While we’re nowhere near the new fall season and most pilots have yet to be filmed, the networks are already looking at their current lineup to see where they can trim the fat. While most decisions have to be finalized, people talk, news is announced and assumptions can be made.

Some shows are no-brainers to renew (House), while others have already been canceled… and then there are the shows that sit on the fence; ones that are referred to in the industry as “being on the bubble.” Today we have an update on the status of some of those “bubble” shows.

With such a long list of shows, let’s stop with all the small-talk and get right to it. What’s the fate of your favorite show?

ABC

FlashForward
Chance of returning: 40%

• With more than 12 million viewers tuning it for the series premiere, one would have thought that it was a shoe-in for a second season. After a massive ratings loss, an extended hiatus, the loss of numerous showrunners and a convoluted plot I’m sure you can guess what’s going to happen to this series. While there’s a chance that ABC could bring this freshman drama back next season, don’t get your hopes up.

V
Chance of returning: 60%

• Even though there was a huge ratings drop after the first episode, V still remains a viable option for the network and one that they are interested in pursuing. Unless they receive a slew of amazing pilots this summer, expect The Visitors to return for at least one more season.

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CBS

Numb3rs
Chance of returning: 20%

• Oh, my favorite mathematical crime drama. Even though CBS triumphs on Friday nights viewership is down, which makes it harder to continue footing the bill for long-running series. Calculate in the fact that the episode order for Numb3rs was reduced by six and that star David Krumholtz has signed on for a new pilot and sadly this equation doesn’t look good.

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The CW

Smallville
Chance of returning: 85%

• After nine years, The CW tried to dump this superhero show into a Friday timeslot to die. Too bad that nobody told the fans. With this season bringing in the ratings and a two-hour television movie event, not even Kryptonite can bring Smallville down.

Supernatural
Chance of returning: 85%

• The only thing that’s going to stop the Winchester brothers from coming back will be creator Eric Kripke. With season 5 marking the end of the planned storyline, the future of the show remains uncertain. Still, I’d be willing to bet that they’ll be back for at least a couple more seasons. Especially if The CW has anything to say about it.

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NBC

Chuck
Chance of returning: 75%

• C’mon… you knew that Chuck just had to be on this list. Last year seems so long ago. All that subway and “Save Chuck.” Well, fans of the show can rest easy as your favorite spy series has recently become one of NBC’s highest-rated shows on Monday nights. See you next fall, Mr. Bartowski.

Community
Chance of returning: 90%

• Hot in the ratings this show is not. Still, NBC loves their Thursday night comedy block and has already picked up Parks & Recreation for another season and that show gets lower ratings than Community.

Friday Night Lights
Chance of returning: 5%

• The producers have already announced the end. Luckily, the show has been renewed for one final season.

Heroes
Chance of returning: 60%

• Even though the superhero drama performs well overseas, on DVD and on the web, NBC can’t have such an expensive primetime series pulling in 4.4 million viewers for its season finale, as first-run broadcasts are where they make most of their money. With ratings declining rapidly and fans becoming fed up, one could understand if the show didn’t come back next year. Still, don’t be surprised if NBC picks up the series for a final 12 episodes. Enough time to wrap everything up nicely – hopefully.

Mercy
Chance of returning: 25%

• Do I really need to write something? The only reason why this show continues to be on the air is because NBC canceled so many of their series that there wasn’t anything to replace it with. Oh, and then there was that whole Jay/Conan mess to deal with.

Trauma
Chance of returning: 15%

• This show has had almost as many chances as Heroes to perform, but has yet to prove itself. It’ll get another chance next month when it returns with Chuck as its lead-in, but unless everyone in the world tunes in to watch it, this show is a goner.

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FOX

24
Chance of returning: 40%

• Even in its eighth season 24 continues to bring in an audience. Still, the production budget for this show is too high and with few networks looking to pick it up in syndication, Fox is trying to find another option — hence the news of a 24 movie. There’s also the option of moving the series to another network, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.

Fringe
Chance of returning: 90%

• Even though this series has had a rough second season, the combination of Fringe and Bones have made Fox a contender in one of the most competitive nights of television. Expect to see more of Peter, Olivia and Walter this fall.

Human Target
Chance of returning: 55%

• Even though this comic book-based drama had trouble finding an audience, things picked up this past week. While it’s nothing groundbreaking, it’s enough to give the series a second chance (a la Dollhouse). Things look even better if 24 doesn’t return.

If you’re still wondering what’s going to happen to your favorite show because it wasn’t on the list, chances are its fate has been decided and it’s not “on the bubble” like the shows listed here.  Although, if you want a hint, The Deep End will not be sticking around ABC that much longer.

So, does it look like your favorite show is going to make it? Did I miss any show that you’re curious about?

Talk, debate, fight… that’s what the comments are for.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

As good news comes, so must the bad. In this case the bad news is NBC will be canceling their low-rated freshman paramedic series Trauma after just five episodes.  Although, I have a feeling that fans of Chuck won’t be too dejected by this news.

