The TV IV Blog

The writers strike is now in full swing and while it hasn’t had a direct effect on the primetime schedules yet it has upset some future scheduling dominoes and as the finished episodes run out will start being more and more noticeable. FOX seems to be the only network that’s really acknowledging that the strike is going to most likely last a long time. NBC even refuses to cancel the new episodes of Leno and Conan more than one day in advance. They’ll have to do something about it soon as they’re going to run out of new Office episodes after this week. For a full run down of the effects of the strike and how many episodes of a particular series will be completed check out our info. box on the right side of the main page.

This Week

Quite a few premieres this week as the schedules start to transition from fall to winter. Bravo’s premiere reality show Project Runway kicks off it’s fourth season Tuesday at 10PM making Bravo the Timm Gunn network for a couple weeks until his Guide to Style finishes its season. Wednesday night (well early Thursday morning) at 12:30AM Comedy Central offers a preview premiere of the Canadian import Kenny vs. Spenny. A pretty funny show about two friends that compete against each other in a bunch of silly contests. This goes to show how important South Park is to CC when they use the late night encore as a premium lead-in for a new show. On Sunday at 11:30PM the show slides into its regular timeslot. Friday at 10PM MTV starts airing new reality show The Kentucky Kid focused on pro-motorcycle racer Nicky Hayden. The Disney Channel is starting the second season of Corey in the House on Saturday at 8:30PM so it’s one third of the way to being cancelled. HBO is bringing back it’s Mayweather fight hyping reality show this time co-starring Hatton with Mayweather/Hatton 24/7. The second season of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! starts on Adult Swim on Sunday at 12:15AM (okay techically Monday).

tags: tv programming, tv schedule, tv iv, tv updates, tv news, writers strike, bravo, project runway, comedy central, kenny vs. spenny, mtv, kentucky kid, disney channel, cory in the house, hbo, mayweather/hatton 24/7, tim and eric awesome show, great job, adult swim, the n, student body, cmt, can you duet, abc, cashmere mafia, fox, 24, terminator: the sarah connor chronicles, sarah connor, prison break, when women rule the world, moment of truth, hell’s kitchen, new amsterdam, return of jezebel james, unhitched, canterbury’s law, bones, til death, nbc, american gladiators, cw, crowned, mother of all pagaents, we tv, high school confidential, fox reality, the academy

The strike has put most major deals on hold so there haven’t been a lot of announcements but a few reality shows got underway. The N started production on The N’s Student Body a new reality show focusing on 12 students from two rival high schools as they attempt to live a healthier lifestyle. The series is set to premiere sometime next year. CMT has ordered 11 episodes of Can You Duet? a talent contest looking for the next big country duo to air in spring 2008.

Programming Updates

The strike fall out has started this week and will probably only increase. ABC postponned the premiere of Cashmere Mafia to later when they’ll need the scripted episodes more. FOX completely retooled their midseason schedule. Most notably delaying 24 until they can run the season on interrupted. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles will be taking its place on Monday nights and Prison Break will have an early fall finale this week so it can air five episodes in January and February. They’ll be airing crazy amounts of House repeats interspersed with some new and old reality shows including When Women Rule the World, The Moment of Truth, an early in season debut for Hell’s Kitchen and of course American Idol. They’re also rolling out four new scripted shows (2 sitcoms, 2 dramas) which only have about 6 to 8 episodes each: New Amsterdam, The Return of Jezebel James, Canterbury’s Law and Unhitched. All but Unhitched are airing on the FOX graveyard of Friday nights but with the strike killing the other networks originals maybe things will be different. Ah who am I kidding two had reduced orders and the other has abysmal reviews they’ll make FOX 0 and 26 for Friday debuts since 1997. Bones and ‘Til Death will also air their last few new episodes on Friday. I doubt those mediocre rated series can do much to boost the new shows on such a dead night. NBC also announced that their new version of American Gladiators hosted by Hulk Hogan and Laila Ali will permiere in January. The CW will premiere the Crowned: The Mother of All Pagaents, a reality competition focusing on mother/daughter pagaent teams, on December 19 in Top Model’s timeslot once the current cycle of that show is finished.

In non-strike related updates for cable networks We TV will premiere a groundbreaking documentary series called High School Confidential that followed a group of girls through all four years of high school. FOX Reality has ordered a second season of The Academy to premiere in May 2008.

As always all schedule information can be found on our handy grid pages including upcoming programming: Current Broadcast Network Grid, Current Cable Network Grid (with a list of upcoming programs), Upcoming Broadcast Network Grid

 The show’s airing new episodes each day of the week can be found on each day’s respective calendar pages: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.