrapped and presented, but here are a few that I'm really interested in tracking.

 The Office's very own Mindy Kaling is the latest lady on the scene with another grrrl-centric multi-camera sitcom currently called The Mindy Project that joins Fox's Tuesday comedy line up alongside Raising Hope and New Girl. I have a lot of personal jealousy over Kaling's success, but I have to admit, she's earned her due after so many years at Dunder Mifflin.  In the pilot (and presumably the series), Kaling plays a New York City doctor with a really dysfunctional personal life. She can't find or keep a boyfriend, and appears to do some demeaning things to herself as a result. The trailer below didn't wow me, but seeing it's the pilot - the show might need time to evolve as the episodes go by.



Over at NBC, there's some new shows that will join the multi-comedy line up.
Animal Practice, starring Justin Kirk as an ornery veterinarian who loves his animals and hates the humans who own them. The old Hollywood adage, first uttered by WC Fields is "Never work with children or animals." Screw that. This looks hilarious.  Kirk is ripe for comedy after being naughty and funny on Weeds. I'm rooting for this one to make it.

The New Normal is about a gay couple who bring on a surrogate mom to have their kid, and the surrogate mom who is looking for a new life. The show really looks funny and sweet; however, the political aspect of conservative versus liberal in terms of gay rights seems a little heavy handed. It is a reality in today's world, and probably needed as a basis for conflict. Perhaps temper down and weave itself more cleanly as the show grows.



Matthew Perry's back in a new series with a less than stellar title called Go On where he portrays a recently widowed newscaster who has to now...Go on...with his life. All bets are on that he'll get it on with the counselor he's arguing with in the car.




 Book of Mormon's Josh Gad stars in 1600 Penn as a college student whose act of anarchy on campus gets him into the White House where we meet President Gilcrist and his not-so-perfect family. I don't know if this show has legs, but the trailer is hilarious.



Returning to the Peacock network are Parks and Recreation, The Office, Whitney, Up All Night, and 30 Rock, which returns for it's final season with a 13 episode order. Sadly, with the exception of the very funny live episode a few weeks back, 30 Rock has been losing steam - and prime writers have moved on to great beyond - i.e. development deals in Hollywood. (Goodbye Kay Cannon, John Riggi and anyone else I don't know about.)

So there you have it. Comedies I'm hitching a comedy ride on. Bring it, new Fall season.

Network graphic courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter. I can't do this stuff on Photoshop.

Slaughter at Fox

The hammer came down last night at Fox. With Upfronts fast approaching, the network made some harsh decisions for the 2011-2012 season. Breaking In, The Chicago Code, Human Target and Traffic Light were all cancelled, and Hollywood is reeling a bit from the blow. That's a lot of shows to be shown the door all at once.

Personally, I'm sorry Traffic Light was let go. The romantic couple trend prevalent in this past television season (Perfect Couples, Mad Love) provided sappy, sitcomy fare that either went nowhere (NBC's 'Couples'), or stayed on the schedule ('Mad Love') because Charlie Sheen did a bender. (*Update: Mad Love was canceled by CBS since this was posted. Amen.)

The new mid-season ABC comedy Happy Endings has provided a bunch of lovebirds I actually do not hate. It's fresh, funny, sharply written. The cast is well placed, with Adam Pally playing the hilarious and non-stereotypical gay bro, while Casey Wilson has found her comedic voice as the goofy love-lorn friend. However, Traffic Light stood out for me. Indeed, it was not without flaws. The bromance friendships were a little annoying, and Aya Cash's character Callie was unlikable. Yet, being an Office fan from day one, I was rooting for David Denman to land on a hit show. So, this news is disappointing.

Two pilots I've been on the look-out for, Family Album and Little in Common are still in wait and see mode. As per Deadline Hollywood Daily it's likely the shows could be mid-season replacements, or are being held aside for a family themed line up one day.

Also, Zoey Deschannel fans, and I am one, keep your eyes open for The New Girl. It's been picked up for series, and could be fun.

Thankfully, the television overlords at Fox have spared Raising Hope from the harsh chop of the axe. It will be back next season, and those dysfunctional grandparents can continue their lovely quirky lives once again. Believe me, when Maw Maw (Cloris Leachman) is in her non-lucid state, anything could happen.

Now if only Fox could pick up Family Album so I can watch Mike O'Malley, Rob Huebel and Rachael Harris on vacation in perpetuity.

You can read the blow-by-blow account of Fox's decisions at: Deadline Hollywood Daily

What I'm Watching on Fox this Fall

Can you imagine if Will Arnett's show Running Wilde ends up pitted against wife Amy Poehler's Parks and Recreation on Thursdays? That's my feverish nightmare. But, luckily, the network programming overlords wouldn't dare. The new single camera Fox comedy will be on Tuesdays at 9:30pm, while the wonderful Parks and Rec will remain on NBC Thursdays - sadly beginning mid-season.

Wilde stars Arnett and Keri Russell in a story about a wealthy bastard and a poor altruisitic single mom who deplores the excesses of the rich. The knew each other years before. Now they are grown up. He likes her, she hates him. Mix with water and stir. I'm not being snarky. I want this show to work, but the description is a bit formulaic. The trailer makes it look like a sappy romantic comedy, but I feel this has promise. Arnett could make a Tupperware party fun.



Fox is the network that brings you animation comedy galore. Sunday nights will be filled with The Simpsons, American Dad, The Cleveland Show and Family Guy. I'm not much of an animation fan; however, come mid-season Bob's Burgers will be on the slate, and I can't wait. Voiced by Jon Benjamin, Eugene Mirman and Kristin Schaal just to name a few, this comedy cartoon is a comedy fan's happy dream.