Still, fans of Trauma deserve their moment to grieve and NBC has decided to give them that moment, as they’re committed to airing the remaining seven episodes of Trauma. While it’s only prolonging the inevitable, it’s more than Southland received. (I won’t even bring you up, FOX, and that whole Firefly debacle.)

This news doesn’t bode well for NBC as the cancellation of Trauma marks the second series to be axed since the fall season premiered in September. Combine that with NBC’s experimental The Jay Leno Show underperforming and MythBusters “Duct Tape Special” besting NBC’s other ER replacement, Mercy, and it looks as if the once triumphant Peacock has become a casualty of its own hubris.

Alright, enough of the boo-hoo for the cancellation of Trauma. Since I’ve never seen the show, I’m not really too concerned about its fate. Although, I am a huge fan of hoagies, so let’s get down to it with more Chuck coverage. I know what you’re wondering… When is Chuck coming back?

Well, we recently reported that NBC was looking to move the show up to late October, but now it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. Don’t worry; we’re not going to have to wait until after the Winter Olympics in March (like fans of Lost will) in order to see the return of Chuck. The way things are going right now, it looks like Chuck may be returning around January.

While it’s not the October return that has previously been speculated, I’m sure the order of six additional episodes is worth waiting a couple more months.

So, what have you? Good news? Bad news? Does anyone actually watch Trauma?

Let’s hear it!

We’ll fill you in as we hear more about the triumphant return of Chuck.

Source: Variety [via: Ain't It Cool News]

While last week gave us the majority of new and returning shows, don’t forget about some solid shows that have yet to air. Trauma and Lie to Me are two of the last shows left to premiere this Fall and both will be on tonight, Monday, September 28th.

What’s New?

9:00PM

NBC – Trauma: “Pilot”
“Trauma” is an intense, action-packed look at one of the most dangerous medical professions in the world: first responder paramedics. When emergencies occur, the trauma team from San Francisco City Hospital is first on the scene, traveling by land, by sea or by air to reach their victims in time. From the heights of the city’s Transamerica Pyramid to the depths of the San Francisco Bay, these heroes must face the most extreme conditions to save lives — and give meaning to their own existence in the process. In this initial installment, tragedy hits close to home, and the lives and paths of the team are forever changed.

I’ve only caught the occasional commercial for this series and haven’t really heard much else about it; it seems to be a fast-pace medical show. A talented cast combined with producer Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights) garners a watch. I’m just not sure if it’s too late – with the barrage of medical dramas out there, this one might fall between the gaps, even if it is entertaining.

What’s Returning?

9:00 PM

FOX – Lie To Me: “The Core of It”
The Lightman Group investigates a murder case where a woman with multiple personalities (guest star Christensen) may either be a witness or the killer. Meanwhile, the U.S. government hires the firm to interrogate a potential Supreme Court nominee

I’ll definitely be tuning in. I love Tim Roth and really enjoy this show. Sure, it started a little slow, but as the characters and their relationships developed, it turned into a show I was excited about. Can’t wait to see what happens this season. With only 13 episodes for its second season, hopefully it’ll acquire a large enough audience that FOX will order more.

What Else Is On?

With only 2 new and returning shows on the books means that they’re going to have to compete for your time against shows that have already returned or premiered.

Here’s what else is on…

8:00 PM
ABC – Dancing with the Stars

NBC – Heroes: “Ink”

FOX – House: “Epic Fail”

CBS – How I Met Your Mother: “Double Date”

CW – One Tree Hill: “Hold My Hand as I’m Lowered” (#703)

8:30 PM
CBS – Accidentally On Purpose: “Memento”

9:00 PM
CW – Gossip Girl: “The Lost Boy”

CBS – Two and a Half Men: “Whipped Unto the Third Generation”

9:30 PM
CBS – The Big Bang Theory: “The Jiminy Conjecture”

10:00 PM
CBS – CSI: Miami: “Hostile Takeover”

ABC – Castle: “The Double Down”

Over 10 hours of television is packed into tonight’s primetime lineup. I think I’ll watch House at 8 because I have yet to see him with the team this season, catch up with Lie to Me at 9 and finish out the night with DVR’d versions of Heroes and How I Met Your Mother.

What shows will you be watching?

Source: The Futon Critic

On Monday, May 5th 2009, The Jay Leno network NBC announced a slate of new shows at their In-Fronts for the 2009 / 2010 television season.  No the above screen shot is not from their in-fronts.  It’s a behind the scenes shot from NBC’s new show, Day One.

Keeping in mind that we here at Screen Rant are all about action / adventure and sci-fi / fantasy (with a dribble of comedy). I’ve left out some details on the new NBC comedy shows but only because we do like our action-adventure shows.  Rather than babble about what I am going to say, I might as well get right to it:

DAY ONE

Day One is a new futuristic drama that will premiere out of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and the premise sounds awful familiar.

In the aftermath of a global event that devastates the world’s infrastructures, a small band of survivors strives to rebuild society and unravel the mysteries of why the event took place and what the future has in store. Told from the point of view of an eclectic group of neighbors in a Van Nuys, California apartment building, this journey of survival will show us that hope is found in the smallest of victories and heroes are born every day. (Hey! I grew up in Van Nuys.)

Is it me, or does this show sound a lot like Jericho? Instead of a town, it’s an apartment building. I want to say this is a lame attempt at replaying Jericho, but maybe it can work. Why? Because I see a glimmer of hope from the collected creative team.  I can only hope they won’t blatantly rip off the premise of our beloved canceled show.

It’s Executive produced and written by Jesse Alexander (Heroes, Lost, Alias) and directed by Alex Graves (Fringe, Journeyman).

It will star Adam Campbell (Date Movie), Catherine Dent (The Shield), Julie Gonzalo (Eli Stone), David Lyons (ER), Derek Mio (Greek), Carly Pope (24), Thekla Reuten (Sleeper Cell) and Addison Timlin (Cashmere Mafia).

Back in January, our own Kofi Outlaw reported that NBC ordered Day One and he predicted that we could have the same flash-forward and flash-back story structure like Lost and with Jesse Alexander involved, we’ll be getting mystery upon mystery upon cliffhanger upon cliffhanger mystery.

I hope if they do pull that off it is more creative than what we’ve already seen from their other venues. Otherwise, it will just slide into a Lost-Jericho (Losticho?) slot with spies. Me, I say bring it and we’ll see what comes of it.

TRAUMA

As NBC looks to hang on to their medical success from ER, Trauma is ER on wheels. They say that Trauma is an intense look at one of the most dangerous medical professions in the world: the first responder paramedic. Trauma stars Derek Luke, Cliff Curtis, Anastasia Griffith, Aimee Garcia, Kevin Rankin and Jamey Sheridan. It will be executive produced by Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights)

MERCY

Mercy is yet another medical drama that comes from a different perspective – that of the nurses. Mercy will star Taylor Schilling, Jamie Lee Kirchner and Michelle Trachtenberg as our nurses.

It’s going to be put together by writer/executive producers Liz Heldens (Friday Night Lights) and Gretchen Berg & Aaron Harberts (Pushing Daisies). The executive producers are Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun and directed by Emmy Award winner Adam Bernstein (30 Rock, Rescue Me).

PARENTHOOD

From executive producers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer and writer/executive producer Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights) Parenthood depicts the imperfect Braverman family. The Braverman’s are four grown siblings sharing the ups and downs of being parents (hence the show name, I guess). The cast includes Peter Krause, Maura Tierney, Craig T. Nelson, Dax Shepard, Bonnie Bedelia, Monica Potter, Erika Christensen and Sarah Ramos.

Aside from the above new dramas, shows they announced that are returning are:

• Heroes
• Southland
• Parks and Recreation
• Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday (6 epi’s.)
• The Office
• 30 Rock
• The Biggest Loser
• The Celebrity Apprentice
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
• Friday Night Lights

A few “alternative” series they announced are:

• The Marriage Ref
• Who Do You Think You Are
• Breakthrough With Tony Robbins

Whatever do they mean by alternative?  Is that their new coined term for reality TV and they’re trying to trick us?

Jerry Seinfeld exec produces The Marriage Ref.  Seinfeld himself says it’s not therapy, it’s a comedy show based on real break ups.  I don’t see how this will work, but just from the humor possibility alone, I might check it out.  How many divorcees are going to watch, and root for their own side of the timeless gender war?

I’ll also give the Breakthrough With Tony Robbins thing a try because I have a lot of respect for what he’s done for himself and others… but they better not test my patience.  Robbins has some great messages to deliver about various aspects on the perceptions of life.  If I see some network dribble creeping into the presentation, I’m out of there.

In Case You Didn’t Notice

The one thing I find interesting is the announcement of the return of Law & Order: SVU.  That’s because the stars of the show Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni are still in contract negotiations and despite the economy and being lucky they have jobs, they think they have NBC over a barrel of sorts and are asking for more in their new contracts.  They want more than the $350k per episode and are asking for back-end profits.  So right now, they can buy a house in some places with every episode they film…  and they want more.

NBC said the show is going to go on, with or without them, pending contract negotiations.

Whether it’s related or not, NBC does have to make 5 hours of prime time room for the Jay Leno Show… that means someone is losing their time somewhere.

Did you notice that Chuck is missing from the lineup?  No decision has been made yet on whether Chuck is coming back or not.  The initial plan was to announce Chuck’s status yesterday (May 4th) but they’re now waiting an extra week or two.  Testing the advertiser waters is my guess.  Well, at least it’s not bad news yet.

Check out the massive savechuck Twitter campaign.  I don’t think they’re in the same limbo as Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, but they do share the same gray zone for the moment as both shows have some serious save-the-show campaigns going on.

Source:  NBC, Image Source: Sci Fi Scoop